David Fischlowitz owns and operates FischWorks Building Services, a green building design center. The center showcases the services of more than 30 local green builders and specialty subcontractors, and offers a meeting place for clients and trades people. In addition, Green building consulting is available for builders and clients interested in learning more about how to create healthy, energy efficient buildings and homes.

DCD Home: Why has FischWorks focused on green building?

DAVID FISCHLOWITZ: Both the design and building industries are evolving towards more resource efficient systems, more advanced methods and less toxic materials. Every aspect of the industry, from plumbing and lighting to insulation and wall finishes, is changing with considerations to the national green building guidelines established by the LEED organization (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and the NAHB (the National Association of Home Builders).

DCD: What is the approach to high-performance homes at FischWorks?

DF: The more locally sourced materials coming from more local, natural and renewable resources, the closer we come to actual sustainable building. With so many new products, materials, methods and systems coming to the market, the standards for sustainable, resource efficient building are rising all the time, as is the accessibility of costcompetitive materials.

DCD: How does a project evolve at FischWorks?

DF: The driving factors in the budgeting, planning and design are the resource efficiency of a structure and the quality of the indoor environment for the health of the people inside. These are the processes critical to green building. Many builders and clients will benefit from specialized green information, especially as our industry is evolving so rapidly with new materials, systems and methods that constitute the green building industry. Conceptual drawings and budgets that include the elements of green building will establish a clear position from which to begin a building process. Having this information to begin conversations with builders puts clients in a place with greater background knowledge and understanding about the process ahead.

DCD: What contributions are FischWorks making to the environment and to the community?

DF: Green building workshops and discussions are sharing information and ideas about how to make homes operate more efficiently and maintain higher qualities of indoor air, as well as cool stuff like how to make your own paint with natural materials and basics about alternative energy systems like solar, wind and hydro-power.

DCD: How does FischWorks anticipate the directions of the green building industry?

DF: In five years from now we will not be talking about green building. It it will be the norm.