Description of Individual or organization
Sustainable Concepts is a consulting firm focusing on high-performance buildings, and is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE). The company provides the knowledge and resources that clients need to meet their sustainable building design goals. Sustainable Concepts’ company motto is “Better buildings for people, planet, profit.”
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Sustainable Concepts' goal is to provide expertise to help others create a more sustainable environment. Company team members stay informed on the best practices and latest developments in the sustainable building industry in order to help clients improve building performance. To do this, team members attend conferences and events such as the International Living Future Institute’s “unConference” promoting regenerative architecture, and then bring these cutting-edge concepts and innovations back to the green building community in DFW and help to expand knowledge about what it means to make our buildings and our lives more sustainable.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
Sustainable Concepts offers LEED Consulting services that have had a positive impact on the environment because their clients create more sustainable buildings. With Sustainable Concepts’ guidance, these clients and buildings improve their energy and water efficiency, reduce the amount of materials going into the landfill, reduce the use of toxic chemicals, improve the health and well-being of building occupants, and encourage alternative transportation in order to reduce the impact of automobiles.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
Sustainable Concepts provides active leadership in area organizations that promote sustainability. Team members frequently provide presentations to professional and environmental organizations to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of green building practices.
Tricia Loe, president of Sustainable Concepts, is the chairperson of the USGBC North Texas Events & Education Committee and has organized dozens of green building tours and learning events for area professionals to learn about green building practices. In addition, she chairs the Dallas AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), which brings green building seminars to architects and building professionals. She is the co-leader of the North Texas Living Building Challenge Collaborative, a Living Future Accredited Professional (LFA) and a WELL™ Accredited Professional.
Sandra Heffernan, vice president of Sustainable Concepts, was an early leader in the green building movement from the time she served as the owner’s representative for one of the first privately-owned LEED Platinum buildings in the U.S. She continues her leadership by guiding numerous buildings through the process of achieving LEED certification. She frequently gives presentations to property management professional organizations on the topic of sustainability.
Other reasons for your nomination
Sustainable Concepts and its employees are members of many organizations that promote sustainability and energy efficiency, including USGBC, AIA Dallas, the International Living Future Institute, Women in the Environment, ASHRAE and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).
