by Shane Henson — October 7, 2011—Facilities managers may often question whether the materials they buy are truly as sustainable as a manufacturer claims. According to new research released by IMRE, a full-service marketing agency specializing in the home and building industry, this is also a concern to architects and interior designers. IMRE conducted an online survey of 812 architects and designers in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in September.
The majority of architects and interior designers, 87% and 86% respectively, acknowledged in the survey that they are concerned with how products are manufactured with regard to sustainability. However, despite trepidation about the validity of manufacturers’ sustainability claims, the sustainability project pipeline for architects and designers is projected to grow. Approximately 70% of architects and 49% of interior designers surveyed used sustainable products in their projects “very often” or “always” in the past year, and more than half of respondents from each group expect their number of designated sustainable projects will increase in the coming year.
Even though there has been a general push to use green products in all industries, according to the survey the primary reason architects and interior designers use sustainable products is because they want to, not because they need to.
- Nearly 60% of architects and 56% of interior designers identified their own sense of environmental responsibility as the key driver for specifying sustainable products;
- Only 19% of architects and 20% of interior designers specify sustainable products when they are required to, either by project scope or client request;
- Government and industry incentives are the key driver for only 0.5% of architects and 1% of interior designers.
- Only 19% of architects and 20% of interior designers specify sustainable products when they are required to, either by project scope or client request;
Not surprisingly, according to the survey, cost was a factor in respondents’ perceptions about the use of sustainable products, and is perhaps the reason why less than half of interior design clients and one-fifth of architect clients “rarely” or “never” request them.
- Nearly 90% of architects and 82% of interior designers said their clients think that sustainable products cost more;
- More than half of the professionals from both industries surveyed agreed that sustainable products are more expensive;
- Additionally, research showed that only one-quarter of both architects and interior designers believe their clients understand what the term “sustainability” means.
- More than half of the professionals from both industries surveyed agreed that sustainable products are more expensive;
For a full copy of survey results, please contact Meghann Malone at meghannm@imre.com.
