Commerce South LEED EB O&M

Another LEED project for Sebastian Eilert Architecture.

Commerce South was successfully registered as a LEED EB O&M Project.
The initial steps are on their way with the Energy Star analysis completed. As expected, we did not make the initial score and will have to update the HVAC and lighting systems as well as the overall insulation for the building. As the contact for the Chamber, Edward Stieglitz of the LEED Depot, is as excited about finally moving the project forward, as me.
Together we are looking to maximize the efficiency of the small structure and make it a shining green example for the City of South Miami.
Plans are on their way to add solar panels to the project and showcase as many items as possible. Cleaning policies and best practices will be available for members and visitors to take a piece of this future registered green building to their homes and businesses.

Keep an eye out for updates about this excellent project, right in your backyard…

New Class @ University of Miami

It is great pleasure that i can share that a new elective will come to the University of Miami, School of Architecture:

Contemporary Green Design
Concepts of sustainable building, regional sustainable building and the current most common green building initiatives
Spring 2009

Contemporary sustainable design will educate about the current state of the construction marketplace with a focus on green design. The general introduction will include global markets, with a particular focus on European technologies and trends. Sustainable or green design as well as local green building challenges will be reviewed.
The course will provide information about available rating systems such as the US Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as well as other available systems such as the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), the Florida Green Building Coalition and Environmental Protection agency (EPA) programs. Current technologies and old versus new design strategies will also be part of the class.

Taking the US Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional (AP) exam is a requirement of this course. Registration, examination and related cost are the responsibility of the student.

Required reading material is the USGBC Reference Guide for New Construction (NC).

2008 Greenbuild Update - Boston

After another attendance to the Greenbuild conference, this time in Boston, I am glad to report of the success of the conference.

First, a note on the exhibitor space. The floor has grown once again in size from the previous year. It is observed with great pleasure that more vendors as well as more variety within the different fields was represented. One area that I was particularly thrilled with was the availability of LED lighting. Numerous vendors specializing in this field as well as other that are adding a line to their exiting offerings displayed their products. Implementing these lights will be very exciting.
The Boston Convention center has two very clever designed bridges crossing the floor allowing for a spectacular overview of it. At any given time it was filled. I am certain most vendors will call it a success.

As for the lectures, I was a little disappointed. The presenters were good but the content was lacking a bit of cutting edge for my taste. Much of the information presented was all too familiar for me. Maybe I just choose the wrong lectures. I am also sure that most attendees found the information rather stimulating.

Various organizations organized numerous tours of Boston, a very interesting city indeed. Personally, I attended the Boston Harbor Cruise. A very educating three hour ride through the harbor area to also feature two wind turbines.
Thank you to everyone that helped to organize the event and we will see you all again next year.

CB

10x10 Miami

The Green Man was proud to be one of the creative minds to participate in the October event of 10 x 10 Miami. Hugo assembled a fantastic lineup of individuals to share some of their ideas.
If you are not familiar with this event, take a look at:

10x10miami.blogspot.com

Be sure to look for the next event. It is a great way to get some ideas and see what others are doing in this town…

Team 7 Showroom Grand Opening

The Green Man is honored to particiate in the Grand opening of the Team 7 Miami showroom. After permitting the plans for this great company I was asked to contribute to the event with a presntation on green design.
Tonight, November 08, 2008, @ 7 pm the celebrations will commence as part of the Design District Gallery night.

SEA will give a presentation about South Florida Sustainable Interiors starting @ 8 pm.

to learn more about Team 7 and their high quality natural furniture, look here: www.team7.at

See you there...

Marine Stadium. Victory! - Part 1...

As some of you may be aware, the Miami Marine Stadium is currently under media attention as the City considers to remove the structure to make way for future development. Following the loss of the Orange Bowl, many consider this another great loss for the city and Friends of the Marine Stadium as well as the Dade Heritage Trust and many other local and national organizations have begun a stand up for the structure in an attempt to preserve and restore it to a potential of variety of uses.
Tuesday a number of interested parties attended the excellent presentation by Becky Matkov-Rober and Jorge Hernandez to the preservation board of the City of Miami. After support from numerous architects and other interested parties on record, including the original designer Mr. Candela of Spillis Candela, the board voted 7-1 to approve the preliminary designation of this structure as a historic site.
It is by no means the end of the process, but an important first step that will not allow any demolition to take place for 120 days. The clock is ticking to move things along…

Published in the Herald today:

Marine Stadium closer to historic status
By ANDRES VIGLUCCI

Proponents of saving the iconic but neglected Miami Marine Stadium easily cleared a significant hurdle Tuesday when they persuaded the city's historic preservation board to consider designating the modern structure as a protected landmark.
By a 7-1 vote, the board agreed to hear a fleshed-out proposal to designate the 1964 stadium on the Rickenbacker Causeway as historic after some 25 speakers -- including prominent architects, preservationists and rowers who use its basin -- extolled the architectural and historic significance of the raw-concrete building, widely regarded as a masterpiece of design but closed for 16 years. A public hearing and final vote is expected in the fall.
Proponents of designation, grouped as Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium, persuaded board members that the building's dazzling design and significance to a generation of Miamians make it worthy of designation even though at 44 years of age it doesn't meet the 50-year threshold typically used as a guideline for evaluating historic sites.

AIA Miami COTE - Designing Green with Window Shades

The AIA Miami Committee on the Environment (COTE)
Presents
Designing Green with Window Shades
1.0 AIA CEU credits

This seminar covers important day-lighting topics and the benefits of daylight in interior spaces. Learn how to transform natural light into usable light that will meet your design goals. In addition, the course will cover how interior shades can contribute to LEED certification. Juan Figueroa, LEED AP will lead the discussion and presentation.



Wednesday June 04, 2008

Dinner Reception
6:00 pm
CEU Presentation
6:30 pm
Sound Components Showroom
1533 Madruga Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33146
305-665-4299
www.soundcomponents.com

Dinner and drinks provided by:
Lutron Electronics, Lighting Dynamics & Sound Components

Space is Limited
Please RSVP by May 30 to
AIA Miami at (305) 448-0136 or
Sebastian Eilert at Sebastian@SebastianEilert.com

Greening the South Florida Marketplace

As the global economy looks with concern to the real estate market, the effects are felt by all of us. Living and working in Miami, Florida, the building industry that I am part of has come all but to a halt. As it relates to the South Florida market however things are a little different. The local market conditions have their impact on overall building as well but an ongoing trend in construction focuses on sustainable design.
Within this aspect of the sector, the local market is quite stable. Since building sustainably can still considered to be in its infancy in South Florida, the overall slow growth is helping the movement. Higher quality buildings that are environmentally sensitive, save energy and water and improve indoor environmental quality, are finding their way into every structure still in design and even construction. The US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is doing its part to channel projects into a credible and measurable path of green certification. Even projects that are not eligible to be rated under LEED are implementing sustainable features. Savings in water and energy translate into direct savings in operating cost. Other features also attract attention as the public is asking for more green; bus schedules and routes provided to clients, non toxic paint and adhesive selection to improve indoor air quality, installation of FSC certified materials and rapidly renewable flooring such as bamboo.
After the large boom of construction in downtown Miami, particularly the condo market has all but collapsed. The skyline once filled with cranes now only boasts a hand full of steel monsters moving among the clouds. Slowing down may have its positive though. An evaluation of what we are really building and the impact these structures have on the social and environmental network is now coming to the forefront. No longer is the built it as fast and as cheap as possible attitude presents. Quality finds its way back, by popular demand. Even though the intentions of the initial boom were noble in that they were promoting higher density and less dependency on cars, the execution of that idea is now under scrutiny. Indeed some
So it is with a little amusement to observe the growth in marketing of green building features: Dual Flush toilets, smoke free areas, preferred hybrid parking. Structures still getting out of the ground do their utmost to let the public know about the degree of green they are offering. National incentives to upgrade appliances to Energy Star, an EPA program further help to make sustainable living a reality for many residents, even for those just renovating an existing space.
The South Florida market has now positioned itself as a leader with in the Continental US in green building. No longer does the public just look towards California and the West Coast. Things are moving over here.
The City of Miami was recently even rated the number one Greenest City in the US by Forbes Magazine. What an achievement. Programs like a 40 house energy makeover, sponsored by the city, to improve residents energy bill by 25% or more provide an excellent platform for showing your green as well as demonstrating that indeed every one of can have an impact. And to the pleasant surprise, the good to do to nature also helps to keep some green in the wallet. And maybe soon we will see the first off the grid house in South Florida; sun and wind to thank for it.
Green can be seen throughout the US and other global markets. The awareness to improve the built environment and change the direction that it had been heading in the past is ever greater.
Where do we go from here? …still a long way. We are on the right path and we are strapping down to weather this recession. The green building impact can be driven more by residents and home owners. Professionals are getting more educated and sustainable architects and consultants, like myself, are in growing demand. When the client is requesting a sustainable project or product, the marketplace has to listen and provide the goods. You can help to make the change every day.

The New Green

As the green building movement is taking over America it has finally reached the South of Florida as well. Green or sustainable construction can be described as the latest trend in the USA. Indeed it is not a trend but a realization that the construction industry is one of the largest contributors to depleting natural resources, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Furthermore the current way of erecting structures leaves the habitants exposed to toxins, artificial lighting and limited quality of air.
The sustainable movement seeks to change all this and has already made a huge impact into the industry. Structures are built with recycled materials, waste to landfills is regulated and minimized and green roofs are finding their way to relieve some of the heat gain produced by otherwise useless surfaces. Buildings are integrated with advanced lighting and temperature control systems; water is preserved and reused where possible. Even solar panels and wind turbines are installed to provide green power to fuel the building without the need for outside, usually fossil fuel based, energy.
Leading stated like California and the Northeast are already showing a large number of these projects completed and are demonstrating the benefit of them with hard figures. South Florida has some unique challenges that make implementation of some of these features difficult. The subtropical climate and high humidity require more conditioning of the built environment, reducing the possibility of natural cross ventilation and heat. Hurricanes do their part to add to the construction regulations and tighten the building codes, limiting some of the elements that can otherwise be installed without much hassle such as external solar panels, cisterns or screen doors.
The local market is transforming and many projects are seen in the planning stages. Some professionals, like myself, are already taking the next step and incorporate many of the available features, materials and technologies, making every project a bit more green. Green is a relative term and I much prefer sustainable design over the currently coined green design. Sustainable design, as I define it, incorporates not just some of the new technologies, available materials and non toxic elements, but it considers the long term benefit and use of a project. This concept carries through from design all the way to paint and furniture selection.
The initial design must consider location, be it a new home or an interior renovation. What are the best features of the project? Where is the natural light coming from? What is the direction of the wind? Once the outside elements are understood the design already begins to take shape. After the structure is erected the selection of area appropriate finish materials should be considered. Find recycled or reclaimed materials where possible. Many new companies are bringing their creations to the growing market. Recycled glass counter tops, coconut palm or cork flooring, slag cement or natural clay plaster. Install all this with non toxic adhesives and use non toxic paint. The improvement in air quality is noticeable from the first day, even during installation. These material and practices reduce asthma and improve overall health.
Installation of high efficiency water fixtures, faucets and appliances does not just reduce the amount of water used but also lowers monthly expenses. Digitally controlled air conditioning systems, motion sensors to regulate lights and energy star refrigerators and cook tops further impact your power bill. Going green is not just good for your health and the environment but also for your wallet.
Not all pieces of a project must be green. Sustainable also means enduring. With this in mind, when furnishing a project, the selection typically finds its way to the higher end of the spectrum. The reason for this is simple. In general we are less likely to throw away a ten thousand dollar sofa, rather, if taste has changed, it can be reupholstered. Is the structure is well finished items will last decades, reducing the waste to landfills. Price is by no means the guiding factor but awareness of future use guides many decisions to decorate. Can this item be reused in the future? Can the item and even the layout adapt to future needs?
Case in point is a recently completed project of mine: The Viola Hollywood condo.
The project is an oceanfront condominium located on the seventh floor of a building in Hollywood, Florida.
The program required to maximize the ocean view with windows only one side of the flat. The owner wanted a lasting decor that would allow adapting with minimal or no alterations in the future.
The inspirations for the design are the ocean, waves and the local residence. The layout is based on shapes of waves and the form of the ellipse to convey a sense of fluidity and motion. The shape was carried through into the selection of lamps and furniture. Items were selected for multiple use by design and mobility, such as two lounge chairs that work alone, at the bar or the living room.
Limited floor to ceiling ratio was visually enhanced by color and material selection. Some items were reused within the unit. Construction debris was separated by type. Wall mirrors, wood studs and hardware were donated. The existing water heater and air conditioning unit were in good working condition and remain.
New materials were selected with the indoor air quality and the overall well being of the owner and contractor in mind. Non VOC paint and adhesives, rapidly renewable material, coconut palm for the floor and natural stones were selected. FSC certified wood for kitchen cabinets and regional material, such as soap stone, were integrated.

Even though a professional designer can best assist in the selection and implementation of these practices, there are many things that can be done by anyone. Start with your air condition system and change the thermostat to a digital model. Program it to raise the temperature when no one is in the building and lower it half an hour before returning home. Change the light bulbs to energy star bulb. When replacing appliances, look for the water and power use data and select a high efficiency model.

Having received my education at the University of Miami with a strong focus on traditional architecture and design, the real world of construction was disappointing to me and lacking quality in many aspects. My upbringing in Hamburg, Germany left me searching for a better way to build and I found the green movement. The USA is a quite a bit behind the curve as compared to Germany. Green roofs, natural ventilation and energy conscious design are basic practice, not here. But things are changing; changing for the better. A notional not-for profit organization called the US Green Building Council can probably be credit with the changes we are seeing in the USA. They created a voluntary checklist called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) that allows to specifically measure changes to the structure and also recognizes the achievement. There is still a long way to go, but changes are occurring.

The Grass is Greenest...

.....on my side.

Did you ever stop to look around?
I have, and today is one of those days.

Here I am looking around and finding myself staring at the lawn. Mighty green it seems. The sun is dying. Settling for yet another day. Taking all its events, actions and mysteries with it.

It is glooming over my yard. Green well cut, dancing in the sun’s rays. Did the other guys see this? Is their lawn as green as I see it?

Surely it must be. This is the perfect setting. Slightly bussed. Well fed. All is good.

I stop.

I think.

Beautiful wife; nice house; friends and family; everything fine:

F rantic
I nspiring
N ew
E ccentric

So life appears to be peachy. So what are my thoughts rambling on…..
I close my eyes. I listen. Humming. Silence.

The fantasy rises. The wife. The house. The green yard…