Architects find it pays to go green
Accreditation in environmental building design takes hold
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LEED-certified architect Dominic La Pierre looks over plans in his office at Ashley McGraw Architects in Aquebogue. To work on green projects, architects must earn special credentials.
LEED is a third-party certification program that sets certain standards for environmentally conscious buildings.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, "LEED provides a measurable yardstick" by which a project's green features can be evaluated, said Dominic La Pierre, partner at Ashley McGraw Architects in Aquebogue.
Glynis Berry (left) and Hideaki Ariizumi (right), partners in Studio a/b Architects in Riverhead, designed this green home in Greenport, owned by Diana Gordon and Michael Keeting (pictured). Ms. Berry, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified architect, says, "To have someone come to us wanting to build as green a house as possible has been delightful."
"Since 2001, more than 77,000 building professionals have earned the LEED accredited professional credential by demonstrating their understanding of environmentally sustainable building design, construction and operation," according to the Green Building Certification Institute.
"[The accreditation process] is difficult, and has gotten more so," said Mr. La Pierre, LEED accredited professional.
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The Gordon-Keating home in Greenport was the first in Suffolk County to use the LEED for Homes program, which evaluates the sustainability of a home's design.
"I began to take the process more seriously," said Mr. Jacquemin of Riverhead, who received his architecture license in 1972 in Oregon.
"I had always practiced architecture with some sense of environmental sensibility," he said. "As time continued, there was more and more press about the pressure on the environment as the result of buildings. In my view, it became more urgent to do something and become more aware of the standards."
One benefit for architects and professionals who achieve LEED accreditation is the ability and opportunity to look and apply for LEED jobs. According to the USGBC Web site, "It is estimated that millions of new LEED jobs will be created within the next few years."
"I think the credential definitely has meaning to clients looking to create projects that are sustainably based or can be certified as green buildings," Mr. Jacquemin said.
Architect Glynis Berry of Studio a/b Architects in Riverhead received her accreditation in 2004. She said, in recent years she has noticed an increase in the number of professionals interested in getting their LEED credential on Long Island.
"We should get to a point where we don't need it anymore, though," Ms. Berry said. Building codes are changing and standards for evaluating homes are being developed, she said. "Many municipalities are leaping ahead of the national codes and creating their own regulations and requirements."
Mr. La Pierre agreed, while noting that many East End communities have already specified LEED requirements for building.
"Maybe the USGBC will always be around -- always be pushing the envelope," Ms. Berry said. "Basically, it was a way to kick-start thoughts in that direction."
Ms. Berry and her partner, Hideaki Ariizumi, recently designed a green home in Greenport -- the first house in Suffolk County to use the USGBC's new LEED for Homes program. The home is expected to receive the Gold level of LEED certification.
The LEED for Homes program evaluates a design by giving points in a number of categories including location and linkages, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Points are also given for design innovation, limited size, and steps taken to increase public awareness of green building.
Some of the more sustainable features of the Greenport home include its location, on a village street leading to Peconic Bay, which is surrounded by other developed properties; use of energy-efficient materials, such as structural insulated panels that reduce heat loss; orientation, which places most of the glass on the south side of the home and the storage and smaller windows on the north side; and operable skylights and a natural chimney that enhance internal air circulation.
Beyond the exterior, the inside of the house utilized certified woods and rapidly renewable products, such as bamboo flooring, recycled glass tile, linoleum, and a countertop made from paper and wood pulp.
"In the end, a consciousness of what we do and how we do it is imperative for sustainable design," Ms. Berry said. "A respect for the global situation, as well as personal needs and desires, informs a well-balanced design."
Ms. Berry said she was eager to begin this project, putting her LEED credential to good work. "I've been trying to get clients to do this," Ms. Berry said. "To have someone come to us wanting to build as green a house as possible has been delightful."
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Tour this House April 26 : 4/13/2009
TOUR THIS HOME! “Green Home” Open House Sunday, April 26, 3-6PM 152 Sixth Street, Greenport Tickets: $12, available at the door Refreshments will be served Take an exclusive tour of a new Energy Star LEED Home On Sunday, April 26, from 3-6 PM, Diana Gordon and Michael Keating will open their home for tours of their newly completed “Green Home”. Formed with Structural Insulated Panels, instead of the usual 2x4’s, this house has an Energy Star rating and is slated for a gold rating with the U.S. Green Building Council”s more rigorous LEED for Homes program. At the open house, the owners, architects, raters and contractors will be present to answer questions. Architects, Hideaki Ariizumi and Glynis Berry of studio a/b architects, Frazer Dougherty, LEED evaluator, Chris Kyprianou, LEED builder, and others. . The event is to benefit the Peconic Land Trust, conserving Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future. For further information contact: Event: Mary Morgan T. 631 323 2320 The Building: Glynis Berry, AIA, LEED AP T. 631 591 2401
