Architects to Push Green Building on St. Patrick's Day

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Dozens of Indiana architects will converge on the Indiana Statehouse on St. Patrick’s Day in support of a proposed bill that would require any new state-owned building project or renovation be designed and built using green standards.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, architects will meet with legislators and show them some of Indiana’s most successful “green” projects. The goal is to make sure lawmakers understand the benefits of going green.

“Indiana can take a big step in reducing the amount of energy its buildings use, and as a result, save taxpayers money and reduce pollutants,” said Jason Shelley, executive director of AIA Indiana.

Rep. Matt Pierce D-Bloomington, introduced House Bill 1620 that would require government buildings to be designed and constructed to achieve or exceed the energy-efficiency levels required under certain rating systems, such as the much-discussed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standards. The bill has passed the House and is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee.

Most people believe pollution from cars and factories are the leading cause of global warming, but the true sleeping giant is the built environment (houses, office buildings, shopping centers, colleges and more), which accounts for nearly 40 percent of all energy consumed and account for nearly half (48 percent) of all greenhouse gas emissions. This is far more than transportation (27 percent) and industry (25 percent). Plus, buildings account for 76 percent of all electricity generated at power plants.

The “Energy Efficiency Bill” also requires Indiana hardwood lumber be considered and used whenever practical. This fits with the LEED guidelines calling for local or regional materials to be used to reduce shipping costs, which directly supports Indiana’s economy.

“The biggest challenge in building green is being able to think and act differently,” Shelley said. “Despite what people think, green building does not have to cost more, and in fact, green buildings actually will save building owners significantly over the life of a building.”

On St. Patrick’s Day, architects will bring displays of some of the state’s most successful green building projects to show how green design not only saves money, but also offer visionary design.

Source: American Institute of Architects