Industrial News

GBBN Architects’ mission as it relates to design is to consider environmental sustainability part of its core design ethic and encourage its clients to also invest in the environment. In fact, GBBN has taken an extra step and put its money where its mouth is.

“We’re walking the walk – and it turns out it is easy being green!” said Bob Gramann – firm president, when he recently announced that GBBN would be purchasing its electricity via wind power. “We are now powered by 100% clean, renewable American wind,” added Gramann.

What does that mean, you ask? It means that GBBN has replaced 100% of its fossil fuel electric power consumption with 100% clean, renewable wind power. It means that their purchase of 321,429 kWh will prevent 447,429 pounds of CO2 pollution. That translates into removing 39 cars from the road every year, or planting 61 acres of trees.

“There is a tendency for the public to think of pollution as coming from cars, trucks, and industrial activity. Because buildings are static objects, we tend to think of them as inert and passive.” said Ted Christian, leader of GBBN’s Green Team. “But in fact, buildings account for over 36% of US energy consumption, almost all of which comes from dirty power sources.”

‘Dirty power’ is generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change, poor air quality, and other environmental problems. ‘Green power’ is an environmentally friendly electricity product that is generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low impact hydro. Companies that purchase green power—such as GBBN Architects— support the development of new renewable energy sources.

“We are committed to not only designing great buildings that are planet friendly,” said Gramann. “We’re committed to being a leader in our industry and doing our part.”