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 GreenPremier sponsors: Sherwin-Williams, StantecSustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows, BlueScope BuildingsGreen sponsors: EPIC MetalsAllied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows
Gregory Kiss Autotrophplis: Toward Self-Sustaining Architecture and Urbanism Gregory Kiss from Kiss Cathcart Architects presents a talk focusing on the technical potential and practical implications of productive architecture - better than-net-zero buildings that produce positive environmental benefits. Integrating photovoltaics,vegetation, and food production into architectural systems. Illustrated with examples of real projects and technical studies from New York City to Abu Dhabi. Gregory Kiss has been working to advance the art and technology of environmentally responsible architecture for over 25 years. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University, he founded Kiss + Cathcart Architects in 1983. From 1984 to 2004, he was a founder and President of the not-for-profit Native American Photovoltaics, which brought solar power to remote homes and schools on the Navajo Reservation. Mr. Kiss has designed many ground-breaking high-performance building projects in the Americas, Europe and Asia. His research into the functional and aesthetic improvement of photovoltaics for buildings has led to several new products and systems. He has authored technical manuals for the Department of Energy, and lectures frequently on recent advances in solar technologies and their potential for practical integration into architectural design. Recently he has been developing integrated biological systems for buildings,for energy, habitat, and aesthetic benefits, and has extended this work to architecturally integrated food production.