Practitioners, Programs Recognized

Environdesign NotebookPractitioners, Programs RecognizedThe National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center recently announced the winners of its National Green Building Awards. The awards program honors and encourages builders, programs, advocates and products in the advancement of environmentally-friendly residential construction. - Green Advocate of the Year: Peter Pfeiffer, principal at Barley + Pfeiffer Architects, Austin, TX, a pioneer and adamant believer in the implementation of passive solar design in all realms of construction. Pfeiffer is the inventor of TechShield, an innovative insulating sheathing system that uses plywood with an aluminum barrier to cool attics in high heat areas by a minimum of 30 percent.- Green Project of the Year, Affordable Category: Artistic Homes of Albuquerque, NM, for its comprehensive approach to project planning including a pre-construction energy analysis, collaboration with outside specialty contractors and consultants, attention to home performance details, and incorporation of cost effective design and construction techniques.- Green Project of the Year, Production Category: McStain Neighborhoods of Boulder, CO, for the company's attitude toward constant improvement of its homes and their processes, as well as a strong company culture and commitment to resource efficiency in that most of its employees independently participate in green building programs. - Green Project of the Year, Custom Category: Coho Construction Services, Inc., Portland, OR. Judges noted a strong mission statement, well-documented development and construction processes and a dedicated effort to "close the loop" on the materials use process. - National Green Building Program of the Year, New Category: Seattle's Built Green program coordinated by the Home Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties based on the comprehensiveness of its mission and its excellent potential for future market penetration.- National Green Building Program of the Year, Established Category: The Green Building Program of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver, a statewide program cited for its well-defined mission and scope and success with nearly 13,500 homes certified under the project since its inception. A Natural CollaborationThompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (TVS), a leading architecture firm in Atlanta, GA, and Southface Energy Institute, an educator on sustainable building and community design, have joined forces to collaborate on a new commercial addition to Southface's Energy and Environmental Resource Center at 241 Pine St. in midtown Atlanta.TVS will act as the architectural owner's representative, providing consulting to Southface throughout the new building's entire process-planning, design and construction. Working as TVS' sustainability consultants are Holley Henderson, accredited UGSBC LEED™ 2.0 professional, and architect Bill Abballe, former American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment chair and AIA Atlanta board member. The building will demonstrate use of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED rating system to create an efficient, earth-friendly building. Southface is one of the nation's four USGBC regional affiliates. The new facility is projected to open in August 2004.