Learn actionable strategies to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change through sustainable design and construction practices in the AEC industry. Gain a comprehensive understanding of carbon’s impact on the environment, explore the critical role of the built environment in global emissions, and learn practical methods to reduce both operational and embodied carbon in design and construction.

Key topics include the principles of embodied, operational and avoided carbon, energy-efficient and passive design strategies, and sustainable material selection. The course also covers critical U.S. policies and frameworks such as LEED certifications, federal and local regulations, and AIA 2030 Commitment—equipping professionals with the knowledge to navigate evolving sustainability standards while leading decarbonization efforts.

How much progress have the more than 24,286 projects totaling 3.4 billion gross square feet (GSF) designed last year made toward achieving net-zero carbon? The AIA 2030 Commitment, a major climate initiative, brings together almost 1,600 architecture and design firms that have agreed to monitor their projects' energy data with the aim of attaining carbon neutrality in the built environment. Following the release of the 2030 By the Numbers 2025 report, we will discuss the report's main findings.

We will examine the trends in overall energy performance, the growing use of energy modelling, and the way in which renewables, fuel sources, and embodied carbon are reported. Looking to the future, since the Commitment has now been in place for 17 years and is less than five years away from 2030, the Working Group is suggesting a move away from the energy savings defined in CBECS 2003 towards total carbon reporting — a change in direction which will start with a series of iterative updates starting next year.