PORTLAND, OR – The Green Building Initiative® (GBI) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 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 recently signed by GBI’s president, Ward Hubbell and AIA’s EVP/CEO, Christine McEntee.
“We are happy to have this agreement in place,” says Hubbell. “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,” states McEntee. “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)
- Encourage or undertake research to identify strategies for specific economic and environmental performance outcomes for green buildings
About The Green Building Initiative
The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. 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. For more information on the Green Building Initiative, visit www.thegbi.org.
About The American Institute of Architects
For more than 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 to learn more.
