LPA's AIA 2030 Commitment results for the past seven years.
Bouncing Back
After posting disappointing 2023 results in the AIA 2030 Commitment, we brought new rigor to our energy performance process and a commitment to do better. No excuses.
By Keith Hempel, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB
President/Chief Design Officer
We recently posted our 2024 performance data for the AIA 2030 Commitment, which showed a 76.2% predicted energy use reduction in our projects, the second-highest result in our history. In a rapidly changing political and economic landscape, the achievement reflects the continued improvement of our integrated design process as we work toward carbon-neutral facilities that add value for our clients.
The 2024 performance data was particularly gratifying after a disappointing drop in 2023, when we reported a 71.4% reduction from industry baselines, compared to 78.7% in 2022.
For us, the 2023 result was a step backward. The 7% drop, after hitting our highest number, prompted serious self-reflection. Our projects were still performing far above the industry average of a 50% pEUI reduction, and the results were partially attributable to challenging project types and an increase in the number of renovations. But we had to face the possibility that we had taken our foot off the gas pedal. We’d seen years of steady improvement, and maybe we simply thought that the momentum was going to naturally continue. That didn’t happen.
The 2023 numbers were a wakeup call. As a team, we’ve made the AIA 2030 Commitment one of the key measures of our performance. Looking at the decline, we committed to taking a hard look at what we needed to improve and fine-tune.
As a result of those discussions, we made specific changes that increased our rigor for the 2024 reporting cycle. We asked teams to conduct monthly reviews of their project’s predicted performance. The monthly check-ins gave us the opportunity to model earlier in the process to inform design as opposed to waiting until the end of the year to compile data for the AIA 2030 Commitment report.
Our Sustainability and Applied Research Team, led by Ellen Mitchell, used the check-ins as an opportunity to discuss the modeling results with the architects, designers and engineers, as a team. Hard questions were asked. If there were still unknowns, the process allowed the team to
explore options and consider new ideas.
The discussions forced us to diligently develop targets for each project and hold ourselves accountable. We worked to have conversations earlier in the project, making sure every discipline was involved in the discussions that developed baselines and targets aligned with the client’s goals.
In the process, we returned to our roots and the core elements that drive our process: Everything counts, there is always a way, and we don’t do this alone. Rather than pointing fingers, we focused on sharing information. We celebrated wins in our all-hands meetings, ramped up the performance focus in our LPA-U education sessions and increased the number of “elevate” sessions, where different practices come together to evaluate on-the-board projects.
The improvement in our results validated our renewed focus. It made a difference and served as a reminder that we can change the trajectory of our work. The data illustrates that we made progress in several areas, even though we still have work to do.
The 2030 Commitment targets are set to rise every five years; this year the target is reset at 90%.
On the positive side, we reported a record number of projects — 131, including 75 interior projects — covering 4.3 million square feet. Of the total, 28 projects surpassed the 80% target. We saw progress in five of our six studios from a year earlier, including a 15% improvement in our San Antonio studio. In 2023 we had 18 projects that did not hit a 60% pEUI; this year it was only five, illustrating that we are doing a good job of raising the performance floor for our projects.
On the flip side, we can see where we need to improve. The number of projects including renewable energy has essentially flatlined in recent years. We’re only going to get so far with passive design strategies and increasing building efficiency. To hit the 90% reduction target, which goes into effect this year, we need to make the case with our clients for the benefits of renewable energy.
At this point, we understand what the path to net-zero energy looks like. We’ve learned and evolved our design process. And we know we need buy-in from our clients to make it happen. As an integrated design firm, we have a unique opportunity to lead research-based discussions and illustrate the long-term payback in reducing carbon emissions in projects.
These conversations are not getting easier. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace. In the face of new challenges, we must be more prepared and more informed than ever to help our clients make good decisions.
