Architect recognized for ‘green’ efforts

The U.S. Green Building Council recently honored local architect Bill Brown for his contributions to sustainable design and
construction.

Brown, an associate partner at Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects, was recognized at the council’s Greenbuild International
Conference and Expo in Boston Nov. 20.

As a longtime member of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment, he helped persuade architects to
embrace more environmentally sustainable building designs.

His contributions include helping the committee produce its "Environmental Resource Guide," participating in the
Greening
of the White House project, and helping plan the first AIA national convention that focused on sustainable
design.

At Ball State University in the early 1990s, Brown was the first student to be appointed to the committee. In addition, he
was among the first two students to receive the AIA Presidential Citation for service to the profession.

Brown’s latest project is the Chrisney Branch Library in Spencer County. When completed in December, it will be the first
net-zero-energy library in the state.

Using geothermal heating and cooling, and photovoltaic solar cells, the building is designed to produce as much electricity
as it burns.

Brown helped the town of Chrisney secure more than $500,000 in grant money to build the branch without tapping local tax dollars.