The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has published a guide for architects to integrate sustainability in their projects and practices.

The RIAI Guide: Sustainable Design Pathways is intended to educate and inform architects and other construction professionals, including surveyors, planners and engineers, on the key areas that must be addressed in built environment design and development to combat climate crisis. Additionally, the document details actions that will help achieve emissions reduction targets outlined in the recent Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill, published by the Irish Government.

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The Sustainable Design Pathways guide was launched at the Building Collaboration for Climate Change Action Conference 2021, hosted online by the RIAI and other construction sector bodies.

Ciaran O'Connor FRIAI, President of the RIAI, said: "Architects play a lead role in construction projects and are often called upon to balance complex competing criteria in the development and delivery of buildings and infrastructure. Sustainability must be prioritised within these criteria, for the benefit of current and future generations, and the RIAI is supporting architects in adopting sustainable design in practice for the benefit of everyone in society. The RIAI Sustainable Pathways Guide sets out recommendations on how we, as architects, can address the climate crisis and ensure that a focus on sustainability can exist alongside the highest standards of design in our built environment."

Recommendations in the Sustainable Pathways Guide to achieve sustainability in the built environment include setting sustainable design metrics, delivering net zero operational carbon and replacing material products with low impact, low embodied carbon products in each project as well as appointing Sustainable Design Champions on the team.