Sustainabilty

 

“Green Building” is a design philosophy that is integral to MODE’s practice and is demonstrated by the incorporation of sustainable systems throughout our projects.  
These include the implementation of on-site renewable energy by way of the installation of PV systems, sub-surface irrigation fed by rain water harvesting, and on-site treatment of black water to tertiary levels for re-use. We have also undertaken lifecycle cost analysis of various systems to show clients the benefits of “going green”. 

Sustainability however, is not limited to the use of “green” systems but requires a shift in the manner in which projects are conceptualized and planned. In 2009, MODE made a commitment to the use of sustainable building standards and became a member of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and key personnel were trained and certified as LEED AP’s (Accredited Professionals). 

“LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system,  providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.”  USGBC website

In addition we have reviewed and compared several other existing sustainability assessment framework (such as  BREEAM, Green Globe, and Natural Step) in an effort to develop the right mix of standards for the Caribbean. MODE is currently applying the principals of the EDGE system, developed by the IFC, in our projects.

We have leveraged the latest BIM (Building Information Modeling) software to help create and deliver fully integrated projects. The firm prides itself on the ability to guide the project team towards “greener” solutions while managing the delicate balance between best practices and project expenditure.