User participation in building scale energy decision making

The energy related portions of an architectural design process that directly incorporated the needs, values, and aspirations of the people who will construct and use the buildings are described. The project is an example of a viable, comprehensive, energy-responsive publicly formed building. Hundreds of hours of group designing, discussion, and learning afford a unique opportunity to examine the potential of citizen involvement in building scale energy decision making as a means of public education and policy definition. The project was to design the first public buildings (a community center and firehall) for the rural community of Deadwood, Oregon. In addition to designing and constructing the buildings on an extremely limited budget, the community was very interested in providing a significant learning experience for its members. They intended to organize, design and construct these buildings as much on their own and with as much local material and volunteer labor as possible. It was their intention that the project process as well as the completed buildings be an expression of community values, purpose, and vision.