Knowledge Community
Committee on the Environment (COTE®)
AIA Atlanta COTE supports advancing and advocating for thoughtful regenerative design practices and integrating built and natural systems to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable buildings and communities. Meetings provide a space where all building professionals, including owners, contractors, engineers, landscape architects, and sustainability consultants can come together to share strategies. COTE’s work includes:
Workshops and monthly lectures
Advocacy with government and civic organizations
Supporting the 2030 Commitment towards a carbon-free built environment
Synergies with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to create better buildings
The AIA 2030 Commitment
Going carbon neutral
The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that outlines a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment.
The latest climate data tells us that reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must all commit to net zero emissions by 2030—a path that requires strong, immediate action. Since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role.
Get involved
Architectural and engineering organizations’ sustainability commitment initiatives:
Joining the 2030 Commitment benefits your clients, your firm, and the planet. Learn what to expect when you sign on.
Ready to join 1,000+ firms working toward a carbon-neutral future? Create an account on the 2030 DDx page and sign the commitment letter.
A Sustainability Action Plan is your firm’s unique strategy for prioritizing and meeting sustainability goals. This guide shows you how.
Explore tips from LPA Design Studios to help you develop a plan to meet your goals.
In 2020, reporting firms avoided over 34 million metric tons of carbon emissions. See their progress in our latest annual report.
Key info
Leadership
Paul McKeever, AIA
Chair
Bill Abballe, AIA
AIA Advisor
Frances Hamilton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Communications
Ganesh Nayak, AIA
Educational Coordinator
Sustainable Sites
Chair: Open
Co-chair: Open
Water Efficiency
Chair: Meg Needle, AIA
Co-Chair: Open
Energy & Atmosphere
Chair: Kelly Roberts
Co-chair: Open
Indoor Environmental Quality/Materials & Resources
Chair: Bill Hotch, AIA
Co-chair: Open
Technology
Chair: Erich R. Swett
Co-chair: Open
Education & Outreach
Chair: Delton Moore
Co-Chair: Open
Outside resources
ASHRAE seeks to advance heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems design and construction.
Southface offers trainings on building performance, health and safety, energy and water, green infrastructure and green building certifications.
The Zero Tool calculates fossil fuel energy consumption for existing buildings and new building designs.
An immediately applicable, high-impact pathway to embodied carbon reductions in the built environment.
Related AIAU courses
AIA+2030 Online Series Certificate Program
This series will inspire architects to meet the 2030 goals through design strategies, efficient technologies and systems, and renewable energy resources.
Performing Beautifully: Lessons from 2021 COTE® Top Ten Award-Winning Teams
This 90-minute on-demand course explores the design strategies and outcomes of the 2021 COTE® Top Ten Award winners. It includes videos from each team and commentary from 2021 jury chair Michelle Amt, AIA, and COTE® 2020 Chair Julie Hiromoto, AIA.
The State of Climate Action in the Building Sector: How Architects Can Make a Difference
A more sustainable future starts with the built environment. Join this session to explore the latest state of knowledge on climate change, targets, goals, and regulations set to mitigate its worst effects, and what you, as an architect, can do to help.
Building Spotlight
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership and Lord Aeck Sargent, the Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech is zero-energy, becoming the first in Georgia and 28th in the world to earn the Living Building Challenge certification. This designation certifies the development to be among the world’s most ambitious and holistic green buildings. It is fully regenerative, with its photovoltaic system supplying over 200% of the building’s energy needs.
Building Spotlight
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership and Lord Aeck Sargent, the Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech is zero-energy, becoming the first in Georgia and 28th in the world to earn the Living Building Challenge certification. This designation certifies the development to be among the world’s most ambitious and holistic green buildings. It is fully regenerative, with its photovoltaic system supplying over 200% of the building’s energy needs.