The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has offered to assist President-elect Barack Obama advance his goals of promoting green buildings and focusing on the needs of urban areas. As a key player in the last "Greening of the White House" initiative in the 1990s, the AIA has also recommended making 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue an international model of energy efficiency.

"During the campaign, Barack Obama voiced plans to invest in infrastructure, advance energy efficiency and sustainable buildings, and to develop a 21st century transportation system," said Christine McEntee EVP / Chief Executive Officer of the AIA. "These are all longstanding AIA goals, and we look forward to working with the new administration as they tackle these important challenges."

Specific proposals:

• The AIA has recommended to the transition team that, due to the central role that buildings play in securing energy independence, it is vital that a high-level advisor on green buildings be a part of the White House team to coordinate executive branch activities and to promote these issues to the public.
• To address our nation's energy and infrastructure challenges, the AIA has offered to assist in the development of a White House Office of Urban Policy, something Obama proposed during the campaign.
• Following on its efforts to make federal buildings less reliant on fossil fuels, the AIA has offered to work with the administration to develop plans to make the White House an international model of energy efficiency.