JB Clancy at Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, recently sat down with Peter Miller from Traditional Building to discuss Zero Net Energy home design and the role of traditional building techniques in reducing carbon emissions.
JB, who designed Vermont’s first certified passive solar house, emphasized that with the right site orientation and accessible energy-saving materials, we can create homes that generate more energy than they consume.
In the interview, JB shares, “We all remember Louis Sullivan’s idea that ‘form follows function.’ Today, as we work to lower our carbon footprint, we’re thinking about how ‘form follows energy.’ We’ve also reinterpreted Vitruvius’s classic principles of 'commodity, firmness, and delight' to illustrate how sustainable home design achieves 'harmony, health, and beauty.'"
Listen to JB as he explores energy-saving design solutions that are simple, affordable, and grounded in tradition. As JB explains, “Zero Net Energy isn’t about austerity—it’s an opportunity to solve problems for our communities and our environment, to recognize the embodied energy in traditional buildings, and to embrace contextual design.”
