Top Eco-Friendly Architects In The US

Building sustainable cities is very popular these days and many people are jumping on the bandwagon of making their homes or company buildings more eco-friendly. Here are a few architects from around the country who are helping to save the environment by creating eco-friendly masterpieces.

Janet Harrison

Janet Harrison is not only an architect, but she is also considered to be the nation's leading consultant of green design. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and did a thesis on the adaptations of animals to the environment. Today, she designs residential, educational and small commercial facilities with keeping sustainability and low environmental impact in mind by incorporating energy-efficient heating, cooling and solar energy materials. She also holds seminars and workshops to educate others about green design and does LEED consulting. Some of the residential areas she has worked on include, Epping Forest Residence and Sherwood Forest Residence in Annapolis, Maryland. She's also worked on some commercial buildings, including the Karen Noonan Center for Environmental Education building for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Baker Hall.

Green Building Architects

Green Building Architects does just what the name suggests. This company helps build sustainable facilities by developing commercial and residential buildings with minimal impact on the environment. Its four major goals include minimizing construction sites waste and their impact, conserving energy and natural resources, creating healthy indoor environments and creating beautiful structures. The company also works with its clients to ensure they are getting exactly what they want and at a good price. Check out some of the company's work in its portfolio. GBA has done work for many companies including Butterfield Brewing Company in Fresno, California; a studio office building in Pasadena, California; and Point Reyes National Seashore, in Point Reyes Station, California, where the company created the first restroom that provides hot water without using a heater.

Morphosis Architects

Morphosis Architects is a company that was co-started by Pritzker Architect Prize Laureate Thom Mayne in 1971. He is now working towards creating infrastructure that is sensible in today's world where sustainability and low impact are necessary to fight global warming. Some of Morphosis' creations include the FLOAT House, which was built in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It is a LEED Platinum-certified house, has a net-zero annual energy consumption rate and contains high-performance systems that help sustain the home's power, air and water necessities. Another example of Mayne's work and team includes Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, TX which has a green roof, a drip irrigation, uses LEDs and natural sunlight for light, has its water heated by solar panels and the building is made of recycled and locally produced materials. Recently, Cornell University chose Morphosis to create an academic building for the CornellNYC Tech campus, which is aiming towards having net-zero energy using geothermal and solar power energy.

William McDonough

William McDonough is known for his sustainable development. He has gained much recognition through awards such as a "Hero for the Planet" by Time magazine, the first U.S. EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 2004 and receiving the National Design Award in the field of environmental design. Some of his work includes the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn, Michigan where McDonough and team created a 10-acre green roof, the largest living roof in the U.S. He also worked on NASA's Sustainability Base that uses renewable energy and a closed water system, as well as many other characteristics that has allowed it to receive LEED Platinum certification.

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Stephanie Siemek is a freelance writer whose work can be found on Examiner.com.