In this issue:
· AIANY & Colleagues in Lima Sign Cooperation Agreement
· AIA National Makes Energy a Priority
· AIANY Comments on Local Energy Laws
· e-Calendar

AIANY & Colleagues in Lima Sign Cooperation Agreement
By Rick Bell, FAIA, AIANY Executive Director

Rick Bell, FAIA, with José Enrique Arispe Chavez (left); (L-R): Martha Bell; Rick Bell, FAIA; José Enrique Arispe Chavez (Decano Regional); and Architect Rosalia Matos.

Martha Bell (left); courtesy of Rick Bell (right)

José Enrique Arispe Chavez, architect and regional dean of the Lima Regional Component of the College of Architects of Peru (CAP-RL), greeted AIANY Executive Director Rick Bell, FAIA, in Lima on 03.11.11. The meeting resulted in an Institutional Cooperation Agreement approved by the AIANY Board of Directors, which agrees to an exchange of ideas, journals, and information on major projects in Lima and New York. The promotion of the views of architects in professional, academic, and cultural capacities is meant to mutually enhance the importance of architecture. The accord was noted by CAP-RL on its website:
http://www.caplima.pe/ and the Spring 2011 issue of Oculus, “Design for a Change: Buildings, People, Energy” is on the way to Peru.

AIA National Makes Energy a Priority
Last week, AIA National announced its top five legislative proposals to increase energy efficiency. These agenda items include: strengthening the commercial building energy efficiency tax deduction; passing a long-term transportation bill that empowers communities to plan to reduce energy-wasting congestion and promote livable, walkable neighborhoods; passing the bipartisan America’s Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) approved in 2009 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which promotes stronger energy building codes and building retrofits; restoring funding for government building energy retrofits that was cut in the most recent continuing resolution; and passing legislation to allow states and localities to use PACE bonds, whose proceeds are lent to commercial or residential property owners to finance energy efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems. Read the entire AIA release here.

AIANY Comments on Local Energy Laws
On 03.21.11, 2011 AIANY President Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP, delivered comments on the NYC Department of Building’s proposed rule pursuant to Local Law 84. The rule requires owners to benchmark their buildings by 05.01.11. Benchmarking involves gathering information on a number of fuel types: natural gas, electricity, and renewables, and combines them into one measure called energy use intensity (EUI). At the 03.21.11 hearing and in other venues, including NY1 (see Names in the News 03.08.11), Castillo has made a strong case for benchmarking. “It is our goal to see reporting lead to upgrades and retrofits that will not only improve energy performance, but make better buildings which will garner benefits through decreased operating costs for the owner, the user, and the city of New York. Better efficiency and decreased fuel loads and costs mean decreased build out of city-wide infrastructure, less pollution, and, ultimately, a healthier and sustainable NYC,” she said. Read the statement here.

Castillo also believes that architects can and should be employed to take these measurements and propose energy-saving solutions to building owners. Visit the AIANY NBAU website for more information on benchmarking. The proposed rule goes into effect 05.01.11, but last week an “effective extension” to 08.01.11 for compliance has been put into effect.

eCALENDAR
eCalendar includes an interactive listing of architectural events around NYC. Click the link to go to to eCalendar on the Web.