In the modern economy, environmental sustainability is one factor in how businesses can stand out and thrive. Each month, the Salt Lake Chamber will highlight a Utah business making positive strides for the environment and our natural resources to encourage support and innovation.
Our feature, VCBO Architecture, is built on a foundational principle of environmental sustainability. They lead the way in energy-efficient, responsible design, ensuring their projects minimize environmental impact. Their work reflects a strong commitment to creating a greener future. We spoke with Whitney Ward, Principal at VCBO, and Emma Kratz-Bailey, Sustainability Coordinator, to learn more about their sustainability efforts.
Tell me more about your commitment to sustainability. When did that begin?
Whitney said, “Sustainability has always been a part of who I am. Growing up in rural Idaho, my parents had a large garden where we grew and canned much of our food. We never let food or materials go to waste and spent much of our free time outdoors, camping and skiing. This connection to nature and awareness of our environmental impact carried into my architectural education and career. When VCBO posted a Sustainability Coordinator position in 2008, I jumped in and have been supporting sustainable design throughout the office ever since.”
Emma stated, “My interest in sustainability began with learning about Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright in elementary school. I was fascinated by the intersection of nature and people that the building represented, and as I learned more, I came to value sustainability. A year later, I told a family friend I would ‘create a 100% sustainable city.’ This interest led me through degrees in civil and architectural engineering and now to VCBO. I’m excited to join a company focused on conscientious and creative design and continue building on that foundation.”
Tell me more about the AIA 2030 Commitment VCBO recently signed and what does it plans to achieve.
VCBO has signed the AIA 2030 Commitment, recognizing our responsibility to design and construct the most efficient buildings possible for our clients, communities and future generations. Buildings contribute to over 40% of national carbon emissions and air quality issues in Utah, so we are committed to reducing their environmental impact.
We’ve created net-zero energy and carbon projects, ensured other buildings are net-zero ready and supported energy efficiency goals to lower operational costs. While not every budget allows for these systems, we collaborate with clients to make the most of available resources. The 2030 Commitment helps track progress and fosters collaboration among over 1,350 firms, driving continual improvement in sustainable design.
How do you measure the impact of your sustainability efforts, both internally and in client projects?
At VCBO, we take a technical approach to sustainability by tracking our goals and milestones through an internal spreadsheet. We work with various systems and consultants to evaluate our projects’ energy performance and carbon impact. This includes creating digital energy models to compare proposed designs with code minimum standards and using BIM software to make informed decisions on window placement, insulation and building orientation to optimize daylight and reduce heating and cooling needs. We also collaborate closely with engineers and commissioning authorities to ensure heating, cooling and lighting systems are properly coordinated and sized to minimize both upfront and operational costs.
Additionally, we partner with Rocky Mountain Power and other utility programs to identify energy-saving opportunities, ensuring our clients receive incentives for efficiency improvements. We share our success stories through marketing, industry conferences, publications and client engagements. With the 2030 Commitment reporting system, we have a stronger framework to track carbon impact and continue expanding our sustainability efforts.
How do you encourage employees in your sustainability efforts, internally and in client projects?
VCBO’s active Green Team and passionate staff are dedicated to reducing energy consumption. We’ve made improvements with lighting upgrades, switching from desktops to laptops, using occupancy sensors and educating staff on office shutdown practices. In 2018, Salt Lake City recognized our efforts with the Elevate Buildings Award for Most Improved EnergyStar Score, increasing our score from 77 to 86, placing us in the 86th percentile for energy performance. Each office remodel provides an opportunity to enhance sustainability and encourage environmental responsibility.
VCBO also supports several sustainability and wellness programs, including Salt Lake City’s recycling program, waste reduction efforts and health initiatives through our Wellness Committee. Employees are encouraged to participate in service projects and transportation programs like free UTA passes and bike storage. Going forward, VCBO plans to focus on adaptive material reuse, improve bike storage and use AIA 2030 analysis tools to report energy and carbon impacts.
What advice would you give to other businesses wanting to improve their sustainability efforts?
Find the people passionate about sustainability and let them lead the way. Green teams or sustainability committees are great ways to engage staff, allowing them to follow their passion while improving operations. Support office improvements by seeking incentives from utility programs, local and state grants and even internal energy efficiency savings funds. There are more opportunities than you might think!
Remember, sustainability can save money. Lowering energy and water use reduces utility bills and cutting consumables lowers upfront and waste costs. Track and report your sustainability efforts to identify what works best for your business, increase buy-in and encourage employees to prioritize sustainability. Create a Sustainability Action Plan, even if it’s just a few initiatives, to kickstart further efforts and connect with the aspects of sustainability that matter most to your organization.
To read other sustainability stories, click here.
