Setting Energy and Carbon Goals for Our Projects

BSA signed on to the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2020, a voluntary program created with the aim of reducing – and ultimately eliminating – the carbon emissions from powering our buildings. Since we create inspired solutions that improve lives, we strive for our projects to contribute positively to the health of our planet and their communities. For example, air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of asthma in children. By creating hospitals, universities, and laboratories that reduce carbon and other harmful emissions, we limit climate change and reduce the risk of developing asthma.

How do we make design decisions that reduce carbon emissions? An important tool in the design team’s belt is energy modeling, which lets us explore system options and design decisions to reduce energy use and decrease its carbon footprint before a building is built. As a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, we perform energy modeling for our projects and report their performance to an anonymized database, which all signatories can access to help set energy and carbon goals for their projects.

We all have a part to play in creating a healthy world. By contributing to the AIA 2030 Commitment, we hope to set a standard for high-performing healing, learning, and discovery spaces.

For more information on the AIA 2030 Commitment and Challenge, visit https://architecture2030.org/2030_challenges/2030-challenge/