GREEN DESIGN

DSA is committed to green, or sustainable, design. Sustainability is achieved through a variety of choices in the design process, including:

• Environmentally sensitive site development.
• Passive solar design, using nature’s breezes and the sun to reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Structural design to reduce the amount of lumber used.
• Design to reduce water consumption, to reuse gray water, and to capture and utilize rainwater.
• Incorporate active solar energy (solar hot water heating, solar electrical generation, geothermal energy).
• Select interior finishes (paints, flooring, cabinets, stone and tile) to maximize recycled materials and improve indoor air quality.
• Select exterior materials to decrease solar heat gain in temperate climates.
• Use energy efficient lighting.
• Use sustainable, formaldehyde-free insulation.
• Energy efficient windows.
• Landscape: plants selection to reduce water use and to properly shade structures, and hardscape design to reduce water runoff.

In many ways, a remodel can be considered more ‘green’ than building a new structure, especially if what is demolished from the structure is reused or recycled, and the additions are carried out in a way to make the overall building more sustainable.