Design choices early on can have a significant impact on the sustainability of your building, property and resources in the future. Sustainable building alternatives can increase efficiencies, sustain the environment and create significant economic return.
Many non-profits cannot justify the high expense involved with LEED Certification, which includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings aimed to help owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.
However, there are a number of sustainable concepts that ministries and other non-profits can incorporate into the design of their building to reduce life cycle costs and lower its impact on the environment, which allows us to glorify God through our careful stewardship of His creation.
Don Mahoney, Principal Architect at Building God’s Way, formerly led a committee for the American Institute of Architects called C.O.T.E. – Committee on the Environment & Energy. When Don joined BGW in 2003, he brought a wealth of knowledge in this area of sustainable building. However, BGW ministry clients that attempted to achieve LEED certification were seldom able to accomplish the requirements for the project because they were cost-prohibitive. This led to the establishment of BGW’s unique approach, called “Green Stewardship”, which focuses on realistic sustainable strategies that ministries can incorporate into their projects.
Building Orientation & Envelope
Design choices early on can have a significant impact on the sustainability of your building, property and resources in the future. Sustainable building alternatives can increase efficiencies, sustain the environment and create significant economic return.
Many non-profits cannot justify the high expense involved with LEED Certification, which includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings aimed to help owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.
However, there are a number of sustainable concepts that ministries and other non-profits can incorporate into the design of their building to reduce life cycle costs and lower its impact on the environment, which allows us to glorify God through our careful stewardship of His creation.
The architects understanding of heat transfer and how certain building materials can be used to impede it is the first step in meeting this objective. In addition to energy-efficient insulation, this also includes the use of windows with Low-E glass that reflect heat, the strategic placement of windows, sky lights and doors to avoid west-facing glass where possible, and the consideration of light-colored, highly reflective roofing materials. By making sound decisions early on in the design process about the building orientation and envelope, there is less solar heat load to contend with, resulting in lower HVAC system costs and improved indoor thermal comfort.
Don Mahoney, Principal Architect at Building God’s Way, formerly led a committee for the American Institute of Architects called C.O.T.E. – Committee on the Environment & Energy. When Don joined BGW in 2003, he brought a wealth of knowledge in this area of sustainable building. However, BGW ministry clients that attempted to achieve LEED certification were seldom able to accomplish the requirements for the project because they were cost-prohibitive. This led to the establishment of BGW’s unique approach, called “Green Stewardship”, which focuses on realistic sustainable strategies that ministries can incorporate into their projects.
Innovative Building Systems & Products
The architect’s specifications of products within the building will have a major impact on energy efficiency through long-term maintenance and operation costs. Architects working on ministry-based projects should carefully select innovative products that extend the life of your building and bring ongoing savings. Church Architects and Christian school designers should be focused on specifying the most innovative and highest quality products that can deliver not only the best up-front savings, but also the lowest long term “life-cycle” costs.
There are a wide range of manufacturers that offer innovative and energy efficient solutions, from maintenance free flooring products that are made from recycled or recyclable materials to restroom fixtures that reduce water usage by as much as 60%. In addition to being good stewards of God’s creation, architects should be focused on ensuring that ministry buildings remain affordable to operate and maintain, so that these dollars can be invested back into ministry objectives.