BridgeGreen : bridging the disconnect between design professionals and resources fro environmentally, socially, and economically responsive architecture

Abstract

Sustainable design, whether referred to as green, high performing, responsible, or environmentally, socially, and economically responsive architecture, is influencing the global building industry. Most major firms of architecture including Gensler, Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum, and Skidmore Owings and Merrill, are designing green buildings. Growth in programs like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the United States and Great Britain's respective green building rating programs, illustrate the rising trend to go "green" within the industry. There are many obstacles facing the growth of the green building industry. While most architects admit green architecture is non-dismissable, because of these obstacles, they continue to design a majority of buildings with little consideration for environmental impact. Many of these obstacles can be overcome with the right resources. Resources already exist to assist designers in lessening the environmental impact of buildings. However, there is a clear disconnect between available resources and the design professionals they target. Professionals, for the most part, do not know what these tools are, where to find them, who should use them, and when to use them in the design process. This thesis bridges this disconnect between design professionals and available resources. It suggests appropriate strategies for a prescribed design phase based upon environmental impact, building system, and design professional, and presents a list of resources for each strategy. Its aim is to disseminate resources to the appropriate professionals so that they can make informed decisions during the design process relative to environmental impact. Manifested in the form of an interactive web-based tool, it lends itself to future development. An increase in informed decisions will inevitably decrease the negative impact buildings have on the environment.