Kevin Henry, Dental Economic’s Managing Editor, is becoming one of North America’s experts on ways to become more environmentally conscious in the dental office. He recently had the chance to talk with Seana Patankar, an NCIDQ certified interior designer, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, and a partner with Evoco Architecture/Interiors in San Francisco.

  Patankar: Thinking "green" is achieving a broad spectrum of interest these days. Not so long ago I sat in on an office design seminar and noticed that doctors were asking questions about how they could reduce their impact on the environment. The answer touches on everything from project demolition practices to the adhesives used in cabinetry. Thinking green suggests a new behavioral pattern between doctor and staff with a shared commitment to reducing the office environmental footprint. It is a marketing tool if the commitment is sincere. It can help support the bottom line with increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, and lowered utility bills.

  Patankar: Every year in the United States we use more energy than we did the year before, with our usage doubling almost every 20 years. Buildings use almost 40% of the energy and almost 70% of the electricity produced here annually. Lighting alone accounts for nearly half of energy usage in commercial buildings.

The simple goal should be to reduce energy usage in your office. The prevailing idea with energy usage is that you want to be able to control your usage to suit your needs and requirements at any particular time and use only what is needed.

  Patankar: Green design is being embraced, especially by the medical and dental profession, not just for its emphasis on natural products, but also for elements of energy efficiency.

Even as many other businesses and industries contract in uncertain economic times, green design is expanding not because it is trendy or faddish but because it offers credible and consistent health, safety, and customer benefits.

Read the unabridged article at www.patientnews.com/downloads, and for more information on this topic, to go www.dentaleconomics.com and search using the following keywords: U.S. Green Building Council, green dentistry, environment, Kevin Henry, LEED.