The American Institute of Architects has announced that nearly $20 billion of the $27 billion allocated by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) under the Inflation Reduction Act has been released by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA has introduced two funding opportunities: the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) and the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), targeted at decarbonization projects and adaptive reuse projects.

Described by AIA as a “pivotal sustainability strategy,” the grant funding is available for nonprofits that meet the recipient criteria noted in Section 134(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act, with an application submission deadline of October 12, 2023.

"It is essential that we prioritize investments in existing buildings that will reduce emissions while also creating jobs, promoting health equity and supporting vulnerable communities most affected by climate change,” said AIA EVP and Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods in a statement following the funding’s release. “This is not just a victory for the architecture profession, but society as a whole.”

News of the funding comes months after AIA recognized ten sustainable projects as part of their 2023 COTE Top Ten Awards. Previous reporting by the institute also found that architects were earning an increasing share of revenue from restoration and adaptive reuse projects.