Table Of Contents
Send
: describing your project and needs.
1.0) Professional Background: Jorg Ostrowski
has 27 years of practical experience in the "real world"
and 8 years of professional architectural training from 2 universities.
He has been responsible for all company work including design, consulting,
R&D, and construction. All work follows our Mission/Vision
Statement. He tries to practice what he preaches
by living and working daily in a sustainable
home and office with sustainable features, innovative
concepts, user-friendly spaces, multi-purpose details, green products,
healthy materials, indoor gardens, wide window sills and lots of
sunshine and daylight. If this is for you, please read further,
or check out his professional resume.
2.0) Introduction: Since 1976, Jorg
Ostrowski has provided professional advice on an hourly or per diem
basis to a wide variety of clients, both small and large, in both
Canada and the United Sates, consulting on ecological projects including
EcoHomes, Green Buildings and Sustainable Development. Based on
many years of "hands-on" experience in the field, retrospectives
of past work, government contacts, industry suppliers, constant
improvements and product knowledge, he can help clients to replicate
successes, while avoiding mistakes. Clients gain from our accumulated
knowledge from past projects to improve all present and future projects,
hindsight and foresight that clients cannot gain from their own
one-time experience. Sometimes, thousands of dollars have been saved
due to recommendations of what to avoid, simplify, change, with
alternative solutions, where appropriate. If this is of interest,
please read Criteria & Guidelines.
3.0) Projects: Jorg Ostrowski has worked
with the following types of projects, both new and retrofit: residential:
single & multi-family; commercial buildings; office tower; college;
house retrofits; building additions.
Note: residential and single & multi-familyhave
been also been built using strawbale construction (see #10 below),
including several strawbale bed & breakfast projects.
4.0) Clients: Jorg Ostrowski has worked
with the following types of clients, both professionals and lay
people: building/property managers; building/home owners; architects;
builders/developers; First Nations; oil company; educational institutes;
environmental groups; law firm; government .
5.0) potential Benefits to Clients: Jorg
Ostrowski tries to combine the best of yesterday in the reality
of today, ready for the tomorrow: lower operating costs; lower maintenance
costs; more user-friendly spaces; more healthy indoor environment;
low environmental impact; cost-effective solutions; worthy personal
legacy; greater comfort; handicapped access; possible environmental
credits; higher real estate value (marketing leverage); optimal
natural daylighting.
6.0) Consulting Services: Jorg Ostrowski
can offer the following types of consulting services:
6.1) Concept Dialogue: preliminary discussion on start up
of initial ideas to guide the later development of the project,
to focus on the best path, ideas, features, technologies, and to
edit the most unfeasible ones, at the beginning, rather than dwelling
on ideal but non cost-effective solutions;
6.2) Plan Review: mark up of drawings done by others, usually
done at the start, middle and end of drawing preparation;
6.3) Site Visit: walking tour of project site & building
with answer and question session;
6.4) Road Map: short written outline of Opportunities and
Constraints of the potential project, with a priority; listing,
based on client's resources & project;
6.5) Phone Appointment: questions & answer session .
7.0) Process: Depending on the location
of client and project, the following process would apply, as appropriate.
7.1) initial e-mail inquiry by client outlining need and project;
7.2) response from Jorg Ostrowski, with fee indication;
7.3) short e-mail agreement outlining scope of work & confirmation;
7.4) submission of drawings & information for review;
7.5) mark-ups of drawings with comments, notes & sketches;
7.6) meeting with client to review work.
8.0) Architectural & Planning Features &
Guidelines: Consulting work can specifically address all or any
of the following aspects, in an holistic and integrated manner, according
to client needs, priorities, schedule and resources.
8.1) healthy materials |
8.9) multipurpose masonry fireplace |
8.17) minimum hallways |
8.2) barrier-free design |
8.10) thermal mass |
8.18) alternative specs |
8.3) ergonomics, anthropometrics |
8.11) greenhouse, conservatory |
8.19) functional aesthetics |
8.4) future growth & flexibility |
8.12) home office |
8.20) multipurpose details |
8.5) internal expansion |
8.13) useful roofing |
8.21) cool closet |
8.6) solar/wind orientation |
8.14) warm colours |
8.22) useful porch |
8.7) energy efficient landscaping |
8.15) appropriate siding |
8.23) live-in attic |
8.8) airlocks |
8.16) green products |
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9.0) Health, Environmental & Energy Criteria:
Beyond our Mission
Statement, the following ecological criteria are addressed,
whenever possible.
9.1) indoor air quality & EMF |
9.12) renewable energy |
9.23) VOC-free paints |
9.2) ventilation: natural & HRV |
9.13) zero point energy |
9.24) heat destratification |
9.3) air tightness |
9.14) passive solar energy |
9.25) waterless toilets |
9.4) resource conservation |
9.15) active solar (collectors) |
9.26) ultra-low flush toilets |
9.5) energy conservation |
9.16) solar electric (PV) |
9.27) self-sufficiency |
9.6) appropriate technology |
9.17) high performance windows |
9.28) self-help construction |
9.7) durability |
9.18) Eco-Logo appliances |
9.29) local suppliers |
9.8) embodied energy |
9.19) water conservation |
9.30) recycled content |
9.9) space efficiency |
9.20) rainwater harvesting |
9.31) multipurpose insulation |
9.10) energy-efficiency |
9.21) greywater recycling/treatment |
9.32) SunPipes/SkyLights |
9.11) conservation energy |
9.22) radiant floor heating |
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10.0) Construction Methods: There is no
magic bullet, no saving grace. Each alternative construction method
has its own strengths and weaknesses. For owner-builders building
their own sustainable home, we offer our experience with the following
building techniques some of which can be seen in our portfolio.
Strawbale: Nebraska style, P&B, hybrid; Rammed Earth: 2 methods;
Eco-Studs: (wall trusses); Double Wall: (stick built); Stack Wall;
Prefab (i.e. SIPs); ADA (Airtight Drywall Approach); narrow Shallow
Foundations (FPSF).
11.0) Other Opportunities: These aspects
of an holistic approach may also be useful: conserver lifestyle;
co-generation; community amenities; sale of green clean energy;
solar aquatics; small ecological footprint; on-site food production;
sale of environmental credits.
12.0) Transfer of Information: information,
including drawings, can be transferred by courier (preferred), fax
or e-mail.
13.0) Client Provides: Where appropriate,
the client supplies the following: initial e-mail inquiry; project;
approval to proceed; "Statement of Intent"; site &
building plans;photographs; long term commitment; open mind; resourcefulness;
desire to make a difference; to be part of the solution; concluding
cheque.
© Jorg Ostrowski 2003. All rights reserved.
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