Is architecture evolving fast enough to meet today’s sustainability challenges? Daily conversations highlight energy-efficient buildings, green materials, and visionary design, yet firms themselves influence global carbon emissions in profound ways. The built environment produces around 40% of annual CO₂ emissions worldwide, and every choice, from office operations to the embodied carbon of each project, shapes that statistic.
Firms gain an edge by embracing sustainability. Clients expect it, and new regulations demand it. Whether your focus is attracting top-tier projects or strengthening compliance, a firm grasp on your carbon footprint can transform your business. In this blog, we explore the business rationale for sustainable architecture, cover emerging climate policies, examine the sector’s emissions profile, and offer best practices for carbon accounting.
The business impact of sustainable design
Sustainability stands out as a powerful driver of long-term profitability and brand value. Here’s how:
Client demand and financial performance
In a recent survey, 72% of architecture firms reported that sustainability is a top priority for their clients
Clients today are also more sophisticated, demanding proof of actual performance over greenwashing
Even in a soft real estate market, sustainable buildings achieve higher occupancy and rental yields, as companies prefer spaces that help meet their climate goals
Embracing sustainability can bolster an architecture firm’s financial performance. Firms report that revenues from sustainable design services have been climbing. For example, the top 100 interior architecture firms focusing on sustainability (“Sustainability Giants”) saw their fees from sustainable projects jump 33% from 2022 to 2023
Owners are increasingly linking sustainability to long-term asset value, which in turn drives more business toward architects with green expertise. Moreover, investors and insurers are starting to favor high-performance, low-carbon buildings (due to lower climate risk and operating costs), creating further financial incentive for sustainable design
Architecture firms that integrate energy-efficient and low-carbon strategies into projects can help clients realize lifecycle cost savings (energy bills, carbon fees), making the firm’s services more valuable. In short, sustainable design capability has become a key business driver, enhancing firm reputation, attracting premium projects, and even commanding higher fees in some cases, as clients see clear return on investment
Talent attraction, retention, and thought leadership
Sustainability leadership also pays off in the talent arena. Architecture firms with a clear environmental mission find it easier to attract like-minded top talent, especially among younger professionals passionate about climate action. The American Institute of Architects notes that creating a firm culture that values sustainable design can help in recruiting staff and winning projects
In practice, many architects want to work for firms that are on the forefront of green building. For example, Perkins&Will, an award-winning firm attributed its sustainability ethos (what it calls “Living Design”), taps into sustainability to attract some of the industry’s best and brightest sustainability talent to their team
By publicizing commitments (like carbon neutrality goals) and showcasing innovative green projects, firms signal a purpose-driven workplace that appeals to employees seeking meaningful, impactful careers. Conversely, firms that lag on sustainability may risk losing talent to competitors that offer more opportunities to design with a positive environmental impact.
Clients increasingly request tangible evidence of success, rather than broad claims. Architectural studios that track and publish carbon metrics set themselves apart in a busy marketplace. Delivering on sustainability promises creates a lasting competitive advantage.
Climate policies and regulations affecting architecture firms
Architecture firms are navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape as governments respond to climate change with new rules for buildings. Building performance standards and climate policies are tightening worldwide, which directly affects how architects design projects and operate their firms
Some of the key regulatory developments include:
Urban building emissions laws
Cities are leading with aggressive climate laws for buildings. Notably, New York City’s Local Law 97, which took effect in 2024, imposing carbon emission caps on most buildings over 25,000 sq. feet
Buildings that exceed the carbon limits face hefty fines
Building Performance Standards (BPS) across the U.S.
Beyond NYC, a wave of building performance standards is spreading across many jurisdictions. These are laws that set minimum energy or emissions targets for existing buildings, often with phased deadlines. As of mid-2024, around 50 U.S. cities have some form of energy or carbon requirement for buildings, and at least 9 local jurisdictions and 4 states have adopted robust BPS laws
For example, Washington D.C., Boston, and Washington State all have building energy performance mandates rolling out in the coming years. This means architects nationwide will increasingly encounter codes that demand efficient, low-carbon design, not just for new construction but for major renovations as well. Firms must stay informed on local compliance targets (e.g. max kBtu/sf or CO₂/sf limits) and be prepared to help clients navigate compliance or face penalties
European net-zero building mandates
In the EU, climate policy is accelerating transformational change in the built environment. In 2024 the EU formally adopted an update to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which sets an ambitious course: all new buildings in EU member states must be zero-emissions by 2030 (and new public buildings by 2028)
This means architects in Europe will by the end of this decade be required by law to design buildings that operate without fossil fuels (using efficient design, heat pumps, renewables, etc.). The EPBD revisions also call for phasing out fossil-fuel heating systems entirely by 2040 and massively scaling up building renovations
Architecture firms working in EU markets will need to integrate energy modeling, passive design, and renewable energy systems as standard practice to meet stringent codes.
Carbon disclosure and reporting requirements
Indirectly, new corporate transparency rules are also influencing architecture and construction. Regulators are moving toward requiring companies to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks
This push for disclosure cascades to architecture: many architecture firms work for clients who now must track and reduce Scope 3 emissions (which include buildings). Thus, architects are being asked to provide data on the carbon impacts of their designs and to improve those impacts over time. Additionally, government RFPs and contracts (at federal and local levels) are starting to include sustainability criteria.
All told, regulatory pressure, from local building codes to international climate commitments, is raising the bar. Architects must keep abreast of these policies to ensure designs are compliant and to advise clients on future-proof solutions (e.g. designing today for the stricter codes of tomorrow)
Finally, industry standards are also evolving in tandem. For example, LEED v5 (launching in early 2025) will devote half of its credits to carbon reduction strategies
The bottom line is that climate regulations are quickly shifting from encouragement to enforcement. Architecture firms that proactively adapt, by designing ultra-efficient, low-carbon buildings now, will be better positioned as these rules take hold, avoiding financial penalties and seizing opportunities in the growing market for climate-resilient design
Carbon footprint data: Architecture’s emissions in context
The built environment is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, and understanding the data behind this is critical for architects. According to Architecture 2030, the buildings sector (construction + operations) is responsible for about 40% of annual global CO₂ emissions
Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme reports buildings account for ~37% of energy-related CO₂ emissions worldwide
In the United States, the pattern is comparable. Buildings (residential and commercial) produce an estimated 40% of U.S. energy-related carbon emissions
Every design decision, from site orientation to insulation levels to choice of steel vs. timber, influences this carbon footprint. But what about the architecture firms’ own carbon footprint (i.e. their business operations)?
Architecture firms are typically office-based service organizations, so their direct emissions (office energy use, business travel, etc.) are modest compared to the emissions of the buildings they design. Still, many firms are measuring and disclosing their operational emissions as part of industry climate action.
For example, one mid-sized UK architecture studio, Haworth Tompkins, reported an office carbon footprint of ~79 tCO₂e for 2022-2023, about 0.83 tCO₂ per employee. Another data point: the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recorded its own 2023 operational emissions at 419 tCO₂, roughly 1.68 tCO₂ per staff member
These per-employee emissions are in the range of what one average person’s annual activities might emit in a developed country. Many architecture firms are now committing to reduce such operational footprints further, through energy-efficient offices, renewable energy purchases, and low-carbon travel policies, as part of the profession’s credibility in fighting climate change.
However, the far bigger impact of architecture firms lies in the carbon outcomes of their projects. A single large building can embody tens of thousands of tons of CO₂ in its materials and emit thousands of tons annually in operation. Thus, an architecture firm’s “carbon handprint” (the potential emissions avoided through sustainable design) vastly outweighs its direct footprint.
This is why collective initiatives like the AIA’s 2030 Commitment emphasize design performance: as of 2023, over 1,350 architecture firms have pledged to target net-zero emissions in their projects by 2030
Progress is evident: in 2023, AIA firms reported design data for 23,000+ projects, with many now including embodied carbon metrics as well
In summary, the architecture industry’s carbon footprint has two layers:
- Direct emissions from firms’ own operations, relatively small (on the order of 1, 2 tCO₂ per employee annually
), but still important to manage for leadership and integrity. - Indirect emissions from the built environment that architects shape, enormously significant, around 40% of global CO₂
. Reducing this chunk is critical to meeting climate targets, making architects pivotal players in global decarbonization efforts. The data makes it clear that every architectural decision in design and material selection counts toward the broader climate impact.
Best practices for carbon accounting in architecture firms
To rise to the climate challenge, architecture firms are increasingly adopting rigorous carbon accounting and management practices. These industry-specific best practices help firms measure, report, and ultimately reduce emissions both in their own operations and through their projects. Key best practices include:
Track operational emissions (Scopes 1, 2, 3)
Firms are implementing Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards to inventory their operational carbon footprint, tracking fuel use, purchased electricity, business travel, employee commuting, even paper use. This accounting provides a baseline to manage reductions.
Many firms are setting science-based emissions targets or joining initiatives like the SME Climate Hub’s Race to Zero, committing to halve operational emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050
What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions? Learn the fundamental difference in our blog.
Integrate whole-life carbon assessment in design
A leading trend is to account for carbon across the entire lifecycle of buildings, from material production and construction (embodied carbon) through operation and eventual end-of-life. “Whole-life carbon accounting” is emerging as a service offering and in-house capability at forward-thinking firms
For example, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) launched a Whole-Life Carbon Accounting service that evaluates and measures a project’s emissions from cradle to grave, and seeks design alternatives to reduce carbon at each stage
Best practices here involve conducting Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments (WBLCA) for projects: using software tools like Greenplaces or databases like EC3 to calculate the kgCO₂ associated with different design options.
By comparing materials (e.g. steel vs. timber, conventional vs. low-carbon concrete) and systems, architects can make data-informed choices to minimize embodied carbon. Leading firms start this analysis early in design and iterate throughout the project, updating the carbon tally as the design evolves.
Prioritize low-carbon materials and construction methods
Carbon accounting efforts often reveal that a handful of materials (cement, steel, aluminum) dominate a project’s embodied carbon
Emerging solutions include using mass timber or bamboo in place of steel/concrete when appropriate, high-recycled-content or “green” concrete mixes, and other innovative materials that store carbon or emit less in production
These best practices extend to construction methods: optimizing structural design to use less material, preferring renovation/adaptive reuse over new build (to avoid demolition and new material emissions), and working with contractors on efficient construction techniques. By accounting for and openly comparing the carbon impacts of different design choices, architects can drive the supply chain toward more sustainable options.
Leverage industry frameworks and reporting tools
Architecture firms don’t have to invent their own approach, several industry frameworks provide guidance and accountability. The AIA 2030 Commitment is one such program where firms pledge to track and annually report the performance of their whole project portfolio, moving toward carbon-neutral design by 2030
Participating firms use the AIA’s Design Data Exchange (DDx) platform to input each project’s energy model results, predicted energy use intensity, renewable energy, etc., which translates to estimated operational carbon. In 2023, 154 firms even reported detailed embodied carbon data for over 7,000 design projects via this platform
Likewise in the UK, the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge provides architects with specific performance targets (for operational energy, water, and embodied carbon per square meter) and tools to assess designs against those benchmarks.
Adhering to such frameworks helps standardize carbon accounting across the industry and lets firms benchmark their progress against peers. Many firms are also pursuing green building certifications (LEED, BREEAM, Passive House, etc.) for projects, which require documenting carbon-related metrics. Even when clients don’t want to pay for certification, firms often internally apply these metrics to ensure a project meets equivalent sustainability goals
Invest in education, tools, and specialized roles
Because carbon accounting is a new competency for many, top firms are training staff and hiring experts to build this capacity. Embodied carbon analysis, for instance, might be done by sustainability specialists or a “carbon analyst” on the team. Best practices include educating all project architects on reading LCA reports, understanding carbon data, and using it in design trade-offs.
Firms are also adopting dedicated carbon accounting software like Greenplaces to track their firm-wide emissions and project impacts in one place. The goal is to make carbon considerations as integrated into the design process as cost or structural safety, a routine part of project meetings and decision-making. Currently, only a small share of projects (estimated ~7%) actively track embodied carbon as part of design, but this is inching up (it was ~5% the year before)
Architecture shapes the spaces where people live, work, and learn, and shapes the planet’s future as well. Every schematic and contract holds an opportunity to reduce carbon, champion efficiency, and align projects with emerging regulations.
Forward-thinking firms view carbon accounting as more than a courtesy or trend. By systematically measuring, reporting, and optimizing emissions, architecture offices strengthen their business resilience, attract discerning clients, and uphold their role as stewards of the built environment. It’s a path that sparks creativity and fosters meaningful change, one well-planned design at a time.
Ready to take the next step toward low-carbon design? Connect with Greenplaces for tailored solutions that measure, manage, and reduce your firm’s emissions, and build a more resilient practice in the process.
More resources from Greenplaces
[Merged from #58] Designing for transparency: how architects can drive sustainable supply chains
Architects wield immense influence, not just in shaping physical spaces, but in steering the sustainability trajectory of the building industry. Every design choice, from material selection to systems specification, ripples through supply chains and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, especially those in Scope 3, which often constitute the lion’s share of a project’s footprint.
Why transparency matters for architecture and scope 3
Scope 3 emissions, those indirect emissions that occur across a company’s value chain, are typically both the largest and the most complex part of an architecture firm’s climate footprint. For most building projects, Scope 3 includes embodied carbon from raw material extraction, product manufacturing, transportation, construction activities, and even the eventual end-of-life disposal of materials.
In the built environment, embodied emissions, classified as Scope 3, can account for nearly half of a project’s total carbon output over its lifetime, especially for new, energy-efficient buildings where operational emissions are lower. Because these emissions occur outside a firm’s direct control, they require collaboration, data sharing, and clear reporting standards with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Transparency in this context means more than just publishing data; it’s about designing with disclosure in mind from the earliest stages of a project. Architects who prioritize transparent sourcing and documentation can:
- Influence supplier practices by specifying low-carbon or verified-sustainable materials.
- Set performance expectations in RFPs and contracts that encourage better reporting from manufacturers and contractors.
- Equip clients with actionable insights into the long-term carbon implications of design decisions.
This shift isn’t happening in isolation. New regulations like California’s SB 253 and SB 261, along with global corporate commitments to science-based targets, are pushing architecture and construction toward more robust carbon accounting. Clients, particularly large developers and corporate real estate teams, are increasingly asking for emissions data as part of their own Scope 3 reporting.
In short: when architects design for transparency, they unlock the ability to track and reduce Scope 3 emissions at scale, not just within a single project, but across the entire built environment. This shift doesn’t just align with climate goals; it strengthens client trust, drives innovation in materials, and positions firms as leaders in the low-carbon economy.
Best practices architects are embracing
Across the architecture industry, the conversation around sustainable supply chains is moving from “why” to “how.” Firms aren’t just setting bold climate goals, they’re rethinking the way projects are designed, materials are sourced, and suppliers are engaged to make those goals real. At the heart of this shift is a focus on measuring and managing Scope 3 emissions, and several best practices are emerging as frontrunners.
One is integrating whole-life carbon assessments early in the design process. Rather than waiting until construction documents are finalized, forward-thinking firms are using embodied and operational carbon data to compare materials and systems from day one. This enables designers to make informed trade-offs, choosing, for example, mass timber over concrete where appropriate, or selecting products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that meet stringent sustainability criteria.
Another key strategy is aligning design work with industry frameworks that prioritize transparency. The AIA 2030 Commitment, for example, has driven widespread disclosure of building performance data, and more firms are now including embodied carbon metrics in their reports.
Frameworks like EcoVadis demand structure, documentation, and a clear sustainability strategy. Greenplaces helps firms build a central ESG repository, manage evidence, and prepare for a successful scorecard submission. This not only saves time but also gives architects a more complete picture of their project’s supply chain footprint.
Of course, transparency doesn’t stop with reporting; it’s built on strong supplier relationships and engagement. The most successful firms are setting clear expectations in procurement documents, encouraging suppliers to share verifiable emissions data, and collaborating on ways to lower embodied carbon. Greenplaces makes this practical by offering workflows that gather Scope 3 data directly from vendors, verify it, and make it easy to integrate into both firm-level and client-facing sustainability reports.
Finally, there’s the matter of embedding sustainability into the firm’s culture and processes. This isn’t about a single project team, it’s about the whole organization adopting a shared understanding that carbon-informed design is simply part of good practice. Architects who approach transparency in this way are positioned not only to meet client demands but to lead the industry toward a lower-carbon future.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are Scope 3 emissions in architecture?
Scope 3 emissions are the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur across the value chain of a building project. For architecture firms, these include embodied carbon from raw material extraction, product manufacturing, transportation, construction activities, and end-of-life disposal of materials.
Q: Why do Scope 3 emissions matter for the building industry?
Scope 3 emissions often make up the largest share of a project’s total carbon footprint, sometimes nearly half over the building’s lifetime. Because they occur outside of an architect’s direct control, addressing them requires collaboration, transparency, and supplier engagement.
Q: How can architects reduce Scope 3 emissions?
Architects can reduce Scope 3 emissions by:
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Specifying low-carbon or sustainable materials
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Using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to compare products
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Conducting whole-life carbon assessments early in the design phase
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Collaborating with suppliers and contractors to share verified emissions data
Q: What role does transparency play in sustainable architecture?
Transparency means more than reporting emissions; it’s about integrating carbon accountability into the design process from day one. By designing with disclosure in mind, architects can influence supplier practices, set client expectations, and drive measurable reductions in embodied carbon.
Q: What regulations are pushing for Scope 3 reporting in architecture?
Policies like California’s SB 253 (Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and SB 261 (Climate-Related Financial Risk Act), as well as global standards like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), are accelerating the demand for carbon transparency in architecture and construction.
Q: How can firms strengthen supplier relationships around Scope 3 data?
Firms can include sustainability requirements in procurement documents, encourage suppliers to disclose verifiable carbon data, and collaborate on lowering embodied emissions. This builds trust while supporting compliance with climate regulations.
Q: How does Greenplaces help architects with Scope 3 emissions?
Greenplaces streamlines the collection and verification of Scope 3 data from suppliers, integrates emissions insights into reports, and helps firms prepare for frameworks like EcoVadis. This saves time, ensures compliance, and enables architects to meet ambitious climate goals.