Design Ecology : Movement for environmentally friendly architecture to get a boost from nationwide TV seminar.

“I’m a recent convert,” confessed Venturan Marc Whitman, AIA, speaking of his new dedication to environmentally friendly building methods. The letters AIA after his name, by the way, indicate he is a member in good standing of the American Institute of Architects, a nationwide professional association headquartered in Washington.

Whitman isn’t the only AIA member to become a recent convert to environmentalism.

This morning at 10, he and thousands of other AIA members will participate via a satellite TV linkup in a novel nationwide seminar in 150 locales. The topic is dedicated to environmental design and construction. As a representative of the AIA/Ventura County chapter, Whitman is off to Santa Barbara, where California architects are gathered at a “down-link,” or satellite dish site, for four hours of briefings by experts in the field.

According to the organizer there, James E. Moore IV, AIA, there have been a lot of advancements recently in architectural techniques and methods. “It’s now possible to reduce a building’s energy costs by 70% to 90%, cut water consumption in half and increase building durability by 40 to 100 years,” he said.

Today’s event is the first of three being held early this year by AIA under the rubric, “Building Connections: Linking Economy and Ecology for New Prosperity.” In preparation for the next sessions, scheduled for March 4 and April 22, the Ventura chapter will devote its February meeting to discussing “recycled building materials and incentives for their use,” said chapter program chairwoman Catherine Wilson, AIA, of Rasmussen & Associates in Ventura.

Today, meanwhile, Marc Whitman is sitting through sessions on how architects can “increase worker comfort and productivity; reduce liability” (a veiled reference to the sick building syndrome) and “how to comply with new laws and regulations” (another veiled reference to crafting buildings that won’t guzzle natural and national resources).

“Environmental considerations are going to move more into the realm of (legal) requirements,” said Detlev Peikert, president of the Santa Barbara AIA chapter. “It’s a snowball rolling down the hill toward us,” he said, referring to the necessity for in-depth professional briefings for AIA members on these topics.

Another “snowball” seems to be the increase in AIA participation by women. In addition to planning events here to reflect the new eco-consciousness, Ventura chairwoman Wilson is part of another new consciousness: gender equality.

The new national president of AIA is Susan Maxman. Other women include the new chapter presidents in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Orange County.

It would be tempting to suggest that it took the arrival of women in power positions at AIA to get the profession to increase it ecological consciousness--especially since Wilson pointed out that “our new national AIA president has made it (environmentalism)one of her top priorities.”

There are, however, other forces. New building codes, utility conservation programs that include rebates, and consumer demand for planet-friendly homes also have played a part.

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Oops: In last week’s column on the Young Eco-Inventors Contest, I reported entries were being accepted until March 12. Actually, it’s March 10. Call (818) 906-2700.

Also, the countywide “Think Earth” environmental study program in our county’s schools has not one, but 13 sponsors, including the County Air Pollution Control District, Arco, GTE, the Metropolitan Water District, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co. and public agencies in neighboring counties.

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For information on AIA Ventura chapter activities call 983-0035.

The next nationwide AIA video teleconference--open to building professionals and the public--will be devoted to environmentally safe materials and furnishings, and energy efficient cooling and heating. It will be held at the UC Santa Barbara on March 4. Call James E. Moore IV at 963-1955.

Utilities in Ventura County have good energy advisory and rebate services. Southern California Edison’s “Design for Excellence” for commercial buildings offers rebates up to $200,000 for energy-efficient structures. More modest rebates for home builders are available under the “Welcome Home” plan. Call 654-7131.

Southern California Gas Co. has a “Five-Star Program” of incentives for builders to install high-efficiency gas equipment, a “better way to save” rebate plan for homeowners, and also co-sponsors with Edison the “Leading Edge” environmental competition for architectural students. Call 486-9509.