Education about Sustainable Architecture
ASK THE EXPERT ADVICE
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Q: I am recently changing tacks in my life and am interested in finding out about earth sheltered building in my area. I have 40 acres near the pedrogosa mountains (douglas) in southeastern arizona with no water or electricity, but both are available with buckets of money, which I now have. I will be moving there within the month to set up or buy a business that will sustain my life style. I am 55 and have dreamed of doing just this thing since the 60s. Now the technology is caught up and I am not too old yet to lay down and die. My main gig is a/c, appliance repair and anything else a high powered handyman does. I would like to know if there is a school available for to learn how to build a ship.

A: I don't know of any schools that are specifically dedicated to building earthships, but there are many ways to find out about natural building and sustainable architecture in general. I suggest that you check out the news page: for a listing of related workshops. Also www.ecoversity.org has a highly qualified faculty and teaches courses on wide range of topics related to sustainable architecture. Good luck with your new life!

Q: I am a builder who is exploring materials and methods for building green homes that will also be affordable for average folks and low income folks. It would be really helpful to find a good discussion site or two of like minded folks or of folks who are just building their own houses with green methods. Do you know of any such discussion groups?

A: This is a good idea, and I'm surprised that there are not more such forums out there...or maybe there are and I don't know about them. There are several related webrings listed here that might turn up something for you: geocities.com/renewables/links Let me know if you find something that you particularly like.

Q: I've seen some information on your website regarding various workshops folks around the country are offering in alternative building practices, and implementing alternative energy solutions, but I was wondering if there is a longer program, perhaps at a University, where I could go and gain expertise. To get involved, are there any formal apprenticeships or schools out there?

A: You might check out the University of Virginia where William McDonough is now acting as chair of the department. You might also check out the University of Arizona School of Architecture. They have a strong solar program. You might also check out the University of Oregon School of Architecture. Also San Francisco Institute of Architecture and New College of California.

Q: I am a Postgraduate Diploma student in the field of Architecture. A Nigerian schooling in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. I will like to focus on the field of Architecture and the Renewable Energy - Sustainable Architecture. It is not a popular field in Nigeria for now. Please can you help?

A: I am pleased to hear about your interest in sustainable architecture. It is unfortunately true that the older, traditional ways of building that are much more earth-friendly than newer technologies, have not been so popular in many places, including Nigeria. It will be through the efforts of people like you who can show how the older ways are really better, that change will occur. Hopefully my website can help point the way toward more sustainable building, and make useful ideas available for more people. You might use this website to help show others the direction that we need to go as people on earth to insure survival. Good luck with your studies.

Q: I was much delighted by your prompt reply to my earlier mail. Thanks a lot. Could you please assist me with the website addresses of some universities I could apply to for architectural studies in any part of the world. Especially those with sustainable architecture options.

A: Here are some links to possible places to study sustainable architecture:
caad.ed.ac.uk
architecture
wallaceresearch.net/education
eng.newcastle.edu.au
architecture.dundee.ac.uk
hud.ac.uk

Q: I am a student attending Falkirk College doing a degree in Graphic Design. I am writing a report on Green Building Design and I have to send a questionnaire out. I was wondering if there was anyone in particular I should send it to.

A: (Paulina Wojciechowska) There is someone in Northern Ireland called Tim Wooley who teaches in the Belfast school of architecture and co-authored a book on green building design. Its a difficult question because there is now a lot of people who are doing eco-design and a lot of literature on it. The RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) in London has a great bookshop with eco-design books, also the Intermediate Technology bookshop in London on Southampton Row, as well as the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales. Those are the book or information sources in the UK. There is also the Construction Resources Centre in London that sells eco-building materials and they have lists of architects that do eco-stuff. There is also the Association for Environmentally Conscious Building (www.aecb.net) who have lists of eco-professionals....and of course there is the whole eco-design world in the US..

Q: I am interested in building a green home. I live in the Hudson Valley of New York. My wife and I have been looking to buy our first house. Unfortunately, most prices are too high, and the designs we see are not very conducive to our lifestyle. I stumbled on to you site and was wondering if you could point us in the right direction.

A: There are many shades of green these days, and choosing what might be right for you can be confusing. I might suggest that you start out by taking a look at the video I made, called A Sampler of Alternative Homes: Approaching Sustainable Architecture, since it will introduce you to a variety of building techniques and green concepts. This can be ordered on-line at greenhomebuilding store. Another good resource is this book: The Art of Natural Building: Design, Construction, Resources...which is also available at the greenhomebuilding store.

Q: What particular advice would you give to a contractor who wishes to expand his/her repertoire into this field?

A: Become educated by reading some of the many books available about alternative building and participate in some of the many workshops and seminars that are being offered; there are listings for both of these at www.greenhomebuilding.com.

Q: I am an aspiring architect, and I share your vision of building with nature in mind. What are your recommendations for a student in architecture to build on the idea of conservation?

A: Most of my thinking about sustainable architecture is presented at www.greenhomebuilding.com. I encourage you to delve into it, get your hands dirty with experience, and don't lose faith that the future will be better than our current reality.

Q: As a designer working on creating Design Awareness , I strongly believe that Eco friendly & energy efficient buildings are the need of the day, but there is a major lack of awareness both in the professionals & the public at large. My firm 'KRIYA' has been set up with the intention of promoting eco-friendly work & helping in spreading awareness regarding 'Green living' . It would be a great opportunity in my life to work with professionals like you for gaining experience & for developing the right kind of knowledge.

A: I am pleased to hear of your work promoting "green" concepts for architectural renovation. I agree with you that this is the need of the day, and that education in this realm is of great importance. I applaud what you are doing to further this awareness. It is especially good to learn of these efforts happening in India and other places around the world, since this awareness needs to be global in scope for a transformation of the direction that civilization has taken over the last few centuries.

Q: For some time I have been searching the internet trying to find schools/universities etc. that offer degrees/training in ecological/green architecture. Any information or advise would be a great help.

A: The Fall, 2004 issue of The Last Straw Journal has a fairly thorough list of programs (http://www.strawhomes.com/). Some programs are conspicuously missing, including the well known green architecture program at the University of Oregon. The University of Texas in Austin has a well respected program. Also, New College in San Francisco has a good program in natural building.

Q: In your opinion is the public aware of the benefits of natural building, and is there a demand on this type of architecture?

A: I would say that there is greater awareness of the issues and the solutions all the time; I have noticed that many more architects are offering "green" design options, the media is more likely to report on this trend, and the traffic to my website, has increased substantially over the years.

Q: I have an obsession to build a natural house and have watched the related sites evolve. I need to ask: Why are there no reality TV shows about alternative buildings and lifestyles? The virtues and techniques could be showcased. God knows the masses need a better alternative, and yours is too much in the side-lines. It would provide a grand occasion for refinements in systems and techniques, ... it could even be formatted like Survivor!

A: I agree that the TV landscape would be much better served with some significant coverage of sustainable living, but unfortunately topics of this sort rarely get the exposure and real consideration they deserve from the media. I have recently communicated with a couple of video producers who are either planning or are actually working on a series of programs about alternative building, but don't expect these to appear on one of the major networks...if they see the light of day, it will be on HGTV or a similar cable channel.

Q: I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley in California. I am highly interested in the future of green building. I am wondering why, with proven long term cost benefits, that green building has been so under utilized. Would governmental legislation or incentives help or is this just something that needs more time before it takes off? In your opinion, what needs to be done to further utilize and encourage this concept of green building?

A: There is increasing awareness and interest in green building concepts; I know this from the traffic that www.greenhomebuilding.com receives daily ( about 2,000 people). Unfortunately our culture does not adopt meaningful change without a strong economic impetus, but I think that impetus is on its way. The cost of energy is about to escalate wildly as the depletion of fossil fuel continues. This will force people to find ways to conserve energy wherever they can, and housing is definitely one of them. Government legislation might hasten this, but I would not hold my breath for this, given the recent track record. I think if we just continue to educate people about the possibilities offered by truly sustainable architecture, its time in the sun will arrive.

Q: I'm a student at university in Turkey and searching for a PhD thesis subject about sustainable architecture. Could you advise me an original study area?

A: Turkey has a very rich history of indigenous, vernacular architecture, including the use of natural caves for residential use. I suggest that you thoroughly explore the origins and use of this practice and relate it to the principles of sustainable architecture that are presented on this website.

Q: I am interested in your advise about how to approach the sustainable building/R.E./alternative building industry as a possible career. As I continue building my own cordwood and timber frame cabin on my family farm in Tennessee, I'm realizing my love for this type of work and want to pursue it more. I enjoy the combination of design, hands-on building, and the good tension that comes with building sustainably and responsibly. What companies or individuals do I need to connect with to pursue this?

A: It sounds like you are already getting some good hands-on experience with your building project. Expanding that knowledge might be useful, through attending one or more of the many workshops around the country that are being offered (see this page for lots of possibilities); doing this will not only give you more experience, but also provide you with further networking prospects. Also, you might check this directory for contacts in your area: http://directory.greenbuilder.com/search.gbpro

C: As I am new to the concept of green building and have been doing research on various ideas the last couple of years and I have recently purchased property in Colorado, I am now looking over different concepts etc..but there are so many !!!!

R: It can be a little overwhelming when you first start to investigate all of the approaches to building sustainably, but after awhile you will probably realize that you become more focused on certain possibilities that relate to your own aesthetics, abilities, housing needs, materials at hand, etc.

C: I am very interested in green architecture, and I want to develop this type in my own country, Indonesia. I hope I am able to learn more deeply with the experts like you..It am sad that my country, which is well known as a rich tropical country, has become a disaster country: illegal logging, tsunami etc..this is the reason why I should do something.

R: It is through the efforts of people like you who care about the environment that real change will occur. Indonesia is indeed a rich country with fine traditions and I believe that it can become a leader in global environmental reconstruction. It is often those places that suffer the most where significant positive change emerge.

C: It's an honor to be part of the environmental development. Most of Indonesian people still don't realize the impact of environment disaster for human beings. Greed becomes dominate in most people ia a paradigm. Is there any suggestion from you 'how to start this movement.' Maybe you have some literary references that I need for this. Honestly the major problem is less capital. My background is as an architect with an interest in green homes since I was in college. But it is only my obsession till now. I want to make it real. Of course with big support from you and the experts.

R: Every step that you and others take toward improving the consciousness of people is worthwhile. So I suggest that you continue to become informed about the issues related to sustainable living and help disseminate this information in any way that you can. It doesn't necessarily take a lot of money to do this.

C: That's the simple and wise answer, but with a deep meaning. Maybe you're right indeed. I'll do what I can do now and hope the impact will be a more power influence for all people.

Q: How is going green shaping construction?

A: The public is becoming more aware of the need for green alternatives to standard construction, and so with this increased awareness comes greater demand for such building.

Q: How long, if it all, do you think it will take for green to become the norm in construction?

A: With the pressures on society from global warming and peak oil we will inevitably be moving in this direction...probably sooner than most would expect.

Q: The more I research the more interested I have become in living green. My husband and I would like to build our green dream home someday, we are very young and it would not be for a few years yet. I have seen a business opportunity as well as an important message that I would like to become part of. I have been trying to figure out how I and my family could become part of this wonderful trend and maybe change some peoples way of thinking and in the process live a little greener myself, when I came across your website. I think I saw my future in you and your wife Rosana.I think the world is very large and so is the market for your type of building. There will never be a shortage of customers, the future is green and I would love to be a part of it. I believe in Karma and it takes people like yourself who have already got their foot in the door, to pass on your wealth of knowledge so the next generation can keep this new way of life going and growing.

A: Thanks for the kind words and I am honored that my wife and I might serve as role models for you. I launched www.greenhomebuilding.com  several years ago with the hopes that it would serve to inspire people like you to make more sustainable living choices, and am pleased when this happens. This website now averages nearly 5,000 visitors each day, so the message is getting out there.

I encourage you to continue to educate yourself, both through my site and other resources, and I am sure that your unique niche within this realm will present itself to you, whether it is through educating others or thorough physically being involved in construction. We all have a part to play in bringing the world to true consciousness about living lightly on the land. This will happen one way or another, and it is a privilege to be part of the process.