The Globus Design Associates Blog

The Sustainability Hurdle

I'm finishing my presentation for the NJ Library Association's Green Building Fair scheduled for the morning of November 6 because I travel to Washington D.C.this weekend to join in a board meeting of the ASID Foundation as a new trustee. I'm scheduled to return two days before the presentation, so completion is a priority.

I love speaking about sustainability and am very excited that the library association is encouraging its members to learn more about the topic.  As I was trying to condense way too much information into a 50 minute segment, I realized that, for me, one of the most intriguing aspects about sustainability's triple bottom line of people, planet and profit is people. People seem to understand they benefit from sustainability practices, and yet convincing them to change their behavior is proving to be a hurdle.

Leading the Team

Photo by Suzan Globus

Motivating people to recycle, print on both sides of the sheet or turn the water off when brushing their teeth is an obstacle to going green.  Increasing amounts of press (I wonder if a new word will evolve because the derivation of this one is obsolete - but that's another topic) coverage has been devoted to new green buildings not meeting their projected performance standards. If the buildings' occupants don't shut the windows and turn off the power strips before leaving at night, for example, some of the savings will not be realized.

Educating people and creating buy-in about operating sustainably is critical to the success of any business's green initiative.  It should not be an after thought. We are excited to be teaming with a human behavior expert to offer staff training sessions because I believe it is vital to creating successful sustainability stories.  

I'm off to Dubai after my presentation next Friday, so I may miss a week.  I promise to post photos when I return.

Green Listed

More art

I have to add this photo that I took while walking of landscape architects Mikyoung Kim Design's "Barcode Luminescence" installed in the courtyard of the Ocean County Library to the last conversation about the impact of art in public spaces as an outstanding example.  See more images on  dezeen magazine's blog. 

And more questions about "the" green list

In preparation for their  Green Building Fair ,November 6, where I will be speaking, I was asked by the New Jersey Library Association to provide them with a list of green products they could give to their members interested in purchasing furniture, finishes, fixtures and equipment for their respective libraries.  As the owner of an independent interior design firm, I feel part of the value we offer our clients is researching and recommending or designing products specific to their needs. This sets us apart from representatives of furniture companies offering "free" design services and others who benefit from recommending their companies' products.  I also feel it is inappropriate for me to endorse products as being green because there is no one-size-fits-all-list.

The many shades of green

Although I appreciate NJLA regarding me as a resource on this issue, it is not that simple  Going green is a holistic process that is so much more than buying “green” products.  “Green” products are relative to the location they will be used, how they will  be used, how they will be maintained, etc. Green is so much more than the contents of the products.  That is a just a small part of the equation, but unfortunately a part that many people have latched on to and promoted. I advised that the best advice NJLA can give its members is to consult with credentialed design professionals (LEED AP, etc.) who can walk them through the decision making process to get the best solution for their specific needs. Some products that are “certified” green are certified by groups with questionable credentials.

A list to make a list

There are some independent, third party verifications that are helpful in evaluating products and can be used as a starting point in researching whether a product is green for your particular use.

1. Cradle to Cradle

2. Green Guard

3. FSC - for wood products

4. Energy Star  - for technology and appliances 

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FAQ's

1. Is this a complete list?

No - just a place to start looking

2. If the product I like isn't on the list, does that mean it isn't sustainable?

No.  The third party verification process is expensive and not all companies have submitted their products to be tested. More independent verification processes are being developed for products for which testing is not available. By familiarizing yourself with the guidelines listed above, you can research to see if your product would meet the same standards used in these guidelines.

3.  If my product displays one of these certifications, does that mean it's green?

Not necessarily.  It means you can eliminate some of the questions you have about the product and delve into whether it is the best choice for your particular circumstances.

Click here for more information about design and sustainability.

Speaking about sustainability...

I've been asked to address the NJ Library Building Fair about sustainability Friday, November 6 which is the same day I leave for Dubai to attend the International Federation of Interior Designers/Architects congress. A busy day.

NJLA does a great job of keeping its members up to date and I'm happy to talk about the potential I see for libraries in the sustainability movement.  I'm presenting at 10:00 am, so bring your questions and best practices to the Monroe Township Library.  

Art in Public Spaces

I'm happy to see Tom Moran, the Director of Arts Inclusion at the NJ Council on the Arts is scheduled to speak, too.  Tom was helpful with including art in our interior design of the Ocean County Library Headquarters .  It's difficult to explain the potential impact of art in public spaces.  Art is instrumental in creating a memorable experience for library members that all smart libraries are aspiring to acheive.

This image of Chris Freeman's "Flowing Fabric Luminous Tube Sculpture" installed in Ocean County Library Headquarters Wheeler Reading Room (interior design by Globus Design Associates creates an element of surprise for the quiet reading room.  I'm looking forward to designing for more original art in public spaces.

Floored by Green Carpets

Photo by Suzan Globus

I was in the city (NY) last week to select some carpet for a library project we are designing because it is helpful to see large pieces of patterned carpet in the showrooms before making a decision.  We stopped keeping carpet samples in our office's design library about eight years ago when I realized the carpet binders were taking up well over one third of our library space and we habitually ordered large samples in order to make our design decisions regardless.

Making Sustainable Choices

When I asked one showroom sales person what his carpet's sustainability features were, he said  it was the only carpet manufactured on the east coast within 500 miles of the job site, one of the requirements of the LEED rating system.  I gathered that there were more features but that he was trying to distinguish his company's product in the marketplace.  The good news for us designers is his job is increasingly difficult because more carpet companies are trying to manufacture sustainably.  The bar has been set high by Ray Anderson, the visionary founder and CEO of Interface, Inc., FLOR's parent company, although to hear Ray tell it, it is not nearly high enough. (For my librarian readers, consider adding Ray's newest book Confessions of a Radical Industrialist to your sustainability collection.  The book has just been published and although I have not yet read it, I have never read anything Ray has written or heard him speak without being inspired.)  A sales person from Interface confessed it was a more difficult sales pitch to make now that many carpet companies have developed a green "story".

Making Design Choices

I welcome the day when sustainability will not be a separate conversation from design but rather a given component of all products, especially carpet which takes up a disproportionately large percentage of space in our landfills.  Then interior designers can select carpet -or whatever floor covering it evolves to- based on its suitability for the project.  Because my firm is working on some libraries, let's talk about what is needed in the marketplace for libraries.

What's Needed in Carpeting for Libraries

Carpet for libraries, like most public spaces, gets much traffic and is subject to spills ranging from overflowing diapers and coffee to markers and paint.  With limited operating funds, libraries face reduced maintenance schedules and increased demands on their carpets.  Patterned versus solid carpet and color contribute more to the long term appearance of the carpet than does the type of carpet yarn and construction.  Unfortunately, I frequently run into limitations in the selection of patterns and colors.

Patterns, patterns, and more patterns

I have never designed a library requiring less than three patterns of flooring that somehow relate to each other.  The architecture of many libraries is based on the lingering 1960's library design standards of creating large rectangular spaces which supposedly maximized efficiency for space planning for book stacks without addressing the experience of the library user.  A change in flooring can aid in way finding in such a building and help to create different places within a large space.

It is difficult to find more than three coordinated carpet patterns appropriate to a library, as opposed to a casino, that don't contain a trendy color or a pattern that is potentially disorienting to someone with impaired depth perception.  My firm prefers to design carpets for library projects.

Pattern Inspirations

I see pattern everywhere I look, so I don't understand why coordinating pattern choices are limited in the marketplace.  Here's what caught my eye on my visit to the New York City showrooms.

Photo by Suzan Globus

My perspective from the taxi window distorts the regularity of these windows in a pleasing way.

Photo by Suzan Globus

I like the scale of the large shadow superimposed on the light grey building's fenestration grid. The painted crosswalks and intersection create more patterns.

Color Inspirations

Nature is a never ending source of inspiration for color.

Photo by Suzan Globus

Seen through the window of the high speed commuter ferry, the blue sky coupled with the wheat colored setting sun on the slate blue water create a subtle palette.

Photo by Suzan Globus

The clouds and sky behind the Brooklyn Bridge contain blues, purples, pinks and oranges in a warm/cool pallet and light/dark tonality that doesn't jar the eye.

Photo by Suzan Globus

This water splashed view of the sunset on the New Jersey coast reveals an unusual combination of orange, purple brown and charcoal that works together beautifully. 

Surrounded by colors and patterns created by nature and people, it is easy to understand why designing carpet to work perfectly in libraries is well within reach.

Before You Buy - Level Two Checklist

What's next after the content

The lists of questions to ask vendors before you purchase their green products from our previous posts, Green in the Meantime and More questions to Ask Vendors Before You Buy, comprise the first level of questions.  There is more research to be done to ensure the product you buy is really green.  After you explore the content of the product, take a look at how it's manufactured and distributed.

Photo by Suzan Globus

Manufacturing Process Questions

1.  Where are the raw materials used in the product located? (Are they locally sourced or grown on the other side of the globe?)

2.  How are the materials extracted? (Is environmentally sensitive machinery used?)

2.  Is the process energy efficient?

3.  How are the materials transported to the manufacturing plant?

Photo by Suzan Globus

4. How and where is the waste from the manufacturing process disposed of?

5.  How is the product packaged?  (Are the packaging materials and methods environmentally friendly?)

6.  How is the product distributed? (By now you have guessed we are investigating part of the carbon footprint of the product)

Photo by Suzan Globus

7.  Does the manufacturer comply with the industry's voluntary testing standards?

More to follow

This list is a starter list intended to help you in questioning more than the contents of a "green" product before you buy.  It is not meant to be complete, and we have another layer to go in learning about what makes a product sustainable.  That's the social responsibility aspect and that is a topic for a future post.

Seating Choices for Libraries

More on Seating

After conducting a meeting with the public in one library's community this week to gain their input on a proposed design at the request of the library board, I was inspired to return to the topic of seating for libraries by one attendee's comment.  She requested that we make the library look "cozy".  It wasn't the first time I received that request through my years of designing libraries, but it was the first time I linked it specifically to seating.

Is this "cozy"?

When I asked the library customer what cozy meant to her, she responded by saying she was interested in "comfy" chairs.  Cozy and comfy are words describing feelings and can have a very different meanings to different people.  As a designer, I am responsible for interpreting those meanings and creating an environment that evokes those positive feelings (and more) from the people who use the space.

Cozy and comfy can be achieved through texture, color, lighting and space planning to create feelings of comfort, security, ease of use and so on. But let's focus on seating to follow our library customer's lead.

Photo by Valerie Mangan

These settees may fit someone's idea of cozy because they don't look institutional, but if they are placed in an adult area, it is unlikely that more than one person will be sitting on them at a time Adults unfamiliar with each other are not comfortable sitting in close proximity.See our Demystifying Library Seating blog post   As a result, space is probably being wasted.

Recommendations:

Reuse

1. Instead of discarding the settees, I recommended they be reupholstered and moved to the children's area where the chances are greater of people related or familiar with each other using them.  Some children's areas lack adult height seating able to accommodate both care giver and child together.

2. I also recommended the library board consider using the other settees in the meeting room for patrons who might need the assistance of an arm to raise and lower themselves from and to a seat.  Most meeting rooms contain multiple armless stacking chairs which work well for many but not all people.

Is this "comfy"?

Photo by Valerie Mangan

This generic library bench probably doesn't meet most peoples' image of "comfy", but let's look at it in context.  As a replacement for a lounge chair, it probably won't be welcomed in an adult use section, but rather in a teen area where they would use it to recline - which may not be welcomed by the staff.

Recommendations:

Repurpose

1. I recommended that this bench be placed in view of the entrance to give a temporary seat to someone waiting for a ride, a gesture of comfort.

2. If this seating is placed adjacent to a periodical section where one browsing could sit for a minute to determine whether or not they wanted to read a magazine in depth, it might create more comfort.

3. Placing this bench adjacent to range of large books might make it easier for someone with impaired sight to see the titles on the bottom shelves. This could make the library experience much more comfortable.

Seating lessons learned

1. Cozy and comfy are in the eyes (and heart rate) of the beholder. Often the design solution is not inherent in the product, but rather in how the product is used by the interior designer in the context of the space being designed.

2. I have to mention that this design exercise also adheres to sustainable standards of reduce, reuse, recycle.

More Questions to Ask Vendors Before You Buy

Getting Greener

On the road to Homer, Alaska. Photo by Suzan Globus

Using the list of questions to ask vendors from my last post as an outline, let's go to the second level of information you will want to know about a product before you decide to buy it.

1. How is it recycled?   After determining the product in question is recyclable, you'll want to find out how its done.  Burning is not recycling.  Burning plastics, for example, releases dioxins.

2. Are the components recyclable? Most products are made with various components, so once you have established that the product can be taken apart, find out which components are recyclable.

3. How does it biodegrade? If the components are described as bio-based, you will want to know how they biodegrade.  The dump is not a great final resting place because there may not be adequate sunlight, moisture or oxygen available to set the breakdown in motion. Does the component have to be transported elsewhere in order to biodegrade?

4. Does it contain any: heavy metals? mutagens? tetrogens? (ability to pass through mother's milk) known carcinogens? If so, can it separate during disposal? Does the EPA impose any limitations on the materials, solvents, etc. used in the product? In short, is there any toxicity? This series of question allows you to explore more thoroughly what the product contents are in terms of their effects.

5. What percentage of the recycled materials are post consumer and/or post industrial? There are two types of recycled materials:

•      Post consumer means the material is recycled after it has finished its useful life as a consumer product. For example, some polyester used as face fiber in carpets is being manufactured from soda bottles containing PET resin. While this is an admirable effort,  the issue gets muddled by the fact that polyester is not the most durable of carpet fibers. I would have to question what is the comparable life span of these polyester yarns versus other conventional yarns, how it is maintained and so on.  And we haven't even begun to take into account the effects of the manufacturing processes used to make this carpet fiber.
•     Post industrial describes waste material from the manufacturing process.  This is less confusingly described as "pre-consumer".  A workable way to distinguish them is to remember that post consumer is what is coming from our homes and piling up in our landfills. Post industrial materials are what are coming from the factories.  An example of post industrial recycled content can be found in one of my favorite counter materials, Alkemi 

Flakes of aluminum left over from manufacturing have been embedded into the resin top.  These flakes, according to the site, would otherwise would burn as a heavy smoke pollutant when exposed to conventional aluminum recycling. This material is unusual, beautiful and signals an inventive approach to making greener materials. 

Where we go from here

This is a very basic primer about questions to ask before you buy.  It does not begin to address carbon foot print,  manufacturing process, how and where materials are extracted, the distribution channels and the employment practices of the manufacturer - some of the other pieces of the sustainability puzzle.  However, I strongly believe that the act of asking these types of questions makes buyers, sellers, designers, specifiers, manufacturers, distributors and others in the product chain more aware of the choices and consequences of their actions and inspires us all to make the best possible choices for our children's children's children.

Wrapping up on this Friday before Labor day, I am the last one remaining in my office building while others have headed out to blow off  

New Hope, PA. Photo by Suzan Globus

Enjoy the last days of summer.

 

Sonoma, CA. Photo by Suzan Globus

Green in the Mean Time

First: do no harm

A potential interior design client commented that because the stimulus money seems to be going to road instead of building renovation, she was at a loss as how to jump start her "going green" program in her library. I explained that the basic tenet of sustainability is similar to medicine: First, do no harm.  It isn't necessary or preferable to tear down and toss out in order to build and buy new "green" products. When you consider that humans' most intimate interface with their environment comes from all those furnishings and finishes that they touch, smell, eat from and sleep on in their interiors, you can understand that the impact of interior design on sustainability is monumental.   

The contrast of the old building in the foreground against the new in this photo I took on Huron or Erie Street in the cathedral district of Chicago is a reminder of the value of working towards sustainability within existing structures.  The verdant streetscape is not only beautiful but also contributes to the air quality.

Second: Introduce only products that contribute to the interior environment

From furniture to building finishes to equipment and supplies, make necessary purchases wisely after considering their potential impact on the interior environment.  Frankly, this is not as easy as it sounds because what constitutes sustainable is a complicated issue reaching far beyond the materials used in producing the product you are considering buying. But, there is help.

Resources

A simple list of questions to ask vendors before you buy is available from ASID's and USGBC's partnership publication, ReGreen a remodeling guideline.  Download their Green Product Checklist for a handy reference. Once you become comfortable with using the list, try adding these questions:

More Questions to Ask Vendors before you buy

1. Is it recyclable?  (meaning does the product stay out of the waste stream.)
2. Can it be taken apart?
3. Which components are bio based?
4. Which materials are from renewable sources? (LEED defines renewable as growth regenerated within 10 years or less)
5. What materials are used with recycled content?  (LEED requires a minimum of 10% recycled materials and the percentage relates to the value ($) of materials not volume, number, etc.  For example, if the wood veneer on a conference table is from an FSC forest, it probably doesn’t have much impact when taken as a percentage of value of the entire table.)

These questions are only pertaining with the content of the product you are considering buying, and they are a good place to start. They don't delve into manufacturing processes, distribution process and so forth. The questions above are based on the LEED guidelines. There are more questions to ask, so check back to add to your list.  By asking questions of your vendors, you will learn about what makes a product sustainable as well as signalling manufacturers that there is consumer interest in healthy products and practices. 

Controlling what is brought into your interior environment can make a significant impact on sustainability.

A Greener Perspective on Land and Libraries

Traveling to Virginia's Shenandoah Mountains for a family get-together provided a soothing respite for my sun stroked eyes after a summer filled with light bouncing from either a large computer screen or the water surrounding the peninsula where I work and play.

Cornfields in the Shenanadoah Valley  

More green beans than I have ever seen in one place

When I think about what I would do if I weren't an interior designer, farming comes to mind.  Just as interior design seems glamorous to those who don't practice it,  farming is more labor intensive than it appears. Being able to look at this sweet lavender farm complete with grazing horses and two chairs under the shade tree seems like just reward.

Gimme Shelter - These two goats select this man made intrusion.

Unlike these deer who have adapted to this intrusion into their habitat

I took the opportunity to revisit the Handley Library in Winchester, a Beaux Arts building renovated about 10 years ago for which we designed the interiors.

I was pleased to see our custom designed carpet looked as good in the rotunda as it did originally.

We took our color cues from the rotunda's stained glass dome.

Historic preservation is green design.  Preserving what exists sometimes takes a back seat to the building green movement where new structures, systems, finishes and furnishings are touted as "green".  When a Library building is as beautiful as this one (see painting), it is easy to make a case for preserving it.  Before considering demolishing a lesser building in an effort to "go green", call in an accredited design professional to explore what magic might be created within to adopt a truly sustainable approach.

Gone Fishing

See you next week.