Local Designer Earns 'Certified Green Professional' Title

by Tammy Prout, Hill Country Community Journal 6-24-09

  Mickey Thompson of Archetype Designs in Kerrville recently became one of the select group of professional builders, remodelers and other industry professionals nationwide who have earned the "Certified Green Professional" designation.

  The designation identifies him as someone with knowledge of the best strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes.

  The CGP program is administered by the National Association of Home Builders University of Housing and sponsored locally by the Hill Country Home Builders Association.

  Thompson is the owner and primary designer of Archetype Designs, the custom home design division of Texas Home Plans Partnership, Ltd.

  He designed and built his first home addition in 1962 and Archetype Designs was founded in 1992, with Thompson doing both residential and commercial work.  In 2001, he focused his full attention on residential design.

  In Thompson's opinion, the No. 1 mistake in architecture is poor site orientation, and No. 2 is lack of attention to conservation.  He said site orientation is key to "green".

  In three days of course work, the CGP curriculum incorporates a variety of information tailored to green building and business practices.  The curriculum leads building industry practicioners and academics on strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes withut driving up the cost of construction.

   It also teaches how green homes provide buyers with lower maintenance and better indoor air quality; and competitively differentiates green projects by demonstrating their durability and favorable environmental impact as well as energy and resource efficiency.

   CGP program graduates are required to maintain their designation by completing 12 hours of continuing education credits every three years, a portion of which pertain to green building activities.