Blog-They-Laughed-at-Me

They Laughed at Me!?

Patrick Hughes

Portland, Oregon

I recently commented to a group of my peers in the sustainable building community, stating that as designers and advisors it is our

job to advance sustainable building techniques and technologies. Fair enough right? But let me backup. The discussion was

taking a turn towards, “well people need to do this, and they need to think about their impact on the environment…” Maybe so, but at

large not everyone is as geeky about sustainability, green building, or climate crisis as myself and some of my peers. Quite frankly,

most of the population has other things on their mind.

In my case, I interact with homeowners who have visions of what they want installed or planted on their property. Homeowners hire

me because they don’t know how to or have the time to organize and realize their landscape dreams. This is my job; it is what I get

paid to do.

They laughed at me because I stated, “Give the people what they want, but make it sustainable, build the sustainability in!” The

laughter wasn’t the knee slapping, roll around on the ground variety. It was more of the uncomfortable chuckle you might hear when

someone tells a dirty joke at the office. It could be that they perceived my sustainable design philosophy as being deceitful. Yet they

agreed with me, but did not want to reveal their dark side in public.

I on the other hand know that my character is sound; there is nothing fraudulent about me. In terms of my work I believe good design

is the sum of all its parts. Is one of those parts the effects of my work on the environment? Absolutely! Is another of the elements

providing happiness, satisfaction and the opportunity for my clients to be part of the design process? Without a doubt! This is why I

think it is essential to give the people what they want, but build the sustainability in. It is very important to consider the validity and

necessity of each individual part of the design process and ultimately the installation.

Sustainability doesn’t have to be about hippies and granola, wind turbines, going green, and Super Bowl ads proclaiming

environmental piety. It should be about accomplishing our objectives and considering the sum of all the parts along the way. This

because along the way we all want to enjoy healthy, happy, and prosperous lives in which everyone can utilize their full potential. By

building the sustainability in, our generation and future generations have the opportunity to enjoy all that life has to offer. And that is

no laughing matter.