We all know that human kind has had a dramatic impact on the environment and that this impact continues to grow. Our concern for what we are doing to our planet has been growing steadily and is now reached a point where “greening” our lifestyle is no longer an option…it is a requirement. The building and construction industry has been under significant pressure to construct buildings that will be environmentally friendly, both while they are under construction and throughout their life expectancy. However, finding an assisted living architect that can build to today’s rigorous environmental standards can be difficult. Childress & Cunningham, Inc. has a nursing home architect on staff that specializes in the construction of assisted living facilities that meet current LEEDS standards.

First, you might be asking yourself what is LEEDS and why is it important? LEEDS stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It is an international standard that is recognized worldwide for the certification of green buildings. LEEDS certification tells the community that the building was designed and built using standards to increase performance in areas such as water efficiency, energy usage, CO2 reductions, improved indoor environments, and in respect to stewardship of natural resources. Finding a LEEDS assisted living architect or nursing home architect ensures the community that the designer, builder, and future occupant took steps to maximize their consideration of how their actions would affect future generations.

There are many reasons why someone would want to find an assisted living architect or nursing home architect that specializes in LEEDS certified design. Not only does hiring a LEEDS certified assisted living architect or nursing home architect demonstrate a concern for future generations, it also demonstrates concern for present ones. The improved water consumption and lower energy usage of the green building help keep costs down for residents, insurance companies, and taxpayers. It is a responsible step to ensure not only proper stewardship of natural resources, but of financial resources as well.

Using a LEEDS assisted living architect or nursing home architect also adds an extra source of caring for the residents that will spend their years there. LEEDS certified buildings take care to ensure that all materials, to the greatest extent possible, provide a safe and nontoxic environment. For instance, paints are low VOC, which not only reduces odor during the painting process, but assures that they do not continue to give off volatile organic compounds in the future. The same can be said for any glue, mastic, varnishes or other materials used in the building process. LEEDS certification requires that carpets be of materials that do not emit toxic fumes as they breakdown over the years. These are little ways that add up to big differences in the long-term health effects of the building on the residents and staff.

Many people do not realize that hiring a LEEDS certified assisted living architect or nursing home architect has a big impact not only on complying with a growing stop was overall global concern for sustainability, but also on the health of the occupants. Green building goes beyond improved water efficiency and energy consumption. It goes beyond concern for the impact on the community. Green buildings also help to reduce the chance for long-term health effects of toxins that are a part of many conventional building materials.

Author Bio: Stewart Wrighter recently hired a local assisted living architect firm to help revitalize his ailing mother’s home. He consulted a nursing home architect to discuss plans for a home for the elderly.

Category: Career
Keywords: assisted living architect,nursing home architect