The Green Bay Press-Gazette visits with newsmakers in the business world each week in its Monday Conversation feature. This week, Dan J. Roarty, architect and owner of Dimension IV, talks about sustainable design.

Q. What is Dimension IV's philosophy regarding sustainable design and building practices? What is the trend in the industry?

A. The Dimension IV philosophy regarding sustainable design and building practices is deeply rooted in the words of Thomas Jefferson, when he said that "the earth belongs to each generation, and no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of its own existence."

Green architecture is the practice of using materials, designs and concepts that minimize resource and energy use now and in the future.

Sustainable design creates environments that have a minimum negative impact on the environment and the users of the environment. Ideally, sustainable design will enhance both the environment and the people that use the architecture.

Green architecture and sustainable design solutions reach beyond the specific building and create a greater good for the community.

Dimension IV is dedicated to advocating the principles of green architecture and sustainable design as often as possible.

Throughout the country, we are seeing more and more work completed following these principles. When it comes to sustainable design, in many ways, the United States is "catching up" to other parts of the world. Some of the advantages being discovered through sustainable design include:

ü  Reduced operational energy costs, use of "free" resources

ü  Reduced maintenance costs

ü  Support of local building materials and components (and the local economy)

ü  Improved indoor air quality

ü  Enhanced working environment

ü  Smaller negative impact on landfills, less pollution

ü  Increased flexibility/usability of the facility

ü  Reduced burden on community infrastructure

As population grows, consumption expands and resources grow more scarce or expensive, the trend towards sustainable design will begin to dominant the industry.

Q. Are sustainable or "green" buildings affordable?

A. "Affordable" is an interesting issue. Too often, only the "first cost" of a project is considered. The first cost is the short-term expense of a building project and includes the land acquisition, design and construction. This, however, will only reflect one-half to one-fifth or less of the total life-cost of a project.

Depending on how "green" a design is, the first cost may be more than the first cost of a traditional construction. But as a design becomes more green and sustainable, other costs such as energy use and maintenance decrease. The "most" sustainable building would be one that produces no waste and actually exports energy back to the community.

Dimension IV separates "green" design into three categories: The first are the "no brainers," design features that you can include (or maybe already include at some level) that will not change the first cost of your building.

The second category is green features that have quick paybacks, maybe as short as a couple of years or as long as six to seven years. Most property owners will carefully consider the features in this category.

The last category is the "flashy" features with long paybacks. We have trouble recommending work at this level unless an owner is passionate about including the feature or some other compelling reason is known.

Regardless, when green and sustainable features are incorporated from the very beginning of the design process, impact will be minimal on short-term costs and will produce significant savings in the long term. The additional time spent up front in the initial design will be recovered over the life of the building.

Q. Are there "green" things that people habitually incorporate into buildings now that were seen as exotic five or 10 years ago? What are some of the easiest "green" elements to include?

A. Our heating and electrical systems provide numerous opportunities to reduce energy consumption in ways that were considered "expensive" just 10 years ago. Much more is being done today to utilize existing "waste heat and cooling" to temper the outdoor air before it is used inside our rooms.

Bamboo flooring was exotic 10 years ago and now is readily available.

But many of the "exotic" green solutions from a decade ago are still more "exotic" than realistic. Wind turbines are increasing in numbers, but still make up a relatively small percentage of the energy production. Photovoltaic panels (panels that convert sunlight to electricity) are being built into roof shingles, windows and shading devices, but still do not have a fast enough payback for most people. And electric vehicles, waterless urinals, recycled plastic building materials and other "flashy" materials are slow to catch on in a first cost "bottom line" economy.

On the other hand, there are numerous materials and design solutions that we use that are easy to include, many of which are commonplace.

Windows are one of our biggest "green" elements. New technology in glass production has created windows that are more energy efficient from the start. Combined with proper design, placement, shading and orientation, windows can greatly reduce consumption of electricity for both lighting and cooling.

Much of the steel used in construction comes from recycled sources. Some concrete and concrete block will also have recycled content. More efficient heating and cooling equipment, use of lighter colors, reduced water consumption, use of natural vegetation and many other common building elements also improve sustainability.

Finally, recycling construction waste and re-using existing buildings are also important sustainable practices.

Q. What are some of the more complex or expensive sustainable practices that you'd like to see incorporated more often, or that you think will become the norm in the future?

A. Though much of the discussion of sustainable practices focuses on building and construction, there are three big practices that have less to do with construction and more to do with lifestyle that I believe will greatly change our world.

The first is to increase the flexibility of our transportation system. To do this we need to improve mass transportation — ideally through electric trolley lines. We need to reduce the use of the gasoline and diesel engines as well as the use of individual transportation. (Each car we drive probably has at least five parking spaces plus a garage — thinks about that!)

When the transportation system is more flexible, we are not "locked" into only driving our car. We can walk, take the trolley, and ride a bike or carpool.

Second, we need to work regionally. This might include buying products locally when we need to buy a product. Not only does that reduce the transportation cost associated with the good or service, but the profit generated is more likely to stay in the community supporting a local charity, buying another good or creating another job.

Beyond the economy, we need to explore more "regional" governing. This might include utility services, public transportation, fire and police protection and economic growth. It might also include "growth rings" that concentrate development in underdeveloped areas of existing cities and towns ahead of development in agricultural and green areas.

Last, we need to consider higher development density and diversity. The ability to develop town centers and live/work zones will allow higher utilization of our resources in less time and with better results.

Q. The "local community" philosophy, where people live, work and shop in one place, is cropping up in some local developments, such as The Woodfield Village project in Howard and the projects on Washington Street and Broadway in downtown Green Bay. Is this a national trend? What are the benefits of this approach?

A. The live, work and shop districts are a national trend that is a "throwback" to our towns before the automobile. By having a diversity of uses in centralized areas, a person can spend much less time driving and more time in their neighborhood. Such a system is "sustainable" if the proper densities of population are reached.

Retail businesses and restaurants can support themselves better if there is a residential population within walking distance. Employees who can walk to work do not need a second vehicle. An active community increases safety, builds a sense of pride and allows greater participation in local events.

Dimension IV is currently involved in the Larsen Canning Co. redevelopment. This is envisioned as a mixed-use development that will allow people to live, work and shop within a walk able distance. This is definitely a wave of what is to come.

Q. What are five key things people should consider when hiring an architect?

A. An architect is trained to solve problems. The best architects will listen well, help the client visualize the design quickly, provide good customer service and save money overall.

But if there is one quality above the others that is hard to quantify but essential to exceptional success, it is the ability to (pardon the cliché) think outside the box. To take the client one step past where they need to be is the best place an architect can take you. The only way to truly know your limit is to stretch just past it.

— Compiled by Rich Ryman/Press-Gazette

About Daniel J. Roarty

·         Residence: Howard

·         Title: Architect

·         Business: Owner of Dimension IV, 163 N. Broadway, Green Bay

·         Background: Roarty has 23 years of architectural experience, including the last eight as owner of Dimension IV. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master of architecture degree from the University of Illinois and a master in business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

·         Best business advice received: Be open minded, pay attention, keep your passion and lead the way.

·         Best business advice given: The only way to truly know your limit is to stretch just past it.