VACOTE Awarded Grant

Posted on by cguske

The AIA Virginia Committee on the Environment (VACOTE) has been awarded the Knowledge Community Grant for 2024.

Virginia COTE will be organizing a three-part workshop educating members on energy modeling tools, processes, and best practices. In support of the AIA’s overall climate goals, Virginia COTE seeks to elevate understanding of the AIA 2030 Commitment and disseminate expertise to meet the Commitment’s goals among architects and designers. This workshop will help members move their organizations towards meeting the challenge goal of carbon-neutral building by 2030.

The grant will support providing this educational opportunity to AIA Virginia members by facilitating in-person meetups in each regional chapter and by maintaining a low-cost fee structure to maximize participation while providing access to top-level expert instructors.

Congratulations Virginia COTE!

COTE Awarded Grant

Posted on by cguske

The AIA Virginia Committee on the Environment (COTE) has been awarded a Knowledge Community Grant to present the 2030 Challenge series this summer to the members of AIA Virginia.

To help advance the AIA’s overall climate goals, Virginia COTE seeks to elevate understanding of the AIA 2030 Commitment, among architects and designers, and provide an actionable framework towards meeting the challenge goal of carbon-neutral building by 2030.

Watch your inbox and www.aiava.org for upcoming details on these lunchtime viewings and discussions. All sessions will be offered at no charge to AIA Virginia members and be 1.25 to 1.5 elective LUs (pending.)

The COTE Corner

Posted on by cguske

Looking for a way to really move the needle on green materials? Check out the Materials Pledge, an initiative being driven by A&E professionals to support human health, social health + equity, ecosystem health, climate health and a circular economy.  AIA National has set up a great series of resources that explain how materials affect our lives through these lenses. Other resources include the AIA white paper Materials Transparency: Exploring Opportunities and Risks, and the Healthier Materials Protocol, which provides clear, practical methods and tools for setting healthier material goal and criteria definitions, product selection, tracking and specification, no matter the size and scope of the project. There are even helpful case studies. So what are you waiting for?

The COTE Corner

Posted on by cguske

Want to integrate renewable energy into your next project but don’t know where to start? The Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy, published Spring 2021, has just what you’re looking for. Whether it’s a clear summary of the benefits of renewable energy, an overview of different renewable technologies, an analysis of potential applications and storage options, or a summary of options for financing, this primer has you covered. Resources include guidance for choosing the right solution for your specific project and what to do when on-site renewable energy isn’t an option. The Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy will help you see just how easy and affordable it is to make your project renewably powered.

Our recently formed Virginia Committee on the Environment (COTE) Chapter is here to help get the word out on sustainability-focused initiatives that you can get involved in as well as on resources that you can use to make your work better. Keep checking back here each month for more tidbits.

Interested in getting involved? Email Rhea George for an invitation to our next meeting.