Committee on the Environment (COTE-SD)

Powered by: SDG&E's Savings By Design

2010 Chair: Laurie C. Fisher, AIA LEED AP

The COTE meetings occur on the 3rd Friday of every month at the offices of AIA San Diego from 12:30-2:00pm.  

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January 12, 2010

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back, and I hope that everyone is looking forward to a great year!

Here on the COTE-SD, we have a busy agenda in front of us for 2010.  The City of San Diego is currently working on revising 900-14 - The Sustainable Building Program; COTE-SD plans to be up-front and center in these discussions.

The California Building Standards Commission has issued Title 24 - Part 11: The California Green Building Standards.  There is a PDF of the code available for download at the bottom of this page for your use.

While the new CBGS is very comprehensive, unfortunately the majority of these measures are not, and will not be mandatory unless LOCAL jurisdictions adopt them - jurisdictions such as the City of San Diego and the Country of San Diego.

In 2009, the members of the COTE-SD created a collection of Case Studies of various cities around the country that have established successful green building programs. Included in this collection are overviews of the status quo in Chula Vista and here in the City of San Diego.  This year, the COTE-SD will use this research to develop and propose sustainable policy recommendations to the City.

We are looking for people that enjoy advocating for sustainable initiatives.  There are also opportunities to work with other AIA-San Diego committees in event planning.  Our committee members have not only enjoyed the benefit of first-hand knowledge on the most up-to-date local green issues, but also develop relationships with some of the top sustainable professionals in San Diego.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at COTE-SD@AIASANDIEGO.ORG.  

Sincerely,

Laurie C. Fisher, AIA, LEED AP

2010 Chair, AIA-SD COTE 

PS - Attached below are the current 2009 CBC Green Building Standards, as well as the COTE-SD Mission Statement.  We will also be posting the entire collection of Case Studies next month; keep checking back!

Concerns over the ability of our environment to sustain ours and future generations grow with every passing day.  As principle designers of our built environment, architects - and their allies in the building community-have a unique and historic opportunity to address these challenges.     

To that end, the AIA San Diego Committee on the Environment's (COTE-SD) mission is to lead and coordinate the profession's involvement in environmental and energy-related issues and to promote the role of the architect as a leader in preserving and protecting the planet and its living systems.

Please join us in advancing the cause of environmental sustainability as we work to advocate, educate, and network with the profession, the building industry, the academy, and the public, to foster design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment.