Stephanie Barnes-Castro:
Award-Winning Green Architect (cont'd)

zone, but they have a much higher R-Value than double pane units. Stephanie Barnes-Castro predicts that within the next five years triple pane windows will become more widely used. Stephanie Barnes-Castro says that these new methods of conserving energy will effectively
help improve sustainability and will soon become more common. She tells me that such technology is much more widely used and mandated in Germany and Switzerland.

The reason that sustainability thrives in Santa Cruz is that this community takes pride in promoting sustainable businesses of all types. For many residents of Santa Cruz, sustainability has become not just a trend, but also a lifestyle. It is evident that a true commitment to ecological stewardship goes beyond simply tossing a can into the recycling bin or buying that cute, new eco-friendly water bottle that you only use twice. A true commitment to sustainability means making daily choices that are not just popular, but also powerful. Sustainable architecture provides the consumer with a powerful opportunity to invest in the future of our environment and improve the overall quality of life for generations to come. Architecture in Santa Cruz is transforming what it means to possess a real commitment to the health of the Earth as a whole, and this is the same commitment that is currently transforming architecture into a road towards a sustainable future.