Tassled shoes or boots?

Many people judge a person by the car they drive or clothes they wear.  This judgement can include social or economic status, level of education, ability and knowledge, and skill.  But can you really determine these qualities by outward appearance?

I was working as a project manager for store planning associates in San Francisco in the 80's, designing large retail stores for Macy's, Norstroms, The Emporium, I Magnin.  As one of our more interesting projects, I went on a property condition survey field trip with the senior architect in the firm.  Our task was to visit the Macy's retail buildings for a corporate buyer, documenting the type and condition of Macy stores throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. 

We planned out our route to minimize travel, trying to visit two to three stores a day.  Even so, we were traveling for a month.  Our method was to first arrange a meeting with the store manager, who would show us the facility.  We would take notes on adequacy of parking, type of construction, building features, and condition of the facility and plant. 

The senior licensed architect I traveled with was around 55 years old.  He would always dress well but with a quirky bow tie. I was around 25 years old at the time, and wore nice slacks,  a button down shirt and tie to the surveys.  Inevitably as we approached the store manager's receptionist to start our survey, I was generally ignored and conversation was directed to the senior architect. 

A curious thing started to happen when I started to wear a suit.  All conversation was directed at me, and the senior architect was ignored!  I was the wet behind the ears recent graduate, and the obviously older senior architect had 30 years experience.  In the eyes of the receptionist, fashion was more important than experience, knowledge or even an architects license. 

In spite of this lesson, when the weather is nice I still drive my motorcycle to local jobs wearing a black leather jacket and boots.  I'm able to avoid traffic and tolls, get 50 miles to the gallon, and have a lot of fun traveling fast instead of being stuck in a metal box.  Sadly, some clients expect, want and are willing to pay extra for the architect to pull up in a Mecedes or at least a BMW, wearing tassles on his shoes. I realize the motorcycle and leather jacket put off some clients and I've lost work because of it, but that is who I am.  I'm an outside-the-box thinking individual providing unique architectural designs.  I do wear a suit and tie to design review or other formal meetings.  For those occasions clothes are another tool to obtain approval of the project I'm presenting, much like an artistic rendering.  But I have too much fun on a motorcycle to forgo it solely for fashion or expectations. 

If anyone expects me to wear shoes with tassels, you should find a conventional architect. One who is fearful of leaving the safety of an automobile or the boundaries of architectural convention.  If you are able to judge a person on their appearance, you will be more satisfied with an architect of style and little substance, one that meets your expectations.  

Residential Green Building

There are two organizations promoting green building in the United States: The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and Build It Green (BIG).  The USGBC through their  'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design' program (LEED) originally promoted green building measures for commercial buildings, but recently added residential green building standards.  LEED has enjoyed national use.  Build It Green, started in Berkeley, has promoted residential green building in California with 'Greenpoints Rating'.  Both organizations provide training and certification credentials for builders and design professionals. 

The State of California has been a leader in requiring water and energy conservation, alternate energy sources, and sustainable design.  They first addressed energy conservation in 1978 with Title 24 part 6 - the California Energy Code.  In 2011 they adopted and enforced Cal-Green, the California Green Building Standards Code. In addition to LEED type standards for commercial buildings, the residential portion of Cal-Green is almost a copy of build-It-Green's Greenpoints, requiring new home construction meet a required number of points chosen from a variety of sustainable building measures chosen from a checklist.  Local jurisdictions are required to adopt and enforce State Building Codes, however, many already require buildings meet the slightly more stringent LEED and Greenpoint ratings.  In July 2012 Cal-Green will also require green measures for remodels to existing homes.  The State Cal-Green Building Code allows individual cities and towns to adopt more stringent green building measures.  

Many towns and cities have included Greenpoint requirements in their residential building codes, but the threshold that triggers application, the qualifications of designers making applications, and the review and enforcement of Greenpoint measures differ greatly between authorities.  Luckily, the actual measures that earn points to achieve a Greenpoint rating have not been changed.  Greenpoints can be earned in five general areas: Community Design; Energy Efficiency; Water Conservation; Resource Conservation; and Indoor Air Quality.  For a new residence, there are approximately 200 different green building elements arranged in 16 different categories.  

Most Greenpoint measures require slightly more initial construction expense but by reducing maintenance or operating costs, are less expensive or even more economical in the long run. An obvious example of this would be the measures that reduce  energy use but pay back over time with reduced heating and cooling costs.  A less obvious measure that reduces both energy and maintenance costs is the points earned for larger roof overhangs.  Larger overhangs keep homes cool in summer with the shade they create, and also reduce rain weathering, extending the life of exterior paint and reducing the chance for wall leaks.  If the home is located on the site for passive solar heating, overhangs also can be configured to allow sun in the winter but block the sun during the summer. 

Some Greenpoint measures do not add to initial construction cost but require more planning and design.  An example of this is constructing water efficient landscapes.  In California's dry summers, drought resistant planting uses less water.  This saves some costs from reduced irrigation requirements, but also saves the electricity used by pumps to transport water.  Other measures if incorporated into your home will increase construction costs.  Forest Steward Certified (FSC) rated wood is more expensive then clear cut lumber.  The destruction of habitat and the environment is not computed in the purchase price.  It can be argued that FSC wood is less expensive in the long run.  Proper forest management will allow the continued harvest of timber lands while clear cut logging methods will eventually deplete this resource and create scarcity.  As more green products are used, the cost of green building materials will come down. 

Whether designing a new home or remodeling your existing residence, Greenpoint green building measures are easy to achieve with some planning.  Careful selection is needed for some building components to take advantage of rebate incentives or tax breaks offered by utility companies, counties and states.  The goal is to achieve a healthier home to live in while also creating a healthier and sustainable environment.