Robin Rogers happens to be one of those enthusiastic, generous and creative spirits who is utterly charming. Her ideas are vision material that dazzle and demonstrate a true depth of knowledge. With a master’s in architecture from Virginia Tech, her forte is residential design in building and retrofitting. However, her passion includes passive solar design, the inspiration for the fascinating, resource-heavy website, Solaripedia.
Over the weekend I started reading Solaripedia, intending to send interview questions on Saturday. Warning: I lost a few hours and you will too. For instance, this link to REC’s Solar Analysis tool is just one example. The widget allows you to input your information and receive an estimated energy cost and benefit analysis of your home. I finally tore myself away from the site long enough to ask Rogers a few questions.
Editor: Your resources page has everything from green jobs to composting, alternative energy tax credits, tax incentives, widgets, products, manufacturers, links to other websites and beyond.
Rogers: My goal was to provide great information without charge.
Editor: Obviously Solaripedia takes a tremendous amount of resources to produce and certainly massive amounts of your time. What has been your motivation?
Rogers: So many non-profits have great material you can pay for, like the U.S. Green Building Council, but you have to pay for almost everything. They just do not have good educational material for free. I was trained as an architect and Solaripedia was originally intended to provide useful information on sustainable design and building primarily to designers, architects and builders, but it became a labor of love.
Editor: Did the site turn out the way you initially envisioned?
Rogers: Yes. It has become quite an extensive site and very resource heavy, but I particularly wanted to focus on solar and specifically passive design. And I wasn’t completely alone. I’m responsible for the content, but Cory Crocker of WebKey created the database and handles all the technology.
Editor: Looking at your Solaripedia website, is there something that our property managers would find particularly useful?
Rogers: I would, of course, refer people to your blog – GreenLandLady.com! – which is one of the site’s resources. Europe is often farther ahead than the US in energy savings for buildings; there’s a good handbook on my site called Energy Intelligent Guide. It provides ideas for retrofitting multifamily and single-family dwellings to make them save more energy. I have links to the oldest green building program in the US is in Austin, Texas, which has a multifamily program that covers residents, owners and professionals and is worth looking over. The National Multi Housing Council has a few resources for property owners, too and I have that link on the site.
Editor: What would you call the low-hanging fruit that green property managers might consider tackling?
Rogers: Well, first switching out the lighting, this is probably the easiest. And then there are so many different ways to save water: Outside, drip irrigation, sub-surface, hooking up rain barrels – inside, replacing showerheads and faucets with low-flow fixtures. Energy use is so dependent on construction. Roofing can be switched out to go to light colored or reflective. And then in older buildings, sealing leaks, doors, that has a huge impact and of course, the efficiency of heating and cooling units.
Editor: What is an example of a problem in an existing building that can be helped by a design retrofit?
Rogers: There are many design-related solutions but a good example is adding shading devices on buildings. So many structures have these large expanses of glass facing in the wrong direction. Of course it always matters whether an owner is paying for utilities, but water? Water is relatively cheap. Still, switching out showerheads to low-flow models and adding aerators to faucets can be great conservation tools. A more costly item would be replacing toilets, but older models often use twice the water of the new conserving ones.
Editor: You live in the Bellevue area of Washington State, and I read there was controversy over the use of graywater in developments. Do you have any insights on that?
Rogers: I am actually working on project in the Yakima area that will be in the permitting stage soon, but yes, in Washington rainwater collection has been considered graywater. It was actually illegal for people to collect it. Washington law had some ambiguity and considered it state property. The Department of Ecology was in the process of changing rules to allow single-family collection of rainwater, but I don’t think that will be possible on larger projects… yet.
Kurt Unger in the Washington Department of Ecology confirmed Rogers’ understanding. In the end of 2009 the state issued an Interpretative Statement that water rights are not required with rooftop rainwater harvesting as long as the water will be used on site.
Editor: What are your favorite earth-friendly designs that could be used in single family homes, condos and apartment complexes?
Rogers: I love gardening and believe food-growing is important, so any residential development that permits even a small, organic space is appreciated. Also, when looking at multifamily structures that have common spaces such as hallways, I believe it contributes to everyone’s health to have non-toxic maintenance, using cleaners that are not going to pollute the spaces. It also helps to have effective, maintained walk-off mats at every entry to help keep pollutants from being tracked on residents’ shoes. Shoe storage areas at unit doorways are also a great way to keep individual units cleaner.
Editor: What about tenants? Any new gadgets or gizmos portable enough to use and take with you later?
Rogers: If your apartment does not have shading and you get too much sun, or too much air infiltration, a tenant could consider installing some blinds or insulated window shades to keep out summer sun or keep in winter heat. How about a small “smart” strip surge protector that allows many appliances to be plugged into one strip, and shut down at once when not in use (such as computers, printers)? If a tenant changes the wall color, use non-toxic paint – can’t take it with you, but you’ll probably be breathing better while living there. Shower timers – stick one to the tile of your shower and conserve water. If it’s an urban apartment, ride a (foldable) bike or walk to work! Turn the thermostat down a few degrees if it’s an option, and turn off heat in rooms that aren’t used. And finally switch out incandescent bulbs to either CFLs or LEDS – they save energy and the tenant can take them or leave as a gift to the next tenant.
Editor: What are your goals as a designer?
Rogers: As a designer, I believe that the very best sustainable projects are built specific to their sites – using the sun angles, the orientation of the building, prevailing breezes, topography, appropriate and local materials, etc. It is the job of the architect or building designer to discover the unique characteristics of the site and design accordingly. This applies to retrofits, too, as much as is possible. Also the building envelope should be highly efficient – with excellent insulation, windows, and roof, with high R-values, great moisture protection, durable materials from nearby – to protect against the elements. By creating a super-efficient building, the requirements for systems such as heating and cooling are reduced.
Editor: And after the design is completed, what can the owner do to improve sustainability?
Rogers: Once these energy-saving measures are addressed, install Energy Star-rated appliances and lighting and renewable energy appliances, such as solar water heaters, to further reduce demand. Finally, building owners can educate their tenants and maintenance staff on how to properly use the building to conserve water, save power, and employ healthier practices. This applies for indoor air quality such as cleaning and how to dispose of waste responsibly by recycling or composting. Through sustainable building operations and maintenance building owners should be able to save money, too!
Editor: What makes your design approach different?
Rogers: Much of my family grew up during the depression and taught us a saving ethic. The old phrase applies: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.” Although this was applied to household things and clothing in our home, it is a great thing to keep in mind with our buildings – except maybe the last part, ha-ha.
Editor: Thank you, Robin. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
Part Two of our Interview with Robin Rogers can be found here:
Robin Rogers and Rocky Top Living
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