AIA COTE Debuts Cool Tool at SB08 Words: Bronzella Cleveland SeptemberOctober 2008 Industry News AIA COTE Debuts ‘Cool Tool’ at World Sustainable Building Conference In September, the American Institute of Architects Chicago Chapter Committee on the Environment (AIAChicago COTE) debuted its Carbon Reduction Strategies pilot program at the World Sustainable Building Conference (SB08) in Melbourne, Australia. Nicknamed the “Cool Tool,” the program offers 60 steps that building owners can take to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions from any building type. Additionally, there are four action item categories in the Cool Tool, which range from immediate strategies (turning off the lights when not required) to long-term tactics (mandating policy that promotes longer lasting buildings). The Cool Tool can be downloaded at www.aiachicago.org/documents/CarbonStrategies.pdf. “The Cool Tool is a practical resource that everyone from homeowners to building industry professionals can use to reduce the impact of the built environment on global climate change,” said Vuk Vujovic, AIA Chicago COTE co-chair and director of sustainable design with Legat Architects in Chicago. “By sharing our experiences with the Cool Tool at SB08, we hope that other cities throughout the world will use it as a springboard for their own energy and carbon emissions reduction plans.” MD