Sustainabillity

Sustainable architecture includes innovative designs or a thousand year old designs that are being rediscovered and will be adapted to modern lifestyle and to your personal needs while respecting a more sustainable lifestyle. Well-thought energy efficient concepts are important as they can reduce the energy necessity of your home to zero, something that is much harder to achieve with retrofitting of an existing building.

1. Hubbell and Hubbell Hubbell & Hubbell create places to heal the soul and renew the spirit through organic design and art solutions supporting sustainable ways of living. Artist James Hubbell has developed projects all over the world for more than 40 years. He works with his son, architect Drew Hubbell, and other members of the Hubbell team to harmonize the beauty of art with the functionality of architecture. Architect Drew Hubbell has pioneered the permitting of straw bales as a building material in the city and county of San Diego. He is committed to extending his father's artistic respect for nature into the practicalities of building materials, practices and processes.
2. Living Designs Group Living Designs Group, LLC is an architecture and engineering firm specializing in the integration of sustainable design elements for residential and commercial projects. “We are a group of LEED certified architects and engineers that incorporate conventional and alternative design solutions, while protecting the environment and preserving our precious natural resources.”
3. Common Sense Design is a small architecural design firm located in Sonoma County, California. “We work collaboratively to create innovative, non-generic buildings and places which are respectful of the local built traditions, thoughtfully integrated into the natural landscape, designed in consonance with the local climate, built with honest materials, and which evoke a sense of playfulness.We call it “spirited green architecture.”In addition to offering the full soup-to-nuts architectural services for small projects, we offer smaller bundles of practical, no-nonsense advice and design ideas in the form of design consultations as well as green building consultations.”
4. Epsten Group Architects Leading environmental architectural firm in Georgia. Special expertise in healthy home consulting, environmentally sound construction materials and specifications, energy and day lighting design, water conservation and treatment, and working with ecologically sensitive sites. Ms. Epsten’s design for an environmentally sound, affordable, prototype home has received national attention and an AIA award. The Epsten Group serves clients nationwide and abroad.
5. http://www.solardesign.com/index.html Solar Design Associates (SDA) is a group of architects and engineers dedicated to the design of sustainable buildings and the engineering and integration of renewable energy systems that incorporate the latest in innovative technology. Since its founding in 1974, the firm has earned an international reputation for the pioneering integration of renewable energy - especially solar-generated electricity - with environmentally responsive building design. The firm offers a wide diversity of services to private, commercial, research, and utility clients.
6. http://www.cyberg.com/ “We see sustainable design as an inseparable part of good design. Green principles are woven into all our projects, incorporated so that they enhance rather than compromise design. The project history includes a wide range of commissions from urban planning and large scale development to houses and additions to apartment, loft and house renovations and commercial interiors as well as the design of custom and production furniture.”
7. http://www.harrisonarchitects.com/ Our practice is based on principles of "lyrical sustainable design" - conserving energy and resources; using healthier materials and finishes; reducing long-term costs; and making poetic places. We believe that fundamentally "green" design is just "good" design. It makes sense economically, ecologically and spiritually. Full range of architectural and interior design services for residential and small commercial renovation and new construction.
8. Archibio, Eco-Housing Consulting GroupA non-profit organization founded in 1991. Our activities feature design and consulting work, workshops, lectures and written material. We have experienced all types of alternatives over the years including Cordwood Masonry and Straw Bale Construction. We have developed a unique Straw Bale Insulated Concrete Slab system, a green Living Roof system and a Composting toilet for owner-builders. Professional consulting work is offered under supervision by Michel Bergeron
9. Inveresk Architect BuildersA design-led, one-stop shop, providing complete design and construction services for sustainable buildings. Fundamental to our approach is the design and construction of buildings which will harmonise with the environment in a way that makes them appear to grow naturally from their surroundings. We design our buildings with the consideration of features, such as contours, materials, flora, solar orientation, wind direction and rainfall.
10. Bau-Biologie USAThe German term "Bau-biologie" means "building biology" or "the relationship between buildings and life". IBE's main purpose is to educate; to help people realize that health hazards, may exist in their homes and workplaces, even though they may not be aware of them, and that ignorance of these hazards may not only have an effect on their health, but in a wider sense, on the survival of this planet.

new technologies

New Building Technologies Can Reduce Quake Impacts
By:Henry Kelly

Building Simple Composite Materials
*foam fill coated by fibers reinforced by cement materials.

-during earthquakes proved to be more durable
-cheaper for buyers
-was initially intended for airplanes and cars, but is now available for homeowners
-attractive, safe, highly energy efficient, reduce the need for steel and wood, fire safe
-can match regional expectations for architectural style
-prevents mold and termite infestations
-reduces heating and air bills by half


CSIP By: Joe Hagerman
*cement structured insulated panels for multi story buildings.

-reduce construction time, operating time, and costs
-tested for multi story buildings for their strength, energy efficiency, quake and hurricane resistance and costs.