 Don’t Forget the 2010 Imperative: Global Emergency Teach-in
February 20 Webcast to link thousands of practitioners, educators, students
To address architects’ and the building sector's role in climate change, the AIA is sponsoring a Global Emergency Teach-in hosted by Architecture 2030, The Teach-in, entitled “The 2010 Imperative,” will be Webcast live from New York City on February 20, noon–3 p.m. ET. Thousands of practicing professionals, students, faculty, and deans in the architecture, planning, engineering, and design communities in North and South America and around the world will be logging on to discover how they inadvertently fuel global warming through design, and what they can do to change this. In addition to addressing climate change, participants will also learn about the “2030 Challenge” and the “2010 Imperative.” Register now for this free event. 
 C’mon! Show You’re Green!
Entries due March 16
The AIA Housing Knowledge Community invites architects and developers to submit housing projects that wholly or in part incorporate sustainable design features. Selected projects—and their architects—will be showcased on the Affordable Housing Design Advisor Web site, part of the Campaign for Excellence in Affordable Housing Design supported by the Fannie Mae Foundation in cooperation with many organizations, including the AIA. Projects also will receive recognition at the Housing Awards Reception in San Antonio during the AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition, May 3–5. (Pictured is a house for homeless families in the West H.E.L.P development, New York State, by Cooper Robertson Partners, featured on the Affordable Design Advisor Web site. Photo © Jock Pottle.) For more information or to submit your project, visit the Show You’re Green! Web site.
 Speaking of Advocacy!
English, Velazquez, Ifill address preservation, small businesses, and getting around the Hill
Congressman Phil English, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and correspondent Gwen Ifill each addressed AIA attendees November 7 and 8 to prepare AIA Grassroots attendees for Advocacy Day November 8. The three distinguished speakers commented on topics that included economic redevelopment, more business options for small firms, and issues on the minds of senators and representatives as the 2008 presidential cycle is getting started.
best practices
Understanding Differences in Environmentally Preferable Product
Vice President of Building Green Inc. Nadav Malin says that: whether it’s simply to “do the right thing” or to comply with an agency mandate or company policy, designers often find themselves trying to assess which products are good for the environment. Adding this criterion to the standard list of cost, performance, and aesthetics introduces many issues and considerations outside the expertise of most architects. He presents five different categories of environmentally preferable products and the characteristics that make them so.
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