Joomla! site syndication http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:11:11 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide Joomla! site syndication http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/editorial/environmental_impact.html THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - You’ve found your dream home and you’re ready to sign on the dotted line. Before you do, there are a number of regulations you need to be aware of, and a few criteria you need to meet.This issue, we look at the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) element of the development planning process. A compulsory requirement of the Planning Act 2004, this currently applies only to those who have purchased land with a view to develop on a medium- to large scale. However, small-scale developers should pay close attention as legislation is being drafted to ensure an EIA is carried out at all levels. It should be noted that all proposals for building and development require approval from the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP) before building can commence as a matter of course.What is an Environmental - Impact Assessment?According to www.wikipedia.org, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the likely human environmental health impact, risk to ecological health, and changes to nature’s services that a project may have.To broaden the definition, and raise the significance of the three elements under assessment, we should understand that:Environmental health includes both the direct pathological effects of chemicals and biological agents on health and wellbeing of the environment’s inhabitants. It covers the broad physical, psychological, social and aesthetic environment including housing, urban development, land use and transport. Furthermore, nutrition and drinking water supply, pollution, waste control and public health are integral aspects of environmental health. When the well-being of a population is measured, these become economic and political concerns.Ecological health refers to symptoms of an ecosystem’s (the assemblage of organisms living together with their environment functioning as a loose unit) pending loss of carrying capacity and its ability to perform nature’s services.'Nature’s services’ is an umbrella term for the ways in which nature benefits humans, particularly those benefits that can be measured in economic terms.Any alteration you make to your surroundings will have an environmental impact, whether it is a matter of installing a storm drain or whether you are clearing scrub in preparation of laying down your foundations.The Ground RulesGiven the amount of development proposed for Tortola’s East End, a recent TCP presentation to the public, designed to assist with understanding of the EIA process, was a timely reminder that the scope of a project and the implications it may have should be public information, and the members of the public are entitled to respond with their concerns. No concerns are considered irrelevant. The presentation stipulated:• EIAs have been required for major projects since the 1969 Virgin Islands Physical Planning Act was passed. In 2004, the 15th amendment of this act was passed, stipulating the statutory responsibility to the Planning Authority for managing any of the EIA processes.• One of the main differences between an EIA process and other statutory assessment processes is that all government agencies and the public have more opportunities to comment upon how a project is assessed and, if approved, how it should be managed.Management of development of the land falls under the auspices of the 2004 Physical Planning Act, part IV, section 26 which states, most importantly (it is advised that applicants read the section in full):• Unless the Authority otherwise determines, environmental impact assessment shall be required in respect of any application for development permission to which Schedule 3 applies (see side bar).• The Authority may also require environmental impact assessment of any development, where it is of the opinion that significant adverse environmental impact could result.• On receipt of any application for development permission, the Authority shall determine whether environmental impact assessment of the proposal is required having regard tothe nature of the development activity proposed;the geographical extent, scale and location of the proposed development;the extent and significance of the changes to the environment likely to be caused by the proposed development;the extent of general knowledge about the nature of the proposed development and its likely impact on the environment;any development plan for the area;any other matter as may be prescribed.In order to assist with the lengthy environmental impact assessment, TCP are currently drafting an environmental screening form. The form asks the developer, be they building a single family dwelling or a multi storey hotel complex, to describe some basic information about their planning proposal. The information will be used to determine the environmental risk category of the project, which will in turn determine whether the proposal requires an EIA, and if so, at what level.SCHEDULE 3: MATTERS FOR WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SHALL BE REQUIREDHotels of more than twelve rooms;Any industrial plant which in the opinion of the Authority is likely to cause significant adverse environmental impact;Quarrying and other mining activities; Marinas; Airports, ports and harbours;Dams and reservoirs; Hydro-electric projects and power plants;Desalination plants;Water purification plants;Sanitary land fill operations, solid waste disposal sites, toxic waste disposal sites and other similar sites;Gas pipeline installations;Any development projects generating or potentially generating emissions, aqueous effluent, solid waste, noise vibration or radioactive discharges;Any development involving the storage and use of hazardous materials.Coastal zone developments;Development in wetlands, marine parks, national parks, conservation areas, environmental protection areas or other sensitive environmental areas.For more information on the EIA, or information pertaining to the planning process and permissions, please contact:Town and Country Planning DepartmentOffice of the Chief Minister33 Admin DriveRoad Town, TortolaT: 284 494 3701 ext. 2158 Articles - Editorial Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:40:46 +0100 http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/editorial/design_for_living.html DROPPING THE COSTS - Like almost everywhere in the Caribbean, the BVI is subject to ever-increasing fuel prices and home-owners are feeling the effects – not least from the drastic increases in their energy consumption bills.A client decided recently to take radical steps to curb his projected energy consumption cost on his newly built dream home. Now, nestled amongst evergreen tropical foliage, overlooking Cane Garden Bay, is one of only a very few homes in Tortola that can boast energy saving features.LightingOur first task was to reduce the estimated energy required to illuminate the house. We achieved this using low-voltage lighting, which requires a power supply of only 12 volts, compared with most conventional lighting systems operating on the standard power supply of 120 volts. In theory, low-voltage lighting will reduce energy consumption by 66%. Our client had requested a contemporary design, so we opted for recessed lighting fixtures with a chrome finish, which would complement the white drop-ceiling and the amber-coloured wood floor. Once installed, these depicted a somewhat seamless finish with the ceiling and their 270 degree swivel ability granted our client freedom to adjust the light angles to highlight any object or area in a room.Skylight WindowsThe second method deployed to achieve our goal of optimal energy consumption involved the installation of skylights. The advantage of these windows is that they project maximum sunlight during day time hours, reducing the need to consume energy illuminating certain rooms by artificial means. The aesthetically designed, wood-trimmed, double layered skylights are manufactured to keep heat in-flow to a minimum whilst providing a maximum of sunlight. We installed skylights throughout the central hallway area as well as the kitchen and dining room. The living room, with its wall of windows, required no extra lighting during the day. Skylights also assist in air transfer, a first-rate asset in tropical regions. When open, they allow rising hot air to escape and be replaced by cooler air entering via usual windows and doors. The air transfer alleviates the need to use fans and air conditioning.Solar Water HeatingOur final task was to reduce the $5 - $10 per day normally spent on heating water. By installing a solar water heater, we could in fact reduce that energy consumption cost to zero. The operation of a solar water heater is relatively simple. Solar panels, positioned on the roof of the building, or in a sunny spot in the garden, convert the suns rays into stored energy which is then used to provide the electric power necessary to heat the water in the tank.At the end of the project our client was amazed at the vision of the finished product. “You have made my dream tangible, thank you,” he said. A month later, he called again, this time the call was to express his gratitude for his low electricity bill. With www.uniquestyles.com, you can experience living in a marvelous dream home with beautifully lighting, while smiling at your electricity bill. Articles - Editorial Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:54:48 +0100 http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/editorial/the_ridge_house.html LUXURY CARIBBEAN LIVING WITH JUST A HINT OF MAGIC - A BVI sunrise is magical to watch. Be in the right place at the right time and that great orb will rise from behind silhouetted peaks and flood the sky with an array of pinks and purples and flashes of ornamental orange before gilding it with a pale, almost fragile gold.As the sun progresses in its wide arc over the earth, the light will play on the island’s features and dance off the sea creating myriad images of a single scene. A sunset is always stunning – a thousand shades of vermillion melting into an inky horizon, each shard of light floating away on the gently rippling sea. From the verdant slopes above Lambert Bay on Tortola’s North Shore it is possible to watch the sun rise and set without doing much more than turning round. Situated in lush pastureland fringed with tropical forest, at the end of a private, paved driveway, the majestic white walled, red roofed Ridge House is perfectly positioned to capture the magnificence of it all, from sky-show spectacular to constantly shifting seascape. The Ridge House is in fact four homes in one, and uniquely, each unit offers privacy and individuality without losing that feeling of being an integral part of a larger household.The two bedroom main house sits at the heart of the building, and we enter via a convenient and gentle ramp rising from the concreted parking area. The open plan living area, incorporating the kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, is of magnificent proportions. There is a dramatic utilization of style and space, and yet it is, for want of better words, comfortable and homely. This single storey dwelling could easily have accommodated two stories; instead, we are treated to high, beamed ceilings and cool breezes that waft through French windows and wind their way around the room, bringing with them the sweet scents of tropical flora. For me, this room is as a tropical home should be - a combination of practicality, sophistication and elegance without being ostentatious. You will note that the kitchen, with its beautiful mahogany cabinetry and pale beige ceramic-tiled work tops, does not follow a conventional layout for an open plan room. Instead, it occupies a corner space – the open corners of the triangle allowing for unobstructed access to the dining area or living area. The triangle itself, of course, has long been the principle behind efficient culinary activities. This one is augmented with top of the range appliances, including a dish washer and double ovens, and supplemented further by an island containing an additional sink and hob.The great room – for that is what it is – spills out through the French windows and on to a wide, covered wooden deck set atop the natural terrace created by the enormous boulders that occupy this part of the garden. It’s an oasis of tranquility, somewhere to rest in the sunlight or pools of welcome shade; or to dine al fresco and enjoy a glorious view westwards of lush green hillsides tumbling into the indigo sea framed by the canopies of the mature trees that abound in the beautifully landscaped gardens.The two bedrooms are located down a corridor leading off the southern end of the great room. The master suite, with French windows opening on to the deck, is a regal-sized retreat bearing the same the simple elegance of the great room. It’s an uncluttered sanctuary with its own spa (the en suite bathroom features a step up Jacuzzi, an enormous shower and two wash basins). Should, heaven forbid, one feel lost without access to the workplace paraphernalia that accessorizes the modern lifestyle, there is an office attached to the main bedroom. The adjacent guest suite would delight any visitors – it’s a sumptuous offering with an en suite shower room and sea views across the treetops.Flanking the main house are two very spacious, self contained units, each offering a king-sized bedroom and en suite bathroom. Their living and dining rooms follow the general open plan theme, incorporating elegance and practicality; and their galley style oak and mahogany kitchens make optimum use of the space to ensure the same expansive stylishness of the main house. The north suite boasts more of those magnificent high beamed ceilings and breathtaking sea views from the private balcony; whilst the southern suite, occupying a lower level with street level access, offers morning sunshine and scenes of the sparkling sands that stretching across Lambert Bay.The fourth apartment is a pretty, airy, neat, fully equipped little studio with its own private deck, from which to relish the sea views. It would be perfect for the older teenager seeking a little seclusion or converting into a private office. As it is set well into the hillside, and under the house at the end furthest away from any frolicsome family entertaining, it is absolutely undisturbed by noise. And, given its layout, that frolicsome family entertaining is entirely feasible. Whilst this house exudes a breathtaking mix of grandeur and sophistication, its true charm lies in its robust, family-centric constitution, and the outside offers more of the same. The beautifully landscaped garden terraces invite games of hide and seek amongst the fruit trees and boulders, and the swimming pool is a real one inviting poolside parties and in-pool games. Just a few minute’s walk from two of Tortola’s most beautiful beaches, the Ridge House is as complete a home as one or several families will ever need it to be.Asking: $2,490,000 Contact: Jerry on (1) 284 495 2395For more information on this property, please visit: http://realestate.escapeartist.com/P-2005062 Articles - Editorial Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:43:32 +0100 http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/editorial/land_of_plenty.html TORTOLA'S EAST END - In 2003, Joe Collier of Mainsail Hotels signed a deal with the government and owners to purchase Scrub Island, located just north of Camanoe. After lengthy negotiations with the public and various government agencies and departments, Mainsail Development Group, in conjunction with Scrub Island Development Group, LLC broke ground on October 2005, commencing work on the first resort development to be built in the BVI for 15 years, an exclusive luxury resort and spa, 65-slip marina and 59 residential units.In December 2005, a document agreeing the sale of 640 acres of land at Beef Island was signed by the Government of the BVI and Quorum Island (BVI) Ltd. The signature ended some ten years of negotiations and heralded the commencement, subject to the adherence of various stringent environmental and social criteria, of the largest development project to have ever been proposed in the BVI. Beef Island is to become home to “a luxury hotel and spa, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course; two high-end marinas providing up to 400 slips, including a number of berths for mega-yachts up to 170 feet in length; 663 residential and resort units; and approximately 115,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.” (ATM Management Inc. Environmental Impact Assessment for Resort Core, July 2006 revised.)In the first quarter of 2007, two further developments situated at Tortola’s East End will be formally agreed. (It should be noted, though, that at the time of writing no date had for either resort agreement had been confirmed.) The remote Little Bay is set to become the location of a 13 villa luxury gated community, and the existing Lambert Beach Resort has been earmarked for purchase and considerable expansion, with big name South Carolina developers in on the deal.Public relationshipsThis surge of developmental activity has precipitated flurry of (fairly negative) media coverage. Thanks largely to Physical Planning Act No. 15 2004 which states that ‘all government agencies and the public have more opportunities to comment on how a projectis assessed and, if approved, how it should be managed,’ the general public have been made aware of the scope and scale of the projects under review, and also given some understanding as to how such a developmental proposal will affect the individual and the community as a whole. Even with promises of revenues in excess of $130 million and an annual $16 million in tax revenues to the Government, the Beef Island development unsurprisingly has attracted the most amount of opposition.Conflicts of interest, in addition to those raised by the public, have been raised by the Conservation and Fisheries Department, who recognise Beef Island's Hans Creek, Banana Wharf and Bluff Bay as areas of critical biological, economic and social value to the BVI; the Department of Human Resources which expresses concerns related to employment; and the BVI Airports Authority which has voiced major concern related to the need for additional space for future expansion. Public hearings for the Lambert Beach Resort expansion and the Little Bay villa community have yet to be announced; although the latter may just get away with not needing one due to being a cluster of villas rather than a resort (see the EIA article in the How to Buy section on page 12).Thanks to the stringent requirements set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, many of the environmental issues have been addressed: disturbances to the coastline will be temporary and regeneration schemes will be in place. In terms of Beef Island, most golf course construction processes adhere to eco-friendly procedures, with drainage, self-irrigation and natural habitat regeneration as priorities. The number of proposed residential units was reduced by more than 150, and it has agreed that only one marina, with just 200 slips will be completed in the first phase of development (the golf course, club houses, hotel, marina and marina village are proposed for the initial five year period). Representatives of Quorum Island (BVI) are keen to point out that the proposed developers, Interlink Group (www.interlinkpr.com) and marina specialists Island Global Yachting both have a long history of island development and have environmental preservation at the very top of their agendas.Socio-Economic ImpactThe public have more obvious concerns, not least the increase in population and the impact this will have on the East End as a whole. Four major developments, even spread over the proposed 20 years as is the case with Beef Island, will require a number of construction workers (approximately 1600 during initial phases); where will they go? Will crime, already on the increase, increase further when construction workers are laid at the end of the phase? The associated noise and disruption over the proposed period will be considerable, and the BVI’s infrastructure already struggles to support the current population (Beef Island Feasibility Survey).The matter of construction workers is being assessed by the Government’s Department of Social Development, in conjunction with a number of experienced, independent consultants. The possibilities of contained work camps, restricted work permits, single person entry and overseas earnings are currently under review.Other factors significantly affecting the area from a socio-economic standpoint have been reviewed by socio-economic consultancies Ivor Jackson and Associates and Deloitte International.There are always very positive statements to be made about resort developments. Collectively, it is estimated that tax and non-tax revenues to the Government will be in excess of $440 million for a 20 year period, with spin-off economic impacts from multiplier effects of monies spent in other parts of the economy generating an extra $30 million annually. The potential for East End/LongLook businesses, if this really is the case, is enormous (a little more on this later). Recent studies show that resort developments of this scale have a positive effect on real estate, with values in buildings and land increasing significantly. Employment opportunities will be plentiful – the Beef Island project will require some 1000 employees across the board by year 10. And finally, the BVI has an opportunity to diversify its tourism product and reach those markets as yet untapped – the multi-billion dollar golfing industry and the lucrative commercial conference and exhibition industries (which, as a knock on effect, will introduce a range of new industries and commercial opportunities to the BVI, allowing diversification in the pillars of economy).It is inevitable that the tourism industry will grow over the next 20 years, and whilst these developments are the means with which to meet the demands of this growth, managing this growth will present major challenges. One of the first issues to be faced, as mentioned, is the expanded migrant population resulting from the labour demands of the project. There are many jobs unavailable to BVIslanders simply because training and certification for vocational trades is not available in the BVI. An expanded population will put pressures on the social infrastructure. Ivor Jackson and Associates found that BVI schools were unable to accept more than 55% of the applicants for primary and secondary education between 2002 and 2005 – there simply weren’t enough places. Traffic congestion is unavoidable; there will be increased airport traffic and trip volume from the project, which will increase carbon emissions, and there is limited parking availability. Electricity demands will double, and the BVI generators already struggle to maintain an uninterrupted supply. Potable water is a limited resource; liquid waste (sewerage) poses an issue; and solid waste, already a bone of contention, is likely to be in excess of 140 tonnes per week for the area, placing demands on an incinerator and landfill site at Pockwood Pond that already struggles to cope with the current 70 tonnes per week for the Island.A Wealth of OpportunityIt is often quoted that ‘there are no problems, only solutions,’ and for the visionaries these East End/Long Look developments present a giant vat of opportunity just waiting to be tapped. Whilst most minds will boggle at the environmental impacts alone, the entrepreneur will be thinking ‘wait!’ 20 years is plenty of time to take measures to counteract all the negative connotations of the project.Currently, the BVI has no recycling facilities and no renewable energy projects, and yet both solid and liquid waste present an immediate source of revenue. In the BVI, where 95% of our consumer products are imported and packaged, solid waste production on a per capita basis is considerably higher than that of the average European. The recycling of glass, plastics and paper represent a multimillion dollar industry in the UK. Whilst it seems infeasible to set up glass and plastic smelting plants or paper mulching plants in the BVI, a sorting station is not out of the question, shipping sorted waste to larger countries that do have such facilities is a fairly economical procedure, and the sale of waste is lucrative to say the least. Waste products such as used cooking fat can be converted to bio-fuels for very little cost – and bio-fuels can run motor vehicles and electricity generators; what better way to counteract the emissions from the extra taxis required to ferry the thousands of extra visitors around the island? The organic matter extracted from the process, we understand, makes excellent fertilizer.And that leads to entrepreneurial activities in the agricultural sector. 95% of BVI foodstuffs are imported. That’s an incredible amount of money that the BVI farming industry is missing out on. The BVI is a rich and fertile country; fruit trees grow with alacrity, and the pastureland, as we have seen at the recent Farmer’s Week, produces some prize-winning livestock. Seafood is a major draw for visitors to the Caribbean. Concerns over depleting fish stocks through destruction of habitat can be resolved through eco-friendly habitat regeneration programmes and fish farming – a bit of research will demonstrate that in five years, the time it will take to complete phases 1A and 1B of the Beef Island project, 20 acres of fish farm will generate enough stock to feed the current BVI population.Resorts of that scale will need an array of service industries, from basic housekeeping (laundry and cleaning services) to private transport. Outsourcing services support has long been an economical solution to large corporations; resort communities are no different. The marina at Beef Island alone will require services such as boat yards, dry dockage, mega yacht service depots, day trip providers, provisioning…the list goes on. Amongst the plans, there is no real provision for this at the marina itself: the East End marine business community needs to move now to capture this opportunity.Tourists seek entertainment on a daily basis, and even the most languorous of individuals is likely to venture off the premises in search of something new sometime. These people have money to spend, and the East End community is perfectly positioned to tap that extra wealth. 15 years ago, the St Lawrence Gap in Barbados was a sleepy little village emptied daily as its inhabitants flocked to work in the townships. Now, people flock to the St Lawrence Gap from the townships. Why? Because the development of a couple of upscale resorts prompted local business entrepreneurs to take advantage of the extra revenue opportunities the visitors to the area presented. Today, the St. Lawrence Gap is a thriving, vibrant, bustling, business community offering upscale bars, restaurants, night clubs, boutique shops, museums and entertainment centres to the never ending flow of tourists.All these business opportunities represent jobs for the local community. And to those that say that the BVIslanders do not have the training, well 20 years is a long time. Five years are all that are needed to produce the first generation of East End/Long Look business entrepreneurs with the necessary qualifications to carry it off. It’s long enough to build a vocational college or two; encourage the farming industry to think about supply; to investigate eco-friendly fishing and waste disposal options; to train budding engineers in the mega yacht industry; work on new, sustainable energy systems and turn a township into a major and lucrative commercial centre. Forget $450 million dollars in 20 years to the developers; think about the comparable sum to the people of the BVI. Articles - Editorial Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:50:34 +0100 http://bviguides.com/Domains/bvipropertyguide/obm_international/building_green_2.html BUILDING GREEN - This is the first installment of OBM International’s series, “Building Green.” This month’s article discusses the importance of environmental sustainability.The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment. The environmental impact of the building design, construction and operation process is enormous. In the United States, buildings consume more than 30% of the total energy and more than 60% of the electricity used annually; each day five billion gallons of potable water is used solely to flush toilets, and the construction process generates huge quantities of solid waste. Building developments result in the loss of natural, biologically diverse habitats, with the introduction of hard impervious surfaces devoid of biodiversity, with adverse affects on patterns of storm water drainage and erosion, and the introduction of our waste, pollutants and contaminants into the ecosystem.Here in the BVI, when designing and building, we face the same issues. In fact, the relatively rapid recent development of the islands has the potential to have a dramatic affect on the sustainability and quality of life for future generations. We are already seeing the adverse affects of uncontrolled or inappropriate development, particularly on extremely sensitive and vulnerable coastal and marine environments.Furthermore, we are all, in our own way, responsible for our contribution to climate change and global environmental degradation through our reliance on the consumption of fossil fuels to provide us with our power, transportation, imported goods, water and most other aspects of our energy-hungry lifestyles.It has become imperative that we recognize these facts and respond positively to reduce the impact of our development activities. Environmentalism is no longer the preserve of a minority group of tree-huggers and activists. The deniers of global warming are now the minority, and improvements in our understanding of the crisis - there is now almost universal agreement that controlling climate change brought about by our greenhouse gas emissions is critical - are leading to improvements in our approach to development and an emphasis on sustainability: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Green building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts, and improve existing unsustainable design, construction and operational practices. Moreover, green design measures can reduce operating costs, enhance marketability and improve living and working environments. The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programme is at the forefront in helping to improve building industry standards. LEED is a rating system which evaluates environmental performance from a whole building perspective over a building’s life cycle. The system rigorously evaluates all aspects of the design, construction and operation, from selection of the site, to the design response to the site, to the choice of paint and other building materials and the design and operation of electrical and plumbing equipment, with the aim of achieving certification in one of four ratings categories: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.The LEED system is becoming increasingly prevalent in the US, with many corporate and governmental organizations now insisting that new projects attain at least Silver or Gold certification. Although the system has generally been applied to commercial projects, the design principles and construction practices required to meet the standards can and should be applied to all building projects, including smaller scale private residences, new buildings or conversions.In the BVI, we are fortunate that most home owners are keen to build and live in harmony with their site. However it is not simply a question of “blending in” with the landscape. It takes a particularly determined and forward-thinking owner, a creative and knowledgeable design team, and a considerate and careful builder to ensure that the entire process results in a truly sustainable building. Our particular environment presents us with great opportunities and challenges: we have great potential to design our buildings to take advantage of cooling breezes and sheltering shade elements, but we are dependent upon the importation of almost all our building materials; we have the potential to tap into the renewable energy sources of the wind and sun, but we must be prepared for potentially devastating seismic and storm activity.Whatever the challenges, the time for complacency is over. We all need to look very hard at our lifestyles, and consider what we can do to minimize our impact on the natural environment, which, in the BVI in particular, is critical to our future economy. All of us involved in design and construction are in an influential position – the way we design and use our buildings needs to be understood and addressed so that we do everything we can to act positively.Next month…In the next installment of the Building Green series, we will discuss the economic considerations of environmentally friendly building.Steve Fox is a Senior Architect for OBM International’s BVI office. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited design professional and co-founder of the BVI Sustainable Living Network. For seven decades, OBM International has been the premier full-service design-consulting firm in Bermuda and the Caribbean. Today, with nine multinational offices, projects throughout the world and a diverse team of experts, OBM is a global leader in luxury hotel/resort design development, architecture, master/town planning and interior design, with landmark projects in the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and the Arabian Peninsula.OBM currently has design offices located in Antigua, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Madrid, Miami, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks Caicos Islands, a strategic alliance in the Bahamas, and a business development office in Bath (UK).For additional information about OBM or to inquire about services, please contact:Cristina Lanao-Rossel, Director of MarketingOBM International T 305.441.8767F 305.441.8242clanao@obmi.comwww.obmi.com Articles - OBM International Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:47:26 +0100