Sustainability [02]

Interior Designers / CAD artisans
   Architecture, Civil, Industrial Design and Interior Designers have differing exposure to this larger conversation. The informed Civil and Industrial Designers have an opportunity to imprint lasting difference. Increasingly, they do move us toward a cleaner future. Unfortunately, this aspect of the decision process tends to be out of their hands.
   One might say Architects have taken the LEEDs here (couldn’t resist). The leeds certification cannot be underestimated for its contribution toward making the global environment friendlier, healthier and more efficient (and cost-effective).
   The most common expression coming from an art or design school are Interior designers. The ID folk are keenly aware of what goes on in architecture, and an undeniable movement to embrace leeds is generally seen as established.
   What is also true however is that the ID people are the folks who tends to make the decisions when it comes to lighting, furniture and furnishings, all and floor treatments, and so forth. This area is ripe with opportunity to foreword the sustainability conversation.
   Earlier we spoke of fabrics and their dyes. Yet, it does not seem as if there is any expression of interior design that is overlooked along this green path. There are environmentally friendly paints, floor coverings (most notably bamboo), and the list continues to spread in every direction.

Culinary
   While there are many things that could contribute to making a dining experience greener, there are equally as many balancing considerations. Among them, the consideration of grilling and smoking. We now have extracts that will contribute to such a culinary experience, but they do not match a wide variety of benchmarks in the taste experience when executed by traditional means. Another example would be making lobster available (or not) their locations such as Moscow, Beijing or Denver.
   There are many exciting new directions in the culinary arts. Molecular cuisine is such a notable; presentation is the fashion expression of culinary and among the most sustainable expressions is the movement for locavores, (foods that are, from start to finish, local). This reduces the carbon footprint. The movement can also establish its own sustainability by promoting the pride of one's own locale (and all the other positives that come from such a movement, not the least of which is keeping those economic dollars local).
   While the local movement through seems to be the most pronounced sustainability expression currently, it is not alone. There are institutions that have been designed to recirculate some of the heat from the kitchen to the dining area, thereby cutting down on the utilities. There are also many partnerships between social service agencies and charities and the restaurants within their reach to ensure that no food goes to waste, being redirected to “soup kitchens”. And let us not overlook the dynamic where food byproducts, such as fryer oil, is being repurposed for fuel.
   There may be more examples, and it is certainly hoped that there are more examples to come. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see the quintessentially green kitchen.

Fashion
   There have already been references to the dye used for the fabric. However, much like interior design this applied art is ripe with sustainability opportunities. Among these would be a consideration of fabrics made from plant-based (renewable) fibers, the humane treatment of the wool, silk etc., and the opportunity to source such based materials locally.
   I do not yet see a movement where these kinds of considerations come together and are harnessed by a local designer so that community can celebrate its own look. The entrepreneurial spirit usually expresses itself by way of people opening up their own boutique. This remains, however, an untapped opportunity.
   Also left unmentioned are all the recycling and re-purposing opportunities. There is some of this occurring, but not nearly enough.
   This applied art in particular is not leveraging the sustainability movement nearly as it could; at least not as an industry in its own right.