This spring, the American Institute of Architects unveiled the latest updates to its core set of documents, and the addition that has the AEC industry buzzing is the Sustainable Projects Exhibit (E204–2017). Every 10 years, the AIA updates its documents to reflect changes to the industry and set new standards for negotiations between architects, contractors, clients and consultants across the country.

all the talk about sustainability among architects hasn’t actually translated into lots of sustainable buildings in the real world. In reality, the industry faces a massive problem: By some estimates, the building sector consumes nearly half of the energy and produces 45 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Many architects have signed on to an industry challenge to become carbon neutral by 2030, but new buildings are already slipping behind the targets to get there. Permissive building codes, industry inertia, and market demands — like clients clamoring for floor-to-ceiling views — have widened the discrepancy between the kind of buildings cities say they want and what they actually allow. So while the industry inches towards better environmental performance, buildings in Boston and other cities still fall short of the sustainability goals that everyone claims to embrace.