Design Strategies
Sometimes used interchangeably with the phrase “green building,” the design practice of sustainable architecture focuses on a building’s entire life cycle. Pfluger Associates incorporates the best practices of both green building and sustainable design to ensure that our architecture has a positive environmental impact during construction, occupancy and beyond. Our designs emphasize appropriate site planning, energy efficiency, use of renewable and recyclable materials and resources, and many other processes and products that work in harmony with nature and improve our quality of life.
Pfluger Associates begins work on a design strategy early on to develop the desired level of sustainability. In this process, we involve our client owners, those who will use the facility and appropriate outside disciplines.
Sustainability Levels
Level One
The first level of sustainability offers increased energy efficiency by utilizing materials and strategies that either add no cost or reduce the cost of the project. Level One design strategies include:
- Properly orienting the structure for daylighting
- Properly sizing and orienting windows with shading devices
- Grouping buildings together to preserve natural features of the site
- Using durable materials that require little maintenance
- Using regional construction materials
- Using low VOC emitting construction materials
- Low maintenance landscape
Level Two
The second level includes strategies that have a higher initial cost, but that will pay for themselves in less than 10 years through energy and water savings or reduced maintenance costs. In addition to incorporating all of the Level One design strategies, Level Two strategies incorporate:
- High performance HVAC systems
- High performance glazing systems
- Low maintenance construction materials
- Rainwater collection for irrigation
- Occupancy sensors and daylight dimming for lighting control
Level Three
The third level of sustainable design includes strategies that yield the highest levels of energy efficiency and LEED certification. Level Three strategies have a premium cost but yield gains that go far beyond cost savings. These strategies set the highest standards and often serve as an example and teaching tool to entire communities. Level Three strategies incorporate:
- Photovoltaics
- Solar hot water systems
- Graywater systems for interior plumbing systems
- Green roofs
The most important single goal of sustainable design is energy efficiency over the entire lifecycle of a building.
Pfluger Associates uses a variety of techniques to reduce the energy needs of buildings and increase their ability to
capture or generate their own energy. Our process requires thinking about the building and its site as a series of
interlinked and interdependent systems. We utilize passive techniques for design such as the manipulation of land
features, building form and exterior materials to manage the climate and get the most out of the materials at hand,
before involving electrical and mechanical assistance from energy-driven heating, cooling and lighting systems.