We actively work with all our clients to provide energy conscious and environmentally sensitive designs. Sustainable buildings can provide significant cost savings to the owner in flexibility, operating costs and long term occupant satisfaction. Our aim is to optimize the use of resources both initially and over the life of a building.
Since the late 1970’s we have designed innovative energy efficient projects. These designs include trombe’ wall houses and a well-published “envelope” house. We continue our exploration and knowledge of energy efficient, healthy and sustainable design. Recent and current projects include ‘cradle to grave’ products, thermal solar systems, geothermal heating and cooling, day lighting and daylight harvesting, high/low ventilation systems with nighttime cooling, reduced energy and night sky lighting, low water use systems and rainwater collection systems. Use of healthy products such as low/no VOC materials, formaldehyde free boards, and dust fee, breathable building systems have also been featured in our projects.
We are also strong proponents of recycling our buildings and using the energy already expended in the previous construction and its materials. One of the greenest methods of building is to reuse an existing building.
Steve Trout is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Accredited Professional through the US Green Building Council. We at Trout Architects have also accepted the target challenges of the Architecture 2030 mission in responses to the growing global-warming concerns.
The goal of the Architecture 2030 mission is the achieve a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of the Building Sector by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed. By 2010, this global initiative states that all new buildings and major renovations will reduce their fossil-fuel greenhouse gas emitting consumption by 50%, incrementally increasing the reduction for new buildings to carbon neutral by 2030.