Maximizing the Earth's Resources
Sustainable Building Assets
Here's how we do it.
We start with a concientious design philosophy
- Every building has an Energy saving, Highly efficient, sealed building envelope.
- We give "recycling" a monetary value, so even if it appears to have a greater expense initially, we calculate the options using a method we invented called the "footprint method". According to a 2008 article in PS Magazine, it takes up to 15 pounds of raw resources to produce every pound of new construction material. But that "footprint" cost is hard to translate into actual dollars, so we associate a "Green value" to the solution that is more earth conscious.
- Here's how it plays out in the real world (simplified for illustration) In a construction remodel, we have a used product with some minor aesthetic flaws in it which would take some labor to get it ready for use again. The other option would be to simply buy a new one that is ready for installation. Which is the better solution? New or Re-used?
| To recycle or not to recycle, a $100 construction product. | ||
| Expense | Buy New | Re-Use |
| Purchase | $100.00 | $0 |
| Labor until ready for installation | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| "Hassle" fee (storage, handling, coordination) |
$20.00 | $100.00 |
| Installation | same | same |
| Accounting Method Results | Winner! $120.00 | $200.00 |
| "Green Value" (how green is this option? 1 to 5, 10 to 50%) |
0 | 5 |
| Correlating percentage | 0 | 50% |
| "Green method" results | $120.00 | Winner! $100 |
| Raw material usage to produce | 5 times (minimum) | 0 |
| Footprint method (what your grandkids will pay) |
$600.00 | Winner! $0 |
We use low maintenance, long life cycle products.
Standard materials include:
- Insulated concrete panels that provide a continuous thermal break
- Steel buildings made of 75% post consumer recycled material.
- Reflective, 50+ year roof systems
- Sealed Building Envelope with Spray foam insulation
- The best way to maximize the earth's resources is to use them minimally. Long life cycle products remain in use, so new resources don't have to be used to replace them.
We maximize existing resources
In remodel situations we synergize every piece of the existing building into the new design, therefore sending minimal waste to the landfills.
"Fire destroyed our production facility and offices, which at the time were grossing $10 million annually. As a result of Quality Design's approach, we were able to design and construct our facility saving over $29,000 in architectural fees and resume production at full-capacity in just 11 months. This compressed project schedule helped save almost $1 million in outsourcing expenses."
We finish by using low maintenaince, long life cycle products
Our standard materials include:
- Insulated concrete panels that provide a continuous thermal break
- Steel buildings made of 75% post consumer recycled material.
- Reflective, 50+ year roof systems
- Sealed Building Envelope with Spray foam insulation
- The best way to maximize the earth's resources is to use them minimally. Long life cycle products remain in use, so new resources don't have to be used to replace them.