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Across all projects — including those already aiming for carbon neutrality — reporting the 2030 portfolio anticipates a mean energy reduction of 36.9% from the national average.

At Coolearth we are proud to be committed to the American Institue of Architects 2030 Challenge.  The 2030 Challenge is a grass-roots effort by architects across North-America to reduce the energy use of the buildings we build.  The AIA has released their latest update on the 2030 challenge and how it is doing (download here). Overall the amount of firms participating, the amount of square footage included in the commitment and the performance of the buildings is increasing year-over-year which is a great result for all participants.

A unique aspect of this Commitment is how it is being done with standard budgets and materials.  Sustainable building does not need to cost more, use different materials, or import everything from Germany: smart design can work with what it is given.

Relatively few projects in this year’s report are pilot sites funded by researchers or philanthropists—meaning that most of them must compete, on cost and schedule, with conventional work.

The 2014 Report also stresses the importance of energy modelling for meeting sustainability targets, and regretable there is in fact a DECLINE in the amount of projects which are using energy models.   This may be due to a perception that energy models are used to test compliance rather then guide design.

Having a model in place at a project’s outset helps ensure that design teams will keep working on energy reduction throughout a project’s twists and turns.

To learn more visit our section on Energy Analysis, check out Sheena’s article in the OAA Perspectives on Energy Modelling or visit the 2030 Commitment page.