“It’s not that easy being green” Kermit the Frog from Sesame Street explains…But it is critical that we start trying harder.

So many of the lines in this song resonate with the attitudes and beliefs around “being Green” in the environmental sense of the word.

It's Not That Easy Being Green
[Kermit, Marsimoto, Together]
It's not that easy bein' green
Having to spend each day
The color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer
Bein' red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy bein' green
It seems you blend in
With so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over
Cause you're not standing out
Like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky

But green's the color of spring
And green can be cool and friendly like
And green can be big like a mountain
Or important like a river or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder? (why wonder?)
I'm green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful. And I think it's what I want to be

When we think about being green at Clawson Architects in many cases “It does not stand out, Like flashy sparkles in the water or stars in the sky”. Our philosophy on Green, is in alignment with the basic tenets of good architectural design— it solves a problem in a thoughtful way. This includes the impact on the environment. It is not big. It is not flashy or boastful. It lives in the little details like the ones that shed water away from the home so the materials don’t rot and need replaced prematurely or become infested with bugs further compromising the integrity of the material.. It is also lives in the quality and life cycle of materials selected and their installation.

Clawson Architects’ commitment to the environment as stated on our website:

Balancing best practices and traditional time tested building materials and details, with the latest innovations in “green” architecture, technology, we help our clients weigh the options and select solutions that yield the most sustainable future. This is our commitment as professionals to our clients and to the environment. Clawson Team members (pictured below) hold extra certifications including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED , and certification in Urban Sustainability. Here at Clawson Architects, the heart of our practice is working with existing homes and buildings. We like to remind our clients that the greenest thing you can do is Preserve and Restore and Enhance what is already there.

CLawson Architects Certified Green TEAM Members

**Rene Clawson** **AIA,LEED AP, CIDNJ - Principal, Founding Partner**

**Colleen Kirk** ***PE, LEED AP– Professional Engineer, Green Building and Urban Sustainability***

There are many ways to be more green, however, I have identified three principles to consider when renovating your home…while these are not the “flashy sparkles in the water or stars in the sky” or solar panels your neighbors can see…they are easy enough! AND it is kinder to the environment, lowers your carbon footprint and utility bills and increases the life cycle of your home, your appliances and your mechanical systems.

Invest in the envelope of the building - Think “installation and Insulation”
Avoid trends - Think timeless so you don’t feel the need to replace or update.
Maintenance - Maintaining your home including roofing, gutters, leaders, windows, appliances and mechanical systems. This will not only help preserve them it will likely extend the life, effectiveness and efficiency of all of them.

The hardest part of being green might be all the information out there. who do you believe. Do your research. Hire Professionals and ask questions. When you are told it has a “Lifetime Warranty” —that varies by state. In NJ that is 7 years and often ends with the person that registered the product and often requires a “certified installer”. Again… installation is important and is key to earning any type of “certification.” Beware of these statements: “Its Green” — lots of ‘Green Washing’ going on out there. There are websites and 3rd party groups out there look it up. “It’s maintenance free” Our experience is nothing is maintenance free. Read the literature. Ask to see an installation.