Not Easy Being Green

“IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN” By Lorraine Rogers-Bolton

Rogers Design Group, located in Palm Beach Gardens is an environmentally-responsible firm who are committed to constantly try to diminish their designs impact on the world around us.

With rising gas prices and growing concerns about the global environment everyone is thinking of ways to become more earth friendly, and this extends all the way to interior design where there is a “green” revolution beginning. Green design is design that goes beyond being just efficient, attractive, on time and on budget. It is a design that cares about how such goals are achieved, about its effect on people and on the environment. Interior Designers have the opportunity to design, re-design or re-furnish homes with environmentally friendly products and materials that can actually have a healthy impact on clients and the planet. The following are some basic sustainable design practices that designers consider as they incorporate sustainable practices into their work.

* Make a more ecologically sound choice of wood from a supplier who can verify through a chain of custody that the original trees came from an ecologically sustainable forest managed under guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council.

* Specify “green” paint and other finishing materials that have documented levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or chemical emitting materials, that are the lowest levels possible, and the rate of their emissions — or dissipation — is as fast as possible. Specify paints and finishes that do not contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

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* Specify sustainable fabrics that support the use of materials from rapidly renewable, post-consumer or post-industrial sources.

* Use rapidly renewable flooring products such as bamboo or linoleum to help reduce the amount of land and resources dedicated to producing construction materials.

* Specify energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators with the Energy Star™ rating.

* Design around standard product sizes to reduce material waste.

* Consider the recyclability of all materials used to redirect their “next life” away from landfills.

Rogers Design Group is putting their green practices to work in their new office scheduled to open in early 2006 by using many of the above mentioned methods, including specifying the use of “green” water-based paint throughout, wood floors, commercial carpet that contains recycled content and Energy Star appliances. At Rogers Design Group we understand the environmental impact that our designs can have and wanted to make a conscious effort in our new space to incorporate “green” selections.
The U.S. Green Building Council states that the built environment is growing globally at a rate that is three times faster than the growth rate of the population and that buildings have a huge impact, consuming between 30 to 40 percent of all energy used, adding 30 to 40 percent of atmospheric emissions and using up to 30 percent of all raw materials. With the help of programs that promote Green Design awareness, such as the U. S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Rating System and the AIA’s COTE Awards, the building community will soon come to the same conclusion: the economics and qualitative advantages inherent in green design can no longer be denied. Green Design is worth it!!

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Ms. Rogers Bolton received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design from Florida State University in 1972. In 1977 she established Rogers Design Group and grew from three employees to ten at its present location in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Ms. Rogers Bolton has been involved in projects both nationally and internationally. She strives to remain on the cutting edge through continuous education and traveling throughout the world maintaining old sources and seeking new ones.

Rogers Design Group has been the proud recipients of numerous awards including the 2010 A.S.I.D. “Design of Excellence Award” for residential/Transitional design over 5,000 square feet. In 2004, the Aurora Award as well as 6 Silver and 1 Gold Prism Awards. In 2005, the Interior Design of Excellence Award and 2 Aurora Awards and 4 Prism Awards and in 2006, 1 Aurora Award, 3, ASID Design of Excellence Awards. Ms. Rogers Bolton has been actively involved over the years in numerous charities and fundraising events. These include The Palm Beach American Heart Ball, Board of Directors Jewish Federation, Broward County, and Habitant for Humanity.

Professional Experience: Over 200 luxury residential projects, located throughout Florida, Steamboat Springs Colorado, Scottsdale Arizona, Paradise Island-Bahamas, Upper Brookville-NY, Grand Cayman Island-BWI. Published in Florida Design, Architectural Digest, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Design & Architectural Review, Trends International, Dental Economics, Focus Magazine, Foundation Magazine and Florida Kitchen & Bath.

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