Posted on: April 22, 2026
At Van Meter Williams Pollack, we believe that making cities more livable starts with making our buildings more accountable. This year marks a significant milestone in our commitment to the planet. It is our 6th consecutive year reporting to the AIA 2030 Design Data Exchange (DDx).
It is a core design value woven into every project we touch.
Agency Through Accountability
At VMWP, each project team reviews and reports their own energy usage data. By keeping this responsibility within the design team, we ensure that our architects and urban designers have full agency over their work.
When the people drawing the details are the ones analyzing the performance, it creates a powerful feedback loop. We are not just looking at numbers on a screen; we are learning exactly how our design choices impact the long-term performance of the communities we build.
The Path to 2030: Our Progress
The data tells a story of steady and intentional progress. Since we began tracking our portfolio predicted Energy Use Intensity (pEUI) reduction in 2020, the strides we have made are exciting:
In 2020: 53.22% Reduction
In 2025: 76.99% Reduction
In just five years, we have significantly closed the gap toward the AIA 2030 goal of carbon neutrality. This jump reflects our increased focus on all-electric buildings, high-performance envelopes, and the integration of renewable energy systems.
Why It Matters
Whether it is a high-density urban infill project in California, an affordable senior housing community in Colorado, or the reuse of an existing building in Minnesota, our goal is to ensure our buildings perform as well as they look. Reducing energy consumption is about more than the environment. It is about reducing utility costs for our residents and creating resilient housing that stands the test of time.
As we dive deeper into the details of this year’s reporting, we look forward to sharing more about the project specific innovations that are driving these results.
Here is to six years of data-driven design and to the progress yet to come!
SAP Feature:
As signatories of the AIA 2030 Challenge, VMWP has committed to make all new buildings and renovations carbon-neutral by the year 2030 to mitigate the catastrophic effects of climate change caused by the building sector. As part of our Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), we vow to share our knowledge of sustainability practices with our design community.