Steps to Sustainability

By Lucinda Jennings, ASID, LEED AP
(From the NKBA's Profiles Magazine)

Are you sometimes confused or a little overwhelmed with the onslaught of finishes and products promoted as green or sustainable? Do you feel that including green features is an attribute or a compromise? Are your clients asking for green design and you feel like you need a crash course?

When designing kitchens and bathrooms, designers must be knowledgeable about space planning, finishes, appliances, interior construction, and building materials to achieve a design that meets the client's aesthetic, functional, and budget constraints. However, the impact of these designs can extend for generations—with a negative or positive environmental impact. Learning about green design is a fascinating eye opener that causes us to question ourselves, our designs, and our business practices every day.

With sustainable design and building, an integrated design approach involving all stakeholders—architect, engineer, kitchen and bath designer, builder, subcontractor, and owner—fosters team collaboration very early on. Discussions that focus on conserving water and energy; using space, materials, and resources efficiently; minimizing construction waste; and creating healthy indoor environments may be the result of the collaboration.

Designers who are savvy about sustainable design gain respect through their contributions. In some ways, the design process is not radically different if your design approach includes thorough research and evaluation, followed by smart product and material selections.

When making interior selections, begin by learning about the environmental policies of each company whose product you may use. Look for manufacturers who take advantage of resource- and energy-efficient processes, use raw materials responsibly, and implement recycling policies.

Select materials that are manufactured locally or regionally. This reduces the use of fossil fuels, minimizing air pollution and other negative environmental impacts. Remember also that green design should promote healthy living and that improved indoor air quality is essential to any green design.

Problems associated with poor indoor air quality may result from the presence of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home or workplace. Carbon monoxide refers to highly toxic air formed during the combustion of fuels such as wood, oil, and natural gas that causes oxygen deprivation. VOC refers to indoor air pollutants, typically used as solvents in products such as household cleaners, paints, inks, and dyes. Common sources include formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, chlorine, and acetone.

Many of these chemicals, which are emitted from a variety of building materials and furniture products, offgas pungent odors. Offgassing irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract and may be lethal at high levels of exposure. Associated health issues include increased problems with asthma and allergies, sick building syndrome (SBS), or building related illness (BRI). With exposure to high levels of toxins over time, a person may develop multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS).

Materials such as particleboard, medium density fiberboard, oriented strand board, and plywood are all used in a variety of ways in construction and furniture manufacturing. These materials are usually wood byproducts bound together with heat, pressure and resins. These act as adhesives or binders and often contain formaldehyde or other toxins that offgas.

When finishes or finish materials are applied to those substrates, they may also be applied with toxic adhesives that may offgas. Examples include plastic laminates, wood veneers, or in the case of coatings, wood sealers, stains, and paints.

Be sure to examine product information to determine the toxin content. One great way to do this is through the use of material safety data sheets (MSDS), which are available from all manufacturers. These fact sheets identify hazardous chemicals, as well as health and physical hazards, including exposure limits and precautions for workers who may come into contact with these chemicals.

Cleaning products for interior finishes and furniture also have a significant impact on indoor air quality. Emphasize to your clients the importance of using environmentally friendly cleaning materials that are safe, biodegradable, and water soluble or water based.

Above all, remember that knowledge begins with research. Committing extra time to this effort will be rewarding in many ways. As with any complex issue, there are no simple answers and always a few more questions. Consider, however, the old Chinese proverb: "Every journey begins with the first step."