Autodesk/AIA Green Index Survey Shows Growing Use of Green Roofs,
Renewable Energy Sources and Design Software to Improve Building Performance
BOSTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Greenbuild Expo -- Autodesk,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have
announced the results of the 2008 Autodesk/AIA Green Index, an annual survey
that measures how AIA members are practicing sustainable design, as well as
their opinions about the green building movement. This year's index shows 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). The full Autodesk/AIA Green Index report is available at
http://www.autodesk.com/green.
"We are encouraged to see the continued rise in demand for green
buildings, and that architects are responding to this demand by increasing
their practice of sustainable design," said Jay Bhatt, senior vice president,
Autodesk AEC Solutions. "Autodesk is committed to developing software that
makes sustainable design easier and more efficient, and it is rewarding to
learn through this survey that 41 percent of architects are using software to
help predict and evaluate the environmental impact and lifecycle of their
buildings."
In response to the rising client demand for green buildings, architects
are increasing their use of certain sustainable design practices. According to
the survey, 34 percent of architects are now implementing green or vegetated
roof coverings on more than half of their new projects, compared with 7
percent of architects in 2007. Also, 39 percent are using renewable, on-site
energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact hydro, biomass or
bio-gas on over half of new building designs, compared with just 6 percent
last year. Architects indicated a significant increase in their use of design
software over the past year to help predict and evaluate HVAC operating costs
(39 percent, up from 31 percent in 2007), conduct energy modeling and baseline
analysis (33 percent, up from 29 percent in 2007) and evaluate and explore
alternative building materials (35 percent, up from 20 percent in 2007).
"The results of the Autodesk/AIA Green Index survey are encouraging
because it shows that clients and the market are realizing the bottom-line
benefits of sustainable design," said Christine McEntee, EVP and CEO of the
AIA. "The AIA will be adding to our various resources to help accelerate the
adoption of sustainable design principles by both clients and design
professionals, and advocating at the local, state and federal level for
energy-efficient buildings will continue to be our main legislative priority."
Positive Attitudes about Sustainable Practice
The 2008 Autodesk/AIA Green Index found that 89 percent of architects
believe sustainable design should be practiced whenever possible, up three
percentage points from 2007. Over seven in 10 architects (71 percent compared
with 67 percent in 2007) agree that when thinking about architecture and the
environment, they feel the profession is headed in the right direction.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents indicated that their organization is
starting to implement standard operating procedures to inform clients about
green building, up from 49 percent in 2007.
U.S. Architects Aligned with European and Asian Peers in Green Design
Over the past year, Autodesk also conducted similar green index surveys of
architects in Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom, in partnership with
organizations including the Japan Institute of Architects and the Royal
Institute of British Architects. When asked why their clients were interested
in green building, architects in all countries agreed that it was due to the
desire for reduced operating costs. AIA members lead their global counterparts
in the belief that architects should practice sustainable design whenever
possible, with 89 percent of architects in the United States agreeing,
followed by 88 percent in the United Kingdom, 73 percent in Italy and 59
percent in Japan. However, the reasons architects are building green vary
across countries. In the United States green building designs are driven by
client demand (66 percent), whereas in the United Kingdom and Japan the
primary factors are regulatory requirements (75 percent and 64 percent
respectively) and in Italy, rising energy costs (70 percent).
About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have
worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy,
secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design
practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to
provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address
climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit
www.aia.org/walkthewalk.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit http://www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or
its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All
other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective
holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and
specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
(C) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Noah Cole, 503-707-3872
Email: Noah.cole@autodesk.com
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