“My desire is to create architecture that compliments the environment, creates a place of sanctuary, and nurtures the spirit.”
Environmental Design Choices
I have a lifelong connection and appreciation of nature. My joy in architecture is bringing together my own inner love of nature and combining that with the technical world of structure and design. With every project, I create architecture that combines space, proportion, and details, together with materials, texture, and color to create a sense of place.
‘Green’ architecture and ecological design are terms today that describe a variety of issues and choices of what and how to build. My desire is to educate my clients in the depth of ‘green’ design choices, to make each project as sustainable and healthy as possible, and to have these choices of design and materials stay within the project construction budget.
Site Design
The location and orientation of a home affect a wide range of environmental factors as well as energy consumption. Proper site design can reduce building/energy costs and environmental impact while enhancing the beauty and comfort of your home. Consider a site design that takes advantage of sun exposures, minimizes habitat disturbance, and provides erosion control through improved grading and landscaping practices.
Insulation Options
Properly insulating your home is one of the most effective steps you can take to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several types of insulation – e.g., fiberglass, cellulose, recycled cotton batts, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Proper installation and selecting the right insulation materials is as important to your health as it is to your energy bill.
Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling
There are many ways you can improve energy efficiency in your home. Selecting energy-efficient heating and cooling systems is a great start, but to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent. Choosing the system (along with a programmable thermostat) that bests meet your living needs is also important.
Efficient Use of Space
Faced with rising construction material and labor costs, along with reduced budgets, it is now more important than ever to keep building costs down. In addition, LEED for Homes and the National Green Building Standard encourages homes of less than 2,500 square feet. By simplifying lifestyles and striving for more sustainability, I encourage homeowners to consider smaller home floor plans for both economical and practical reasons. The essence of a smaller floor plan can be found in the quality of design over quantity of space.
Indoor Air Quality
Homeowners today are increasingly concerned about the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of their homes. Pollutants like mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and VOCs have received greater attention than ever as poor IAQ has been linked to a host of health problems. There are many options available to homeowners from the choice of building materials to radon-reducing features that can be included at the time of construction. Consider installing a mechanical ventilation system. Mechanical ventilation systems introduce fresh air using ducts and fans, instead of relying on holes or cracks in the walls and windows.