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Program includes new advertising campaign and an aggressive roadmap for making public buildings carbon neutral and reducing overall fossil fuel consumption.

Washington, D.C., January 15, 2008 — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the launch of “Walk the Walk,” a multi-faceted campaign to educate, promote and encourage sustainable design among consumers, business owners and architects. The purpose of the program is to help inform the marketplace on the benefits of more energy-efficient homes and buildings, which coincides with the AIA’s stated goal of making all buildings carbon neutral by 2030 and helping the U.S. design and construction industry reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in buildings. To advance its efforts in achieving a 50 percent fossil fuel reduction by 2010, the AIA also is implementing a comprehensive communications plan, inclusive of print and online advertising, new media and public relations.

“As America continues to be saturated by messages of ‘going green,’ there is a general lack of understanding that buildings are one of the primary sources of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and climate change,” said Christine McEntee, Executive Vice President and CEO of the AIA. “The ‘Walk the Walk’ program will raise awareness of this issue and provide practical energy saving solutions for people who build, work and live in buildings of all shapes and sizes.”

“Now is the time we must highlight the benefits of more energy-efficient homes and buildings to secure the future for our children and their children,” said former AIA President RK Stewart, FAIA. “This is a critical initiative for the AIA. The architecture profession is not merely providing resources and metrics that frame the issue of sustainable design, rather, more importantly, the AIA is offering design strategies and innovations that will lead to a healthier planet. This is not a new issue for architects, the AIA has been awarding the country’s top green projects since 1997 and have numerous partnerships with government agencies and collaborative relationships with design and construction industry organizations to help advance the cause of sustainable design.”

News courtesy: Scott Frank, AIA