Sustainability: Not Just A Perk

We took a fabulous class in school at WSU, taught by a memorable professor, Tom Bartuska. The class was called, The Built Environment, and it taught us just how important it was for us as designers to consider our work as a part of the environment, engaging with the surrounding ecosystem and utilizing natural resources in a way that gave back to the environment. In essence, our building designs should become a part of nature.

When we graduated, we went in slightly different directions. Sean worked at larger firms designing healthcare buildings, then embassies. Rachel worked at smaller firms, designing residences, with the biggest projects being schools and tenant improvements. Sean’s work embraced sustainability as an expectation for commercial work. Rachel’s commercial work accepted sustainability, but the residential projects often saw sustainability as an energy-saving “perk” and a long-term potential for cost savings. Today, with eco-friendly design finally making waves, the industry is riding the wave, using greenwashing to mislead the residential consumer.

After about 5 years of designing independently, Rachel stopped asking clients how important sustainability was to them because it simply wasn’t at all. Sustainability is not a perk. It is a responsibility. 

As children, we never saw the red skies that come from local wildfires. We never had to worry about whether our air was clean enough to go outside. We didn’t watch king tides in awe, wondering why peoples’ homes were built so close to the beach because they were flooding. We remember talking about hairspray putting a hole in the ozone, but we didn’t FEEL the ramifications of global warming. It didn’t feel real.

Our children tell us it’s a good summer when the fires don’t keep them indoors, even more of a reason to ensure that our indoor air is clean. They walk to the beach with us multiple times yearly to watch the road and neighbors’ homes flood. Our children are feeling climate change, and we’re fed up with the attitude that all that matters is saving a buck. Our grandchildren are worth investing in; therefore, at Waldron Designs, we don’t offer sustainability as an option but as an expectation. Read more about our commitment to sustainability.

We know that remodeling and building is expensive. We know that not everyone can afford custom design, and that feels elitist and unfair. We also know that beautiful designs can be done with less, and sometimes sacrificing a little for a sustainable space that makes us feel good ensures that our grandchildren will breathe quality air is worth it.

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