AIA Report Shows Mixed Results in Carbon Reduction Efforts
Oct. 24, 2016
The initiative works to reach an end goal of carbon-neutral buildings and facilities by the year 2030.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a report that measures the work of businesses that are part of the AIA 2030 Commitment, a voluntary initiative that works to reach an end goal of carbon-neutral buildings and facilities by the year 2030.
The findings in the AIA report were meager. 152 firms submitted reports, showing a 9% increase from 2014, but only 10% of the total gross square feet met the previous 60% carbon reduction target — a decrease of 4%. And when measuring the total gross square feet for the new target of 70%, only 4% achieved the goal.
Greg Mella, FAIA, Director of Sustainable Design at SmithGroupJJR and co-chair of the AIA 2030 Working Group had this to say in response to the results:
We have made some progress in the overall program, with a noteworthy jump in the amount of buildings included in the report. But we are simply not making significant strides in crucial metrics that predict building performance. These findings should serve as a wake-up call to architects that there needs to be greater urgency to drive improved energy efficiency across their project portfolios if we are going to reach our ultimate carbon reduction goals.
