1

Comment

With the rise of the ‘greening up’ movement, many architects and designers are responding to the societal demands by deciding to also green up their acts. Locating green architects to help in building and constructing a sustainable home is not a simple task. There are a lot of questions as to how to choose the best green architect, how to determine whether the architect is truly a green architect, and of course when to search for these architects.

With that said, first things first, majority of green architects today will list and advertise themselves and their services on environmental magazines, green design website directories, as well as in design books. As technology has advanced, it has made finding a green architect very easy. The first place that you should look at is on the internet.

The internet has made searching for a green architect so easy because you can narrow down your search by looking only for LEED certified architects.  Keep in mind that for an architect to be considered truly green, they have to sit and pass a Leadership in Environmental and energy design examination (LEED). It would equally be wise to verify any other certifications that a prospective designer might have such as certifications, any diplomas, professional affiliations etc.

Green development is a serious matter and should be treated with the magnitude that it deserves. Once you get to narrow down your list, ensure you talk to your prospective architects. This you do by calling say the top five prospective architects in your list and arranging for a meeting. Be advised that some architects charge some amount of money for a meeting hence you should ask so that you can plan accordingly.

Discuss with your prospects about the ideal sustainable home that you have in mind and request for a rough estimate. Keep in mind that this meeting or phone call is for you to get a feel of the prospective candidates.  Because you will be working with the green architect in some duration of time, it would be good to ensure that you are comfortable with the architect you select.

The third tip is to ensure you pay a visit to a finished green development project of your candidates. Request to visit a house that is similar in style or in design to what it is you have in mind. Nothing can be compared to seeing the finished product when selecting an architect. If possible, take some time to talk to the owner of the home and find out how the architect was when working with them and whether they would recommend them to anyone.

Building a normal home is quite a long process, building a sustainable home is even longer and very demanding. You want to ensure you have all the components that will give you the best sustainable home ever thus getting a competent green architect is a critical step that you should take.