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Diane, you are known for having a passion for all things "green". What sparked your initial
interest in "green" design?
Years ago, I struck up a conversation with a stranger in a Florida bar. We realized we both had a common
interest in green and I was hired to design his mountain home in Vail, Colorado. That was my first “green”
home.
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Teak wood floors are heated by a geothermal closed-loop
vertical system and long-lasting fluorescent, LED and halogen
lighting is used. Most of the furniture and cabinetry was
constructed locally for a smaller carbon footprint. |
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This bedroom includes furniture made from recycled wood
scraps, reclaimed resin panels in the windows for privacy
and an ecofuel fireplace that burns clean and requires no
venting. |
Since then, I have become LEED
Certified – meaning that my designs
provide energy sustainability and
are environmentally friendly. I work
with experts to recommend energy
efficient household systems that
conserve resources as well as save
money each month by reducing the
energy needed to power the home.
Some have saved as much as 90%
on their utilities.
A recent local project will be my first
"platinum" rated design. This home
is heated with a geo-thermal system
that keeps the home at a constant
temperature. Solar panels store
electricity so that the home does not
have to draw off the public power
grid.
Do you recommend "green"
design to all your clients?
I suggest to my clients that they
pay attention to the details and be
logical – expensive design is not
always the best. The goal for each
project is to have a minimum
footprint and provide maximum
design inside and out.
I often review plans and recommend
the most energy efficient systems
including: geo-thermal, solar and
wind systems. Projects begin with a
hand-drawn sketch that will become
a series of computer generated 3-D
images so that clients can truly
visualize the plan.
There are many ways to “go green”
and still create a beautiful,
comfortable environment. Using
recycled materials or products that
are renewable is just the beginning. |