As a self proclaimed and practicing Green Integrated Architecture firm, we follow a guideline of reducing our carbon footprint by means of finding innovative methods of construction and design. These methods resonate in daily conversation as well as the habits of the design-build team itself. One particular focus of our carbon reduction is the very means by which each individual commutes. The modes are multiple: biking, public transportation, and telecommuting.

There are thirteen people employed full-time at Case. If we all drove to work on a daily basis, this would equate to a large amount of CO2 output.

Here is a break-down:
320 miles of travel to & from work = 0.178 metric tonnes of CO2 per day

That's a large quantity of greenhouse gases when multiplied throughout the year. We work to lighten this load through alternatives to driving. Three of us are consistent bikers, dedicated to riding the whole year through. There are an additional four who bike a minimum of two times a week, and supplement with public transportation whenever possible.

Recalculating the CO2 output with alternate means of commuting:
180 miles by car = 0.100 CO2 /day
55 miles by public transportation = 0.007 CO2 /day
85 miles by bicycle = ~0.000 CO2 /day

A new total of ~0.107 CO2 per day, a net reduction of 0.071 metric tonnes of CO2.

These significant changes to our forms of transportation continue to improve our lives and the communities through which we travel. This is a brief introduction to 'greener' ways of commuting. In the coming weeks, please join me as I explore the exciting varieties of travel available to all of us. Stay tuned.

Casa Latina, a terrific local organization we are glad to help support, has offered Spanish and English Language classes for two years now. The format is interesting - for the first hour, those learning English are in one room, and those learning Spanish are in another. For the second hour, English and Spanish learners converse together. I found myself practicing with Silvestro from Quiche, Guatemala. We are only two days apart in age, and Silvestro’s work life and mine have both been spent in building, although at opposite ends of the ladder of opportunity. Silvestro speaks a couple of native languages, but he’s here to learn English. Although Silvestro won’t say it, my Spanish is muy feo.

For the moment, we share the common struggle with each others’ foreign language - at once humbling and funny.

By the way, Casa Latina’s Auction is October 18.

Here's a recent article about the live-work loft spaces we share in Columbia City.

Here’s a photo of the new Office Truck - a 7-speed electric bike from Electric Bikes NW. It’ll do nearly 20 mph on the flat without pedaling, and, with a rack that holds 100 lbs, it carries a lot of stuff. It’s handy for carrying vegetables from the New Holly CSA garden, or a half-dozen growlers from the Georgetown Brewery.

On August 15th, we moved into the 2nd and 3rd floor of 3829-D S. Edmunds St. Work-live lofts; our new office in Columbia City. This mixed-use building is a wonderful new development designed by Seattle's Arellano/Christofides.





One block east of Rainier Ave, we are now locals to the vibrant downtown Columbia City Community. A cornucopia of opportunities for patronage abound, both fleeting and practical. Lunchtime as well as after-hours cavorting have instantly become a regular team expedition.





Walk to Columbia City Bakery, pick up a fresh-baked loaf, two doors down to Bob's Quality Meats for something grill-able, maybe go around the corner to the Farmer's Market for some veggies, and then head back to the office. Next, proceed to the roof deck, where our former employee Nick scored a free barbecue from Freecycle and commence that primordial affair of communal cooking.







Food certainly isn't all we're happy about here, but it's a daily reminder of the comfort of our new work's home.