Eco-charrettes

Many project teams now encourage all design players to develop green goals and strategies collaboratively by holding eco-charettes during a project's design phase. This approach allows the project to be viewed as an integrated entity, rather than as a series of systems working in isolation. 

The most successful and innovative green designs--ones that combine enhanced environmental performance, architectural and engineering elegance, and improved project value--integrate the skills and experience of all players at the concept level from the very beginning, before any major design decisions are made.   

Using eco-charrettes creates an Integrated Design Process (IDP) that integrates well-proven approaches into a systematic, comprehensive process. An IDP does not contain radically new elements, but differs from a conventional design process in that:

• the client takes a more active role
• the architect becomes a team leader, rather than sole form giver
• the structural, mechanical and electrical engineers take an active role at early design stages

When carried out in a spirit of cooperation, an IDP results in a design that is highly efficient with minimal (and sometimes zero) incremental capital costs. It also reduces long-term operating and maintenance costs.

For more information:

BetterBricks: Eco-Charrette by Nathan Good

Integrated Design Process by International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment