Sustainability credentials—what is the right choice?
Hi all! Happy unofficial start of summer! At our house we’re glad the weather is warm, and the fireflies are out—school is finished, and we are leaning into a new pace for the next few months. 2022 is unbelievably halfway gone, and at work design and construction projects are in full swing. Time to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Sustainability is still a work in progress for my architectural practice. Beyond that, the definition of sustainability is increasing and improving; it includes human wellness and a holistic approach to the built environment. Am I achieving my sustainability and justice goals in my work? What are those goals, anyway?
About a month ago I became a WELL accredited professional. What is that, you ask? Moons ago (in 2005!) I became a LEED AP, before there was a BD+C or ND or the various other LEED options. That accreditation is no longer valid, so which one should I hone in on to further my sustainability objective? My office has a PHIUS project in construction, but I am not a certified professional. And in setting professional goals (by 2030 I want all our projects to meet the Living Building Challenge standards, not to mention AIA’s 2030 challenge, and Materials Matter pledge) I have to wonder, how much is too much? Which program meets my objectives the most clearly? And which one is most sale-able to my clientele?
This is a lot to keep track of professionally. Not to mention—how do we convince clients they need to care about certifications? Does being accredited in any one of these standards actually give us a professional edge?
These are some of the thoughts swimming through my mind right now. In AIAPV’s newly branded committee “Future Forward,” this is also a hot topic of discussion. So, we’ve decided to break it down to gain a better understanding. Later this summer we invite you to join us in a course that takes a look at some of these credentials in comparison to each other. We will then do deep dives on several credentials that will give an opportunity to understand how to go about becoming accredited, what does a certified space look like, what are the standards we are upholding with each program, and why it matters. These deep dives will look at WELL, LEED, PHIUS, Living Building Challenge, and potentially others. If there is one you’re particularly interested in learning about, please let us know. Or join the Future Forward committee and get involved!
Deborah Buelow, AIA
cedar architecture
Immediate Past President, AIA Potomac Valley | 2021
