Committee on the Environment

 View Only

Community HTML

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

Quick Links

Who we are

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.

Enjoy our latest on COTE news (and follow us on X and LinkedIn). 

To learn about the Framework for Design Excellence (formerly the COTE Top Ten Measures), click here.

Check out COTE's history and timeline. 

Starting a local COTE or sustainability group and need some guidance? Check out the AIA COTE Network Resources here.

A big thank you to our 2024 sponsors: 
Founding sponsors: Building Green
Premier sponsors: Sherwin-Williams, Stantec
Sustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows,
BlueScope Buildings
Green sponsors: EPIC Metals
Allied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows

Expand all | Collapse all

Adele Houghton links building design to health / climate response / social equity: learn more about the "co-benefits" lens

  • 1.  Adele Houghton links building design to health / climate response / social equity: learn more about the "co-benefits" lens

    Posted 08-24-2021 04:55 PM

    Adele Houghton, architect and public health PhD candidate (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), has recently published an intriguing article about the "co-benefits" that are the focus of her career and doctoral studies. Interestingly, COVID-19 has sharpened the understanding of connections that Adele has long addressed -- between design, public health, climate response, and social equity. 

    Harvard Public Health Review article

    https://harvardpublichealthreview.org/2021/06/07/29-article-houghton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://harvardpublichealthreview.org/2021/06/07/29-article-houghton/

    On Thursday, June 10, Adele is also presenting at USGBC Live (10:30am PT) on this topic: https://www.usgbc.org/education/sessions/learning-covid-green-building-through-lens-co-benefits-12848253" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.usgbc.org/education/sessions/learning-covid-green-building-through-lens-co-benefits-12848253

    Here's a https://harvard.zoom.us/rec/play/Ca448BdgkiWdryd-nvyixNeV1ox4YmLfO82442FcrF1J8w2xtJoygRAsiO7zkFqvGOpHR-To8TZwZhR6.rCVaiz8XqolFPYLa?autoplay=true&startTime=1619460971000" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="letter-spacing: 0.02em">video message from Adele Houghton about the article and the topic.



    ------------------------------
    Kira Gould
    Principal
    Kira Gould CONNECT
    Oakland CA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Adele Houghton links building design to health / climate response / social equity: learn more about the "co-benefits" lens

    Posted 08-27-2021 10:29 AM
    here's a direct link to her article:
    "Co-Benefits" as a Lens Through Which COVID-19 Building Upgrades Can Advance Environmental Sustainability, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, and Social Equity
    Harvardpublichealthreview remove preview
    "Co-Benefits" as a Lens Through Which COVID-19 Building Upgrades Can Advance Environmental Sustainability, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, and Social Equity
    Buildings play a critical role in disaster preparedness and response. They can protect occupants from exposure to an environmental hazard like a hurricane, a flood, or an extreme heat event. On the other hand, if systems break down or structures collapse, they also contribute to the injury and death toll.
    View this on Harvardpublichealthreview >


    ------------------------------
    Terry Welker FAIA
    Ohio Valley Region Strategic Councilor
    Chief Building Official
    City of Kettering
    Kettering OH
    ------------------------------