The number of design projects, gross square footage, and net-zero energy projects has increased as part of the American Institute of Architects 2030 Commitment. Reaching carbon neutral buildings by the year 2030 is countered, however, by a small percentage of projects that met the 60% carbon reduction target for 2014.
It was determined in this report that nearly half of energy-modeled projects met or came close to meeting 2014 carbon reduction targets. Energy modeling allows architects to be more ambitious with energy-saving in their design projects.
“As an architect, the only way that you have options to make major changes to your design projects is by using energy modeling early in the design process,” said AIA 2030 Working Group member, Nathan Kipnis, FAIA. “Otherwise, your decisions are locked and limited to making equipment and materials choices in hopes of lowering a building’s energy consumption. Energy modeling gives you the best bang for your design buck.”
“Energy modeling has the potential to be a game changer that can help architects reach carbon reduction targets—but only if there is a move away from using it as a compliance confirmation tool,” said Kim E Shinn, PE, LEED Fellow. “Instead, the key is to start using it as a simulation tool completely interwoven into the design/test/refine cycles from the very beginning, and during the conceptual phase of a project. This helps ensure that architects stay on track to achieve their projects’ energy goals rather than realizing some course correction is needed well into design, perhaps after making some nearly irreversible decisions."
To increase the energy-efficient design literacy among the profession, AIA has partnered with Architecture 2030 to launch an educational program that addresses energy modeling throughout the online continuing education series. Participants can learn what comprises a living energy model that can ultimately lead to a more efficiently designed finished project.
Related Stories
| Oct 2, 2013
Corporate HQ in 10 months made possible with BIM coordination
An integrated Building Team uses BIM/VDC to convert a 1940s-era industrial building into a flashy new headquarters for Hillshire Brands in a matter of months.
| Sep 26, 2013
Mobilizing your job site to achieve a paperless project: fact or fiction?
True mobility in the field has rapidly evolved from lock-box kiosks on each floor to laptops on rolling carts to tablets and iPads loaded with drawings sets stored in the cloud. And WiFi-ready job sites have gone from “nice to have” to “must have” status in just a little over a year.
| Sep 4, 2013
Augmented reality: 12 applications for design and construction professionals
Building Design+Construction reached out to AEC professionals who have studied and applied augmented reality and asked them to pinpoint applications that are ripe for the technology. Here’s what they had to offer.
| Sep 4, 2013
Augmented reality goes mainstream: 12 applications for design and construction firms
Thanks to inexpensive mobile devices and increasingly advanced software apps, Building Teams are finally able to bring their BIM models to life on the job site.
| Sep 4, 2013
Smart building technology: Talking results at the BUILDINGChicago/ Greening the Heartland show
Recent advancements in technology are allowing owners to connect with facilities as never before, leveraging existing automation systems to achieve cost-effective energy improvements. This BUILDINGChicago presentation will feature Procter & Gamble’s smart building management program.
| Aug 8, 2013
Level of Development: Will a new standard bring clarity to BIM model detail?
The newly released LOD Specification document allows Building Teams to understand exactly what’s in the BIM model they’re being handed.
| Jul 19, 2013
Top BIM Construction Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Turner, Clark Group, DPR top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the contractors and construction management firms with the most revenue from BIM-driven projects.
| Jul 19, 2013
Top BIM Engineering Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, URS, SAIC top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the engineering and engineering/architecture firms with the most revenue from BIM-driven projects.
| Jul 19, 2013
Top BIM Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Gensler, HOK, HDR top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the architecture and architecture/engineering firms with the most revenue from BIM-driven projects.
| Jul 19, 2013
BIM 2.0: AEC firms share their vision for the great leap forward in BIM/VDC implementation [2013 Giants 300 Report]
We reached out to dozens of AEC firms that made our annual BIM Giants lists and asked one simple question: What does BIM 2.0 look like to you? Here’s what they had to offer.
