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Counties with Green Building Programs Have Increased Almost 400% since 2003
AIA Report Provides Analysis and Resources for Communities
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For Immediate Release |
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Washington, D.C., July 9,
2008 — Since 2003 the number of counties with green building programs
has risen from eight to thirty-nine for an increase of 387.5%. In
an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of U.S. counties,
the American Institute of Architects (AIA) commissioned a study
– Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green
Counties – of the 200 most populous counties in 2008
representing 168,864,538 Americans, or a little more than half of
the country. Working in conjunction with the National Association
of Counties, the AIA spoke to planners, building officials, and
sustainability managers across the country, resulting in a total
response rate of 88%.
“The AIA is committed to advancing the practice of
architecture by continuing to promote sustainable, low-impact
building features,” said Paul Mendelsohn, AIA vice president,
Government and Community Relations. “Green building policy is
an important part of this process, and it is heartening to see all
of the effort being put forth by local leaders. The experiences of
these counties make it increasingly clear that investment in
high-performance building programs is an efficient and popular use
of taxpayer dollars.”
Key findings:
• 39 counties have a green building program, or at least 19.5
percent of all sample counties
• At least 42,949,498 people, or 25.6 percent of the sample
population, live in counties with green building programs
• An additional nine counties indicated that they are in a
more advanced stage of developing green building programs,
forecasting a future of increased green activity
Breaking down programs regionally helps demonstrate the degree to
which green building programs have grown proportionately around the
country:
• The Eastern Region has the most green building programs at
19, covering approximately 19 million people
• The Central Region has 7 programs, with approximately 9
million people living in those counties with green building
programs
• The Mountain Region was a smaller portion of the sample,
with only 3 programs; over 2 million people live in these
counties
• The Western Region rounded out the survey with 10 green
building programs and almost 13 million affected citizens
The report also includes a case study section in order to reflect
the best practices and diversity of sustainability policy. Many of
these programs have also been established for a number of years,
providing the opportunity to see what works well and make
adjustments as needed. Alameda County, CA; Hennepin County, MN;
King County, WA; and Montgomery County, MD have been chosen because
they provide solid best practice examples of programs in different
parts of the country that can be viewed as models.
These counties are also representative of the original innovators
at the county level. Partially as a result of policies such as
these, buildings across the country have undergone a revolution in
terms of the emphasis that is placed on resource efficiency and
life-cycle performance. Another grouping of county governments
across Florida, also featured, is now overcoming legal barriers to
create a culture of sustainable development that represents the
next wave of green building policy.
Recommendations:
• Build a broad coalition that includes architects, builders,
planners and design & construction professionals to be part of
policy proposals
• Hire a full-time director of sustainability to coordinate
efforts between departments, assist with long-term plans, recommend
new policies and avoid failures in communication
• Train and accredit county employees in whatever rating
system the community plans to use
• Work with regional governments to avoid patchwork and
independent programs
This report documents the spread of green building programs,
explores best practices, and provides tools for policymakers. The
building sector is the greatest single contributor to carbon
emissions in the United States, but this only means that it has the
greatest potential for carbon reductions. The AIA and its component
network have further resources, expertise, and tools to assist
local, state, and federal governments as they write new legislation
or amend existing green building codes in the pursuit of more
sustainable policies.
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.
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