Sustainable Design

Integrating the concepts of sustainable site development and green building practice into the design process of each project is outlined by the USGBC, United States Green Building Council. This process allows the Owner, the Architect, the Engineer, and the Consulting Engineers to collaborate and establish realizable project goals that minimize the project’s adverse impact in the environment while maximizing the opportunities to provide healthy and productive building spaces. This process helps the design team identify specific site development strategies, water use and efficiency goals, energy efficiency, conservation and reuse of natural materials, selection of building materials and building systems that will ensure good indoor air quality and a healthy environment for the building users. LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), has emerged as a national standard to measure a building’s ‘Green’ performance. LEED is currently in use by the General Services Agency, US Air Force, US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of State, Department of Energy, US Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Numerous state and municipal governments across the nation have adopted this program as well to respond to the public’s demand for more responsible development. One of Tennessee’s first LEED buildings the Research Support Center for the Department of Energy has launched a database at Cope Associates, Inc. for material selections and development specifications that complement a green building program.