Monthly Archives: May 2010

First things first…  A huge congratulations to Linsi and David on last month’s launch of Redefine Home.  If you haven’t been yet, make sure to visit and check out some very unique and inspiring design!

Also noteworthy was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd. To celebrate the ‘greenest’ month of the year, I thought it might be the right time to discuss what some consider the ‘greenest’ building project in the United States.  The Omega Center for Sustainable Living is one of the first projects slated to receive designation as a ‘Living Building’, based on standards developed by the Cascadia Green Building Council and the International Living Building Institute.

The Living Building Challenge program differentiates itself from other certification systems with a performance-based approach, as opposed to a prescriptive one, meaning specific design strategies and elements aren’t necessarily required for certification.  Instead, creativity and collaboration are encouraged in order to meet stringent performance standards.  In fact, a project must be operational for a year before it can be assessed given the designation as a Living Building.

In this sense, the Living Building Challenge is ‘sustainable by design’, as it challenges us to think comprehensively and inclusively to generate design solutions that are site-specific and contextual, with the ultimate goal of shaping a built environment that coexists harmoniously with natural ecological systems.

Though the Challenge focuses on seven performance areas (Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity & Beauty), something especially unique to this program is an importance placed on beauty.  The concept that beauty is fundamental to a truly ‘green’ building implies that sustainability does not hinder creativity, nor does it negatively impact one’s experience of a space.  Instead, it serves as a mandate to design efficient buildings that create meaningful, inspiring, and educational spaces.

The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) does just that.  Located in Rhinebeck, NY and designed by BNIM Architects, this project includes 6,200 square feet of educational facilities.  All energy is generated on-site, and, as a self-sustaining (hence, living) building, the Omega Center incorporates passive design strategies, in conjunction with innovative technologies, to achieve zero reliance on existing infrastructure.

To address water filtration needs, principles of biomimicry were used in the design of a wastewater retention pond, incorporating natural biological systems to recycle, purify and restore water resources.  For more details on how this process works, refer to John Todd Ecological Design, the firm behind the design of the Omega Center’s wastewater ‘Eco-Machine’.

The system is designed to serve as an educational tool for visitors as well, as seen in the image below of the interior greenhouse.

In addition to the wastewater treatment system, passive strategies include: strategic siting to maximize existing site opportunities for heating and cooling, the use of clerestory windows to enable stack ventilation for natural cooling, lightshelves and sunshades for daylighting and views, and a green roof for higher insulation values.

Additional technologies include a photovoltaic array that provides for all the building’s energy needs and solar tracking skylights, as well as an underground geothermal system that uses heat stored in the earth to supplement passive heating and cooling systems.

For more information on this project, which also received the AIA/COTE (Committee on the Environment) Top Ten Award this past Earth Day, please refer to their website.

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