Sustainable Strategies
Sustainable Strategies
Three areas that drive green design at AMDG are:
- commitment to caring for community
- commitment to designing healthy environments
- commitment to investing wisely
Where these commitments overlap, a green building has the greatest potential for impact. Our aim is to find the sweet spot, where our commitment to people, the environment, and investing wisely, strategically overlap.
AMDG is committed to helping you make good decisions about how to make your building project green-friendly.
A tree illustrates three broad levels of implementation available to you:
At the base of the tree are the low hanging fruit. This level of green implementation includes options that are sensible for everyone to include in their building project. Many of these options are even required by code in order to provide a standard of health and sensitivity to the environment.
At the heart of the tree AMDG works to prioritize what components would add the most value to your building through careful analysis and evaluation. Regardless of what area of the tree best represents your building project, AMDG will lead, guide and serve you in making good green decisions.
At the top of the tree are the cutting edge, upper echelon, high cost options available to those desiring exceptional environmental care.
Some strategies for sustainable design can be drawn from categories for LEED® rating systems that address green building design and construction (LEED for New Construction, LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Retail: New Construction) as well as the two interior design and construction rating systems (LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors).
sustainable site planning
thoughtful site planning that minimizes disturbance to the natural environment while taking advantage of sunlight and exterior views
- Optimize building orientation; save energy with day-lighting.
- Connect to the existing public transportation infrastructure
- Plan pedestrian access and bike parking with shower facilities
- Provide preferred carpool parking; encourage alternative vehicle use
- Do not exceed parking capacity per code requirements
- Design open spaces and reduce building footprint as much as possible
- Use a "green" vegetated or "white" Energy Star compliant roof
- Reduce light pollution; light only for safety on building exterior
safeguarding water and water efficiency
creating building systems that reduce the amount of water used without compromising sanitation or comfort
- Use sustainable landscaping to reduce irrigation and maintenance
- Reclaim water for irrigation use; “rainwater harvesting”
- Use low-flow plumbing fixtures or waterless urinals to conserve water
- Consider grey water recovery and UV treatment for drinking water
- Provide a rain garden instead of a retention pond
energy efficiency and renewable energy
reducing the use of energy and the burning of fossil fuels with efficient lighting, careful planning of building systems, and using renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power
- Building Skin
- Use moisture control and air barriers on building envelope
- Design with low-e glazed windows
- Utilize high R-value insulation
- Lighting / Power Systems
- Review the mechanical systems throughout the life of the building
- Support renewable and “clean” energy: wind, hydro-electric, solar
- Energy Saving Strategies
- Maximize daylight harvesting
- Install high-efficiency light bulbs, sensors, and dimming ballasts
- Use thin LCD computer monitors to reduce heat and energy use
- Use LED light fixtures
human needs and well-being
designing interior environments that are comfortable and inviting, supplied with clean air and ventilation, and suffused with energy-efficient and natural lighting
- Prohibit smoking inside or provide smoking room w/ isolated ventilation system
- Use “UVGI” (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) HVAC equipment
- Use products that have low VOC levels (volatile organic compounds)
- Design for thermal comfort with individual control systems
- Provide occupant connection to the outdoor environment
- Increase opportunities for natural light and views to the outdoors
conservation of materials and resources
recycling, reusing, and creatively adapting materials to minimize waste
- Adopt a recycling program within the facility
- Recycle waste generated during demolition and construction
- Reuse or salvage materials to extend resource life cycle
- Use rapidly renewable and recycled materials
- Use certified environmentally preferred products
- Design with movable walls and multi-use spaces for flexibility
