Integrated design firm achieved results in 2023 over more than 5 million square feet of commercial, civic, healthcare, mixed-use, sport and recreation and education projects.
IRVINE, CA— LPA Design Studios reduced predicted fossil fuel energy use in its projects by 71.4% from industry baselines in 2023, according to its latest reporting for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment.
LPA is perennially one of the largest firms in the country to achieve this level of results in the 2030 Commitment, which calls on participating firms to eliminate carbon emissions associated with operational energy use from their projects by 2030. Over the last six years, LPA has averaged a 73.5% predicted energy use reduction, including 28 projects designed for net zero energy use since 2021. The national average for the more than 400 reporting firms is typically closer to a 50% reduction.
LPA’s 2023 report covers 5 million square feet of development in 102 commercial, civic, healthcare, mixed-use, sport and recreation and education projects. The results translate to an estimated $4 million in annual energy savings for LPA clients and the elimination of approximately 7,000 metric tons of annual carbon emissions.
“These results reflect a collaboration with our clients and communities to find practical, cost-effective strategies for improving performance and eliminating carbon emissions in our work,” — Keith Hempel, LPA President
“These results reflect a collaboration with our clients and communities to find practical, cost-effective strategies for improving performance and eliminating carbon emissions in our work,” says LPA President Keith Hempel.
LPA employs a unique research-driven design process that brings together different disciplines at the earliest stages of the design process. The integrated design firm — including architects, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers and researchers — is committed to problem solving around performance, wellness, community and experience on every project, regardless of size, scale or budget.
In 2023, 20 of LPA’s 102 projects surpassed the current AIA 2030 target of an 80% reduction in fossil fuel use. Thirty-five of the projects are designed to include on-site photovoltaic energy systems, compared to 20 in the 2021 report. Interior projects produced a predicted lighting power reduction (LPD) of 49%, surpassing the industry’s 25% target.
LPA’s 2023 results represent a drop off from the 78.7% reduction the firm achieved in 2022 and 75.8% in 2021.
“We took a step back last year, but we know where we want to go,” Hempel said. “We’re going to learn from this and identify where we can do better on each of our projects. No excuses.”
LPA is intensifying efforts to work with design teams to incorporate performance modeling and establish clear performance goals for every project. Teams are also sharing results and conducting more research to better understand their buildings and the opportunities.
“We believe that ‘radical transparency’ is the way forward and how we get better as firm and as an industry,” LPA Director of Sustainability Ellen Mitchell says. “On every project, we’re looking at how we can do better.”
LPA is also working with clients to take advantage of significant new financial incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act for companies and, for the first time, non-profits that install high-performance systems and renewable energy systems. In many cases, it will change the financial equation for making projects more energy efficient.
In 2025, the AIA 2030 Commitment target rises to a 90% reduction before reaching net zero energy in 2030.“
The next milestone is 90%,” Hempel says. “But with only six years until 2030, we need to set our path to net zero now.”
