Alternative Energy Resource Exploration is a Social Responsibility

More and more I am concerned about the energy we use and what the residue emitting from that output does to our environment.  Some people still do not believe we are deteriorating our earth.  I do not understand how that can be, but there are still a few out there that believe we can continue to do what we want, manufacture and pour harsh pollutants into the atmosphere and there will be no consequences.  I just hope that segment of believers is shrinking daily.

It is important in our architectural future that alternative energy sources are seriously considered.  With the growing focus on renewable resources and "green" energy, it is important to understand options for alternative energy within the home.  A home built to conserve energy will go a long way toward cutting down on nonrenewable energy use.

An effective, clean energy system that reduces utility costs, solar energy comes in two forms: passive and active. Passive solar space heating uses energy-absorbing materials in floors and walls that contain, store and later release heat. Materials that can be used include specific types of tile, concrete or masonry.

Depending on where you live, wind energy may be a viable active resource for your alternative needs. Small wind turbines can use the wind from an area to produce clean energy. These turbines generate electricity.

Wind power has been used for centuries and is becoming more and more viable as an energy resource.  It is used for sailboats, sailing ships, windmills for pumping water for irrigation and water used for steam locomotives, and small wind turbines used for lighting of isolated rural buildings were widespread in the first part of the 20th century.  Now wind farms are creating interest.  That is a good thing.  The negative footprint of a wind farm is nominal.  The few associated negatives are minute compared to the positives to be considered.

A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power.  A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes. The wind towers may be 70 to 100 feet tall where the highest wind velocity is found. A wind farm may also be located offshore.  Offshore wind power refers to the construction of wind farms in bodies of water to generate electricity from wind. Better wind speeds are available offshore compared to on land, so offshore wind power’s contribution in terms of electricity supplied is higher.  This creates a multi-task scenario on given property.

 A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power.  A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes.  The wind towers may be 70 to 100 feet tall where the highest wind velocity is found.  A wind farm may also be located offshore.  A few of the challenges with wind power are obvious.  It can be a threat to birds and bats.  However, studies have shown that we lose more aviary life to the toxic atmosphere than to those killed by wind turbines. 

Another challenge is that of the obvious.  Wind power is not a stable source of power.  Research and development is underway to manage those types of issues.  The initial costs with wind power can be substantial, however, with anything else, the costs diminish as more and more wind farms are established.  It is an investment in the future.

People complain of the aesthetics of a wind farm.  However, we may need to accept those things which we cannot change in order to accommodate that which is necessary.  We have adapted to cell phone towers and power lines in our own back yards.  Wind farms can actually be more attractive than the aesthetics of towers and lines.   There may be a time in which it is more important to be healthy and safe and to see pretty.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5128657_alternative-energy-sources-houses.html#ixzz1NefUe86h

http://www.answers.com/topic/wind-power-2

Olde to HGTV

Once upon a time there was a lady that was pretty good with colors and making “pretty stuff” happen.   To support her habit, she became an HGTV junkie.  HGTV in the morning with coffee, HGTV in the afternoon with wine and HGTV in the evening with dinner.  Every day, all day HGTV was to her like cheap whiskey was to an alcoholic.  When she had to be away, there was TEVO.  That was worth the extra bucks for the additional cable features. 

What was said on HGTV was truth!  What was done on HGTV was fact!    Watching HGTV was living!  Then one day the lady realized it was the same thing over and over.  Very fast HGTV became watered down and boring.  The well respected hosts on those shows were clearly only after a look and not anything else.  Often, the look wasn’t even all that great.  The integrity of the shows began to crumble when she realized these shows can’t happen like they say they happen.  Things are not impromptu or as simple and easy as it appears.

As one grows into the love of design, something clicks.  HGTV is for the masses of those people who want to be entertained.  The sad thing is some people think it is the real deal just as some soap opera fans believe they are viewing a real life drama. 

There are a few shows that have some entertainment value but they still are not showing the full scope of the design and what it takes to get there.  It is television and only that.  Design takes planning, processing, sometimes permitting, and it definitely does not happen in a 24 hour period.  And another thing; do you think if you pulled up to your house after a couple of days away and saw large trucks, TV crews, cords everywhere connected to huge lights looking like a crime scene, you would curiously stroll into your house and be pleasantly surprised???  And who in their right mind would appreciate your neighbors taking over your house for the weekend just to decorate a room in which they repaint the beautiful mahogany cabinet you inherited from your grandmother?  Exactly!  It’s only entertainment.  Design is much more. 

Design is technical and is not always about the “pretty stuff”.  There are codes and laws that never come up on the TV series.  The technical aspects are the core of the design and actually the last part of the design is the aesthetic value.  It all has to come together in an incredible balance. 

So this lady has graduated from HGTV and moved on to graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design.  Two things that couldn’t be farther apart.  Thanks HGTV for turning me off so I could eventually turn you off.

Social Responsibility

The other day I needed some new white-out.  It had been a long time since I had purchased any.  Much to my surprise, I noticed the ecolutions option package.  I looked on the back of the package and it gave a website along with a little teaser about this “wite-out” being recyclable.  Why not???  Can’t be any worse than the old stand-by white out.

When I got home, I looked up the website.  It was true.  Bic has taken responsibility for their products.  It was encouraging.  Pens, inks, white out and many other items have now gone green or sustainable and water based. 

This made me begin to think about the little things we take for granted.  How great a big company like Bic is conscientious about our vulnerable state of the landfills?   So how did it work?  It worked fine.  The white was not quite as thick as before.  The tape was a little more flimsy and thin.  However, this is when our responsibility and accountability come in.  Is it so bad to take a little more time with our efforts in order that the landfills become less toxic, thereby polluting our earth less and less?  I really don’t mind taking a little more effort if it means our water is purer and the microbes that clean it rejuvenate as water filters to be recycled.  We have become such a fast paced society that it may just be nice to slow down and smell the clean air.

Do Interior Designers Really Matter?

 

Coming from the design industry for more than 25 years, it became very apparent that the mystery and the scope of an interior designer is much more than the general public understands.  Unfortunately, the adversaries do understand and have become the nemesis of the profession.   As a decorator, I chose to go back to school and reach a more in-depth level of education to become an interior designer.  It is not easy and it is a completely different subject matter than colors, fabric, furniture and paint.

An interior designer is both an artist and somewhat of an engineer.  Safety and economy are considered when designing a space along with the creation of an aesthetically inspiring and comfortable space.  This work improves the lives of others in the home, workspace for the aged, handicapped and infirm.    Designing a healthy space makes a difference in the lives of others.  It is the delicate combination of a complete picture made of complicated and detailed puzzle pieces.  An interior designer is multifaceted with the obvious and the abstract.  Professional practice, human environment needs, design, products and materials, interior construction, codes and regulations, and communication are just a few of the pieces. 

An interior designer is educated in how to understand human behavior and how it relates to the built environment.  This is a process of gathering and analyzing information from respected documented sources and responsibly using this information as evidence for decisions made within the design.  The design recognizes the natural environment, context, human values, psychological factors, function, and aesthetics as contributing factors to the overall successful outcome. 

Interior construction, codes and regulations is the materialization of the concept of the design taking into account the human needs, aesthetics, fire and life safety issues and codes applied safely and appropriately.  Ongoing updates are the responsibility of the designer to maintain current understanding of all regulations that fall under his/her purview.  A designer is expected to maintain a high level of continuing education units each year. This is a personal obligation to remain current on design issues.

Design is a process and one that has a methodology.  The importance of evidence based design (EBD) is paramount to any arbitrary design.  A licensed interior designer is trained in this process and the methods to attain a solid design to meet the needs of the client safely.  The process can be endless and one of the abilities of the designer is to know when the design meets the needs and the goal has been met.

The core of the design many times is considered to be the product and materials category.  To the client, this can sometimes be the heart of the design because it involves the aesthetics.  Building materials, finishes, furnishings, fixtures, textiles and equipment bring the visible personality to the design. 

The professional practice itself must have ethics as the first priority.  The interior designer must above all else in the practice hold honesty, integrity and fairness paramount in the work ethics of the business.  A designer not only relies upon the knowledge and education but also upon the reputation that withstands time.  Included in this is an inherent duty to be aware of the most current codes and human issues in order to supply the client with the best design.

Communication is not only about dialogue between the designer and the client.  It is also about communication and understanding between the designer, contractors, associates and any building officials.  Knowing when to work through issues without causing alarm or drama is professional management of clear and concise communication.

cite: http://www.careersininteriordesign.com/idbok.pdf

Deregulation: Are Designers at Fault?

Deregulation…..how long has it been eating away at the toes of interior design?  There have been several attempts, admittedly, with this last attempt being the most severe. 

It is now personal to me.  I have been a decorator for over 25 years and worked on some exciting projects.  The truth is that when I decided to go back to school later in life, I did not realize how little I knew as a decorator that a designer understands and is expected to know.  So I know from both sides of the issue that it is important that designers remain regulated to maintain their licenses and standard of performance.

So what are the designers doing to counteract it?  Yes, going to the law makers is a good thing.  We can even observe our legal system as it is broadcast live during a legislative session.  It is a very concerning event to watch.   One would swear it is the visual Face book in action, especially the Florida House of Representatives.  The social behavior that is exhibited while serious matters are discussed is very alarming.  Little attention is paid to the highest common sense reasoning, mostly because very few representatives are listening.  Is this how significant bills with good bones happen to fall through the cracks and something serious isn’t represented as it should be on a bill?  Not to ignore the lack of respect to those people who pay taxes (aka the paycheck to the legislature) or have worked hard in committee working through all the kinks to bring forth a piece of legislation.  So, one of the first steps is to become aware of the behavior of our legislators. Attentive?  Knowledgeable?  Respectful? Present?  Acknowledge through phone call, letter or email your appreciation when the “public servant” you voted in is working diligently. 

Interior design has an extremely important role in the safety and health and therefore, the welfare of the public.  The knowledge and education behind a Bachelor of Arts Degree of Interior Design is extremely vast and detailed.  This knowledge and education is being sabotaged as is the case with the bill before the Senate and House on the deregulation of the interior design practice.  I expected to see serious minded representatives in the House making serious decisions.  I assumed that our paid elected officials took their jobs seriously and actually worked during the day to earn their paychecks.  Do they not know they are being broadcasted live?  Do they not realize that when arguments are raised and reasoning is offered, we are on the other side of the screen watching them as they are visiting each other, sleeping or just plain absent?  Are they not embarrassed to know that we saw a vote against reason and safety in favor of just plain lies?  During the process of debate in the House of Representatives strong firm truths from informed respected people were offered to those decision makers.  The opposition made statements too, but they were either untrue or silly.  Yet, when it came time to vote “yea” or “nay”, somehow all of the visiting stopped for just a second and the votes were cast.  I must have blinked because I missed the short moment when many of our representatives stopped visiting, sleeping or talking on their phones to cast their vote.  This issue of deregulating the interior design profession has made the front page of the Wall Street Journal and our paid elected officials didn’t have time to listen.

A strong thank you to those representatives who knew and spoke the truth about the importance of maintaining the interior design regulation.  The information is correct, true and very logical.  Interior designers truly appreciate your research, efforts, and independent stand.  This is the higher road less traveled.

At some level, interior designers must ask themselves why the public is not educated on the difference between interior decorators and interior designers.  People are so busy there is little time to educate one on subjects that do not affect your everyday life until one day it does.  Do we as designers own some of the neglect when it comes to the uninformed public?  That is an easy fix but one on which we must concentrate and be willing to accept the current issues including the facts regarding the public’s misunderstandings.  Be willing to say there is a place in the workforce for a decorator and a designer and put forth those differences. 

It is the right thing to be educated, it is the right thing to learn codes about fire safety and how to get a crowd out of a building as danger creeps, it is the right thing to know how and where a firewall should be or if ramps and steps are correct in the project, to know about air quality and how materials can affect the air we breathe.  It is just plain the right thing as a designer to share the information acquired from the stacks and stacks of books read in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then become NCIDQ certified.  This certification is strict and it seems to me that if you have a large group of professionals who want to be monitored by a strict certification it should mean something.  It definitely says something about the integrity and standards of the profession.

NCIDQ certification means a designer has a degree in interior design and worked under another licensed designer or architect for at least two years.  A very strict test covering important material that protects the public in interior spaces must be passed in order to be certified.  It is not unusual for a designer to attempt this test more than once.  This is a respected certification and encompasses building codes, elements and materials among a few things.  It is not an easy certification to achieve and one that any designer highly considers a true achievement.

So as the public begins to understand the differences between the designer and the decorator, they can make their choices intelligently.  The interior design industry and the decorators need not argue.  Moving forward taking action to educate the public is a constructive effort.   Because of regulation, interior designers are proving every day the wealth of knowledge they bring to the client’s table, and as a byproduct of serving the client, the public is served.  The sadness in all of this is the public is not aware of the knowledge a designer brings.  This is where our industry must step up, build relationships and spend effort, time and money to educate the general public.