Green design and construction is growing not only from a perspective of social responsibility, it is market-driven.  According to the Professional Builder Green Building Survey (2007), 67% of the builders surveyed “strongly disagree or somewhat disagree” that green building is just a “fad” and 70% agreed that green building is important to market strategy.  In other reports, it is estimated that approximately 65-70% of U.S. residential construction in 2020 will implement green design and construction.  Not only is green, or sustainable, design a feel-good policy, it’s a marketable choice, for both residential and commercial clients.  One must consider the marketability of their home in 10 years from today, because a “green” home will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut energy bills, it will be more sustainable for the real estate value.  U/R Design feels that these numbers are currently not aggressive enough considering the current Administration changes in Washington, D.C. and the rapid growth in value of sustainable businesses.

U/R has developed a green design program, U/R Sustainable, which assists clients in creating options, coordinating with site design, and integrating design and specifications in order to reduce the “carbon footprint” while creating a comfortable home.  U/R can provide schematic design and integration for both passive and active systems, such as passive solar design, HVAC systems, lighting, natural ventilation, through innovation or by specification.  Each and every project has it's own problems, and thus, solutions.  U/R Design strives for innovation through the combinatio of integrated interdisciplinary coordination, creativity, and on-site construction experience.

Brian Majeski of U/R Design, Inc. is also a member of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the City of Steamboat Springs  Green Building Program.  The program has been approved by the City Council to be a volunteer program for 2009 and will be voted upon for mandatory requirements starting in 2010.  One of the critical points that Brian continually brought to topic included the retrofitting, remodeling, and/or weatherizing of existing structures.  New construction accounts for a miniscule amount of buildings and the larger problem lies in the current built environment's need for efficiency as fossil fuels will continue to provide a majority of our energy for years to come.  Working with an architect, mechanical engineer, and a contractor can greatly improve the energy efficiency of a home or office, old or new.

U/R Design, with it's direct involvement with the process of organizing and creating the City of Steamboat Springs Green Building Program, can provide sound guidance for clients in making the right choices for their home or office, blending limitation with opportunity.