FAQs

What’s the 2030 Commitment vs. the 2030 Challenge? 

The 2030 Challenge is an initiative of Architecture 2030, an independent non-profit. In 2009, AIA National created the 2030 Commitment based off of the 2030 Challenge, which established the industry’s net-zero carbon targets for 2030, to create a program that provides accountability for firms working towards the target. 

What’s required in year one? 

Once a firm joins the 2030 Commitment, they are required to create a Sustainability Action Plan within their first six months. If you haven’t already had the chance to take a look, you can find our Sustainability Action Plan Guide here, as well as instructions on how to upload the guide in our DDx help pages and a quick video walking through the steps. 

Firms are not required to report during their first year, but it is strongly encouraged. However, the requirement to report does kick in the next reporting period after a firm’s first 12 months in the program. The reporting period runs from December 31^st to March 31^st each year For example, if a firm joins around Thanksgiving, they wouldn’t have to report in that immediate reporting period a few months later. But, they would be required to report the following reporting period.  

When does my firm have to start reporting?

Once your firm has signed onto the 2030 Commitment, we strongly encourage you to start inputting projects soon after. These can be test projects or relatively straightforward ones, so you're able to get acquainted with the DDx platform. You can find past recordings of our Open Office Hours that walk through inputting a project on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CommitmentAIA/videos. Depending on when in the year your firm signed on, you may have a couple projects input to test the waters and able to submit by the March 31st deadline. Otherwise, your firm's second year within the program (or first full year) is when you are required to start reporting projects.

When is the 2030 reporting deadline?

The 2030 reporting deadline is always March 31st!

Do my projects or entire portfolio have to make the 80% pEUI reduction goal?

No, you do not need to meet the current 80% pEUI reduction goal. The majority of firms do not meet the target reduction across their entire portfolio. The 2030 Commitment emphasizes maintaining progress across a firm's reporting years, whether that's increasing number of projects reported as well as energy performance.

Is my data anonymous?

Yes! We will never publish one specific project or firm's data without their consent. All the data published and in the 2030 By the Numbers report is aggregated and anonymous. To see more about the program's Terms and Conditions, go to this page: Terms and Conditions

If we are not the prime architect and are a consultant on a project (landscape architect, sustainability analysis or certification), should we include or exclude the project from our portfolio (assuming the prime architect should be reporting it)?

We have this discussion internally all the time. Our rule of thumb is that if we're substantially responsible for the building design, we'll go ahead and report it. But if the architect of record is a signatory, we would expect that they would report, especially if your scope is limited to landscape design and sustainable consulting. In the future, we are developing a new firm to firm collaboration tool so that multiple firms are able to claim credit for a single project without that project being double counted.

Do projects need to meet GSF requirements to be reported?

In 2023, one of our DDx updates was establishing a minimum and maximum GSF for projects. The minimum area for a project to be reported in the DDx is 100 GSF and the maximum is 5 million GSF.

What are the boundaries of gross square feet?

If you've ever done BOMA, you know that there officially a dozen ways to calculate that number. Two rules of thumb: exterior gross area as available OR just match the same number on the energy modeling report so that everything is consistent.

What resource do you use to identify climate zone?

The climate zone information provided is based on 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). You will find it in Chapter 3 [CE], Section C301. For further information, please see the DDx Help Page here: Choose a Climate Zone

Should we also report on projects that have been recently completed (in the last few years)?

Typically, we only ask for projects that were actively in design or construction during the calendar year. We don't ask for retro-reporting. If you happen to have a particularly project type you need information for, you can retroactively report them and list them for a prior reporting year so that it doesn't superficially change your 2023 numbers.

My project is under Title 24 in California. Is there a way to convert the TDV data used by code into an EUI to report for AIA 2030?

Yes! Please refer to this great resource from AIA California: https://aiacalifornia.org/honor-the-work/design-awards/understanding-eui/

What if building is partial reuse and partial new?

For partial reuse and partial new … that's your professional judgement call. That field will not effect any other entries or the baseline. It's for research and tracking purposes only. So if it has a very small addition and is mostly reno, call it a reno. If it's a major gut job with a big new addition and you feel it's more new construction than reno, call it new construction. It's up to you.

Can the projects be merged with the database from 2040 MEP commitment - if your consultants have already done the work?

Unfortunately, there is not a direct link between the AIA DDX and MEP 2040. The best way to merge would be in an Excel file and to bulk upload.

What should I do when your project type is not supported by Zero tool?

Two things to consider:

• Select the Use Type that most closely aligns with the Use Type of your project.

• Some projects are not supported and will require a custom baseline. Some projects can use Energy Star Target Finder, International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), the Building Performance Database (https://bpd.lbl.gov/) or another database. Be consistent and be sure to identify the source. Not all use types have national data to pull from, such as manufacturing or transportation hubs. In such cases, obtaining operational data from the client or using an adjusted code baseline model is acceptable when no other benchmarking resources are available.

What is the difference between portfolio submission vs Bulk Excel import?

Bulk import is an Excel-based way of uploading all of your projects in the DDx at once. Very handy for firms that have their own internal tracking method or database. The Portfolio Submission is the final step after the upload that officially submits all of your reporting year projects to the AIA and indicates your updates are complete.

For bulk upload, if a project already exists in the DDx and is included in the bulk upload Excel, will those merge automatically?

Yes, but only if you use the same project number. 

How does bulk importing work with the auto-determined info from Zero Tool? Will Zero Tool pull climate zone and EUI?

For bulk upload you will need to manually enter the Baseline EUI in your bulk upload spreadsheet using the Zero Tool Website. Predicted EUI comes from your energy model, or from the DDx based on your Energy Code if you do not have an energy model.

What are the criteria for offsite renewables? RECS only, VPPA, other?

We are following the IECC 2021 published definitions in the Zero Code Appendix, summarized in our help pages here: 2022 reporting  

It is possible to add pull down tabs in the Excel template?

We recommend not add any columns or change the formatting of any of the cells in the bulk upload excel file as that will most likely return an error when you try and upload the excel file to the DDx. For example, you can have a different excel file to use to track DDx data and other related data your firm cares about and then copy it into the bulk upload spreadsheet right before you upload.

If you use bulk import, do you have to do that for 100% of your projects you want to submit? Or could you do most of them but then add individual projects as needed?

No, you can bulk upload a portion of your projects and manually enter the remainder before you submit your portfolio for the year.