Buildings that are energy- or resource-efficient at the expense of budget parameters or ease of construction do not provide real solutions to environmental problems. The art of environmental design lies in the balanced application of available techniques and technologies. Superinsulation, daylighting, advanced mechanical systems, renewable resources, and photovoltaic systems are all parts of a palette to be applied according to climate, energy demand, local energy costs, and -- most importantly -- our client's requirements and architectural intent. We maintain strict practicality when assessing the "green" potential of our projects, carefully assessing the tradeoffs in value inherent in all building materials and methods.
A realistic economic assessment also includes intangible values. In life, economy is not always synonymous with the lowest price. Productivity, security, health, and public image have values which can greatly exceed material costs. From this perspective, economy is critical to a building's ecology, and an ecologically sound building is inherently economical.
ecology = economy 
