Sustainability Pioneer: Cara Godwin
Company: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects
Business Sector: Architecture
Published: October 2008
Highlights
- 100% recycled content paper is used for standard copying and printing purposes.
- Implemented successful office wide food scrap recycling program (now almost 30% of total waste.)
- Worked with IT to set every copy machine and printer to default to double-sided printing.
- Lights in kitchen and bathrooms are equipped with motion sensors.
- Environmentally preferred cleaners are used for dishes, shower, and hand soap.
- Video conferencing reduces travel between Seattle and Portland offices.
- Three projects have been LEED Gold certified and an additional 15 are planning to achieve LEED certification.
Background
Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects was formed in 1983 by Stewart Ankrom and Tom Moisan. The company’s mission is to provide its clients with Architectural Design, Master Planning and Interior Design Services. Cara Godwin, Associate, brought a background of ecological thinking and passion for sustainability to her work with Ankrom Moisan. Cara states “As I progressed in my architecture career, I began to realize the impact the projects I work on have on the environment and the ability I have to make a larger impact on sustainable issues than just what I can do in my own home”.
Going Green
Ankrom Moisan Assoicated Architects had an established green team at their Portland office and were working to certify their building LEED EB when their Seattle branch opened. Adding to the success of implementing sustainable practices in their Portland office, Cara led the charge to search for volunteers to “green up” their Seattle location’s day to day office operations as well. This effort has turned into an ongoing project to continually improve practices within their offices, their company, and their industry.
Recycling and the Green Team
Cara’s call for volunteers led to the formation of a green team within Ankrom Moisan’s Seattle office. The team works to “green up” day to day office operations and make the firm’s projects more environmentally sustainable. The team set up a recycling center at their office where staff can bring in alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, CFL light bulbs, CDs, printer cartridges, and other hard to recycle items. The Seattle office uses 100% recycled content paper for all standard copy paper and 30% recycled content plotter paper.
The Green team from left to right (Skye, Cara, and Kelsey)
Food Waste Collection
The green team faced many challenges along the way. Cara highlights this struggle by noting that the project “that took the longest time and greatest perseverance to start was composting in the office”. Through staff education and encouragement, the team received approval to implement food scrap composting. They facilitate the program by providing compost bins in each kitchen, designing firm specific recycling and composting signage and encouraging employee participation. Thanks to Cara and the green team education efforts, the program is now seen by staff as one of the highlights of the office’s “sustainable accomplishments” and as Cara notes “most everyone sees the value and is on board with composting.
Waste Prevention
In addition to the extensive recycling program championed by Cara and the green team, the firm reduces waste by not purchasing bottled water and providing cloth towels in kitchens and bathrooms-which staff members take turns washing at home. Despite hesitation from staff, Cara worked with the IT department to set all printers and copy machines to default to double-sided printing, reducing office wide paper use. Packaging supplies are reused in-house or sent back to mailing centers for reuse. In addition, draft plans are submitted digitally for approval to reduce paper use for project work.
Energy Efficiency
The architecture firm has installed motion sensors for kitchen and bathroom lights in each of its offices. Energy efficiency is a main goal of the Portland office and Cara along with the Portland office green team leader was able to convince Ankrom Moisan’s board to invest in energy equipment upgrades by outlining the cost, the incentives available, and the energy savings to demonstrate the short return on investment. The Portland office has replaced mercury dial thermostats with networked programmable systems and implemented sleep-mode settings for all computers and monitors as additional measures to increase energy efficiency.
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
Cara has been a champion in her personal life and in the office for the consideration of materials use on the environment. Each of the firm’s offices uses only environmentally friendly cleaners for washing dishes and as hand and shower soap. They purchase coffee creamer in 16oz containers instead of single serving containers. To cut back on fossil fuel consumption, the company owns two Toyota Priuses for employee use.
Sustainable Building Practices
Ankrom Moisan is working hard to advance the design of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings. Several projects in the Seattle office are pursuing LEED certification, including the first LEED projects for two nationwide clients. Three projects have been certified LEED Gold and an additional 15 projects planning to achieve LEED certification are in the works.
Carbon Footprint
In addition to reducing fuel consumption by purchasing Toyota Priuses as the company vehicles, Ankrom Moisan Assoicated Architects has set up video conferencing to reduce travel between its Seattle and Portland offices. The firm offsets all carbon emissions resulting from office operations and travel.
Cara admits that she once felt “what one person can do does not make much of a difference”, but her example shows that by championing sustainability practices in the workplace, each individual can identify and implement strategies that benefit their business and the environment.
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