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There are at least 58 state and local COTE chapters all over
the United States, and they are active in many different ways,
addressing local and regional education and advocacy needs around
the issue of sustainability and sustainable design. In each issue
of COTEnotes, we offer a sample of what’s going on in
a few chapters.
AIA Chicago COTE
AIA Chicago COTE has a longstanding relationship with the
City of Chicago, and particularly the Department of Environment
(DoE). In the late 1990s, Chicago COTE members asked the
Commissioner of the Department of Environment at the City of
Chicago if they would be interested in exploring sustainability and
building. Both groups had the desire to improve the City’s
environment but had only worked together in a few initiatives. We
decided a formal agreement should be reached. We decided to name it
a Memorandum of Understanding, and in 1999 it was first
signed.
Later that year, the City of Chicago found itself with a
challenging brownfield site and the Department of Environment
contacted COTE to see if they had any ideas on how to transform the
building and its surrounding landscape. An idea was born to
transform this blighted site into a showcase of green building
techniques. A full renovation and landscape design was realized.
Eventually it received a Platinum level LEED rating for the
completed building and landscape. The certified building showcases
to the public new and innovative techniques in sustainable design.
Now named the Chicago Center for Green Technology
(CCGT), it houses a landscape firm, the local USGBC chapter, and
acts as the educational outreach home for the Department of
Environment in its many green building initiatives.
In re-signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) each year, we
are renewing the shared vision of urban development, environmental
education and the promotion of green buildings with the City of
Chicago and its Department of Environment. Although we have
lengthened the resigning dates to every two years, the MOU
continues to foster our relationship and remind us of how similar
our goals are. With the MOU we continue to host a variety of
programs with DOE and CCGT to educate Chicagoans on green
architecture and sustainable construction. We have also expanded
our connection to other non-profit sustainable groups in the City
with monthly programming coordination meetings and joint
events.
Currently, DOE and AIAChicago COTE are working together on many
city initiatives. The biggest and most challenging is finding ways
to meet the goals of the 2030 Challenge. We are just beginning to
research ways to make all new and existing public buildings in
Chicago carbon neutral by 2030, enabling them to operate without
any energy systems requiring fossil fuels or emitting the creation
of greenhouse gases during their operation. We look forward to
continuing our relationship to foster sustainable growth and
renovation in the City of Chicago and surrounding area.
AIA Seattle COTE
The buzz in Seattle is all about Living Future 2007/What
Makes it Green, which will be held April 25-27. This annual
sustainable design forum, presented by AIA Seattle Committee on the
Environment (COTE), will be held in conjunction with The Living
Building Challenge, presented by Cascadia Region Green Building
Council at the Seattle Center Pavilion on April 26 and 27. Ed
Mazria, author of the 2030 Challenge, opens with the keynote
address the evening of April 25. For registration, click
here.
AIA San Diego COTE
After a period of dormancy, COTE San Diego has reformed and is off
to a roaring start. Our mission mirrors that of national COTE, and
we're forming subcommittees around three areas of outreach and
action; advocacy, education, and networking. And while we're in the
process of selecting chairs and vice-chairs for these interest
areas, we're not waiting around to take action. Immediately upon
approval as a committtee by the chapter board of directors, we
submitted a position paper and drafted a Letter of Comment sent
from AIA San Diego to the California Public Utilities Commission
regarding ownership of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) associated
with solar installations. Planned activities include:
• Advocacy—Established liaison and
opened discussions with local CA state Assembly and Senate
officials. Working with the chapter's Advocacy Commission to reach
out to city and county planning and building officials. Nominated a
COTE member to a seat on San Diego's Sustainable Energy Advisory
Board.
• Education—Arranged for a presentation
by Solar Energy International to chapter members on the topic of
Architectural Solar PV in March. Sponsoring a full-day sustainable
design professional practice seminar for chapter members in
August.
• Networking—Established affiliation
with other area green-focused organizations including USGBC and the
San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership. Sponsoring a Green
Design award at the chapter's Annual Design Awards in June.
Provided input on selection of three green-focused topics and
speakers for this year's monthly Interrobang interdisciplinary
design lecture series.
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