Introduction: Anderson Sustainable Architecture Blog

Welcome! I am writing this blog to let you know more about who we are and what we are doing. We have been busy, so I am making a number of entries to get current.

First, Thank You! We are grateful to our clients for their trust and thanks for the work we have done for them. One of the most rewarding aspects of our work since founding Anderson Sustainable Architecture has been the ability to establish agreements with customers, be the one’s responsible for completing them, and enjoying the respect and trust that comes from work well done. We are very happy that many clients we have worked for have come back with new work to do.

Our goal is to provide well thought out holistic responses to your needs. We will listen to you and respond to your life style and building needs to create buildings and environments that support your goals, values, and means. We focus on life-style tailored design. We can design for special needs, flexible use and what ever your dreams and needs are.

We are available throughout your process, from teaching you what to look for in a site for a new home, or how to review an existing home and site for suitability to your needs, to walking you through how simple maintaining your new home is.
Having the opportunity to add sustainability to our practice of providing beautiful, functional and effective architectural design for our client’s buildings has made the practice of architecture even more meaningful for us. 

The first task in energy conservation and management is to decrease your buildings needs (called loads or demand in the industry). The second task is to offset your remaining energy loads with onsite clean renewable energy.

Bike commute when I can.

Passive House Certification

Solar training certification

Met explorer Will Steger at the Minnesota Capital for Minnesota Clean Energy & Jobs Day - No endorsement of us by Will Steger.

Have you seen my desk? I can't find it.

Not here.

Not here either!

Nope.

Nada.

Where is it? Oh well!

Here it is! Back at it! (Older photo, but you get the idea).

Step 1: We obtained specialized training in reducing building energy loads. Passive House is the gold standard in designing energy-efficient high-performance buildings. I received Passive House design training and and became a "Certified Passive House Consultant" (CPHC) through the Passive House International | US (PHIUS), Chicago, IL program. See the 13 0928 entry for more on Passive House training.

Step 2: We obtained specialized training in designing and installing clean renewable energy. Solar Energy International (SEI) located in Paonia, CO provides photovoltaic (solar electric) training that is stellar. I received the "Residential and Commercial Photovoltaic Systems Certificate" and "Solar Business and Technical Sales Certificate" to be able to design and install solar electric panel systems. These skills also allow us to understand the needs and benefits of renewable solar energy systems and incorporate these into building designs in a seamless, cost effective manner. They also drove home the need to reduce building loads first to be able to decrease the needed size of a solar array. See the 13 0815 entry for more on photovoltaic training.

Anderson Sustainable Architecture, Inc. doesn’t design and install solar electric systems. We formed Near Star Solar, LLC to provide design consulting and installation of solar photovoltaic (electric) and solar thermal, (air and hot water) systems for clients who want that service. Architectural design firms don’t design and install solar electric systems, electrical design and installation contractors trained in photovoltaic design with master electricians do.
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Passive House is viable for new and a lot of existing buildings. More existing buildings than you may think. A design review can determine your building and site’s opportunities and potential difficulties. Realistically, we cannot knock down all our existing buildings and start over again to create a more sustainable world. That would waste a lot of building material, energy and definitely harm our land, water and atmosphere. 

Creating an energy sustaining building is an investment that will be paid off completely with your mortgage. It could leave your ongoing energy bill only a small utility grid connection fee. Investing in higher quality construction adds real estate value; decreases operating costs, increases durability and can strengthen a home or businesses bottom line. 

Did we mention fun? Common sense, beautiful solutions can meet your needs, including fun. 

Thank you, We look forward to talking with you and learning what you’d like to do. Please contact us for more information.