My Philosophy

As a residential architect, energy efficiency and renewable energy are defining principles in the homes I design. Proven rules of thumb for passive solar design including building orientation, window sizing, and appropriately placed thermal mass are integrated into my design process.

Building sites facing within 15 degrees of true south provide the best opportunities for optimizing the building's orientation with respect to daylighting and passive solar gain. Universal design is also an integral part of my designs with the main bedroom suites located on the main floor for easy access.

Making better use of the spaces are concepts that I use every day to make my designs feel more spacious, beautiful, and inspiring to live in. At the same time, an open floor plan allows for air flow and ventilation with increased daylighting. East and West windows are typically minimized and high performance glazing (low-e) is specified. Overhangs and vegetation such as deciduous trees shade windows during the summertime and remain unshaded in wintertime.

I am committed to the global challenge 2030 calling on architects to immediately reduce energy use of all new and renovated buildings to half the national average for that building type, with increased reductions of 10 percent every five years so that all buildings designed by the year 2030 will be carbon neutral-meaning that they will use no fossil fuel energy.