Sustainable design demystified

Thoughts from Shelter team member Piper Donlin, Allied ASID

Why should we care about sustainability in the context of the built environment?

In short, we have an increasing population and a finite amount of resources. The combined residential and commercial sectors account for about 28% of total energy consumed in the United States. Broken down by source, the majority of electricity is produced from natural gas, coal and nuclear energy, all of which are all non-renewable. And where is all that electricity going? In the Midwest, mostly to heating and cooling, lighting, and water heating of buildings.

This misuse and overuse of resources (like fossil fuels) to power homes and buildings has contributed to changes in our climate. As a species, we’ve reached a point where we need to rethink the way we live in order to sustain the planet for future generations, and one way to do this is through more intentional, environmentally conscious design. These are all things that, as designers for the built environment, we are keenly aware of.

What is sustainable design?

Sustainable design is the philosophy of creating a built environment guided by the principles of economic, social, and environmental health. Its goal is twofold: To improve the health and well-being of occupants in a building, and minimize impact to the natural environment.

Research indicates that humans respond to our environment subconsciously and benefit from sunlight, wind, birdsong, and running water in our daily lives to rest, recover from mental fatigue, and restore/reflect. Biophilic design is just one example of how we promote sustainability through wellbeing in our work, helping connect indoor spaces to natural surroundings. Other sustainable design approaches, including eco-friendly building certifications, also help us create more Earth-friendly structures. Design is a powerful tool for change in more than one way.

The evolution of sustainable design

Important environmental legislation and international standards were established in the ’60s and ’70s, and the concept of sustainable development was first introduced globally around the same time. As the impending consequences of climate change have continued to mount since then, we’ve seen a shift towards more resilient building approaches (i.e. floating homes), sustainably sourced materials (i.e. avoiding the “red list”), renewable energy methods (i.e. geo-thermal heating and cooling), and healthy interiors (i.e. biophilic design).

What does sustainable design mean to Shelter?

Since hanging out our shingle in 2004, Shelter has pledged to create beautiful environments that can save energy, reduce pollution, and inspire people. After all, Shelter was originally founded to meet the growing desire and need for sustainable residential design. And we designed one of the first LEED Platinum-certified homes in Minnesota.

With 20 years of experience under our belts, earth-friendly design is baked into our process. Our clients continue to ask for more efficient homes, more materials with fewer chemicals, and more guidance on how to live sustainably. Our pursuit of comprehensive methods and standards for sustainable design helps promote well-being amongst our clients and the planet.

What does sustainable design look like at Shelter?

We use a number of different metrics and certifications to guide our sustainable design decisions, but five main principles inform our firm’s thinking around this topic:

We also utilize a variety of sustainable building certifications and tools that inform selection, construction, and performance standards, including:

• Living Building Challenge
• Core Green Building Certification
• LEED Certification
• Declare Label

How else do we approach sustainability?

We also aim to achieve an equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment through:

• Passive design strategies: To make the most of solar heat gain in the winter and passive cooling in the summer, we position new homes to account for the impact of sunlight. Passive energy can make spaces more comfortable without requiring the use of air conditioning or heat. For example, when we designed the Flower Valley Homestead residence, we conducted a solar study to determine optimal positioning of the house on the site to take advantage of sunlight in the winter while avoiding harsh sun exposure in the summer.
• Tight building envelopes: We consider a building’s envelope, the separator between interior and exterior, since this impacts energy efficiency, air quality, noise transfer, and daylighting. We design spaces that are airtight and extremely well insulated.
• Square footage efficiency: Designing right-sized, efficient spaces means cutting down on materials, less energy used to heat and cool the space, and ultimately saves our clients money.
• High-grade appliance selections: We only specify appliances that are Energy Star certified and have a WaterSense label to cut back on electricity use and water consumption.

What can you do as a homeowner to be more environmentally conscious?

For those of us in the Midwest, first grab the low hanging fruit and cut overall energy use by:

• Scheduling a free, in-home energy audit with your electric provider
• Replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDs
• Replacing traditional plumbing fixtures with low-flow alternatives
• Installing a smart thermostat to regulate temperatures when you’re not home
• Re-insulating or repairing weatherproofing to seal leaky windows and doors
• Replacing outdated appliances with Energy Star certified selections
• Installing an on-demand water heater
• Calling your utility company to opt into renewable electricity (it’s easy and relatively inexpensive)

You can also consider the following more involved solutions:

• Replacing old windows
• Solar panels
• Heat pumps
• Geothermal heating and cooling
• Air to air heat exchange system

Our time-tested approach

Sustainable design and building practices will only become more important and in demand as climate change effects worsen. As it has been since our founding, Shelter’s approach to sustainable design is all encompassing. From the way we strategize a building’s envelope, to how it produces energy, to interior material selections and biophilic design integration, our goal remains the same as it was 20 years ago when we opened our doors: To create beautiful, functional environments that contribute to a healthier, more humane world.

Want to explore sustainable design solutions for your home or business? Let’s talk.