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24 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / March 2021 ELEMENTS AIA 2030 We Joined the AIA 2030 Commitment. Now What? Benjamin Kasdan AIA, LEED AP Principal, KTGY Architecture + Planning F or most architects, ar- chitecture is not mere- ly a job, it is a calling. In fact, we all have dedicated years of our lives to literally make the world a better place through design. As a result, architects naturally strive to make the best possible choices for our clients, our designs, and our communities. So, the fact that thebuildingandconstruction industry accounts for 49% of the total energy consumption and 47%of the total greenhouse gas emissions presents an internal conflict for archi- tects’ inherent altruism. Launched by the American Institute of Architects, the AIA 2030 Commitment – the nationwide goal for architects to design increasingly energy-efficient buildings culminating in zero net en- ergy for all new construction and major renovations by 2030 – provides a way for architects to significantly curb embodied carbon. Many American architecture firms have signed the AIA 2030 Commitment, but few look like KTGY – a 30-year-old national design firm focusing on all scales of residential architecture in markets across the coun- try. Typical sustainable-champion firms design offices, schools, museums, laboratories, and civic projects that have large, centralized systems and decision-makers who can dictate sustainable policies. Our firm instead designs mixed-use residential buildings and for-sale housing subject to a number of stakeholders, includ- ing future buyers and renters. The process of convinc- ing relevant participants to support the idea of ZNE is more complicated; however, we remain committed to creating more energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive residential design for all. Implementing the 2030 Commitment goals holds us accountable to design more thoughtfully, which will both elevate our work and result in better communi- ties. Plus, a 2019 survey by the National Association of Realtors shows that 85% of potential homebuyers want energy-efficient HVAC systems to reduce heating andcoolingcosts. KTGYPrincipal JonathanBoriack, AIA, said, “Our ability to bring our clients along with us in this pursuit will ultimately benefit not just the quali- ty of the built environment, but will also contribute to the long-termbusiness success of our clients for future generations.” Being a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment gives us access to AIA’s Design Data Exchange tool, helping us track our progress towards meeting the 2030 Com- mitment goals in real time. We already have a robust quality assurance/qual- ity control process and reporting project data to the DDx becomes part of that process. Integrating sustainability goals into the culture of our daily practice energizes our current staff and hope- fully will inspire future team members. It also gives us a reason, and a reminder, to reconsider typical designchoices for specifications and sys- tems. Sometimes merely asking our structural en- John Cole Gables Pointe 14 is a new sustainable mixed-income residential community situated on a 2.17-acre triangu- lar-shaped site near transit in the Fort Myer Heights neigh- borhood of Arlington, Virginia.. The new apartment community at 4055 Elati is thoughtfully integrated into its environment in both design and function. The roof will feature solar and live plants, complying with the Denver Green Roof Initiative, adding visual interest to the development and lowering the building’s carbon footprint.
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