Smart design is how you proactively set yourself up for successful green living. In our work at MKD this means designing to use less, to collaborate with the landscape, and designing for longevity, flexibility, and living a beautiful, joyful, sustainable life. We can use these same ideas as general rules to live by: maximizing the utility of everything, allying with our environment, thinking long-term, remaining flexible, and always striving for beauty, joy, and sustainability. Smart design must be the foundation of any green life.
It has been famously observed that we are living in a material world, which makes it essential for us to consider the nature of the material in our green lives. When considering materials for use in our work we focused on finding high quality, eco-friendly elements. We use materials that are long-lasting and low maintenance. We love materials that are renewable, recyclable, reusable, and that allow us to reduce waste. These are the same qualities to look for whenever you bring something new into your life or when considering how to discard anything old.
There are so many smart and simple ways to be energy efficient. This is especially exciting from a green housing prospective; we can create homes that generate zero electricity bills through innovations leading to more energy efficient building envelopes, fixtures, appliances, heating and cooling systems as well as energy monitoring systems, sun shading, and alternative energy sources. Of course, your home is just one area of your life that can become energy efficient; energy efficiency can be a guiding principle in decisions having to do with everything from the transport you use to the food you eat.
The importance of water in our green lives cannot be stressed enough; every living thing on this planet depends on a clean, healthy water supply. This dependency connects us all to each other. The homes we design pay homage to the importance of water by incorporating elements that reduce water intake, re-use water where possible, and minimize storm water run-off. It’s no longer enough to just turn off the water while you brush your teeth; living green means respecting water and taking measures to conserve it whenever possible.
Going green is as much about personal wellbeing as it is about the wellbeing of the world in which we live. The homes we design at MKD are healthy living environments; they are free of off-gassing materials and include air filtration systems, foam insulation to protect against mold, and hard floor surfaces. A healthy environment and lifestyle, including everything from good food to good friends, is essential to green living. A sustainable life strikes a balance between the demands of work, concern for the planet and its people, and maintaining health, beauty, and joy in our daily existence.Fonte: http://blog.michellekaufmann.com/?page_id=768
Michelle Kaufmann é uma arquitetura Norte Americana especializada em projetos arquitetônicos residenciais sustentáveis.
Postagens
