What will be the biggest factors to influence sustainable design in the next one to five years?
First is the movement from aspirational or optional standards to regulatory initiatives. We’re seeing some real shift with [legislation such as] CalGreen and the IgCC [International Green Construction Code]. I recognize that the IgCC will be adopted on a piecemeal basis, but it provides a look at LEED and, in some regards, more than what LEED does, at a codified level. That’s going to change things. It’s providing a raised baseline and a requirement for integrated design. You will have to think about energy at the earliest phase of a project if you want to get a building permit. That’s a big deal in the U.S.

There are also more local regulations. [One instance is] Local Law 84 in New York City, whose reports came out last month.

Second is that we’re seeing built examples of more regenerative solutions. We’re getting near-zero and net-zero buildings built. We did a prototype [the Net Zero Court] and are now implementing some of those strategies into real projects. I think showcase projects can make a huge difference as one really well-done project helps define a new standard.

On one hand we’re regulating, and on the other we’re introducing a new way of design.

Mary Ann Lazarus on Creating High-Peformance Environments

Courtesy HOK Network on Youtube.