SUSTAINABILITY POLICY
As planners, architects and interior designers our potential impact on communities and the environment is great, and we take that responsibility seriously. Billes Partners is committed to designing healthy and environmentally responsible projects.
The Billes Partners design process incorporates the following strategies:
Use nature as a model in order to create passive building systems that are tailored specifically for the project site, physical and social contexts, and climatic conditions.
Specify high performance building materials and systems, and renewable materials.
Use efficient material sources by using local manufacturers and suppliers where possible to limit energy used in transportation, and limit material waste.
Reduce heat island effects.
Reduce the strain on municipal potable water sources by incorporating rainwater harvesting and graywater recycling systems.
Promote sustainable energy sources.
Billes Partners participated in Brad Pitt’s high-profile, residential Make It Right project in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. The project recently completed the thirteenth Billes-designed house, and all achieved LEED-H Platinum certification. Several more homes are currently under construction.
The Billes Partners team includes three full-time LEED Accredited Professionals, with several others preparing for accreditation.
Other commercial and institutional projects are also being designed according to LEED standards, even though this is not always a project requirement.
As a matter of policy we recycle on a weekly basis within our office and, when possible, purchase environment-friendly products such as paper, cups, and cleaning products.
As designers we embrace the responsibility of providing quality spaces that have a positive impact on the surrounding community and environment.