• Tim Eian, TE Studios

“I think the City should offer incentives to create more energy-efficient structures, not inadvertently disincentivize them. They should be encouraging people to do better. Streamlining the review process for energy-efficient projects. Offering fee discounts.”

• Alex Haecker, AWH Architects

Q: What is a sustainability myth you’d like to help dispel?

That green building is expensive. Very often when you take what already exists — instead of paying to tear it down — and apply other benefits to recreating what is there, you discover great potential. In the residential sector, for example, often people believe they need more square footage, when re-visioning the flow of a space will work more effectively. In one recent case, a client considered a $450K add-on, and simply needed a much more sustainably minded $90K remodel.

• Michael Anschel, Otogawa-Anschel Design+Build

Currently, Anschel says, inspectors have about 5 minutes per job site, which is not nearly enough. And he thinks resources should be spent on training more inspectors, reviewers, zoning officials. Similar to St. Paul, Minneapolis now has a measurable system – but he doesn’t think it’s as good as it once was.

• Sean McLoughlin, Carbon Zero Home

As a child of ‘hippy’ parents, Sean lived off-grid in the mountains of Taos, NM. The fall was spent compiling the wood pile that heated their house for the winter. As they waited for spring, and the wood dwindled, use of each log became a conscious choice. Did they really it? He believes centralized fossil-fuel generated energy sources have divorced us from our energy consumption, but smart houses, distributed energy, and homes that generate their own power provide the opportunity to return to a tangible and personal connection with our energy use.

• Rosemary Dolata, Concentric Architecture

From Girl Scout days, Rosie has grown up with the basic ethic that “we should always leave a place better than we find it.” With early architectural design instruction in smart use of sunlight, daylighting and climate control, she has focused her work with the dual-purpose of sustainable design and affordable housing. “I’m a social justice-oriented person. Designing with the environment and future in mind is just a natural fit.”

Community discussion is a large part of all “Sustainable We” forums. Rep. Frank Hornstein was on hand for some of the conversation. Other participants included Minneapolis City Councilman Kevin Reich… Tim Roman, co-founder of sustainability measurer EcoTone… Steve Thomas of Better Futures deconstruction efforts… architect Marnie Peichel, who specializes in sustainable affordable housing… Megan Hoye of Center for Energy and Environment… several members of TruNorth Solar… Rich Harrison of MetroBlooms… energy efficient home designer George Hutchinson… Solart architect Ron Fergle.

Co-moderated by Mikki Morrissette, founder of the non-profit Collective Impact ME, and sustainably minded young adult Megan Oelfke.