The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building: Redefining the Practice of Sustainability

"The members of 7group and Bill Reed are examples writ large ofthe kind of leadership that is taking this idea of green buildingand forming it into reality, by helping change minds, buildingpractice, and design process."
—from the Foreword by S. Rick Fedrizzi President, CEO, andFounding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council

A whole-building approach to sustainability

The integrative design process offers a new path to makingbetter green building decisions and addressing complex issues thatthreaten living systems. In The Integrative Design Guide to GreenBuilding: Redefining the Practice of Sustainability, 7group'sprincipals and integrative design pioneer Bill Reed introducedesign and construction professionals to the concepts of wholebuilding design and whole systems. With integrative thinking thatreframes what sustainability means, they provide a how-to guide forarchitects, designers, engineers, developers, builders, and otherprofessionals on incorporating integrative design into every phaseof a project.

This practical manual:

• Explains the philosophy and underpinnings of effectiveintegrative design, addressing systems thinking and building andcommunity design from a whole-living system perspective

• Details how to implement integrative design from the discoveryphase to occupancy, supported by process outlines, itemized tasks,practice examples, case studies, and real-world storiesillustrating the nature of this work

• Explores the deeper understanding of integration that isrequired to transform architectural practice and our role on theplanet

This book, both practical and thoughtful, will help you deliveryour vision of a sustainable environment.

7group, based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, includes principalsJohn Boecker, Scot Horst, Tom Keiter, Andrew Lau, Marcus Sheffer,and Brian Toevs, who bring a unique integration of expertise indesign, engineering, energy and daylight modeling, materialsassessments, commissioning, education, and communications to theirwork. Internationally recognized thought leaders in the greenbuilding movement, they have led countless teams through thepractical implementation of integrative design on building projectsof all types around the world. 7group also has been directly anddeeply involved with the development of the LEED® GreenBuilding Rating System, including experience on more than 100 LEEDprojects. Scot Horst currently serves as chair of the U.S. GreenBuilding Council's LEED Steering Committee.