Green & Heritage Sustainable Design
One cannot build responsibly today without incorporating some sustainable
practices into the design and construction. In residential building, this can range
from the installation of high-rated insulation and energy-efficient appliances to
solar panels and geothermal pumps. We have experience in both simple and
elaborate approaches.
Our interest in sustainable practices began long before the current green
movement gained momentum. We're often commissioned to design an
addition to a period house from the 1930s or earlier. Through researching traditional details and working with master
craftsmen trained in the use of traditional building methods and materials, we've
discovered that, prior to World War II and the advent of air conditioning, houses were built to respond to local
climatic conditions, used cost-effective methods, and used locally sourced
materials.
Today, we continue to apply these Heritage Sustainable strategies to build homes with smaller
carbon footprints. We have also expanded our use of new green building
technologies. Several of our recent projects incorporate geothermal heating and
cooling systems, solar panels, radiant heating, and super-efficient spray foam
insulation.