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Google Earth to Feature Green Buildings
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE’s) High-Performance
Buildings Database organizers have been working with Google Earth
on a new Google Earth layer for green buildings. Most of the COTE
Top Ten Green Projects award recipients are in the database; to
view, please click here. The formal announcement of Google
Earth’s green buildings layer will be made in Boston as part
of this year’s AIA national convention.
Catch the Clean Energy Wave at Solar 2008
Solar 2008 takes place May 3–8 in San
Diego. This event is the premier technical conference for solar
energy and energy efficiency professionals in the United States.
Now in its 37th year, this industry-leading conference series
offers the emerging trends, technological breakthroughs, industry
insight, and connections you need to stay ahead. With the energy
industry changing at an unprecedented pace, this conference helps
you understand the changes and uncover the opportunities. It
examines the most timely topics of the day, and introduces you to
the industry leaders, innovators, and exhibitors who are shaping
the industry. Speakers will address the growing movement towards
sustainable energy—as a key component in climate recovery, a
healthy economy, a secure energy future—and the
trillion-dollar opportunity it brings.
CxD Releases Design Assistance Toolkit
The AIA Center for Communities by Design is
releasing the Design Assistance Team (DAT) toolkit, a collection of online resources
to help AIA members and community advocates in the planning and
implementation of local DAT programs. Building on the AIA's 40
years of experience with DAT programs, including the Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team
(R/UDAT) and the Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT),
the toolkit’s contents describe how the DAT process works and
offer a model that can be followed to develop local programs. The
toolkit is composed of downloadable documents, such as sample
agendas and media plans that can be modified to fit the needs of
individual communities. It also includes descriptions of DAT phases
of development, a list of frequently used supplies, and a
compilation of DAT logistical information. To download the DAT
toolkit, visit the Communities by Design Web site. If you have any questions about
the toolkit or the national DAT program, contact Erin Simmons (esimmons@aia.org).
President Bush Signs Landmark Energy Bill
On December 19, 2007, President George Bush signed into law
historic energy legislation that will shape U.S. energy policy for
decades to come. The law seeks to dramatically reduce U.S. energy
consumption over the next 25 years by applying the AIA's 2030
carbon-reducing targets to federal buildings, increasing fuel
efficiency standards for automobiles, and establishing new energy
efficiency standards for appliances.
The new law includes numerous provisions advocated by the AIA to
promote sustainable design in the built environment. Christine W.
McEntee, the AIA's executive vice president and chief executive
officer, praised the efforts of policymakers as she attended the
bill-signing ceremony at the U.S. Department of Energy's
Washington, D.C., headquarters.
"In crafting this law, Congress and the president have
recognized what architects have long known: that improving the
energy efficiency of our buildings will do more to promote energy
independence and reduce our nation's reliance on fossil fuels,"
McEntee said.
Save the Date
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 2008
National Sustainable Design Expo will take place on the National
Mall April 20–22. Visit the expo’s Web site for more details.
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