The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced publication of 2030 by the numbers, the 2016 progress report assessing the work of architecture firms that are part of the AIA 2030 Commitment, a voluntary initiative to commit their practices to advancing the AIA’s goal of carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030. The report is available and can be viewed here.
The 2030 Commitment represents a key part of the AIA membership's dedication to combating climate change, particularly with the recent U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Despite that withdrawal, firms that sign on to and actively participate in the 2030 Commitment continue to directly support the goals of the climate accord, as part of the AIA's position that architects can—and should—mitigate the effects of climate change through policy advocacy, education, and energy modeling.
Key takeaways from the 2016 Progress Report:
- Projects reported an average predicted energy use intensity (pEUI) savings of 42 percent in 2016, climbing from 38 percent in 2015 and continuing the steps forward that the 2030 Commitment has taken over the last few years.
- The AIA 2030 energy target of 70 percent predicted energy savings is ambitious but achievable. In 2016 six firms achieved a portfolio-average predicted energy savings of 70 percent or greater, and 331 individual projects also met or exceeded this target.
- In 2016, the number of reporting firms grew 15 percent to 205. Additionally, with 53 new firms signing on to the Commitment, the overall number of signatories now totals more than 400.
- The potential energy savings from all 2016 projects represent approximately 16.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent of running almost five coal-fired power plants or powering 1.76 million homes for a year (EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).
- AIA data continues to demonstrate that energy modeling is an essential component of success, with modeled projects averaging pEUI reductions of just over 50 percent, as compared to only a 35 percent pEUI reduction for projects that were not modeled. However, as the share of modeled projects declined from 2015, more work is needed to better incorporate energy modeling across the profession.
Since 2009, participants in the AIA 2030 Commitment have reported the performance of their architecture firm portfolios over each calendar year. The data, collected via the 2030 Design Data Exchange (DDx), includes building type, area, baseline energy performance, and predicted energy performance. Among the data points reported are firm participation, total area of number of projects reported, percentage of projects that used energy modeling, and overall progress toward the 2030 goals.
Related Stories
| Aug 29, 2013
First look: K-State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium expansion
The West Side Stadium Expansion Project at Kansas State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium is the largest project in K-State Athletics history.
| Aug 27, 2013
Industrial Sector Report [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Building Design+Construction's rankings of the nation's largest industrial sector design and construction firms, as reported in the 2013 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 26, 2013
What you missed last week: Architecture billings up again; record year for hotel renovations; nation's most expensive real estate markets
BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets.
| Aug 26, 2013
Chicago Bears kick off season at renovated Halas Hall
An upgraded locker room, expanded weight room, and updated dining room with an outdoor patio greeted the Chicago Bears when they arrived at Halas Hall for practice this month. The improvements are part of a major expansion and renovation of the Bears’ headquarters in Lake Forest, Ill., completed by Mortenson Construction in less than seven months.
| Aug 22, 2013
Energy-efficient glazing technology [AIA Course]
This course discuses the latest technological advances in glazing, which make possible ever more efficient enclosures with ever greater glazed area.
| Aug 22, 2013
Warehouse remake: Conversion project turns derelict freight terminal into modern office space [slideshow]
The goal of the Freight development is to attract businesses to an abandoned industrial zone north of downtown Denver.
| Aug 21, 2013
AIA: Architecture billings on the rise in July
The Architecture Billings Index for July was 52.7, up from a mark of 51.6 in June. This score reflects an increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).
| Aug 20, 2013
40 Under 40 retrospective: ‘U40s’ take on continuing ed, snake’s blood
Every month we’ll be touching base with past 40 Under 40 honorees to see what’s been happening in their professional and personal lives since winning the award. This month: An accomplished author of test-prep books and an architect who headed to China when the American economy turned sour.
| Aug 20, 2013
Top Data Center Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Corgan, Gensler, HDR head Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest data center architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Aug 20, 2013
First look: $550 million Billie Jean King National Tennis Center renovation
The United States Tennis Association has announced its plans for a sweeping transformation of the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis Center that will include the construction of two new stadiums, as well as a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium. The transformation will be implemented in three phases to begin at the conclusion of the 2013 US Open, with the goal of overall completion by the 2018 US Open.