Sustainable Consulting

Sustainability can be broadly defined as a balance between human needs and productivity of natural systems.

We believe that buildings and interiors should fit comfortably on their sites, and that neither the construction nor the operation of a well-designed building or its interior need impose an undue burden on the local environment or on the earth’s resources. Buildings in the United States consume more than 30 percent of the total energy load and 60 percent of the nation’s electricity; fourty percent of the country’s solid waste stream is generated during the construction and demolition of buildings.

As building owners, designers, architects, and engineers, we can have a significant impact on the protection of our fragile planet by making thoughtful design decisions. Sustainable design moves away from the disposable and destructive systems that are energy and resource intensive and moves closer toward systems that are more restorative. Sustainable design principles help promote regeneration of the natural environment, minimizing impact on its resources while affording sound economical development.

ENV is fully committed to this ethic and furthers that commitment by being active members of the US Green Building Council with LEED™ accredited professionals at all levels. Our approach to help achieve sustainability goals for your upcoming projects would be as follows:

• Early discussions with all stakeholders to review potential sustainable design ideas.
• Employ lessons learned from past LEED submission processes to streamline successful submission of this project.
• Coordinate and cooperate with the Owner’s commissioning agent as early as possible in the process.
• Clearly specify the contractor’s activities related to the certification process making it a prerequisite for payment at appropriate milestone points.