The green building sector globally is making strong steps towards taking the place of everyday traditional ‘mainstream’ practices. As the incentive to develop buildings, furniture and technologies that are energy efficient and environmentally sustainable grows so does the strength of the industry.
Green building in the US, especially in New York and Los Angeles, has taken off to the point where it is celebrated, promoted and recognised on a level that may soon outgrow mainstream industry efforts.
Dwell on Design, an exhibition for green interior design innovation located this year in LA, has brought into focus the extensive green industry that is currently practicing in the US, the support this is garnering and the innovation its creating.
Featuring at the exhibition show were green products with a focus on, but not exclusively, interior design features such as furnishings and features.
Some of the featured products selected by fellow industry promoters include the Cricket Trailer – developed by NASA architect Garrett Finney and run completely on solar photovoltaics, recycled furniture, top of the range energy efficiency lighting and highly intelligent prefab rooms.
The creativity of the event is what truly allows this particular industry showcase to stand out from a lot of other green building exhibitions. Much like Australia’s Green Cities, Dwell on Design takes a creative and hedonistic perspective on sustainability – where the goal is more about living designing structures and elements that are resource conscious, rather than simply taking utilitarian approach energy saving.
However – the success of the exhibition is not deemed thus by the positive industry response it is receiving, but the general consensus that every single mainstream industry option – from couches to cladding – has a green alternative. Green alternatives that are taking priority.
While the idea of a ‘green alternative’ may seem like an alienating notion, furthering the ‘us and them’ divide between green and mainstream industry, this is not the case. Green industry on every level now represents the highest industry standard.
While this comes with a premium, it is increasingly passing the point of mainstream acceptance due to the long term benefits and simple efficiencies.
