|
 |
These days, everyone seems to be "going green" in order to conserve energy and natural resources. But this new fad is old hat for David Hartke, B.S.Arch. 1982, past president of CUA's alumni Board of Governors. In fact, this Pennsylvania-based architect has been designing and implementing eco-friendly construction methods for much of his quarter-century career.
While still in the D.C. area following graduation, Dave volunteered on solar projects with the World Wildlife Federation and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
In 1993, Hartke co-founded BrightRooms, Inc., a building company that specializes in efficient home design and construction. As Hartke says,"The common perception of an environmentally friendly home connotes some seemingly contradictory ideas. On the one hand, people love the idea of being part of saving the earth’s resources on a daily basis. On the other, green homes have the reputation of being designed for sustainable function rather than aesthetics. And that is where I believe the problem lies. People need to understand that they can help save resources and do so while living in beautiful, green homes."
In Hartke's estimation, "building a green house is more than energy efficiency and preservation of natural resources; it is about creating a home that integrates cost-effective design and materials to better the well being of its inhabitants." Still, Hartke admits that designing a green residence is a complex undertaking, as many factors need to be taken into account: site, sun, and water patterns; layout; building envelope; selection, use, and disposal of materials; community; appropriate technologies; and indoor environmental quality. The host of issues involved can be highly confusing to the potential owner of a green residence, and even builders acknowledge that the various "green labels or terms are confusing."
In the late ‘90’s, Hartke worked with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit dedicated to expanding green building practices and education. The LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) conducts a voluntary national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. In 2005, Hartke reached out to the Home Building Association to help create a green building program for homes.
Today, this CUA alum is a Principal of Stampfl Hartke Associates, LLC, an architecture and engineering firm located in Holicong, Pennsylvania, where he continues to ply his "green" brand of architectural expertise. In addition, Dave co-chairs at the Keystone Green Building Initiative (KGBI) for the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Bucks and Montgomery Counties. He is also a lead instructor for Bucks County Community College’s continuing education SBA (Substantial Building Advisor) program and serves as a Board member on the Seattle-based national committee. Most recently, this alum-turned-architect wrote the introduction for Green Homes: Dwellings for the 21st Century, by E. Ashley Rooney.
When he's not saving the planet one new home at a time or sharing his green homebuilding expertise with the next generation of architects, Hartke enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their three children -- an 11-year-old daughter named Cassidy, and sons Nolan (5) and Max (4). A soccer player during his time on campus, David also sits on the board of the Haverford Soccer Club and coaches soccer. He has also been an active CUA alumni leader serving on the Alumni Association’s Board of Governors for more than 10 years, including a term as President of the Alumni Association. |
