Michelle Kaufmann

Michelle Kaufmann

  • Bio:

    As an architect, my mission has always been to make thoughtful, sustainable design accessible to all. It should be easy for anyone to go green!

  • Location:

    Oakland, California

  • Web Site:

    http://www.michellekaufmann.com

Q&A

How do you eco?

No one should ever feel that it's too expensive, too complicated, or just too difficult to go green. That's why my mission is to make thoughtful, sustainable design more accessible and to make is easier for people to live greener lifestyles.

My design/build architecture firm uses off-site modular technology and prepackaged green solutions as a means to create beautiful, eco-friendly homes and communities. To make our projects sustainable, we design each one so that it incorporates all of our 5 EcoPrinciples: Smart Design, Eco Materials, Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, and Healthy Environment.

My work is also about connecting with people beyond the world of traditional architecture, which is why we take part in museum exhibits (most recently the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry - http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/smart-home/), why I started my blog (http://blog.michellekaufmann.com), and why I'm always looking for new ways to reach out and educate people about how to go green in their everyday lives.

Why did you go eco?

Growing up in Iowa where people's lives are so tied to the land, I developed a deep understanding of the relationship between humankind and the environment as well as an appreciation for the need to balance our demands on this planet. I think I was green before I even knew what it meant!

In 2002, when my husband and I relocated to Northern California and began looking for a house in which we could live a healthier, more sustainable life together, we instead found a sad lack of affordable green houses. So we decided to build our own home and soon after friends and colleagues were asking if I could also design a green home for them. That's when I decided to start my own architecture firm and fill what I saw as a need for more affordable green homes.

What's your favorite eco tip?

How to choose just one? I post a new green tip to my blog every week (http://blog.michellekaufmann.com/?cat=9), so you'll just have to check there to see what my favorite eco tip of the moment is!