GREEN INTERIOR DESIGN  SERVICES

[article about choosing sustainable materials for interior design,  IN THE VOICE, IIDA Newsletter, Metro NYC Chapter, May 2005  by Carol Crawford

When it comes to sorting out the pros and cons of choosing and specifying sustainable materials for a client, decisions must be based on sensible reasons, as well as code restrictions, functionality, and aesthetics.  Where do you turn for guidance?

Generally speaking, it is bias that guides us and bias that confuses us.  If you are environmentally savvy, you understand that there are long-term consequences to factor into your material choices, such as prolonged off-gassing of harmful glues that make indoor air quality less than healthy for workers, particularly when windows are sealed and there is a closed HVAC system.  If you are a confirmed "cradle-to-cradle" tree-hugger, you are also concerned with how the product is made at the factory, whether its components deplete fossil fuels and un-renewable resources, or are inherently toxic;  You need to know the possible harmful by-products and post-industrial left-overs, like polluting effluents pouring from factory into stream, or if toxic components the leaking  into the surrounding earth and groundwater, creating brownfields;  where and how are solid wastes disposed, how much and what kind of energy is used for manufacture; what more energy costs accrue to transport the product to site use?  Finally, what happens when the product is worn out?  Is it dumped into landfill?  Burned? Re-cycled?  Re-claimed?  If so, how?  What are the energy and pollution consequences of that?  

As specifiers, we must also be able to address concern about the up-front costs of  "green" materials: are they really more expensive?  Are they worth it?  As the market for them has increased, the cost has come down dramatically.  There is a real need for a source for facts and of unbiased analysis in the search for "green" product choices, especially when a cost comparison with "non-green" materials is involved, as so often happens.  Few can afford the time or money for the full Monty of Life Cycle Analysis.

Groping for direction, we should first read the labels ...or ask the manufacturer for the specifications.  You can try the MSDS [Material Safety Data Base] files, many free on-line.  When the chemical descriptives make your eyes glaze over, you can seek an organization that is dedicated to certifying, one that has a good track record of careful analysis and honest reportage.   Greenguard is one of these; they are concerned with IAQ: Indoor Air Quality, and provide detailed analysis of off-gassing and other pollutants put into the air by the materials and products used for interiors.

There are also trade organizations which publish useful information on particular products when you need to know about installation and fiber or backing composition; but they are, understandably, industry spokespersons and lobbyists, and hardly impartial critics.   CRI, the Carpet and Rug Institute, has a helpful set of educational pamphlets about how carpets are made and installed.   They don't emphasize value judgements.  The Resilient Flooring Covering Institute [RFCI], however, actually filed a lawsuit in 2002 against the State of New York with Tarkett, Inc., in support of the PVC industry (polyvinyl chloride, or "vinyl" manufacturers], after New York established its "Green Building Tax Credit"  program which prohibits the use of vinyl flooring because of "serious environmental and public health concerns related to its production"*.  The State's Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, filed a defense of the pioneering program in May 2003, and the suit was withdrawn later that month.   Ironically, Gov. Pataki recently allowed PVC pipe to be used in buildings, a clear contradiction of his own program.  Ignorance?  Oversight?  Trade-off?  This kind of action leaves environmentally-concerned  blinking a lot.  

Aggressively partisan groups like Greenpeace and the Vinyl Institute tend to square off at extreme opposite poles on the issue of vinyl safety and use; both speak with authority and cite scientific studies to support their claims.  When you dig a bit, you begin to evaluate the weight and value of those claims.   Greenpeace is a well-known, even famous, non-profit group whose mission is Environmental Justice.   Since its founding in 1971, Greenpeace has tackled the most critical environmental issues. Today its work "focuses on six major efforts: saving ancient forests, eliminating the threat of genetic engineering, stopping global warming, ending the nuclear age, exposing toxic pollutants and protecting the oceans"*.   They also, along with the Healthy Building Network and Sierra Club, disseminate information on toxic materials.

 The Vinyl Institute, founded in 1982, "is a U.S. trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, vinyl chloride monomer, vinyl additives and modifiers, and vinyl packaging materials".   They also aggressively promote and defend the use of PVC.  Although the Vinyl Institute  proudly cites its contribution to Habitat for Humanity, promoting all-vinyl housing in poor communities,  the vinyl plants located in the poorest communities like Lake Charles, Louisiana, have some of the highest rates of cancer and pollution in the country, much of it documented as occurring in the air, water and earth surrounding the vinyl plants.  Judith Helfand, who produced the electrifying documentary film, "Blue Vinyl", in 2002, exposing the worst environmental offenses of the global vinyl industry, has in turn been highly criticized for her point of view, along with Greenpeace, by industries using vinyl in their products.   But even if you are not extreme in demonstrating that Nature's voice must be heard, you have to admit that intense dialogues such as these have been instrumental in raising public awareness of the environmental damages done through pollution and the ruthless harvesting of natural resources. 

We cannot forget that choices may be influenced by ideology ...some, good; some, bad.  If ideology drives an intent to save the planet, or, at least, to maintain the health and well-being of the public [... that certainly sounds like the basic ethical and legal mandate for certified interior designers], then it's good.  It can also induce an evangelistic fervor to educate your client and your colleagues.  That's not exactly bad, but it can be annoying, if not frustrating, as in the arguments for and against using PVC or "vinyl", whose non-use in or elimination from, a product, like carpet tile backing or textiles for healthcare, has become a plus-factor for marketing.   But when a product doesn't honestly fill the sustainable mold or if the existence of potentially harmful components are downplayed to capture market share, and the product is advertised as "green", ..then the disinformation and misinformation process begins.  It's  called "greenwashing"...and that's bad.  The word "green" has been converted into bait for customers concerned with environmental safety. 

The sad truth is that much of the information and commentary out there is driven by current government policies which overtly favor roll-back of environmental safeguards and favor industrial profit over human health and conservation of resources.  I don't advocate that designers become Pollution Police, but good old common sense is needed  to maintain a balanced perspective.  My mother, and probably yours, would admonish us..."just aim to do the right thing...and you know what that is!"  So, when evaluating the evaluators, and certifying the certifiers, always ask yourself who benefits, who pays?  Who is in whose pocket?  Next, ask yourself, "Is it hype for market share or is it passion for human welfare?" 

I tell my students on the first day we launch into a semester's study of materials and specification that we as designers have a moral responsibility to be honest advocates for our clients, and to educate them when needed.  But we have to educate ourselves, first.

Listed below are a few helpful information sources:

Various trade organizations: useful installation, maintenance data but not good for environmental hazards

L.E.E.D. NC or -CI guidelines for green construction and interior finishes  in terms of a point system of value, developed by the non-profit USGBC

USGBC:  United States Green Building Council, non-profit, established the L.E.E.D. green building rating standards and program; run GREENBUILD conference

ENVIRONDESIGN: annual conference on sustainable design, methods and materials; educational

NRDC National Resources Defense Council

EPA : Environmental Protection Agency, when it isn't party to politics

FSC Forest Stewardship Council certified wood from environmentally managed forests

MSDS http://www.ilpi.com/msds/#What  http://www.ilpi.com/msds/#Internet  http://msds.ehs.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp  to cite a few databases

Greenspec: subscription to constantly updated listings of green products and companies

EBN: Environmental building News; issues and materials

HBN:Healthy Building Network  keeps you abreast of the politics of environmental issues and the safety of materials in a frank, well-documented way

Greenguard / Greenguard Environmental Institute has a free educational program for Indoor Air Quality

Green@work  : magazine and website

http://www.greenbiz.com/

Greenclips: email news service

Environmental Design + Construction magazine (ED+C): great photos of sites, vendor lists

Metropolis Magazine: information; involvement in green issues, design, ICFF.

So intoned Dr. David Suzuki, in his keynote address for GreenBuild 2006 Members’ Day, as 13,000 of the 6.7 billion of us humans, having overrun the planet, swarmed into Denver, and heard that the doom foretold 25 years ago was upon us.  Would we listen, this time?  Suzuki,  zoologist, and  white-haired guru of environmental concerns, can be forgiven his passionate pronouncements.  He was an environmental activist and teacher long before the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio; and for 40 of his 70 years has been issuing warnings that our reckless consumerism was ruining life on the planet.  We have disconnected from Nature, and the world that spawned us, even while we’ve become the dominant species.  Would politicians or government help?  No.  There was only one politician he had encountered back in the ‘80’s who understood perfectly what handbasket we were creating to take us to Hell, and that one warned against counting on politicians for leadership..  Name?  Al Gore.  We have to help ourselves, he said.  Our human swarm, like lemmings, has at last arrived at the Big Dropping-Off Place, and it’s turn back or vanish from the earth.

Rick Fedrizzi, the CEO who helped launch the U. S. Green Building Council 5 years ago, cited some startling stats: there are now 33,000 L.E.E.D. APs---Accredited Professionals---number growing daily, and 68 chapters of the USGBC in the USA. There were 6000 registered certified L.E.E.D.  buildings by last November.  The big aim of the USGBC, Fedrizzi said, is sustainability within a generation: by 2030.  That includes the goal of 9 million certified green homes by 2010, and 1 million certified buildings by 2020.   The savings of natural resources in a “green” bulding is said to be 30% in energy, 35% carbon footprint reduction, up to 50% water saved and 50-90% waste reduced.  The prediction of a vast population explosion in the 21^st century makes water and energy of prime importance; by 2050 we may need two planets to suppport all of us.   Especially if the fishing industry collapses by 2048 as some project. 

CSI Greenformat: http://www.csinet.org/s_csi/docs/13800/13744.pdf ,  for reporting on construction product sustainability; it is being developed by the Construction Specification Institute whose coded categories the design-build industry cites for building material specification schedules.

Of the many seminars I attended, probably the most amazing was given by Prof. Terry Collins of Carnegie-Mellon University’s Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry in Pittsburgh, concerning his research in developing Fe-TAMLs.  They are versatile oxidizing catalysts made from benign natural elements that combine with hydrogen peroxide to convert pollutants into less toxic substances-- cleaning dyes from plant effluent, removing sulfur compounds from fuel, and pesticides from agricultural run-off.  A glimmer of hope for our earth’s dwindling potable water supply.

ARTICLE FOR FALL ISSUE, 2006, IIDA NEWSLETTER: Oct. 8, 2006

"GREEN CONFERENCING: IS IT WORTH THE TIME & MONEY?"

By Carol Crawford, NYSCID

For the past five years I've made a professional leap into conferencing.  It's expensive.  It's exhausting.  But I have found it worthwhile, and I think it's beneficial to assess its value---a kind of Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Value Engineering approach which most design professionals readily understand.

What I am referring to as a "green" conference is one focused entirely on issues of sustainable design, and embracing all design+build professions, NGO's and businesses.   The two biggest are Environdesign, held  in Spring, and Greenbuild in Fall.  Environdesign held its 10^th Annual in Toronto  April 25-27, 2006; Greenbuild, an event born of the U.S. Green Building Council, holds its fifth international in Denver November 14-18, 2006.  In the past five years intensive "green" seminar programs have been imbedded in trade fairs like Neocon or ICFF, but they cannot be compared to either Environdesign or Greenbuild in educational value.  It's all about intensity. 

Of the two, Environdesign is the pioneer and the premier inspirational conference; it has always been a compass to guide designers in developing intelligent, effective attitudes toward global environmental safety.  It has been the  idealistic "heart" of the professional green movement, appealing to educators, environmentalists,  corporate CEO's and scientists, as well as professionals in the design-build industries.  William McDonough, Michael Braungart, Janine Benyus, Ray Anderson, David Orr, and other seminal thinkers and speakers have been keynoters;   Until 2006, its Product Learning Center was extensive and excellent.  Its book display has been alluring for any bibliophile who wants to develop a library shelf on sustainability.  It's early growth was exponential: from 100 to 1200 in three years, approximately.   It is not, however, huge.  It has plateaued  at a maximum of about 2500 attendees.  Perhaps interest in basics has reached its limit; the conference seems to be dwindling.  

Greenbuild is huge.   During its first year, in Austin, Texas, the organizers frantically sought accommodation for more than 2500, which number increased during the conference, itself.  A relative newcomer, Greenbuild is growing much larger and faster than Environdesign.  In 2005 it claimed about 10,000 attendees.   Its trade exhibition component boasts over 700 vendors expected in 2006.   It is sponsored by the U. S. Green Building council, a nonprofit coalition of more than 6,000 private companies, nonprofits and governmental agencies

As the mastodon in the room, however, Greenbuild is impressive but impersonal.   On a comprehensive, educational level, big is not better.  It has seemed to me to be more hard-edged, more directed toward architects and engineers than designers, and a can-do, how-to, approach, rather than aiming toward capturing hearts and minds.   You might want to counteract the thrill of pure population density by checking your New Yorker's Coping Manual.   I've read that they expect 15,000 to attend this year.

The development of L.E.E.D. standards grew out of the U.S.G.B.C. and is a major component of Greenbuild: 15 L.E.E.D. workshops and seminars are offered in 2006.   Because of Greenbuild's large scale, there is a large-scale sharing of information and ideas.  During the November 2005 conference in Atlanta,  attendees produced  "the New Orleans Principles" , which address the issues of rebuilding New Orleans post-Katrina.   The protocol was accomplished by a quartet of monster charrettes involving over 200 firms and people.  It took over two months to collate and present for public engorgement.

The cost of attending one of these "green" conferences is not so much in the fees alone, which for any conference can vary from $100-$1500,  but for the accommodations and travel.  Most meals are included in the basic fee,  and that first hurdle is often cut dramatically by registering early.  Students may pay as little as $100, or nothing if they work as service volunteers.  This year, Environdesign cost $595 for 2 ½ days, less 20% for educators and students, and 15% less for government employees.  Each conference charges less than 1/5 the full cost for partial programs, and passes for just the product exhibit alone cost as little as $25.  Special pre- and post-conference workshops, such as L.E.E.D., and site tours cost extra, from $35 to $475 each.

What do you get for all that money?  

• EDUCATION: Workshops and seminars  with a wide choice of topic tracks: at least 4 sessions per  day, replete with expert-led show-and-tell
• CEU'S GALORE in a neat bunch---often enough for a few years' credits as stipulated by your license, re-certification rules, or professional organization
• A Product Learning Center [i.e. intensely eco-friendly trade fair] where attendees can view, and compare, hands-on,  huge numbers of new green materials, products, and technological advances, obtain samples, talk to knowledgeable reps
• Extensive book market displays of relevant works on sustainable design to purchase or order; Bibliophiles are forewarned to take a tranquilizer.
• Pre- and post-conference workshops that explore sustainable design practices in comprehensive detail , such as L.E.E.D.
• Half-day and whole-day guided Site Tours of some of the local area's greatest green buildings, with plenty of chances to photograph; wear comfortable shoes

• Networking: at  parties, special events and communal mealtimes, sitting at round tables, seated opposite at least nine other people you don't know' and have to talk to with your mouth full

• Opportunity to have enlightening conversations with accomplished thinkers and doers; many an epiphany has ocurred under these conditions, and, if you are a teacher,  it can't hurt you

• Opportunity to listen to the experiences, thoughts and opinions of hundreds of people at least as smart as you are, from all over the world

After a heavy dose of all these goodies for five years, I can honestly say that my top favorites are definitely the site tours, which are usually phenomenal trips, even to off-shore islands or other communities, with lunch and comraderie thrown in; second, the product show and book markets.   Next, the dialogues and presentations, both inspirational and factual.  The intensity of input puts me, I confess, back into freshman mode, aiming my antlers into those headlights. 

Summing up,  "green conferencing" is an efficient way designers can learn how to use their skills to help correct global environmental problems.   We might even say that a true definition of "Intelligent Design" is that it's "green".