Notes

AIA Michigan Green Web; April 2005 (10/24/04)
Category 1.
Article - “The AIA Michigan Green Web Site”.
Author - Charles F. Poat, AIA, LEED AP Walbridge Aldinger.

Sustainable high performance projects have become part of the everyday vocabulary of our projects.  This is the time where everyone within our architectural profession should embrace sustainable buildings and our stewardship of the environment.

Welcome to the AIA Michigan “Green” Web Site.         

The American Institute of Architects Michigan is providing the opportunity for architects and all development team members, across the state, to have a web site dedicated to environmental issues.  Sustainability is a relatively new influence to our profession and we are the leaders maintaining architectural standards.  As “Sustainable Integrator” we will need to understand the basic shift in paradigm.  The sustainable shifts within the building industry call for an enhanced environmental awareness; a greater team integration; and a new economic perspective.  There is every intention for the web site to be a statewide grassroots endeavor that will address the full spectrum of the issues associated with the coming environmental changes.   

Whether the interest stems from the “emotional” or the “rational” side of the debate, the readers are encouraged to become more informed, participate, and share in the progress of sustainable development within our great state.  The construction industry of Michigan is already one of the national leaders in environmentally conscious development.  Our communities already have zero tolerance of pollution, sees the need for energy conservation, air, water and wildlife preservation.  The degree for which we co-exist within our environment lies in the heart of the sustainable approach to our built environment.

Sustainability will lead to new opportunities and avenues for growth.   The novelty of sustainability may make some of us uneasy and new problems may occur with our building projects.  Innovative sustainable approaches may bring budgetary and delivery uncertainty to the project’s business case.  The question of “How much does it cost?” and “Is this the most cost effective approach?” are difficult to find definitive answers.  The best means for bridging past the unfamiliar and uncomfortable will be through substantive awareness, innovation within the development process, communicating with our peers and successful examples of high performance buildings.  A responsible business case comes becomes critical to the future acceptance of sustainability.

George Washington once said “I am a soldier, so that my son may be a farmer, so that his son may be a poet”.  We all can understand that there may be times in which it is necessary to fight for what is right.  The battle cry has been sung and we are indeed at the phase of the “Soldier”, for which we must fight through the sloth of the disinterested and those detractors of change.  There will be a great deal of effort necessary to struggle through the learning curves of sustainability.  Credibility will come through success and those that have participated in the early efforts to advance our understanding of sustainable design.  Nothing beats experience and the best opportunities come through the hands on development of sustainable projects and through networking within the environmental community at large.  The American Institute of Architects and the United States Green Building Council offer a great opportunity for you to get involved in the environmental cause.  Both organizations have national and local chapter levels offering opportunity for participation.    

The AIAMI  “Green” Web Site will offer an open forum to discuss the full range of sustainable design issues.  The web will showcase environmental articles, project profiles, and an interesting opportunity to participate through “EnvirOpinions”.  The AIAMI “Green” Web Site will offer resource information pertaining to upcoming awards programs, sources of reference information, and the tracking of environmental events.  Over the next six months, an agenda has been loosely established that will cover and build a solid introduction to sustainability.  From that point forward the possibilities are endless.  The success of the web site will be dependant upon the participation and two way communication with our readership.  Please take the time to review the web site over the coming months, get involved, and help shape our environment.