AGG - 2008 - July/August

Volume 22, Issue 4 - July/August 2008

From the Editor

A Gallon of Green

The cost of energy is getting a lot of attention in the media and with consumers, who have now seen the appearance of the $4+ gallon of gas.

The architectural design community is feeling the pinch at the pump just like everyone else, but it was focused on energy usage long before the price of gas spiraled out of control.

The design of energy-efficient structures is one of the pillars of architectural design today. Gaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a holy grail for any structure and the LEED credential is proudly displayed and promoted.

Glass and metal are the most commonly utilized construction materials used today, and the architectural glass and metal industry has played no small role in helping structures become more energy efficient.

The products the industry is making available have incredible performance characteristics. The development of new coating technologies has transformed glass as an energy-efficient product. New insulating and warm-edge technologies have made tremendous strides in making buildings use less energy.

And industry innovation and development is not over. Just as conditions at the gas pump will continueto evolve, so will the use of architectural glass and metal products in building design—and the products that will be available to architects and designers.

Being green is what it is all about today. Thinking about energy and its use is becoming second nature to us as a nation and a culture.

If there was any doubt about the importance of green to the architectural design community, the AIA convention and exhibition in Boston in May dispelled it. Everyone was talking about green. Many of the educational sessions focused on energy. In their booths, exhibitors were promoting their green credentials.

This is all healthy. It is only when energy usage is an integral part of our culture that we will be able to deal effectively with this necessity. For too long, too many of us have been content to continue in our non-energy efficient ways. The $4 gallon of gas has changed that.