8 Days of Sustainability: Embracing a Culture of Sustainability
You’ve heard of the 12 days of Christmas… in 2019 LBI is starting a new tradition… 8 DAYS OF SUSTAINABILITY!
With the launch of Livable Buckhead’s Strategic Sustainability Action Plan today, LBI will be spending the next 8 days celebrating each of the 8 elements of sustainability highlighted in the plan. This 8 day celebration culminates with the announcement of the 2018 Triple Bottom Line Award Winner at the Buckhead Business Association luncheon on January 15th.
LBI couldn’t think of a better way to start the 8 days (beginning with the culture of sustainability element) than with a guest blog from our friends at The Beck Group, who are actively helping us build a culture of sustainability, not only through their own work and as a active members of our Sustainability Committee, but also through the design services they provided to get the LBI Strategic Sustainability Plan in its final beautiful layout.
We hope you will celebrate with us, follow along, and help us promote more sustainability in Buckhead!
#LivableBuckhead #SustainableBuckhead
**Guest blog by Eric Balogh, Architect at The Beck Group**
For the team at Livable Buckhead and my firm, The Beck Group – the integrated architecture and construction firm – practicing sustainability is more than a nice bonus to have, it is part of our core. It is our responsibility to help our community and our city’s business leaders understand the benefits of resource-efficient design, spaces that encourage well-being, and design that positively impacts the community.
Any project, no matter the scale, can benefit from sustainable strategies and ideas. Today’s sustainable certifications (e.g., LEED, WELL, Fitwel) and plans, like the Buckhead Sustainability Action Plan, will establish the baseline for building codes, ordinances, and other design standards of the not-so-distant future.
Cultivating a culture of sustainability is a critical component necessary to taking action. If our community as a whole is unaware of the challenges we face and potential solutions, our efforts are in vain. Not every project can pursue every sustainable goal, but having conversations about the benefits of sustainability is the right step in elevating the consciousness about the impact of sustainable choices and realizing that sustainability at some level can be reached.
Sustainability is not only an opportunity for architects, city planners or developers, it is an opportunity we all face. The areas in which we choose to live, work, and play are built to satisfy our needs as occupants. Purposefully choosing homes and communities that embrace a sustainable culture is the fastest and most effective way to drive positive change.
At Beck, we are committed to designing energy efficient spaces, including water efficient fixtures and landscapes, and to using healthy building materials in our projects regardless of type, scale, and in some cases the project goals. Our partnership with the Livable Buckhead Sustainability Committee gives us an opportunity to share our knowledge in architecture, engineering, and construction with our community and to be part of the solutions you’ll see in the Livable Buckhead Strategic Sustainability Action Plan. We look forward to creating positive change for all who live, work, and play in Buckhead and greater Atlanta.
About the Author
Eric is an Architect at The Beck Group located in the heart of the Buckhead business district and an active member of the Livable Buckhead Sustainability Committee. Eric has completed over $100 million of sustainably minded renovation and adaptive reuse projects throughout his career, currently working downtown Atlanta on the renovation at Peachtree Center.
