AIA to Hold Sustainable Standard Meetings

The standards address global sustainability, climate change, and rising energy costs.

by Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 8/23/2006

The American Institute of Architects is seeking industry support for sustainable design standards. In September, the organization will hold two meetings in Chicago, dedicated to finalizing the National Emergency Standards on Sustainable Building Products and Zero Energy buildings.

The meetings are part of the AIA’s goal to formally adopt standards addressing global sustainability, climate change, and rising energy costs. Through the standard programs, the AIA hopes to cut fossil fuel energy usage in half by 2010 and be carbon neutral by 2030.

The first meeting, to be held September 11, will address the Zero Energy Building Standard. The Zero Energy Building Standard will cover all the steps necessary to produce homes and buildings consuming zero conventional energy, including energy audit, reverse metering, renewable power, energy efficiency, energy storage, energy recovery ventilation, and energy cost projections for greater dollar levels of funding through performance contracting and other funding measures.

The second meeting will take on the Smart Building Product Standard. The product of four years of consensus voting, this standard mirrors the approved Smart Fabric, Flooring and Apparel Standards and the California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard. The California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard is now applied by the state to all purchasing.

Both meetings will run from 10:30am-3pm. The Zero Energy Building Standard meeting will be held at Citigroup, 500 W. Madison Street, in the third floor conference room. The Smart Building Product Standard Meeting will be held in the USG Showroom, 222 West Hubbard. More information is available online.