| Modern trends in construction are increasingly leaning | | | | human needs while ensuring that those needs will still |
| toward sustainable building design. Inspired by news | | | | be met in years, decades, and centuries to come. |
| of global climate conditions, unstable oil prices, and | | | | Broken down, this means that clear cutting forests |
| the need for energy independence, architects are | | | | for timber, harvesting fossil fuels from the earth, and |
| incorporating earth-friendly features in nearly every | | | | producing mass amounts of waste lead to a depleted |
| new building. But what does that leave for owners of | | | | earth, perishing resources, and a damaged |
| existing structures? Concepts of sustainable | | | | environment. By choosing recycled materials, and |
| development are often geared toward new | | | | utilizing products which are derived from renewable |
| construction. But retrofitting your building with | | | | resources, we limit our effect on the earth and |
| sustainability in mind can start you on a path toward | | | | ensure there will be ample resources for future |
| more responsible stewardship and greater financial | | | | generations. |
| benefits. | | | | When a business owner makes the decision to |
| Whether implementing a gradual green upgrade to an | | | | update their building with sustainability in mind, it can |
| existing building or undertaking a massive, full scale | | | | be a mind-boggling prospect. Where does one begin? |
| retrofit, there are countless options on how to spare | | | | Start small. Begin by replacing damaged or |
| the environment and decrease your corporate impact | | | | non-working materials with greener options. When |
| on the earth. Many business owners are inspired by | | | | the exit signs burn out, replace them with recyclable, |
| the potential savings afforded them through | | | | zero-energy photoluminescent emergency exit signs. |
| energy-efficiency measures and government | | | | When the lunchroom refrigerator breaks down, |
| incentives. However, a 2008 study showed that | | | | purchase a modern, energy rated appliance. Install |
| corporate environmental commitment topped the list | | | | timers on existing lights to cut power use by up to |
| of motivators for making green improvements. | | | | 50%. Step by step, the older building can be |
| This increased corporate responsibility has increased | | | | upgraded to an environmentally friendly structure. |
| demand and accessibility of sustainable construction. | | | | While ethical motives lead to increased interest in |
| Sustainable architecture has become the standard by | | | | sustainable building design, cash savings cannot be |
| which all design is measured. Green materials, such as | | | | ignored. Often, eco-minded updates to a structure |
| bamboo floorboards and cork cubicle dividers, are | | | | translate into immediate financial incentives and |
| readily available to the wider market. Water | | | | long-term cost reduction in areas such as power, |
| conscious low-flow plumbing has become common, | | | | water, and waste. Whatever your reasons, exploring |
| and climate-based landscaping is extending its reach | | | | the benefits of sustainable design is the way of the |
| beyond drought-plagued regions. | | | | future. It is the means to a cleaner environment, |
| The definition of sustainable development is simple. It | | | | increased property values, and a commendable |
| is the use of available materials to serve existing | | | | legacy for the generations. |