Contact: Scott Frank
202-626-7467
For immediate release:
Washington, D.C. – June 29, 2009 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) salutes the House of Representatives on taking a major step toward a green built environment by including several bold initiatives to spur the design, construction, and renovation of sustainable buildings in the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The AIA is especially pleased that the bill incorporates the provisions of the GREEN Act, which makes affordable housing greener and includes our proposal to ensure that communities promote affordable housing near transit. In addition, the House should be commended for including other provisions architects have long supported, including investments in energy efficient retrofits of homes and businesses and funding for community-based planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation network. Also, we are extremely pleased the House bill included AIA-drafted language to ensure that energy codes are coordinated with other building codes and that architects and others receive appropriate training in how to implement them," said Paul T. Mendelsohn, vice president, AIA Government and Community Relations.
He added, “These provisions not only will make the buildings and communities we live in more sustainable, they will create thousands of jobs for designers, planners, and builders, and they will lower energy bills for homeowners and businesses alike. Although there is significant debate among members of Congress and the public about the cap-and-trade system, there is little disagreement that buildings must be a key component of our energy and climate policy, since they account for nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. We are grateful that Congressional leaders have listened to and worked with America’s architects to make buildings a part of the solution, and we look forward to working with Congress to see these green building provisions enacted into law.”
About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.