GBI and AIA Team Up to Promote Sustainable Buildings

The Green Building Initiative (GBI), Portland, Ore., and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington, D.C., have signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging to work together to promote the design and construction of energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings.

The agreement was signed by GBI president Ward Hubbell and AIA EVP/CEO Christine McEntee.

“We are happy to have this agreement in place,” Hubbell says.  “The AIA’s support and expertise in the development of the Green Globes Standard, through participation on the ANSI Technical Committee, has been invaluable. We look forward to continuing our work with them towards our shared goal of achieving widespread acceptance of sustainable design and construction practices.”

“The GBI’s engagement in life cycle assessment and promotion of post-construction third party review in Green Globes illustrates GBI’s commitment to the creation of high performance buildings and supports the role of the architect in creating them,” McEntee says. “We look forward to working with the GBI on our common goal of reaching carbon neutral buildings by 2030.”

Among other things, the agreement calls for the two organizations to:

• Promote the design of buildings that are energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally responsible by providing education and training;

• Offer educational opportunities that include content on LCA, Green Globes New Construction (GGNC) and Green Globes Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (GGCIEB); and

• Encourage or undertake research to identify strategies for specific economic and environmental performance outcomes for green buildings.

A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction.  More information is available at www.thegbi.org.

For more 150 years, members of the AIA have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. More information is available at www.aia.org.