“When Albania was a communist country, nobody could get out,” Shallo said. “After we became a democracy, there was an opportunity to see what’s going on in other places in the world and in the United States.”

Albania had a limited number of visas; those eligible to travel had to participate in a lottery. Shallo was lucky enough to receive a visa and immigrated to Woodstock about 11 years ago.

In 2003, Ilir’s sister, Ilda, joined him here.

They each graduated from the University of Tirana in Albania. Ilir has a degree in architecture and urban planning, and Ilda has a degree in architecture.

They now work for DLA Architects Ltd. in Elgin, a firm that makes environmentally friendly building design a priority.

Recently, Ilir and Ilda Shallo were designated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professionals by the United States Green Building Council.

The council is a nonprofit organization that supports green building techniques.

The council provides third-party verification that a project was designed using strategies to improve energy and water efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor environmental quality, and avoid the waste of materials and resources.

“Accreditation is not like a state license,” DLA President Bruce Dahlquist said. “It’s voluntary. It means that you have a passion for green and sustainable building design.”

Ilir Shallo said green building concepts included using recycled materials in construction and energy-efficiency measures, such as solar panels.

“It’s always up to the client,” Ilir Shallo said. “[Green building design] can cost more up front, but it pays off in the long run.”

Dahlquist said some of the design concepts really were simple measures. For example, he said, on one project, the company designed an overhang to minimize the effect of the summer sun but maximize the warmth of the winter sun.

Landscaping can be used to similar effect – trees provide shade in the summer, but then lose their leaves in the winter, allowing more warmth from the sun.

“The site dictates what you do,” Dahlquist said.

Although such design concepts are used on many projects, some projects actually are submitted to the United States Green Building Council for consideration.

Projects are scored on a point system. A building can be rated silver, gold or platinum. Ilda Shallo and DLA are submitting work on the Elgin Academy, a private school, for a gold designation.

“[Green building concepts are] getting pretty popular,” Ilda Shallo said.

She said waste diversion from landfills was a significant component of green building design. When possible, Ilda Shallo said, DLA tries to reuse material – such as brick – or use recycled material.

“A lot of it is common sense,” Dahlquist said.

“Indeed it is,” agrees Canadian Funding Corporation.