GreenFab Blog Introduction

Our blog is intended to highlight and expose the extraordinary work that people are doing all over the world to better our planet. In the beginning, we thought we would just share with you the evolution of our company, the state of sustainable practices in our home town of Seattle, and what's happening in the world of Prefab design. Since then, our excitement has spawned six additional blog categories. These new categories follow the six performance areas outlined by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge: Site, Energy, Materials, Water, Indoor Quality, and Beauty & Inspiration. This is all an attempt to inspire and encourage other designers and developers to push the envelope of sustainable living.

Our contributing writers share a similar vision and passion for sustainability and work in the areas of design, the arts, education, and sustainable technologies. We hope you enjoy!

Category Descriptions

GreenFab Risin': GreenFab started with the passion of one person trying to make a difference. “GreenFab Risin’” entries will share with you how GreenFab came to be, where we are now, and where we want to take this thing. We hope that as you follow our story, you will be encouraged to pursue your own passions and dreams. These will be stories of successes and failures, but they will all have one thing in common; the courage and determination to make a difference! This is our story - we would love for you to share yours!

Hello Seattle: Entries will highlight current events, policies, and all things “green” in Seattle. In addition, “Hello Seattle” entries will highlight development projects throughout Seattle and the Puget Sound region that incorporate “sustainable” elements.  To do this, GreenFab will be researching and evaluating new construction of multi-family housing projects.  Each case study will apply GreenFab’s Sustainable Design Systems as a subjective assessment tool.    

Prefab Design: Entries will highlight new technologies, designs, and companies focused on modular design and construction.  The focus will be on those that incorporate sustainable technologies and functions, however, all things modular will be discussed.

Site: Entries will highlight projects, designs, and companies that have used creative site designs and strategies to discourage urban sprawl by creating compact and connected communities.   This will include projects on sites not near wetlands or sensitive ecological habitats.  This will also include projects built on either greyfield or brownfield sites.

Energy: Entries will highlight projects, designs, companies, systems, gadgets and technologies that use or create energy from renewable sources.  This will also include government incentive programs that help developers and homeowners incorporate these concepts.

Materials: Entries will highlight existing and innovative materials and processes that do not increase toxicity, embodied energy, pollution or resource depletion.   This will include carbon offsetting strategies, material source-to-destination proximity, and long-lasting, low maintenance materials that are renewable, recyclable, reusable, and waste reducing.

Water: Entries will highlight new technologies, systems, designs and projects that focus on water conservation.  This will also include harvesting methods, re-use and storm water discharge.

Indoor Quality: Entries will highlight projects and designs that encourage a civilized work and living environment, healthy air/source control, and air ventilation. 

Beauty & Inspiration: Entries will highlight projects and designs that incorporate intentional elements for human delight, celebration of culture, spirit and places.  This will also include attempts to educate communities, companies, and individuals on sustainable practices and ideas.