From the ashes of disaster… Built Green

Adult students improving their skill set

I recently hired a small business marketing consultant to help me focus my marketing efforts and to fine tune my “message” in a soon to be unveiled website.  One of her recommendations was that I should focus energy on upgrading my “green” skills and marketing sustainable design services.  Oddly, I’d spoken about my business with her for 3 hours without once mentioning that I’ve been through “Built Green” training and that I designed the first homes in High Point to be 5 star certified “Built Green”.

I’ve become The Hungry Architect because the economy has taken such a toll on the housing market. The subprime crisis has had a major consequence on all of us connected to the real estate and building industries, and thousands of Seattle area architects and construction workers have been laid off in the past year. The good news is that there are some reports that the crisis is leveling out and that the housing market will begin to rise within the year.

Folks currently in the construction industry who are aiming to weather the effects of this subprime crisis should perhaps look into brushing up their skills in order to stand out among the fierce competition. Currently, there are several new building trends and practices that are starting to emerge. The biggest of these trends is “green-building,” which of course refers to the use of materials and practices which are generally more earth-friendly.

The beauty of this art lies in the fact that many of the practices are not only earth-friendly, but they can be more cost efficient if executed properly. For example, a geothermal heating and air conditioning unit utilizes the earth’s core temperature to minimize the amount of energy needed to maintain a constant temperature within a house. If you take a proper HVAC training course, you can learn to cut you clients’ AC and heating costs by up to 40%! Natural/high efficiency lighting, passive design strategies, proper insulation, and water efficiency practices are all other that should be implements into a properly built green house. While some of these techniques might cost more initially (as is the case with geothermal heating and AC), many people are starting to realize that these are investments that will pay for themselves. People can feel good knowing that they are helping about both themselves and the environment.

There are many construction management schools and design schools that can help you learn these “green” skills. Another possibility is to become a LEED certified technician, which can be earned through the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Being certified will strengthen your green building qualifications and contribute to your overall professional development. Those with an expertise in green building will be at an advantage as the demand for more efficient homes rises.

I’ve designed a bunch of “Built Green” homes.  In the coming year I’m going to take her advice and improve my sustainable design skills and perhaps even pursue LEED certification.