Sustainability has become a key concept in the national consciousness. The announcement from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of a fusion breakthrough that might lead to an emissions-free future, the focus on climate change at COP27 in Egypt, and the Biden Administration passing legislative orders to limit energy consumption have all raised public awareness of one of the most important global challenges we face.
The impact of climate change, driven by greenhouse emissions, has become all too apparent in the last decade. At the same time, Americans have become far more aware of health, how environmental factors influence well-being, and how climate change is intrinsically connected to our day-to-day lives. In addition, a reliance on finite resources, often at the mercy of supply chain issues, is economically volatile, with prices rising and falling unpredictably, adversely affecting the international economy.
But creating built environments with climate change in mind is only one element of designing for the future.
When Nathan St. Germain established the High Performance Program in 2018, he did so with the hope that his unique vision would allow building owners and developers to have a positive impact on their communities while at the same time designing for the public and environmental good. St. Germain believes that a successful building puts people at the heart of its design process and at the heart of a movement based on social responsibility. High-performance buildings—which combine energy efficiency, durability, and occupant well-being--have set a new standard for positive social and environmental impact.
Nothing affects our bodies and minds more than the built environment that surrounds us, and because we spend more than 90% of our time indoors, our homes and work spaces have a significant bearing on our health. In addition to reducing carbon footprints and conserving energy and natural resources, high-performance buildings prioritize the well-being and comfort of their inhabitants.
A high-performance building features improved lighting and advanced HVAC systems and monitors indoor air quality in real time, an essential feature for those with asthma or chronic bronchitis. Regulating temperature and reducing noise also promote well-being, making high-performance buildings models of livability.
Essentially holistic, high-performance buildings fuse quality design with advances in science and technology to produce environments that place people at their centers. Focusing on the health of occupants promotes a commitment to community as well as a significant return on investment for owners and developers.
Climate concerns are implicitly addressed by high-performance buildings, which are often net-zero and focus on reducing carbon footprints. Designed for durability, a high-performance building also promises an extended lifespan that will overall conserve natural resources and limit embodied carbon. After all, a resilient structure that lasts twice as long as a standard structure does not have to be replaced, a costly and ecologically unfriendly process.
At Studio St. Germain, the High Performance Program makes it easier for those with a sense of social and environmental responsibility to effect real change. One unique tool Studio St. Germain offers is the High Performance Program Calculator, which reveals intangible assets and transforms them into tangible assets. The focus of the calculator is the human factor behind every firm: employees and how optimizing workspaces with their health in mind can solidify performance and lead to savings and productivity. Emphasizing health in workspaces reduces voluntary turnover, limits absenteeism, and increases employee productivity. Improvements in air quality, acoustics, and light, along with ergonomic planning, combine to create spaces where people can thrive.
Studio St. Germain has also developed an efficient step-by-step process that calculates the Environmental Performance Quotient (EPQ) of a client. Based on that unique EPQ, Studio St. Germain will generate a customized plan that will align the client with the right program, one that takes into account environmental and performance needs.
Broadening the sustainability umbrella to include concepts such as health, energy reduction, performance, and future-proofing (using design and resilient materials to mitigate the impact of severe weather) means building for tomorrow and reducing the damage produced by fossil fuels today.
The power of architecture long ago transcended mere aesthetics; what architecture can do now, in the wake of rapid technological and scientific advancement, is proactively limit the impact of climate change while improving the everyday lives of people.