Welcome to "insights on Enriching Environments"

In this bi-annual edition of our company newsletter, we focus on:

• Creating Green Interiors – Insights From the Experts
  
  LEED Certification and How it Impacts the Design World
  
  Green Building Facts
  
  
• A Few Closing Words From Art and Sharon

We also will continue issuing our other monthly publication, ON DESIGN, to share our interior
designer’s thoughts on trends and designs for your home or business.

Creating Green Interiors -
Insights from the Experts

Incremental “greening”—and combining several different approaches to sustainable practices—were the themes of an expert panel discussion in November at the Green Expo 2008 presented by The Greater Newburyport ECO Collaborative.

Moderated by Kris Naumann, project designer for CURRIER & Associates, the panel shared several ways to slowly add “green” design elements to shared several ways to slowly add “green” design elements to improve health and respect the environment. Naumann began the overview, sharing some staggering statistics as to why increasing our green efforts are becoming increasingly important.

Global warming continues to accelerate and impact the environment by altering the climate. By the year 2050, we need to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 50 percent, she said, noting that currently the U.S. consumes 25 percent of the entire world’s fossil fuel.

Suggesting that we consider several small steps that could have a big impact, Naumann reviewed both the outside and inside of a building. In looking at a building’s “envelope,” proper insulation of pipes, walls and attics is key to securing heat. Using sustainable eco-friendly products such as insulation produced from recycled dungarees further enhances the green initiative. Choosing low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and environmentally safe wall coverings or wall board are easy steps consumers can take to add green products when renovating their homes or offices.

Inside a property Naumann also recommended simplifying the use of green by the reuse of existing items, such as doors purchased from architectural salvage yards. Or, in updating a kitchen, resurface the door fronts or change the hardware for a new look. Utilizing maximum natural light by removing excess branches outside the homes is another energy conservation method.

Replacing older carpets with newer more sustainable offerings is also recommended, according to Naumann. Often when a homeowner removes a carpet in an older home wood floors are found underneath which can easily be refinished for an updated look. Or, one can choose to replace synthetic carpets with natural products or area rugs.

Panelist Mike Myers, owner of Jewett Farms & Co. – creators of fine hand-crafted, furniture -grade cabinetry located in York, Maine and Newburyport, Massachusetts - elaborated on flooring. He stressed that the appeal of an exotic species can be offset by the cost of processing and transporting the wood to the project site.
In addition, there are flooring products that are native to New England, sustainably harvested, aesthetically pleasing, durable, and supplied by local businesses.

In their custom cabinet shop Jewett Farms & Co specializes in design that is timeless and does not go out of fashion - which is a fundamentally sustainable concept. “Our goal is that you only need to buy the cabinetry or furniture pieces from us once,” Myers noted. “We focus on quality - great design, great materials and great products that last a lifetime.”

Another key way to “green” a home or office, often inexpensively, is by adding plants. Panelist Susan Harvey, founder of Susan’s Interior Plantscaping in Salisbury, MA, offered her expertise from more than 22 years of designing commercial and residential spaces with plants. “Plants clean the air—they are natural air quality,” Harvey told the audience at Green Expo 2008. Her company’s tagline, in fact, reads: “Our air is cleaner when your space is greener.”

Harvey quoted this NASA statistic: “One plant every 100 square feet is enough to clean the air in that area.” She said the more leaves on the plant, the better it contributes to cleaner air quality. She also suggested looking for plants that both look nice and buffer noise, in commercial buildings, for example. Pothos, ficus trees (the Ali variety) and palm trees are three varieties she frequently recommends, noting that she brings in many plants from Florida for use in the interiors she designs.

Another trend noted by Harvey is the increasing use of “life-like” plants which are eco-friendly. She said these artificial plants are used in places with limited light, like conference rooms.

Corporations are increasingly seeing the benefit of adding plants, where employee sick time can be reduced by 14 percent by adding greenery to the workplace environment. “The building isn’t green until the plants arrive,” she concluded.

And the fourth panelist, Louise Mold, owner of Green Girls in Newburyport, tied the whole presentation together by describing to the audience ways to keep all the eco-friendly interiors clean by using green products. Some natural green products that were available before the now readily-accessible lines were introduced to supermarkets include: white vinegar, which can kill up to 99 percent of viruses, Essential Oils found in health stores or ordered through private distributors, baking soda which is an excellent scrubbing agent and alcohol which “kills everything.”

The “Green Interiors Panel” was followed by Newburyport Mayor John Moak, who introduced the keynote speaker, Niall Robinson. Robinson, who serves on Newburyport’s Energy Advisory Committee and works as an engineer developing sustainable strategies for Proctor & Gamble, gave an educational overview of “The Coach Potato’s Guide to Going Green.”

He walked the audience through steps his family has taken to create a “greener” home, including home-grown food. He also offered other general suggestions such as switching to compact fluorescent lights (which use 50 to 80 percent less energy) and observing the speed limit, which can reduce energy consumption by 7 to 23 percent and save consumers money, too, in lower fuel costs averaging $8 to $28 less per month.

___________________________________________________________

Sarah E. Holden, LEED, AP
Project Manager

LEED Certification and How it Impacts the Design World

From a project management point of view, every client is asking about “green” concepts, even those not looking for the “big bang” of LEED certification, according to Sarah Holden, a LEED-accredited project manager at CURRIER & Associates. Three factors are driving the increased interest and demand:

• Marketability
• Energy savings
• Social responsibility for protecting our environment

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green-Building Rating System ™ is a third-party certification program, as defined by the US Green Building Council (USBGC). LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The USGBC also has a program for accrediting professionals in LEED practices. To become a LEED AP(Accredited Professional) one must pass an exam and meet experience requirements.

Initially perceived as prohibitively expensive to implement, studies now show that LEED certification does not add costs to many projects. This may be due to a broader range of competitively-priced green products, a more streamlined, efficient process for getting LEED-certified, and a better understanding of the process by designers, contractors and consultants.

“Two years ago, if you were looking for a green product, there wasn’t always a lot of choice. Now, if you go to a carpet, tile or countertop manufacturer, for example, the green offerings often outnumber the non-green products,” Holden noted.

“My philosophy is that going green should not have to cost more,” Holden said, adding that the benefits far outweigh the initial expenditures. In fact, citing a survey of recent New York City high-rise buildings, it was found that incorporating LEED certification did not add cost to the project. The results, presented in November at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston, showed that of 108 projects in the New York City survey, of which approximately one-half were LEED certified, there was no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings. In addition, those that were LEED certified were able to charge more rent for their green properties, up to $5 more per square foot.

“Going green is hot,” Holden said. “And keeping the green conversation active during a project is key. I help clients include green attributes without increasing the budget, and if it doesn’t cost more, why not implement green? Because what clients get out of incorporating green is often increased marketability and lower energy costs.” Holden also encourages clients who are concerned with costs to look at the long-range view with “green” as a goal, but not necessarily getting LEED-certification. “Clients can incorporate efficient systems and recycled products, but not necessarily follow through with the paperwork that LEED requires.”

Even though there are two items in the LEED requirements that are outside of typical project costs—the mandated independent commissioning review of the building systems to verify work was completed as specified, and consultant fees associated with managing the certification process—Holden said clients often find other areas to reduce costs to offset these expenditures.

“I also advise clients to look at life cycle costs versus initial costs,” she said. While some equipment may have a higher first-time cost, energy savings over time make these choices a better investment when looking at the life cycle of the equipment.

For example, a tankless water heater or high-efficiency boiler may cost more upfront, but energy savings will provide a positive return on investment.
Holden also encourages clients to look at the building envelope first before spending money on more efficient mechanical systems. Good insulation, energy-efficient windows, and vapor barriers help create “a tight skin,” which reduces the energy load on the building. A tighter envelope can reduce the size of the equipment needed, thereby creating “the best energy savings you can get.”
The green movement is penetrating the market deeply. As the comparable cost of “greening” a project is coming down, clients are anxious to learn how to incorporate these concepts. Their end users are expecting it, and the energy savings and better quality of life that green buildings provide, make it a benefit for everyone.

Several websites that Holden found interesting at Greenbuild are:

www.ecoscorecard.com/clients - One company’s way to simplify green research

www.usgbc.com - LEED information

www.davislangdon.com - Research about the cost of green

www.buildingenergy.nesea.org - Local organization that has an energy

________________________________________________________

A few closing words from Art and Sharon….

As we embrace 2009 with hopes for a more compassionate world and a healthier economy, we at CURRIER note a positive shift we witnessed first- hand this past year: our society, and local community in particular, has become more proactive stewards of our environment, protecting and valuing our natural resources for generations to follow.

We are noticing increased market acceptance of, and demand for, green products and design. No longer affordable to only an elite few, green design is now accessible to the average business and homeowner. Increased competition has lowered costs, reduced long-term operational expenses, and inspired innovation with an increasingly expanding choice of product.

We are especially proud that this past year so many of our team members played a significant role in educating the public about the benefits of "going green"--participating in local panel discussions, appearing on the “Long View” radio program and committing to many community events and organizations that are passionate about creating sustainable environments.

Many of our clients continue to stay on the competitive edge, increasingly requesting green product in their design. We now have a greater diversity of options to provide them-- both from a project management perspective and an aesthetic view, thereby cost-efficiently enhancing the beauty and durability of their interiors.
With 2009 looking to be an even greener year (environmentally at least), we intend to keep you abreast of new offerings and techniques for increasing the sustainability of your interiors and properties.
We bless our country's new president, and our community of clients, colleagues, business associates, team members, family and friends who care so much about improving the quality of others' lives.
Thank you for being part of our circle.

With appreciation,

Art & Sharon

CURRIER & Associates, Inc., 504R Merrimac Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Phone:    978-465-7644 | Fax:  978-462-5010

CREATING ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTS FOR LIVING, HEALING AND WORKING

Info@CurrierDesigns.com