Demand for Green Design Increases

Architecture and interior design students will see green design become a larger priority as they enter the industry.

by Joe Cooper
Interior Design School Search Columnist

As energy costs continue to rise, the drive to conserve has never been stronger. From public infrastructure to private architecture, an appropriate green design can reduce water and energy costs by as much as thirty percent. As a result, architecture and interior design students must learn to provide future clients with environmentally-friendly design options.

Designing Green

For architecture and interior design students, green design is an increasingly important issue. New architecture and interior design regulations are constantly in development to protect the environment and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. Many new buildings under construction nationwide are attracting buyers and investors with the low-cost promises of green design.

Sustainable Design Tips

The Natural Resources Defense Council offers a few useful tips for green design:

• Green roofs (also called planted roofs) insulate against outdoor temperature extremes and help absorb much of the storm water that would otherwise flow into overtaxed public drainage systems.
• Under-floor air systems deliver room temperature air from the floor level and allow it to rise naturally, reducing the need for fans to push the air down from above.
• Green lighting design elements like skylights and high-performance windows help maximize natural light exposure, reducing electricity and gas consumption.
• Besides helping to conserve energy and resources, eco-friendly designs may also help your architecture gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. A nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, LEED certification can act as a key selling point for buyers interested in sustainable building projects.

Green Design: It Starts in School

Professional emphasis on green design has awoken a newfound educational focus on the same. For example, one North Carolina school recently held a sustainable design contest for design and architecture students. The winning house design met budget and energy conservation standards while matching the style of surrounding houses.

With increased demand for eco-conscious design in both public and private architecture, many colleges and universities are incorporating sustainable design concepts into architecture and interior design programs. If you’re concerned about environmental sustainability, architecture might not have been your first career choice. Still, with design and architecture programs emphasizing green design more than ever before, today you have the very real opportunity to design a greener world tomorrow.

Source(s)

The Appalachian
National Resources Defense Council
U.S. Green Building Council

About the Author

Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor’s in American Literature from UCLA.

Posted on February 13, 2007 at 5:24 PM

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