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ALBION DISTRICT LIBRARY BY PERKINS + WILL IS A 2018 COTE TOP TEN RECIPIENT. IMAGE: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.

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  • 1.  Federal report details climate change's impact

    Posted 11-27-2018 05:41 PM

    Many of you will already have seen this (it was released on Friday), but just in case:

    A new report describes in great detail the devastating effects that climate change is already having and will continue to have on the U.S. economy and American way of life.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/climate/us-climate-report.html



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    Kira Gould
    Principal
    Kira Gould CONNECT
    Oakland CA
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  • 2.  RE: Federal report details climate change's impact

    Posted 12-03-2018 05:47 PM
    HI Kira:

    Hope you are well, and thanks for the valuable information.

    One quick comment - the prevalence of the general American public to buy SUV's and other larger vehicles, resulting in GM closing down some of its US plants, seems to reflect that much of the population looks to the short term and still does not take climate change seriously.

    Jeff

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    Jeffrey Levine AIA
    Principal
    Levine Design Studio
    Washington DC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Federal report details climate change's impact

    Posted 12-05-2018 10:52 AM

    HI Kira:
    Hope you are well, and thanks for the valuable information.
    One quick comment - the prevalence of the general American public to buy SUV's and other larger vehicles, resulting in GM closing down some of its US plants, seems to reflect that much of the population looks to the short term and still does not take climate change seriously.
    Jeff
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    Jeffrey Levine AIA Principal
    Levine Design Studio
    Washington DC
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    That seems to be true and has been for years. Especially since the cost of gasoline is cheaper now than it has ever been (accounting for inflation), and can cost less than bottled water! And if you look at the CAFE standards, they are set up by the size of the vehicle, the square feet "footprint", that requires higher GPM for smaller cars and allows SUVs and small trucks much lower efficiency. The commentaries note that this method has killed off the family "station wagon" over the years, with some exceptions.
    Of course, as people continue to drive more with cheap gas the planners and developers expand housing and office construction into further suburbs, requiring even more roads and miles driven by commuters. We could go on about this topic, of course, but it is all connected, and the attitude among the public, industry and government is not focused on solving these problems, does not even recognize them as problems. In fact, cheap gas is a rallying cry for many people. Look what happened in France just this week.

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    Sherman Aronson AIA
    BLT Architects
    Philadelphia PA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Federal report details climate change's impact

    Posted 12-05-2018 10:52 AM
    "   ​the prevalence of the general American public to buy SUV's and other larger vehicles, resulting in GM closing down some of its US plants, seems to reflect that much of the population looks to the short term and still does not take climate change seriously."

    Hi Jeffrey,
    Don't lose hope!
    I've seen this a couple of places, but this from Fortune magazine: "It's worth noting that GM's restructuring is partly intended to effect a shift toward electric, potentially driverless cars. The Detroit-based firm also has plans to release 20 or so electric models by 2023."


    GM Is Closing North American Plants. Another Major Automaker Is Planning to Open a New One

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    Margaret Montgomery FAIA
    Principal
    NBBJ
    Seattle WA
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    Original Message