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

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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
Sustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows,
BlueScope Buildings
Green sponsors: EPIC Metals
Allied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows

  • 1.  climate action event on September 20: #StandWithGreta

    Posted 08-14-2019 05:59 PM
    http://www.architects-advocate.com/

    Our friends at Architects Advocate remind us to #StandWithGreta ... see the link for more on the Global Climate Action Strike on September 20. 

    ​​

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    Kira Gould
    Principal
    Kira Gould CONNECT
    Oakland CA
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  • 2.  RE: climate action event on September 20: #StandWithGreta

    Posted 08-16-2019 09:23 AM
    Thanks for posting this. It is amazing how few people in the US know about Greta Thunberg and her Friday's for Future action which has spread like wildfire (maybe not the best image, considering the topic) across Europe. As many Americans don't know, the climate footprint of the average US citizen is about twice of the average Swede. Few would argue that Swedes have a lower standard of living. So what is the difference? Awareness!
    Europe has a Cap&Trade system for CO2 emissions in place and the credits finally have reached a cost threshold where they begin to yield results.

    Many countries there are close to enacting carbon taxes. Architects and urban planners can play a big role. Through better land use planning, we can also significantly improve the transportation carbon footprint, the largest contributor at this point, even bigger than buildings.

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    [Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
    Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
    Baltimore MD
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  • 3.  RE: climate action event on September 20: #StandWithGreta

    Posted 08-16-2019 02:09 PM
    Our firm has signed up to support the strike on September 20th, the last email I got from Architects Advocates only showed about 20 firms in the USA

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    Roberto Sotolongo AIA
    DTW Architects & Planners, Ltd.
    Durham NC
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  • 4.  RE: climate action event on September 20: #StandWithGreta

    Posted 08-16-2019 08:44 PM
    Thanks Kira!  Our firm stands with Architects Advocate and Greta for action now!  We signed the pledge and encourage everyone to do so as well.
    Angie

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    Angela Brooks FAIA, LEED AP
    Principal
    Brooks + Scarpa Architects Inc.
    Hawthorne CA
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  • 5.  RE: climate action event on September 20: #StandWithGreta

    Posted 08-19-2019 05:26 PM
    My firm (all 2 of us!) have signed up and will close the office on Sept. 20th.  Thank you for posting this, Kira. I'm disappointed that there has been so little attention to it.

    Roxanne

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    Roxanne Button AIA
    Principal
    Design Synergies Architecture P.C.
    Buffalo NY
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