FAQS

Eppstein Uhen Architects, Inc. Core Value Statement:
Eppstein Uhen will encourage and educate our clients and staff to consider design and construction strategies that use natural resources in prudent and environmentally wise ways.

What is Sustainable Design?
In the field of architecture, sustainable design is an integrated approach that considers the entire life of a building from construction to demolition. This approach supports environmental stewardship and conservation, while balancing cost and benefits.

What are typical Sustainable Design Goals?
The main goals of sustainable design are to reduce depletion of resources including energy, water, and raw materials; minimize environmental damage caused by buildings and facilities throughout their life; and create better building environments. While the definition of what constitutes sustainable building design is constantly changing, there are several benefits.

Why make your building sustainable?
Sustainable design has environmental, economic, and social elements that benefit all building stakeholders, including owners, occupants, and the general public. Sustainable building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts. As an added benefit, sustainable design measures reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase worker productivity, and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems.

Does a sustainable building cost more?
A study done by Davis Langdon, compared LEED to non-LEED projects and found that there was no statistically significant cost difference. However, other studies have shown that, on average, sustainable projects can cost 1-3% more than a standard building.

At Eppstein Uhen Architects, we know that teams have the greatest opportunity to pursue integrated design solutions that can deliver life-cycle cost-effective, environmentally responsible, high performance buildings if strategies are evaluated early in the design process. Not only will early integration and evaluation keep first costs down, but it will also allow for more of an opportunity for a long-term payback. We will work with you to identify no-cost/low-cost strategies, and to evaluate the feasibility of moderate to high cost ones. Our ultimate goal is to provide a high performance, energy efficient building that meets your functional needs, as well as your sustainable goals.

What is the U.S. Green Building Council?
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Members of USGBC representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.

What is LEED® Green Building Rating System?
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standards for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.