Sustainable design is the philosophy of reducing the negative impact on the environment and improving the health and comfort of a building's occupants. Slifer Designs, one of the nation's top residential interior design firms based in Vail, Colo., has, for several years, promoted the use of sustainable materials in its installations and the properties on which they work. The company adheres to the U.S. Green Building Council's philosophy of "working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work."

Founder and owner Beth Slifer credits many of her designers for spearheading this initiative in her company.

"We have a lot of recent graduates who are young design associates and they brought to the company a passion for being environmentally sustainable, both in architecture and in residential design," Slifer said. "It involves all aspects of design, from selecting fabrics, carpeting and furniture made from renewable resources to looking at the building materials."

Slifer also credits clients, about 25% of them, who are paying more attention to the market demand for "green" products, something the hospitality sector sees as a marketing advantage. World events in the last 24 months, like the extreme weather catastrophes, also have made people more aware of global warming and the environmental consequences of what we do.

Though currently most of the green design projects center on hospitality customers, like resorts, Slifer sees this as a growing trend.

"The younger generation has a big influence on green design," Slifer said. "I think sustainable design will become even more important because manufacturers respond to the market place and the generation spending the money is going to drive this effort."

Slifer Designs not only talks about being green, the company has a Green Team, comprised of designers focused on working within the tenets of sustainable design. They've organized a monthly meeting to talk about different ways to apply green practices and typically 60–85 people attend, everyone from architects and vendors to designers and mechanical engineers.

The Green Team, headed up by designer Rebecca Hollister, has been so successful it has won awards for several years running from the American Resort Development Association. This summer Slifer Designs won a Gold Award for its interior design for the Old Greenwood Resort in Lake Tahow, Calif., a property that adheres to very strict environmental guidelines in construction and design. The ASID Colorado Chapter also honored Slifer Designs for excellence in sustainable design for the same property.

Top: The Green Team's Pura Vida design won the popular and VIP vote for best bed design in the Vail Valley in 2005. This entirely sustainable bed features built in lighting and an earthy, timeless style that appeals to a large audience. Bottom: Slifer Designs Interior Architecture and Hospitality department won a gold medal from ARDA and was also a first-place winner in the ASID sustainable design category for the Old Greenwood Lodge and Pavilion.

Green initiatives used on the Old Greenwood project included everything from using trestle wood, which had initially been reclaimed from the bottom of a lake, and reclaimed oak wood flooring to installing art work from local artisans and historic photographs. Aside from the tenets of using environmentally responsible products, green design also incorporates and promotes using products and resources from the local area as much as possible.

"For the lighting at Old Greenwood we took our designs to a California company that custom made the pieces," said Donna Figg, Slifer's director of hospitality. "We try to keep things local as much as possible on our projects."

Hollister says green design depends on the entire team, from contractors and designers to engineers and owners, being committed and knowledgeable about the process and intricacies involved and "the end result is a healthier interior and elevated light and air quality, which lead to a better environment and increased efficiency for property owners and users."

Successful sustainable design requires more skill and training than people might think so she offers a few steps for going green:

Organize a Green Project Team. When selecting members of your build team, ask about their knowledge about sustainable design and prior experience. Using people that are certified and experienced in the processes will help assure a smoother and more successful project. Ask designers, builders and even engineers about certifications/accreditations they've earned in this critical area.

Outline the Project Goals. Is your main focus on light quality, the building's energy performance, reclaimed or renewable materials, nontoxic finishes or all of the above and more? The United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design ratings program provides standards for sustainable building and an opportunity for certification of your building. Other guideline programs and third-party certifications also exist.

Do Your Homework. Research plays a crucial role in a successful sustainable building project. Many new products and resources have come onto the market in recent years, some more widely available than others. It is important to invest this extra time in the initial planning stages to see the maximum benefit upon completion of the project.

Lisa Casinger, Retail Editor