We’ve all heard it, the new buzz phrase green design. Although this movement has its critics and impostors, I think the principles of true green living are very real. Green design is not a fad and it’s not going away. As an island state we should be very aware of how we can be more green. I see this as our future.

As a designer, I always want to do what’s best for our environment. Getting my clients to jump on the green bandwagon is the way I can make it happen on a broader scale. Of course, good design is wonderful, but if you can couple it with being environmentally responsible, the result is much more gratifying.

There are many ways to green up your home, a number of which are touted in this issue. I have my favorites, too. One of my newest discoveries is ReUse Hawaii, a company that recycles many of a home’s construction elements after demolition. Right now, they are concentrating on reusing the beautiful redwood tongue and groove beams with which most of Hawaii’s older homes are built. This is just the beginning. I think we’ll see more companies using cast-off materials in the future.

Here’s another positive effect of the snowballing green movement: there’s hope for making green design more accessible to average homeowners. Because green design is becoming more mainstream, the expense of designing green is not much more than traditional design. There is an abundance of information on the Internet. Before you start your construction project, take some time to do some research. Web sites like wwwusbc.org (the U.S. Green Building Council) help separate fact from fiction. I truly believe that designing green will help us all to maintain our Island home. It feels good to know that designers can be good stewards of our environment.