The True Impact of Ethical Design in Multifamily Housing
You may have heard of ethical design or responsible design, as it is sometimes called, but what is it exactly and why does it matter? Ethical design is based on very old principles centered on the idea that decisions ought to take others into consideration. In essence, responsible design is to remember that kindness is central to an ethical decision-making formula – kindness to other people, the earth and everything on it, and to yourself. In ‘Republic’, Plato listed four principles to serve as the foundation of decision-making: prudence, moderation, justice, and fortitude. Prudence is using good, careful judgement. Moderation is self-control while avoiding excess, greed, and violence. In Plato’s teachings justice is finding the middle ground between selflessness and selfishness. Fortitude is courage to make the hard decisions and weather the consequences if necessary. Responsible design is to internalize this foundation and use it to make design choices that do no harm, and ideally, benefit many.
Ethical Design in Practice
What exactly does this look like taken from theory to practice? The best way to explain how kindness can drive decision-making in the world of building homes is to provide examples. Professional codes of ethics already exist for most associations in the industry. The National Association of Home Builders and the American Institute of Constructors, for example, have strict codes of conduct that cover safety, professional conduct person to person, and fair business practices. Ethical design principles build on this solid foundation by including environmental concerns, providing a livable wage, and prioritizing supporting artisans or local businesses.
Photo credit: De Morgan Tiles, www.demorgan.org.uk
Core Values are Central to Ethical Design
As it is unfortunately impossible to take every possible outcome into consideration, we encourage companies to determine their own core values that align with their mission and vision statements, then focus on those. In a recent article, we featured Fireclay Tile, who employs skilled artisans in California to hand paint tile as an alternative to mass-produced tile. San Francisco-based builder Webcor has been in the news lately for their commitment to fair wages and robust benefits. Using a tool such as Fair-wage.com, businesses can take a look at how well they are doing in that area. Although the impact of ethics is always difficult to measure, researchers have attempted to quantify it through surveys and taking a hard look at case studies where significant harm was done when ethical design was ignored. Results gained in this way are clear, nearly all clients of a company appreciate ethical decision-making when asked; this appreciation translates into loyalty and referrals, which supports profits.
Our Company’s Ethical Focus
For Pioneer, and our family of companies including Olympia and Central Brass, along with an incredibly high value placed on our workforce, vendors, and clients, we focus on providing faucets that save water, pioneering technology that makes water conservation an easy choice. Some of our most popular water-saving products with commercial builders are: Olympia Two Handle Kitchen Faucet Model# K-5372 providing powerful spray with a low-flow rate, Olympia Single Handle Tub/Shower Trim Set Model# T-2334 with an aerator that boosts power while saving waver, and Central Brass Single Hole Deck Mount Electronic Sensor Faucet Model# 2098-LM that uses sensor technology to make water saving effortless. You can read more about our commitment to save water on our Water-Saving Certifications page.
Wrapping it All Up
We have the kitchen faucets, pot fillers, bar faucets, bathroom faucets, showerheads, trim sets, accessories, and commercial faucets for your project. We deeply believe in honest and fair dealings and appreciate the trust our clients place in us. As a trusted supplier of faucets and fixtures for over 100 years, Pioneer, Central Brass, and Olympia are here for you. Embrace the benefits of quality, product availability, and shipping speed by partnering with Pioneer. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your project is in good hands and transform your project or home with these beautiful and exceptionally durable faucets and accessories. All are backed by a best-in-the-industry warranty, are easy to install, and will stand the test of time.
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We’ll Save You Money and Time
There are many ways to the same destination. This saying applies to multifamily housing builds just as much as to anything else in life. The ultimate goal is save as much money as possible while delivering a great finished project – that’s simply showing smart business sense. But, finding a one-off deal or sacrificing quality isn’t the only way to get a healthy ROI. We have a better way.
Pioneer works with professionals every day to develop specification packages and plans that save our valued partners both time and money, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s our goal to ensure your project meets or exceeds its expected outcome. We want to get to know you and your company and show you how we can save you money. Please reach out via our website form or call us at (800) 338-9468.
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