How architects can take action on climate change

Architects have a big responsibility for the role the built environment plays in climate change. Globally, buildings consume 35 percent of all energy and 60 percent of all generated electricity — much of which is produced by fossil fuels. As the largest end-use energy sector, buildings account for more than one-third of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore our homes, offices, schools or shopping centers — and the architects who design them — either can exacerbate our climate problem or be a foundational part of the solution.

While many leading architects have gained a competitive advantage in the market by practicing environmentally responsible design, the profession as a whole traditionally has not been seen as a leader in addressing climate change. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) wants to change that.

4月中旬，该国最大的专业协会和建筑师的认证机构艾娅发布了关于公共政策IIC细节在气候变化中的关键作用的评论。具体而言，这项评论重申并澄清了对气候变化的现有援助职位，并展示了研究所如何使其对解决建筑环境中的碳排放的承诺加倍，即使是陈述，“我们对一般的责任public to reduce our industry’s emissions."

建筑与能量的Nexus

我们的世界充满了孤立的环境，从环境中孤立设计，比提供服务所有者和居住者需要更多的能量（例如舒适或庇护）。效率低下的建筑设计已成为常态而不是例外。Considering that the typical lifespan of a commercial building is around 30 years, inefficient design has long-lasting financial, environmental and health impacts: buildings that are too expensive to operate and/or maintain don’t attract new tenants or don’t deliver as much comfort as they should to occupants.

On the other hand, the thoughtful engagement and good design that leads to better building performance also yields better buildings — ones that are more productive, provide value to tenants and building owners beyond energy cost savings, and bring societal benefit through a lowered cost of transitioning to a clean energy future.

思想的设计，导致更好的建筑物性能也产生更好的建筑 - 更富有成效的建筑，为租户和所有者提供超出能源成本的租户和业主，并带来社会利益。

While we are experiencing a growing market awareness and a desire to move toward more efficient or even net-zero carbon buildings, developments and communities, it’s not at the rate or scale needed to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.

2015年，AIA发起了创建能源领导集团（ELG）来解决这一问题。ELG与成员资格和坐标进行联合并对准AIA的许多能量相关活动。作为ELG的创始主席，我很高兴与一群杰出的专门议员合作，向公众带来这种及时评论。

[了解更多关于下一代建筑物的更多信息边缘17in Santa Clara, California, Sept. 19-21.]

建筑师必须领导建立气候变化的解决方案。通过制定良好的能源和环境设计部分的标准练习，我们发送了一个积极的信号，即市场力量比以往任何时候都更强大，在承认和捕捉气候负责任的实践周围的机会方面。即使随着政治景观创造不确定性，我们也可以利用良好设计的力量来水解我们的信念并积极领导这个问题。我们在洛基山地学院推出了AIA，用于发布此评论，并围绕共同且强大的承诺对齐他们的成分，这也有利于建筑师，开发人员和所有者的底线。

Regardless of your views on climate change, it’s clear that market for high-performance buildings will continue to grow. A recent study from Navigant Research showed that the building efficiency industry has experienced 14 percent growth year-over-year globally — and 8 percent in the United States alone — accounting for $68.8 billion in revenue. It is expected that this trajectory will continue. The U.S. Green Buildings Council projects that "green construction" will contribute 1.1 million jobs by 2018.

Three opportunities to win

除了AIA评论中的非常强大的建议（参与教育，从事能源建模并参与政策制作），我们看到额外的上市式参与机会，可以为建筑师建立更大，更引人注目的市场未来。

1. 加强您的业务案例：Set yourself ahead of the pack, be on top of incentives and financing options and understand the technology and how to integrate it into your designs cost-effectively. You want to create high-performance or even net-zero carbon buildings with a better return on investment (ROI) than the next firm.

2. Build your reputation and augment your sphere of influence:Lead by example. Design beautiful buildings with enviable energy and financial performance. This also can serve as a call to action to other industry stakeholders who you work with on a daily basis such as contractors and engineers, and especially clients. Educate your clients to ask for high-performance design. Are you properly selling or articulating the value of high-performance design? Are you well versed in the values beyond energy cost savings such as increased market values, reduced financial risk, increased resilience and better indoor environmental quality? Then, are you influencing the selection of the right subcontractors to deliver on this commitment? Consider where you can share key learnings and information with others to advance your reputation and the market as a whole. A rising tide lifts all boats and you can strengthen the industry and your reputation by helping others.

3. 将市场推向提供更好服务的技术：Do you have the tools you need to design smarter buildings? Endorse the products and techniques you like, and help develop new ones that get you working more efficiently. Sometimes the simple issues you struggle with are commonplace, and industry can be engaged to help them become a reality.

就是现在

这是时间和温馨的e for architects to lead on climate change. We must do more. Architects designing high-performance buildings can provide the foundation for a transition to a resilient, clean energy future. If you are an architect, get involved. Get educated, talk to others and make high-performance design a core part of your business. If you are a potential client, demand better design. When you do, your design team will step up to the challenge. You (and our planet) deserve it — it’s the opportunity of our lifetime.