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1. Beyond Interior Design

Interior Design
and Global Impacts
2007

Where Design Comes to Life

ASIDcover1sp.qxd 11/7/06 6:21 PM Page 2

INTERIOR DESIGN AND

GLOBAL IMPACTS 2007
1. Beyond Interior Design
2. Indoor Air Quality
3. Materials & Products
4. Selling Green
5. Reference Guide

SPONSORED BY

Where Design Comes to Life

American Society of Interior Designers

Beyond Interior Design
Interior Design
and Global Impacts

2006

ONE OF FIVE PAPERS ON TOPICS IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Other papers in the series

Indoor Air Quality
Selling Green
Materials and Products
Reference Guide

Research/Writing Team
Kirsten Childs, ASID, LEED AP
Cris Argeles, 7 group
Holley Henderson, H2 Ecodesign, LLC
Scot Horst, 7 group
Nadav Malin, BuildingGreen, Inc.

Editors
Tristan Roberts and Allyson Wendt, BuildingGreen, Inc.

Design and Layout

Julia Jandrisits, BuildingGreen, Inc.

Graciously sponsored by
Lightolier
Steelcase
TOTO
Tricycle
VISTA
Wilsonart Laminate
 2006 American Society of Interior Designers
608 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002-6006
www.asid.org

All rights reserved. This publication, or parts thereof, may not be

reproduced in any form without written permission of the American
Society of Interior Designers.

Printed in the United States of America.

Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF KEY CONCEPTS .......... 3

2 THE BASICS OF INTEGRATED DESIGN .................................. 4

Traditional Design .................................................................. 4
Integrated Design ....................................................................5
Integrated Design and Sustainability .....................................7

3 INTEGRATED DESIGN AND THE INTERIOR DESIGNER ......... 9

The Role of the Commercial Interior Designer ..................... 9
The Role of the Residential Interior Designer ...................... 9
The Designers Role Beyond Design
and Construction ............................................................ 11

4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES ..................................... 11
Natural Resource Depletion .................................................. 11
Energy Use ............................................................................ 15
Pollution ............................................................................... 17

5 INTEGRATED DESIGN AND GREEN BUILDING

RATING SYSTEMS .................................................................. 20

ENDNOTES .................................................................................... 21
APPENDIX: QUESTIONNAIRE .................................................... 22
 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF KEY CONCEPTS 3

1 Introduction and Overview of Key Concepts

Interior design doesnt exist in a vacuum. It is an integral part of any building

construction or renovation project. Building interiors are tted with materials,
products and systems from a network of raw materials that stretches around the
globe. And the occupants of those spaces use energy and other resources in ways
that are driven, at least in part, by the design of the space itself. Good interior
design, and especially sustainable interior design, must be informed by all
these interconnections and impacts.

Buildings, their supporting infrastructure and their associated maintenance rep-

resent an enormous proportion of mankinds direct and indirect impact upon the
environment. Although the total impact of buildings goes far beyond energy use,
the construction and operation of residential and commercial buildings consumed
40 percent of the energy1 and 72 percent of electricity produced in the United
States in 2003.2

The production of energy from fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil
requires extraction, renement and transportation, all of which have major envi-
ronmental impacts. The actual generation of electricity, as well as the combus-
tion or burning of fossil fuels for heat and transportation, result in the release
of air pollutants, which cause acid rain, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2).
The United States, with less than ve percent of the worlds population, gener-
ated approximately 24 percent of the worlds total energy related carbon dioxide
emissions in 2002.3 Sustainable Design
Beyond this enormous consumption of fossil fuels, buildings and their interiors The practice of designing
are responsible for widespread depletion of natural resources, including the use buildings (and other things)
of land, raw materials and water. Recent surveys show that rural land is being so that they exist in harmony
converted to roads, buildings and industrial uses at the rate of approximately with natural systems. Ideally,
2.2 million acres per year.4 Nationally, it is estimated that 408 billion gallons of the resulting buildings con-
water were withdrawn from natural sources for use during 2000.5 Further, the tribute to human and ecosys-
construction, operation, maintenance and renovation of buildings and interiors tem health while minimizing
generates waste and pollution in many forms, creating local and global changes. harm from their construction
Sustainable design is a way of thinking that considers the impact of these issues and operation.
on the environment and on human health in the context of building and construc-
tion. By taking an informed approach to the way design decisions are made, begin-
ning with an understanding of how every choice aects the environment, interior
designers can begin to help mitigate these impacts. Interior design is a key aspect
of any green building process. It is the design discipline that is most explicitly
concerned with how people will experience their built environments and therefore
has huge implications for human health, well-being and productivity, all central
tenets of sustainable design.

Choices made in designing an interior space have environmental and human

health implications that extend far beyond the space itself into the neighbor-
hood, region and the whole planet. Sustainable design asks designers to expand
their conventional thinking and to focus holistically on the occupants of the
homes and other buildings. This approach requires the designer to address
issues relating to the health and well-being of occupants, as well as issues of
how design choices will aect the environment.
4 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

Integrated design is a collaborative design process that has two sides: one, the
recognition of the interconnectedness of dierent building systems, and two, ex-
tending that same recognition by seeing how professionals who are responsible
for dierent building systems have important information to oer each other.

The key to integrated design in a residential or commercial project is com-

munication. Participation early in the project by all team memberspreferably
before the schematic design phase startsallows each professional within the
team to draw on the expertise of the others in the development of a rened and
cohesive design. This early coordination avoids duplication of eort and common
errors that result from lack of seeing the big picture. If a knowledgeable team
communicates eectively about the sustainability goals, their project is likely to
demonstrate excellent environmental characteristics while providing a high-
quality interior environment.

For both the interior space and the building as a whole to perform optimally,
interior design cannot be seen as a separate, isolated discipline, but needs to
be an integral part of the overall design approach. The interior designer on a
residential or a commercial project should be engaged as a key participant from
the beginning of the design process, and can contribute to decisions related to
site selection, orientation, massing, and mechanical and electrical system design
with an understanding of how those choices will aect spaces inside the building.
While some aspects of this paper will have direct implications for interior design,
the overall goal is to familiarize the interior designer both with broader environ-
mental considerations, as well as with a tool, integrated design, that provides an
avenue for full recognition of these considerations in the building process.

2 The Basics of Integrated Design

Because of the complexities of dierent building components and systems,
understanding those systems requires specialized knowledge. Specialized roles
have therefore been created around the design, construction and maintenance of
buildings and interiors. The roles can include those of the architect, interior de-
signer, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineer and general contrac-
tor. In a large and complex project, many more roles can exist.

Although the design of any building or interior requires the work of all of these
professionals, the design process is not traditionally collaborative. A more collab-
orative process, integrated design, will be contrasted with the traditional pro-
cess to better illustrate opportunities for more environmentally benecial design.

Traditional Design
Traditional design is a linear process in which no team member is fully cognizant
of the methodologies and goals of other members. When one member of the
project team completes his or her portion of the project, the drawings are
handed o to the next member of the team to complete the next portion, and
so on down the line.
 THE BASICS OF INTEGRATED DESIGN 5

For example, once the architect has completed the schematic design, the structur-
al engineer engineers the building in accordance with the preliminary drawings,
then the mechanical engineer designs the building systems within the constraints
that resulted from these schematics. Finally, after these key decisions have been
made, the interior designer receives the drawings, too late to provide feedback
about most aspects of the buildings design. At this stage, it would be both time
consuming and expensive to make changes to the baseline documents, so many
opportunities to tailor the interior design are lost.

The traditional design process is good at producing buildings that achieve

conventional performance levels. But if a projects goals include high-energy
performance and exceptional human comfort and health, this process, even
when each individual has good intentions, fails to capitalize on opportunities
to bridge dierent areas of expertise. For example, the architect may design a
building with large expanses of south-facing windows, which he or she perceives
as beneting the buildings lighting and heating. By the time the MEP engineer
sees the design, however, it is too late to add exterior light shelves, which would
limit glare and heat gain during the hottest times of day. He or she is forced to
engineer a larger system to compensate for the likelihood of enormous heat gain
associated with the large southern exposure.

Finally, the interior designer may have wanted to specify raised access oors with
underoor air distribution as a strategy for a exible oce layout, but the engineer
has already specied a detailed ventilation system using the ceiling plenum for
distribution. Nor did the designer have the opportunity to suggest to the architect
a dierent module size for the buildings structural system that might work more In a traditional design process, a
eciently with the clients existing systems furniture, and which might have al- series of plans are handed from
lowed for greater daylighting potential and less wasted interior space. one member of the design team to
the next, oering few opportuni-
In this traditional approach, in either a commercial or residential project, the ties for collaboration.
architect, engineer, interior designer and the client may never sit down together
to discuss and understand the goals of the project. As a result, individual team
members typically end up inadvertently working at cross purposes.

Integrated Design
Integrated design is a collaborative design process that recognizes the relations
among building systems and among the team members that design and install
those systems. Integrated design therefore requires participation of all members
of a project team in order to optimize the performance of the building and the
way in which it is built. The integrated design process, including participation by
the interior designer, is already widely recognized in commercial building and
renovation projects, and a body of knowledge has grown about its application.
These concepts are, with little modication, equally applicable to new homes
and residential renovations.

An integrated design process often begins with a charrette, a group brainstorm-

ing session often taking place over a number of days, which can eectively kick
o the project design by providing a forum for articulating goals and sharing
ideas. The charrette is an excellent time to bring in the early and active par-
ticipation of the full design and construction team. Many of these participants
are not traditionally included in the early phases of design, but the process is
exponentially enhanced with their involvement.
6 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

On a commercial project, typical members of an integrated design

team include

Architect

Civil engineer

Commissioning authority

Contractor

Cost estimator

Facility manager and/or maintenance staff

Interior designer

Landscape architect

Lighting consultant

MEP engineer

Owner

Specifications writer

Structural engineer

Tenant or occupants (typically a representative)

In an integrated design process,
all the members of the project
team meet together to collaborate
from the start of the project.
Other consultants with special expertise, such as energy modeling, daylight
modeling, industrial hygiene or botany experts
The contractor or builder is ideally part of the team from the beginning.
Generally this is not possible when a competitive bid process is contemplated.
However, in a negotiated contract, the contractor is usually selected early and
so may be able to participate in the charrette, and the construction manager
often is chosen early and can participate.
Depending of the scope of a residential project, members of an integrated
design team could include

Architect

Contractor or construction manager

Engineers

Homeowner

Interior designer

Landscape architect

Subcontractors
 THE BASICS OF INTEGRATED DESIGN 7

While the MEP engineer can usually undertake the basic commissioning pro-
cess for a home, energy modeling may be an important consideration for larger
houses, and a specialist may be added to the team.

When the team is selected and brought together for the rst time, perhaps the
most important objectives are to understand the basic project goals and to es-
tablish a consistent, collaborative process that will support those goals through-
out the duration of the project.

Working in tandem from the outset enables each team member to question as-
sumptions and to develop coordinated solutions that result in better building
designs, wise budgeting and well-documented construction documents. Through
the early communication and meetings, everybodys input and expertise is used
to inform the design, rather than allowing one perspective to impose design
solutions on the rest of the team. Team members learn from each other and set
priorities and goals that allow them to see the whole picture in development, as
well as to intervene in a timely manner when the design or objectives seem to be
at risk as the design progresses.

Integrated Design and Sustainability

When green building features are viewed as simply another step in the design
process, or an add on, the resulting design often has lower levels of environ-
mental performance and higher cost. If a client wants to reduce energy use, it
is far more eective to design for energy conservation from the beginning of a
project with, for example, site selection that reduces heating and cooling needs,
than to spend a lot of additional money in retroactively insulating the building
Energy Modeling
or reengineering it to use less energy.
A tool used by the design team
Many, if not all, of the major design decisions that most aect the sustainable to determine a buildings po-
performance of a building are made in the early phases of design. Some early tential energy use and to spot
decisions that can have large environmental impacts include site selection, opportunities for conservation.
building orientation, fenestration, and shell and glazing choices. With integrated
design, the full team of professionals can provide early input relative to the
environmental implications of those decisions. For example, if the architect is
pursuing a daylighting strategy, the interior designer can contribute layout, light-
ing and color schemes that complement that strategy. Without early knowledge
of the project goals, the designer may have pursued plans that would make the
daylighting strategy less eective, which would, in turn, have increased energy
needs and decreased occupant satisfaction relative to averages.

Another strategy with environmental benets that calls for an integrated design
process is the use of exposed thermal mass. Exposed concrete, brick or stone
walls, and roof structures can reduce peak cooling loads, especially when
coupled with a night-ushing system that expels the buildings heat and uses
the naturally colder nighttime air to cool the mass. Implementing such a strat-
egy requires collaboration among the architect, structural engineer, mechanical
engineer and interior designer.

Additional members of an integrated design team might include an acoustical

engineer, who analyzes and mitigates sound transmission issues caused by
hard surfaces, and a lighting designer, who can oer energy ecient lighting
considerations.
8 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

Beyond creating collaboration on certain strategies, an integrated design

approach benets environmental goals by facilitating a free exchange of ideas
In an eective integrated design pro-
in an open, cross-disciplinary format while respecting the authority of individual
cess, the team works as a collective
experts on a team.
to understand and develop all as-
pects of the design. The design can Examples include
then emerge organically, with the Reducing global pollution associated with every phase of
full benet of each experts inputa building/renovation
structural engineer can contribute
to the elegance and eciency of the Minimizing the development footprint of new buildings and
structure, a mechanical engineer can infrastructure
inform choices that enhance energy Protecting and enhancing the entire building site
eciency and comfort, a landscape
architect and civil engineer can Fostering local community goodwill and interaction
optimize the siting and orientation, Using energy more efficiently
an interior designer can improve the
indoor spaces, a contractor can en- Using materials more efficiently
hance the constructability of the re-
Using local and resource-efficient materials
sulting design, and a cost estimator
can manage the budget. Depending Designing durable and flexible buildings for future adaptability
on the size and complexity of the
Using water efficiently in buildings and landscape design
project, the owner, prospective
occupants, facility managers, and a Designing interior environments to support well-being and
wide range of specialty consultants productivity
may be involved as well. While each
Minimizing construction and demolition waste
expert plays an essential role in
eective integrated design exercises, By engaging the expertise and inherent wisdom of the entire team at the begin-
the best ideas often emerge when ning and throughout the process, sustainable design goals, including energy
participants cross the usual bound- eciency and a healthy interior environment, can be optimized more readily.
aries, because their views are not as
limited by familiarity with the way
things are usually done.6
 INTEGRATED DESIGN AND THE INTERIOR DESIGNER 9

3 Integrated Design and the Interior Designer

No matter what kind of project the interior designer is working on, whether
commercial or residential, the designer faces a number of constraints, including
nancial limits and scheduling requirements. The integrated design process can
help the designer meet the challenge of incorporating sustainable design into his
or her everyday practice on projects of all sizes.

The Role of the Commercial Interior Designer

A number of items that are central to the interior designers work aect the
buildings energy use and system design, including the oor plan, partition
design, lighting design and interior nishes. The choice of interior nishes and
design can also aect indoor air quality, building maintenance, acoustics and
occupant comfort. The integrated design process gives the interior designer the
opportunity to discuss how design choices will aect other building systems,
and for the designer to adapt to building systems choices made by other team
members.

For example, in one project meeting, an integrated design team made the con-
nection between the reectivity of interior paint and the number and type of
lighting xtures necessary for the interior. Because the interior designer guided
the team to select a paint color with a high reectivity, the lighting engineer was
able to signicantly reduce the number of lighting xtures needed. As a result,
the HVAC engineer was able to reevaluate, and ultimately reduce, the size of
the HVAC system. This series of choicesnone of which could have been made
without the otherled to a higher quality of interior light, reduced energy costs,
reduced heat load, and reduced installation and maintenance costs for the HVAC
and lighting systems.

The Role of the Residential Interior Designer

On smaller residential projects, the kind of integrated design process that is The residential interior designer can
becoming more common with commercial projects may require a larger scale often be a voice for a homeowners
that is out of proportion to the potential benets. However, even the smallest goals, such as daylighting or good
project, such as a bathroom renovation, can be designed and implemented in a indoor air quality.
way that reects concern for occupant comfort and health and for environmen- Photo: Scot Horst
tal sustainability. Even without a fully integrated team or process, getting all
the playersin this case the homeowner, the architect, the contractor (or the
plumber) and the interior designerin one place at one time at the beginning of
the design process to discuss the project objectives can contribute signicantly
to the success of the project.

The interior designer often has a unique relationship with the homeowner that
can facilitate the exchange of ideas among the team and aect the projects
environmental impact. By being present at early discussions and throughout the
project, the interior designer can consistently advocate for the clients goals.

The interior designer can nd guidance on key issues, such as providing pre-
mium indoor air quality and selecting environmentally friendly materials and
products, in the companion ASID Indoor Air Quality and Materials and Products
papers.
10 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

The following example illustrates how a residential interior designer can use these
concepts in an integrated design process to create a more sustainable project:

A residential interior designer who had an excellent working relationship with a hom-
eowner introduced the homeowner to concepts of indoor environmental quality and envi-
ronmentally sustainable design. The homeowner wanted to build an addition to an existing
home, and to make a series of upgrades to the kitchen, bathrooms and several other
spaces in the existing home. The homeowner worked with the designer to formulate
environmental goals and a budget for the project. The main layout was to be determined
by an architect friend of the owners, but all other decisions were left to the designer. The
contractor had already been chosen by the homeowner and was prepared to coordinate
his schedule with the design team and obtain the
necessary permits.

The interior designer initiated a meeting with the architect, contractor and homeowner
to review the homeowners environmental goals. These goals included several practices
and materials that the contractor had never used before, including a polished concrete
oor (instead of tile or stone), FSC-certied woods, rapidly renewable materials, such
as bamboo, and some local, sustainably harvested materials.

The designer already knew where the contractor could nd these materials and sub-
contractors (such as concrete polishers) that t the goals of the project, therefore elimi-
nating the potential obstacle of requiring that the contractor research new materials and
methods and nd new suppliers. The designer gave the contractor ideas about how they
might save money on waste by recycling on the jobsite wherever possible, including a
program involving coordination with a local waste management company. The designer
also pointed out how using certain adhesives, sealants and paints that were all available
locally would make a big dierence in the indoor environmental quality of the home. Based
on the meetings with the project team and the homeowner, the contractor did not oppose
using any of these products.

Discussions between the designer and the architect focused on layout issues in the bath-
rooms, kitchen and addition, and served, among other things, to coordinate dimensions
shown on the drawings with the standard sizes of the sheet materials to be specied
(i.e., 4 x 8 and 5 x 10) in order to minimize waste. The designer, who was most familiar
with the homeowners needs, also provided ideas for minor modications to the archi-
tects initial plans based on a more comfortable ow of movement in the space.

Without this simple integrated process, the architect would not have known how the
interior designers layout would aect the space requirements. Likewise, the contractor
would not have understood how the sustainable goals of the project were actually achiev-
able with little, if any, cost and scheduling impact, and did not represent a challenge to
day-to-day business.
 INTEGRATED DESIGN AND THE INTERIOR DESIGNER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES 11

The Designers Role Beyond Design and Construction

In addition to their key roles during design and construction, both commercial
and residential interior designers can play an important role post construction
and post occupancy. Interior designers have a unique function in designing the
spaces that occupants use daily, and by maintaining a relationship with the
owner over time, both the designer and the occupants can benet.

Occupant feedback can provide insight into which sustainable strategies worked
well and which were less successful in a project. The designer can use that
feedback to improve the design of subsequent projects and to avoid repeating
mistakes.

Receiving occasional access to a completed project for walk-throughs with

potential new clients provides a way of displaying successfully completed work.
Prospective clients will benet by seeing a designers work rsthand, as well as
seeing the goodwill between the designer and the owner.

A successful completed project that embodies environmental and human health

features helps demonstrate to everyone involved in the project, and to prospec-
tive clients, that sustainable design is simply good design. An oce, hospital or
home does not have to look or feel dierent to be an environmentally friendly
project. An eective project usually demonstrates, in fact, how sustainable
design, with features such as enhanced daylighting, good indoor air quality and
thermal comfort, looks and feels better than a conventional project. In this way,
successful projects serve to enhance a designers reputation and are an eective
way to encourage word-of-mouth referrals.

4 Environmental Impacts and Sustainable

Design Strategies
The construction and operation of buildings and homes has the potential to
cause numerous and far-reaching impacts on the environment. This section
provides specic strategies that can be used to minimize these impacts
strategies that the designer can use in an integrated design process to meet
a clients environmental and design goals.

Natural Resource Depletion

Designing buildings and interiors that conserve natural resources, land, habitat
and water has long-term benets for preserving the environment and the raw
material resource base that sustains human activities and, ultimately, all life.

Raw Material Resources

As discussed at the beginning of this paper, the energy use by buildings and
their need for materials is enormous. However, the designer can use a number
of strategies to reduce that burden on our raw material resources.
12 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS
Specifying materials with recycled
content, such as the recycled glass
countertop shown above, can
reduce the use of new materials and
lower the environmental impact of
a project.
Photo: Ice Stone, Inc.
Embodied Energy
The energy expended in the pro-
cess of creating a product, often
including the fuel value of its
constituent parts.
An Internet search easily yields
many used materials exchanges,
and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency provides a listing
of some on its Web site: www.epa.
gov/jtr/comm/exchange.htm
The reuse of existing building stock and building elements not only saves large
quantities of raw materials, it also preserves architectural and design links to
the past. Although in many cases deteriorated buildings need to be demolished,
much can be saved when an old building is renovated instead. The shell of the
building can be saved, and interior architectural elements, such as walls, oors
and ceilings, can be salvaged or refurbished. Decorative elements, such as terra
cotta details, rainwater gargoyles, cast iron railings and hand-hewn beams, may
be valuable items that can be used creatively to provide a renovation with a
sense of the buildings history.
Other used building materials that can be salvaged are appliances and light-
ing and plumbing xtures in good working order. Before using such xtures, the
designer must evaluate these products to ensure that they meet new energy
and water consumption eciency standards. Doors, cabinets and millwork are
also readily salvageable. A growing industry of mostly local companies caters to
salvaging, refurbishing and reselling many of these elements. Many communi-
ties have thriving markets for such items and both nonprot and for-prot used
building materials stores exist throughout the country, in addition to the many
exchange venues on the Internet. Items can also be donated to organizations,
such as Habitat for Humanity International, Goodwill Industries International
and other nonprots.
On many renovation projects, furniture and furnishings are replaced well before
their useful life is up. Rather than automatically assuming that it is necessary to
purchase all new items, the designer can evaluate existing furniture for condi-
tion, quality and style. In many cases, the designer may determine that it is
feasible to reuse furniture as is or to refurbish it, while using other elements,
such as layout and nishes, to create the new look sought by the client. Reusing
furniture and furnishings reduces waste, conserves raw materials and often
saves money for the client.
Salvaging used materials that would otherwise be landlled, as well as separat-
ing out recyclable building materials during demolition and construction, not
only has an environmental benet but can also save the client from having to pay
landll tipping fees. In 2004 these fees averaged $34.29 per ton nationally, but
reached as high as $70.53 per ton in certain regions.7
The use of materials with recycled content such as steel, wallboard, ceiling tile,
ooring, carpet, countertops, and tile, reduces the use of raw materials and
the underlying energy costs associated with the extraction, transportation and
primary processing of virgin materials. Typically, recycling used materials into
new products requires signicantly less energy than processing raw or virgin
materials.
The purchase of materials that are harvested or manufactured in close proxim-
ity to the project reduces the embodied energy of the materials represented
by transportation and energy costs, and also reduces the associated pollution.
Although imports have become increasingly prevalent, a small investment of
time and eort can often yield the names of designers and manufacturing facili-
ties based regionally and nationally.
Products that are made with rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo, cork
or linoleum ooring, cotton and hemp furnishings, wheatstraw cabinetry, and
wool carpet and upholstery, are often environmentally preferable to products
made from nonrenewable resources. Rapidly renewable materials are those that
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES 13

are replaced in less than 10 years through natural processes, such as annual
agriculture cycles or short-term forestry cycles.

As noted in the example in the previous section, the designer can use strategies,
such as dimensional planning, to get the most out of the materials that are used.
By designing room dimensions that respond to standard or modular building
products, the designer can signicantly reduce waste.

Land and Habitat Conservation

While the conversion of natural landscapes for new construction continues
side by side with economic expansion, development needs must be balanced
with land and habitat conservation to preserve the quality and biodiversity of
the natural world. Tipping the scales too heavily and quickly in the direction of
development unnecessarily destroys wildlife habitats, reduces diversity, disrupts
natural water ows, mars the beauty of the natural landscape, and reduces open
space available for recreation and future needs.

The informed designer can be an advocate for a clients needs and for environ-
mental concerns; both can often be met without undue compromise. Instead
of assuming that a new building is essential, the designer can help a client nd
and evaluate spaces suited to the project requirements by investigating existing
buildings or undertaking research of the existing local stock of buildings for sale
or lease. If a new building is called for, building or renovating in an urban locale
with existing infrastructure, such as electrical, water, wastewater and transporta-
tion, in place can be signicantly less expensive than, and environmentally pref-
erable to, building on an undeveloped site or greeneld. In the case of a housing
development, the designer can suggest ways to group the community of build-
ings to reduce the overall construction footprint, thereby preserving land for the
enjoyment of the whole community. Portions of a site with exceptional wildlife
habitat, wetlands and or unique natural conditions should be set aside.

In addition to identifying areas that need to be protected during building design

and construction, and following applicable local and national codes for site se-
lection, several other key precautions will help protect the environment and the
inherent natural quality of the site. Urban Heat Island
A carefully designed sediment and erosion plan that is implemented during A densely populated area in
building construction minimizes the loss of topsoil and prevents soil sedimenta- which pavement and buildings
tion in local water bodies and storm drainage systems. By limiting the extent of absorb, store and rerelease solar
the site area that is disturbed during construction and reducing the development energy, making the immediate
footprintincluding building footprint, paved driveways and walkways, and ac- vicinity warmer than it would be
cess roadsdamage to the land and site ecology can generally be minimized and
if the pavement and buildings
greater biodiversity preserved.
were not present.
Heat islands are formed in areas where a large proportion of the natural veg-
etation is replaced by buildings, pavement and other impervious structures and
surfaces. Because these surfaces absorb heat from the sun, they cause localized
temperature increases of anywhere from a couple of degrees Fahrenheit to 10
degrees or more when compared to the surrounding undeveloped and naturally
vegetated areas. These temperature increases aect wildlife that is sensitive
to such changes, with a resultant loss of biodiversity. Buildings that fall within
these micro-climate areas require more air conditioning, which uses energy and
further pollutes the atmosphere. Strategies, such as installing light-colored or
14 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS
Green roofs, such as this one in
Mashantucket, Conn., can help
oset the urban heat island eect
and can also help control storm-
water runo.
Photo: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
vegetated green roofs, using maximum amounts of open-grid paving and/or
light-colored, reective pavement, along with the planting of shade trees and
vegetation, lessens the impact of heat islands and improves the quality of the
local environment.
As these examples illustrate, an interior designer who integrates environmental
values into his or her work need not be bound by the traditional scope of the pro-
fession. Issues like the wise use of resources and the preservation of open land
are universal, and the integrated team approach to building design and construc-
tion empowers any professional to air an opinion or initiate a discussion.
Potable Water Consumption
If the rate of ground water depletion surpasses the rate at which it is replen-
ishedas is currently occurring in many parts of the United Stateswells must
be drilled deeper and at greater cost to extract the water from subterranean
aquifers, often with reduced water quality as a result of salt water intrusion and
other types of contamination, and increased risks of land subsidence. Rivers
are also being depleted of their natural ow, harming their ecosystems.8 By
implementing water conservation strategies throughout building and landscape
design, designers draw less of the available supply, help minimize the discharge
of euent and chemically treated water back into the ecosystem, and reduce the
costs associated with potable water use, sewage conveyance and treatment fees.
Several specic strategies can be used to reduce potable water consumption.
These may fall more or less within the traditional scope of the interior designer,
but again, the integrated design process oers a more open forum in which envi-
ronmental issues are treated proactively and holistically.
In desert or arid regions, or in those areas with seasonal dry periods, a sub-
stantial amount of water is used to irrigate residential landscaping, including
lawns, gardens and trees. A xeriscape approachthe careful selection of native
or drought-resistant speciesallows designers to reduce, and possibly eliminate,
long-term water usage for landscape irrigation. When irrigation is called for,
high-eciency systems equipped with slow drip distributors, moisture sensors
and timers can decrease waste through runo and evaporation while increasing
irrigation eectiveness.
With indoor water use, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) established a na-
tional manufacturing standard for plumbing xtures, such as toilets (1.6 gallons
per ush/gpf), urinals (1.0 gpf), showerheads (2.5 gallons per minute/gpm) and
faucets (2.5 gpm). Since then, signicant advances have been made, and xtures
that are substantially more ecient than required by EPAct are readily available.
Recent advances have also made these xtures, such as low-ow showerheads,
more satisfying to use than earlier versions.
The specication of water-ecient plumbing xtures and technologies sub-
stantially reduces the potable water used in commercial buildings and houses,
which in turn also helps alleviate the burden on municipal water supplies and
water treatment plants. It also reduces the use of municipal water conveyance
systemsboth supply and disposalthereby helping to avoid the need for new
infrastructure and the construction of new treatment facilities.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES 15

The following provide some basic guidance:

Unlike conventional toilets, dual-flush toilets have two flush options: a full
flush (the standard 1.6 gpf or less) for solid wastes and a short/half flush (only
uses 0.8 to 1.1 gpf) for liquid wastes.

Waterless urinals look similar to normal urinals and function similarly, but are
designed to work without the use of any water for sewage conveyance. These
urinals have been widely used for years, particularly in commercial buildings,
and have demonstrated no increased odora great concern among potential
first-time specifiers or usersand are easy and inexpensive for an informed
maintenance staff to maintain.

Ultra low-flow showerheads with flow rates of 1.5 gpm are available as both
wall-mounted and handheld units. These devices use aerators to enhance the
quality of the water flow and maintain wetting efficiency, and compare satis-
factorily with conventional high water flow showers.

Individual low-flow faucet aerators can be attached to existing lavatory and

kitchen faucets. By retrofitting 1.0 gpm aerators to lavatory faucets and 1.5
gpm aerators to kitchen faucets, water waste from such fixtures can be sub-
stantially reduced without affecting performance.

Stormwater drainage is another important environmental consideration in sus-

tainable building. Buildings present impervious surfaces, and in dense urban and
suburban settings, rainwater cannot return naturally to replenish groundwater
sources. Instead it is shunted to stormwater drainage systems, which cause ero-
sion problems, ooding and ushing of hazardous materials into local water-
ways. By harvesting and storing rainwater, typically in cisterns on the building
roof or in the basement, designers can supply much of a buildings nonpotable
water needs, such as water for toilet ushing and for landscape irrigation, while
mitigating harmful eects of stormwater runo and reducing potable water
consumption. With any non-standard system, the interior designer can play an
important role in developing or coordinating signage to guide users.

Even in areas where water shortage is not currently an issue, protection of this
vital natural resource is a critically important, sustainable objective that often Low-ow faucets often use aerators
carries associated energy and infrastructure cost savings. to improve their performance while
saving water.
Photo: Kohler, Inc.
Energy Use
The enormous amount of energy consumed by buildings causes environmental
harm due to extraction, renement and transportation of fossil fuels, and air
pollution from burning fuels. For example, most coal in the United States is
extracted through surface, or strip, mining. This process entails removing large
quantities of earth to reveal a coal vein, with mountaintops frequently leveled
and valleys lled in. Although federal law requires mining sites to be restored,9
the damage to the original ecosystem is often irreversible. Designing both com-
mercial and residential buildings for high energy eciency helps reduce these
environmental impacts.

Computerized energy modeling can be used to guide and optimize the eciency
of the design of the mechanical system and envelope of a building. By creating
a virtual energy model early in the process and reviewing multiple optimization
16 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

options, designers can reliably achieve a high level of energy eciency. Similarly,
a lighting model allows for the testing of dierent scenarios to achieve a high
quality, energy-ecient lighting scheme. This work is highly specialized, and
the designers role is to supply data to the modeling engineer, and provide him
or her with a variety of system and materials options to consider. This model-
ing process produces a set of results that include a number of the designers
options paired with their cost and environmental impacts. The designer and the
client then have a basis for making a decision in terms of desired look, building
eciency, environmental impacts and budget, and can select a best scenario that
meets project goals.

Strategies, such as orienting the building to maximize passive solar heat and
light gain, allow for the natural assets of the site to be used to maximum eect.
In tandem with a passive solar strategy, the design team can choose glazing
options to maximize natural daylighting, while using architectural devices, such
as smart glazing and interior light shelves, to control heat gain. Designing a
thermally ecient building envelope with high R-value wall and roof insulation
and low U-value windows is one of the best strategies for reducing energy use in
both hot and cool climates. Heating and cooling systems should then be matched
appropriately with building needs to prevent over- or under-sizing systems.

An integrated design approach to lighting can reduce energy consumption from

R-Value
Measure of resistance to heat
ow. The higher the R-value, the
lower the heat loss. The inverse
of U-factor.
lights by up to 50 percent, as well as cutting cooling costs by reducing heat from
light xtures. Placing maximum levels of light where it is required for tasks while
providing lower levels of ambient light in the rest of the space makes for a ex-
ible, energy-ecient lighting plan. Occupancy sensors and dimming controls can
be designed and installed for further conservation. A smart combination of task
and ambient lighting can also eliminate discomfort associated with glare and
over-lit spaces, enhance the readability of computer and television screens, and
provide a safely lit environment.
Energy Star labeled windows meet certain U.S. Department of Energy and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency energy performance criteria, and can be used
as an alternative to, or replacements for, typical single- and double-glazed
residential windows. Additionally, since 1993, new windows have energy ef-
ciency labels from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC
labels include an objective performance rating for U-factor and Solar Heat Gain
Coecient (SHGC) for the particular window, which allows consumers to com-
pare similar window products. High-performance windows, with smart glazing
and thermal breaks, generate substantial savings through reduced heating and
cooling needs for homes.

An Energy Star rating for oce equipment, such as computers, computer moni-
tors, televisions, copiers, and appliances, such as dishwashers, refrigerators and
washers, denotes products that are more energy ecient than average. Also,
EnergyGuide labels, required by the Federal Trade Commission to be displayed
on certain appliances, can be used to compare the energy use of a particular
appliance to similar products. In both cases, reduced energy use has direct
benets, as well as indirect benets, such as reduced cooling needs and reduced
pollution.

Renewable, site-generated energy oers an excellent option for reducing fossil

fuel use and adding more sustainable options to the nations energy infra-
structure. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays and building integrated PV (BIPV)
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES 17

systems, which generate electricity from the suns energy, are becoming more
aordable in many states. In remote areas where there is no power grid, they can
Solar heat gain
be the sole source of power. In places where the power grid is available, a lower-
cost system can be installed by tying it into the grid and selling power back to coecient (SHGC)
the local utility in what is called a grid intertie system. Private and public grants The fraction of solar gain
are available to oset the rst cost of such systems and can usually be found by admitted through a window,
contacting a local utility. Solar thermal energy is also used throughout the United expressed as a number
States to heat domestic hot water and pool water. These are practical, ecient between 0 and 1.
and successful applications for solar energy and should be used wherever condi-
tions permit.

Pollution For more information on

Contamination of the environment from building-related processes is a mas- Energy Star, visit
sive problem and a complex one because earth, water and air all interact with www.energystar.gov/windows.
each other, potentially compounding pollution or causing it to appear far from
its source. For example, air pollution from smokestacks can be washed into the
soil after a rainstorm and subsequently introduced into groundwater sources.
Therefore, everyone involved in building design and construction should take
a holistic approach to all decisions, remaining aware of both the local and the
global impacts of all decisions in terms of their eect on soil, water and air pol-
lution.

Soil Pollution
Landlls remain the primary means for the disposal of waste. Although landll
sites must conform to federal regulations, it is not uncommon for contaminated
materials and liquids to escape the barriers of a landll and leach into surround-
ing soils.10 This soil pollution in turn spreads to groundwater, aecting streams,
lakes and wells as the contaminant is distributed through the constant move-
ment of underground water.

Incinerating solid waste, another common option, does not avoid these prob-
lems. In addition to the air pollution produced, ash, usually containing the
same toxic wastes contained in the solid waste, but often in a more leachable
form, still remains to be disposed of, usually in landlls. Careful management of
demolition and construction waste can minimize the burden on landll sites and
ensure that hazardous materials including mercury, asbestos, polychlorinated bi-
phenyl (PCB) containing materials, and lead paint, are sent to appropriate facili-
ties. The interior designer can help minimize soil pollution by reusing materials
and specifying nontoxic materials.

Water Pollution
The National Water Quality Inventory 2000 Report to Congress reports that of
the water bodies assessed, 40 percent of streams, 45 percent of lakes and 50
percent of estuaries were unclean for human activities, such as swimming and
shing.11

Contaminants introduced into water bodies by precipitation and runo from

urban and agricultural lands represent the leading cause of water pollution.
Commonly referred to as nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, it is distinguished
from pollution that originates from concentrated sources, such as sewage treat-
18 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS
Nonpoint Source
Pollution
Water pollution from natural
precipitation that runs along
the surface of the land and
eventually transports any
contaminants it encounters
to receiving water bodies.
ment plants or industrial complexes. Although sediment, fertilizers and pesti-
cides from agricultural lands are the most common NPS pollutants, stormwater
runo resulting from urban development and hydrocarbon use (e.g., dripping oil
or spilled gasoline from vehicles, or unburnt fuel from two-cycle engines, such as
lawnmowers and snowblowers) has become an increasingly large source of
water pollution.
Limiting the total area of impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, on a
project site, and maximizing vegetated areas reduces the amount of stormwater
runo and associated pollutants. These approaches also slow the rate of runo,
allowing natural bioremediation to occur. Strategies that reduce impervious
surfaces include designing smaller parking areas, driveways and sidewalks, or
using widely available permeable materials as a substitute. Vegetated swales or
planted buer zones instead of concrete curbs help mediate stormwater, as do
pipes directing such water to stormwater drainage systems. As discussed in the
previous section on potable water use, collecting and using stormwater for uses
such as irrigation also reduces the environmental burden of runo.
Since the most signicant sources of point source water pollution are factories
and power plants, most residential and commercial design projects are not
sources of this type of pollution. However, most buildings use electricity gener-
ated at these plants and are therefore implicated.
Mercury is a heavy metal and a persistent organic pollutant (POP) originating
from the smoke stacks and ues of coal-red power generation facilities, mining
runo and other sources. It is also still used in manufacturing processes involved
in the production of building and interior materials, specically as an essential
ingredient in uorescent lamp manufacturing and as a stabilizer in some plastics.
In 2000, mercury was identied as a major pollutant in lakes and estuaries in
parts of the United States.12 While cleaning up the sources of mercury pollution
and improving manufacturing requirements are of vital importance, buildings
can reduce their responsibility for this type of pollution by designing for energy
eciency and decreasing materials demands.
For example, the manufacture of one square yard of carpet typically requires the
use of approximately 8.9 gallons of water13, primarily for dyeing the yarn and
washing to eliminate excess dye. Most of that water ends up as treated discharge
wastewater, or euent. While the carpet industry tries to ensure such water meets
state and federal regulations for pollutant levels before it is returned to any receiv-
ing body, interior designers can mitigate this water use and potential pollution is-
sue by specifying solution-dyed carpet products, which use minimal, if any, water
in their manufacturing process.
Global Atmospheric Pollution
Stationary sources of air pollution include industrial plants, manufacturing
plants, steel mills, power plants and waste incinerators, to mention a few. While
these sources are stationary, their euent and the smoke, gases and particulates
discharged from their stacks and chimneys have wide distribution via ground-
water and air currents. Among the major global atmospheric pollutants, sulfur
dioxide (SO2) is primarily emitted from power generation plants, petroleum re-
neries, steel mills and fertilizer manufacturers. Nitrogen oxides (NO2) are emit-
ted in great quantities from electrical utilities and industrial boilers. These two
chemicals are the main contributors to acid rain, which is destroying forests in
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES 19

Europe and both South and North America. As noted above, these facilities also
generate mercury emissions and carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas.

By using resource-ecient building practices, including those discussed in this

paper, designers and builders can help minimize the demand for new manufac-
tured products from factories that contribute to air pollution.

Designing energy-ecient buildings and interiors helps alleviate dependence on

industrially produced power. Although the impact of any one building is small
in relation to overall energy use, when these practices become commonplace,
the impact of thousands of sustainably designed, energy-ecient buildings will
result in signicant energy savings and greatly reduced air pollution.

Siting commercial buildings and residential communities in close proximity The chart above shows the ows of energy,
to mass transit terminals, encouraging carpools and vanpools, and promoting in watts per square meter (W/m2), between
bicycle use encourages sustainable transportation options. Sidewalks and paths space, the atmosphere and the earths
for pedestrian movement, well equipped with amenities, such as benches, shade surface. Human activities have increased
trees and waste receptacles, further encourages a reduction in vehicular use, the concentrations of greenhouse gases
especially at the local level, where maintaining high-quality air is essential for in the atmosphere, thus contributing to
the well-being of the community. global warming.

Building design and construction also has an impact on other major sources of Illustration: Global Warming Art

air pollution, including gas combustion engines in cars, trucks, boats and lawn-
mowers. Burning fossil fuels to power these vehicles releases greenhouse gases,
particulates, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs, which contribute to the formation of
ground-level ozone (O3) or smog, resulting in increased respiratory illness, such
as asthma.

Planting native or wildower meadows instead of monoculture grass lawns

reduces the need to use lawnmowers and trimmers, at the same time eliminating
the need for fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, which spread across millions
of acres of American lawns, are major consumers of petroleum, and are serious
contributors to water pollution and resultant disruption of aquatic ecosystems.
Indigenous species are also well acclimatized to the seasonal rhythms of the
region and, used in well-designed landscaping, do not need to be excessively
watered.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The greenhouse eect results when gases in the atmosphere absorb radiation
from the earths surface, trapping heat in the atmosphere. Human activities, in-
cluding industrial and manufacturing processes and transportation, have dramati-
cally increased atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases, including
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), thereby contribut-
ing to global warming.14

There are many ways to reduce the release of greenhouse gases from building-re-
lated construction, operations and maintenance. As we have discussed through-
out this paper, buildings should be designed to be as energy ecient as possible
and to use renewable energy sources. Most electricity is generated by burning
fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, which release greenhouse gases in addition to
other pollutants.
20 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS
North America is outlined with dots of
light when seen from space at night.
Poorly designed exterior lighting can
contribute to light pollution, which can
disrupt nocturnal habitats and reduce
night-sky views.
Photo: Craig Mayhew and
Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC.
A number of regional utilities oer ways to purchase renewable energy, and
other programs, such as green tags, renewable energy certicates (REC) and
tradable renewable certicates (TRC) are available on a national basis.15
Because landlls produce almost one-third of the national emissions of meth-
ane,16 minimizing landll usage by diverting waste through salvage, reuse and
recycling programs ultimately reduces methane emissions. Methane is a major
greenhouse gas that has 21 times greater potential than carbon dioxide to trap
heat in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles running on gasoline currently accounts
for nearly one-third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the United
States.17 Strategies described previously to reduce single-occupancy vehicle com-
muting present an important opportunity to slow global warming. The interior
designer can support this eort by designing useful facilities for bicycle storage
and showering.
Light Pollution
Night-time illumination for outdoor areas provides safety for pedestrians and
motorists. However, poorly designed exterior or landscaping lighting schemes
cause glare and may result in light spill into neighboring homes and properties,
reducing night-sky views, wasting energy and disrupting local nocturnal habitats.
By eliminating any type of lighting directed upward, specifying shielded outdoor
xtures and avoiding excessively bright luminaries, the impact of light pollution
can be mitigated.18 Interior designers can help ensure that any indoor lamps are
designed to minimize the amount of light that escapes into the night sky through
windows or skylights.
5 Integrated Design and
Green Building Rating Systems
Using an integrated design process along with a green building rating system,
such as LEED and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model
Green Home Building Guidelines, can improve building design by including
concern for environmental impacts during the design process, in addition to
aesthetics, function, durability, maintenance and cost. Rating systems (which
are covered in greater details in other ASID white papers in this series) provide
ideas for a number of key environmental considerations that can be incorporated
into the overall design approach, no matter the size of the project.
A green building rating system is often used during the team meeting at the be-
ginning of the project, to guide discussion and help the team consider ecological,
sustainability and health factors in a comprehensive manner. The rating system
can also be used throughout the integrated design process, whether the project
is commercial or residential, to direct discussion, encourage collaboration, and
generally support the process of creating a sustainable building.
 INTEGRATED DESIGN AND GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEMS ENDNOTES 21

In some situations, the use of a rating system can also have the unfortunate
eect of encouraging the design team to focus narrowly on individual points or
measures that appear easiest to achieve rather than on the measures that will
result in the best overall building. To minimize this tendency, conversations
within the design team from the projects inception should use the rating system
primarily as a springboard from which to explore the owners values and the best
environmental solutions for expressing those values. Only once the basic values
have been claried and the design direction established should the team concen-
trate on the requirements for achieving specic points. For additional details, visit
the USGBC Web site at
As discussed throughout this paper, an integrated design approach is an excel- www.usgbc.org.
lent way to coordinate and develop the sustainable qualities of a project. The
process can contribute to reduced environmental impacts at the global, regional
and local levels, while promoting high building performance and an enhanced
quality of life for all occupants and users.

For additional details, visit

the NAHB Web site at
www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines.

Endnotes
1. Buildings Energy Data Book: 1.1 Building Sector Energy Consumption, U.S.
Department of Energy, http://buildingsdatabook.eere.energy.gov/docs/
1.1.3.pdf, August 2005.
2. Buildings Energy Data Book: 1.1 Building Sector Energy Consumption, U.S.
Department of Energy, http://buildingsdatabook.eere.energy.gov/docs/
1.1.6.pdf, August 2005.
3. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2004, Energy
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/EIA-0573
2004.
9. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, 30 U.S.C. 25
10. 40 CFR Part 258 (Subtitle D of RCRA).
11. National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Oce of Water, EPA-841-R-02-001, August 2002.
12. National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Oce of Water, EPA-841-R-02-001, August 2002.
13. The Carpet Industrys Sustainability Report 2003, The Carpet and Rug
Institute (CRI), 2004.

4. National Resources Inventory 2001 Annual NRI: Urbanization and
Development of Rural Land, Natural Resources Conservation Service, July
2003; Hutson et al., Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000,
USGS Circular 1268, United States Geological Survey, February 2005.
5. Hutson et al., Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000, USGS
Circular 1268, United States Geological Survey, February 2005.
6. Integrated Design, Environmental Building News, Vol. 13, No. 11,
November 2004.
7. Edward W. Repa, NSWMAs 2005 Tip Fee Survey, NSWMA Research Bulletin
05-3, March 2005.
8. Ground-Water Depletion Across the Nation, U.S. Geological Survey Fact
Sheet 103-03, USGS, November 2003.
14. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430-R-02-003, April 2002.
15. http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/certicates.
shtml?page=0.
16. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430-R-02-003, April 2002.
17. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430-R-05-003, April 15, 2005.
18. IESNA Recommended Practice Manual: Lighting for Exterior
Environments (IESNA RP-33-99), Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America, 1999.
22 BEYOND INTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN AND GLOBAL IMPACTS

Appendix: Questionnaire

The following questions are oered for the benet of the reader to evaluate whether the
learning objectives of the paper have been achieved:

1. What are some dierences between traditional design processes and integrated design
processes?

2. What are the fundamental goals of any sustainable design process? How are these
achieved?

3. Explain how both a commercial and a residential interior designer can be involved in
the integrated design process. Discuss this new expanded role for the interior designer
and what it means.

4. What could be considered the primary strategy in reducing natural materials depletion
during construction and t-out?

5. Name three strategies for reducing potable water consumption of a building.

6. Explain how reducing construction waste destined for landlls aects global warming.
What strategies can be employed?

7. Provide ve examples of energy ecient strategies that can be implemented through-

out a building.

8. How is the environment positively aected by the use of human-powered transport?

9. How can the selection of a building sitewhether commercial or residentialaect the

environment? Name four sustainable approaches to selecting a site.

10. Explain how greenhouse gases can contribute to global warming, and list some ex-
amples of these gases.