Architects' Lackluster Commitment to Carbon-Neutrality

According to the AIA’s third-annual progress report on its 2030 Commitment, the number of firms signing on to the environmental program is up. At the same time, the proportion of firms reporting progress toward their goal is underwhelming.

1 minute read

October 27, 2013, 11:00 AM PDT

By Anna Bergren Miller @abergrenmiller


Architects involved in the AIA 2030 Commitment, which was established in 2009, agree to work toward designing carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030.  The AIA publishes an annual report on firm participation.  In this year’s report, the total number of architects reporting progress was up six percent from the previous year.

But the news isn’t all good, Katie Weeks writes.  Only 46 percent of the firms that had previously signed the commitment filed a progress report in 2012, a decrease in overall reporting from 2011.  Moreover, only 57 percent of the firms participating said they use energy modeling to predict energy consumption.  “It seems the industry has much room for improvement,” Weeks concludes.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013 in Ecobuilding Pulse

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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