The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has developed case studies documenting the experiences of five participating firms in its 2030 Commitment Program, including High Plains Architects, HMC Architects, HOK, the Miller Hull Partnership, and Serena Sturm Architects. Started in 2009, the voluntary initiative asks AIA member firms and other entities in the built environment to make a pledge, develop multi-year action plans, and implement steps that can advance AIA's goal of carbon neutral buildings by the year 2030.

The case studies delve into business factors, behavioral science, and organizational change to explore how firms can successfully adopt the commitment to steer building portfolios toward lower carbon solutions. Key findings indicate that firms have gained greater insight into energy performance of their designs and have improved methods for reporting metrics. The case studies also identify patterns that enhance successful implementation, obstacles and challenges encountered throughout stages of implementation, and illuminate ways in which firms have addressed and overcome them.

Combined, the firms achieved an average predicted energy use intensity of 49.5 percent, which is ahead of overall performance from other participating firms in 2012, but below target goals of the program.

To learn more, visit aia.org.