An important message from William J. Bates, FAIA, 2019 AIA President
This is our moment, as architects, to act to help attain more aggressive energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets through design. Today, I ask for your help.
Given AIA’s critical commitment to exponentially accelerating the decarbonization of buildings and the built environment, the AIA submitted the “Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix” to become part of the 2021 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code). If approved by the International Code Council (ICC) voting members in Las Vegas on October 30 and via online vote in late November, local jurisdictions would be allowed to voluntarily adopt a zero-net-carbon building code.
Hundreds of jurisdictions across the country and around the world are pursuing policies to address climate change. The Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix provides them with a powerful and essential tool to accelerate the transition to a 100% clean building design as part of their codes.
AIA asks all its members to contact their state and local government energy, sustainability, and code officials as soon as possible to ask them to vote for approval as submitted of the 2021 IECC Proposal: CE264-19 Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix. This is an appendix to the model energy code that allows for a multiple-pathway approach to achieve better energy efficiency and carbon reduction outcomes for the built environment.
This is a defining moment for AIA to advocate for policies that reduce emissions from the building sector. It’s imperative that the industry acts today. This request for urgent advocacy is directly supportive of AIA’s “renewed commitment to environmental stewardship.”
Please reach out to your local building code officials as the ICC will be voting to approve this change electronically through ICC’s cdpACCESS on October 30. For more information, please review this publication.
In advance, we thank you for your immediate help on this critical policy decision.
William J. Bates, FAIA, 2019 AIA President