AIA Ohio Committee On The Environment
AIA 150: Ohio’s Vision 2020 TALKING POINTS on New Perspectives on Sustainable Design
17 March 2006

Frank Lloyd Wright was often asked to name his favorite building that he designed. He would always answer, “My next one.” That’s not bragging, that’s optimism. And it is optimism that is fueling the most significant change to the design, construction and operations of buildings in the last century, that Green High Performance Design will both improve the Quality of Life and enhance your Return on Investment. Ask yourself, why have GE, PNC Bank, Toyota and Ford
committed to Green High Performance Design?

The United States has over five million commercial and 76 million residential structures. Over 10 billion square feet of new construction and renovation takes place in the US each year. Buildings account for:
·    36% of total energy use
·    65% of electricity consumption
·    30% of greenhouse emissions
·    30% of waste output
·    12% of potable water consumption
 
We face enormous urban and environmental challenges for our century, the 21st. Yet we are in better position to address these problems than ever before. And many of the solutions are right at hand. Green High Performance Design combines common sense standards with proven technologies to create integrated, consensus-based design. By incorporating the needs of Owners and Users with the initiatives of Architects, Engineers and Contractors, projects are delivered by considering the entire cycle of design, construction and operations. The opportunities include:

Economic Benefits:
·    Reduced Energy Costs
·    Reduce Operating Costs
·    Enhance Asset Value and Profits
·    Optimize Life Cycle Economic Performance
·    Reduced Liability
·    Increased Worker Productivity and Satisfaction
·    Increased Recruitment and Retention
·    Increased Market Differentiation

Environmental Benefits:
·    Enhance and Protect Ecosystems and Biodivesity
·    Improve Air and Water Quality
·    Reduce Solid Waste
·    Conserve Natural Resources

Health and Community Benefits:
·    Enhance Occupant Comfort and Health
·    Increased Student Test Scores
·    Minimize Strain on Local Infrastructure
·    Contribute to Overall Quality of Life
   
Mission Statement: The AIA Ohio Committee On The Environment is dedicated to coordinate the people, ideas and technology for High Performance Design in Ohio. We will be the collective leader for all organizations statewide to encourage the adoption of High Performance standards for the design, construction and operation of all facilities funded with state money.

We embrace the AIA National High Performance Building Position Statements regarding practice and rating systems. In addition, we intend to address issues significant to Ohio residents:
Transportation Alternatives
Green Renewable Energy Production
Low Impact Equitable Housing Solutions
Urban Sprawl vs. Center City Development
Brownfield Development
Water Use

High Performance Design can work for any project, but it is especially useful in saving significant sums of money for institutional clients. Within the last three years, virtually every federal agency has chosen to pursue High Performance Design, including all branches of the military, the State Dept., Interior Dept. and the General Administrative Services, the largest building owner in the US. Also within the last three years, 16 states have adopted, or are in the process of adopting High Performance Design standards. These include our neighbors of Michigan and Pennsylvania.

What gets measured gets done. The proven path to the benefits of Green High Performance Design is by using common national green design measurement standards as recommended by the AIA. The use of a rating system to evaluate the impact of buildings on their surroundings and inhabitants, emphasizes new strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality that not only bring life cycle savings but increase user comfort substantially. And every Architect in the state of Ohio can do Sustainable Design!

Frank Lloyd Wright was well known for his insistence in designing with nature, yet modern demands insist upon achieving more predictable results and increasing property value. It is reassuring that with the proper application of Green High Performance Design guidelines your building can be designed to enhance both Quality of Life and your Return On Investment at the same time.

 

Alan J. Warner, AIA is a LEED Accredited Professional and the Principal-in-Charge of Sustainability at GBBN Architects. Alan is the Chair of AIA Ohio Committee On The Environment and was a representative for the US Dept. of Commerce/USGBC 1st Trade Mission to China earlier this year.

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