Architects implement sustainable practices

The results of the 2008 Autodesk/AIA Green Index—an annual survey that measures how American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C., members are practicing sustainable design, as well as their opinions about the green building movement—show an increase in the implementation of sustainable design practices from architects and building owners. In addition, it shows that architects’ clients have experienced a doubling in the market demand for green buildings over the past year, as well as positive shifts in architects’ attitudes toward their ability to impact climate change. A major finding of the 2008 Green Index was that 42 percent of architects report clients asking for green building elements on a majority of their projects, with 47 percent of clients actually implementing green building elements on their projects, an increase of 15 percent from 2007. Client demand remains the leading driver for green building, with 66 percent of surveyed architects citing client demand as the primary influence on their practice of green building. Architects believe that the primary reasons their clients are asking for green buildings are reduced operating costs (60 percent), marketing (52 percent) and market demand (21 percent, up from 10 percent in the 2007 survey). Autodesk Inc. is based in San Rafael, Calif. The full Autodesk/AIA Green Index report is available at www.autodesk.com/green.