Committee On The Environment

The mission of the Committee on the Environment (COTE) is to provide the AIA with knowledge about environmental issues and policy matters affecting the practice of architecture. The committee supports cooperation with educators and institutions of learning, manufacturers, government agencies, environmental organizations, and industry groups in advancing environmentally sound design processes and standards as well as environmentally innovative materials and integrated systems.

Along with carrying out the overarching and ever evolving goals of COTE

(see http://www.aia.org/practicing/groups/kc/AIAS074686 ) the Richmond chapter is planning monthly events that support education of local city, county and university leaders in charting the course to regional sustainability and meeting the 2030 challenge. Several local events taking place:         

Green Leadership Conference Series:

April - 7 – 2:30 recept. w/ 3pm start - presentation of Michael Crowley's Seven Step Program for Climate Action to City, County, and University leaders in our region will be hosted at the Carillon. ( see www.aiaric.org for details & updates )

June – COTE hosts “Creative Fuel” powered by C3, – the Creative Change Center (see http://www.c3richmond.org/ for further details and event TBA)

Everyone Deserves a Green Habitat

AIA Richmond (COTE), the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat

for Humanity (RMHFH) - presented a Sustainable Design Charrette for the The Pillars of Oakmont in April ’08. Through the continued efforts of several volunteers from Fox & Associates, Timmons Group and individuals like Evan Mackenzie working under the auspices of COTE Richmond, the project has been approved and moving forward. 1st phase is expected to begin late spring / early summer of '09.

( see http://www.richmondhabitat.org/ for more details )

Other affiliated local events:

• A joint presentation of the Green Spaces entries of JRGBC.2009 ( see www.jrgbc.org for further details and for upcoming LEED workshops.)

• Green Drinks – an informal green monthly networking event.

(see http://groups.google.com/group/richmondgreendrinks ) 

• a joint dinner presentation with COTE and JRGBC to the Richmond chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute

( see http://www.csinet.org/s_csi/sec.asp?CID=241&DID=5232 )

Anyone interested in getting involved please contact Scott Kyle skyle@fullscalearchitecture.com or Michael pellis mpellis@baskervill.com .

COTE 2008 accomplishments

• Supporting the movement toward a Community Design Center - championed by Jacek Ghosh – director of sustainability at VCU

• two Gallery exhibits

• establish advocacy and open lines of communication with several folks in the City administration

• Adding green language to the Master Plan and the continued efforts in that regard

COTE Richmond future goals

• find ways to make the next big step towards hiring a "green czar" and initiating pilot programs and help to incubate green businesses here in the City and the Richmond Metropolitan Region (see initiatives below)

Master Plan Coordination (Influence decision making and planning toward sustainable strategies. See the Master Plan draft)
Green Czar Hiring (See Sadhu Johnston at the City of Chicago)
Online Measurement/Resource Tool Development (See Albuquerque's Q Tool or Chicago's Cool Tool)

Practitioner's Tool (See Kansas City tool)

Baseline Measurements Team (See ICLEI - International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives)
Programs (Education, Exhibit, Case Studies, and Building Tours)
Green Business Incubation and Outreach (Help the City help the community by encouraging new green businesses to support existing and new programs)
Pilot Programs (Develop structure and implementation plan for pilot applications, i.e. green alleys)
City Department Advocacy (Meet with all City departments)