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comprehensive eco-interior design+build services
ehr-lüm is focused on healthy buildings and
environmentally conscious design. Owner Gregg Brazel is working toward
LEED Accreditation
as part of his ongoing education in the green construction movement.
Our
eco-interior
design+build services
guide clients through the
vast maze of green products, recommending feasible options and
identifying materials that are truly healthy and sustainable.
The end result is a cohesive
design including construction drawings, fabrication details, and
material/color coordination that will make your project good for you and
the environment:
:: sustainable
design
plans & elevations
construction details
eco-material selections
material/color coordination
specifications
:: build
cabinetry
&
casework
doors & millwork
stairways
original woodworks
structural wood framing
:: consulting
programming
research
project
management
energy management
:: contracting
coordinate installation of specified
eco-products such as flooring, paint,
lighting, insulation, HVAC systems, etc.
Please
contact
Gregg for more information.
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What is
'SUSTAINABLE'?
Sustainable (also known as
'eco', 'green', 'renewable') human activity is an approach to agriculture, manufacturing,
energy production and consumption, architecture, design, and virtually any other
practice that utilizes materials and resources in a way that ensures meeting
today's requirements without risking tomorrow's needs or quality of life.
Over the past three decades,
sustainable building design
and construction have made great strides. Geothermal and solar energy,
high efficiency windows, non-toxic adhesives,
and water conservation/reclamation practices are all currently in use.
With progress on the shell
and energy systems being made, it is time to focus on the interior,
with consideration for sustainability in cabinets and countertops, millwork,
partitions, stairs, and flooring.
An integrated design that provides
innovative
solutions and artistic expression will be good for building occupants as well as
the environment.
The first rule of
sustainable design is to create products with a long life
cycle. That is, the things we build must be durable and enduring – both
physically and stylistically.
For this reason, quality
craftsmanship and
timeless design are key, and
we will need to make a mind shift that allows us to look at products in terms of
inherent beauty and functionality, as opposed to merely comparing them to what
is currently 'in'.
This notion goes to the heart of
ehr-lüm's main objective: design and build
products that will endure and be cherished for generations.
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a brief overview of sustainability
in the building industry
There are many areas of study within
eco-building to improve environmental and personal health ~
:: materials
recycled materials
salvaged materials
renewable materials
low energy materials (in harvest,
manufacture, transport & installation)
organic/low-toxin materials (in manufacture and use)
::
energy
clean, renewable energies
design/build methods and materials that produce more energy-efficient
buildings
passive solar design that uses the suns energy to heat and
cool buildings for at zero cost
::
construction
minimize material consumption and waste
recycle construction waste
utilize low energy products &
methods
::
health/environment
reduce outdoor air pollution
reduce indoor air pollution
reduce water pollution and
consumption
reduce landfill and toxic waste
sites
maintain ecosystem services provided by forests,
wetlands, mangroves... more ->
::
water
conservation
reclamation
permeability
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smart growth
(land planning)
reduce land use
preserve habitats and ecosystem
services
reuse existing infrastructure and
buildings
reduce infrastructure expenditures &
materials
reduce commute time, expense and
stress
reduce air, water and soil pollution
overall improvement in quality of
life
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sociopolitical concerns
While too expansive to elaborate on here,
we must begin to consider the impacts that our buildings have on the
environments and people of other countries. As one example, we need
policies that will deter the use of materials coming from nations where
environmental destruction and worker rights abuses are common. If properly
structured, this will have the added benefit of leveling the playing field and
providing more opportunity for people here at home.
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