Seventy-six percent (76%) of all electricity generated by US power plants goes to
supply the Building Sector. Buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually.
With this in mind, Architecture 2030, a non-profit independent organization, was
established by architect Edward Mazria in 2002. 2030′s mission is to rapidly
transform the US and global Building Sector from the major contributor of GHG to a
central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis.
To accomplish this, Architecture 2030 has issued The 2030 Challenge asking the
global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:
All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet
a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 50% of
the regional (or country) average for that building type.
At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated
annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance
standard of 50% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.
The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings shall be increased to:
* 60% in 2010
* 70% in 2015
* 80% in 2020
* 90% in 2025
Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate).
Already Architecture 2030 has made an impact:
US Department of Energy (DOE) moves forward with Zero-Net Energy Commercial
Buildings Initiative, by requesting proposals from its National Labs and
private sector companies to achieve cost-effective savings of 50 percent (50%)
above the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers for new commercial building designs, and a savings
of 30 percent (30%) for retrofits to existing buildings.
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has adopted a new plan, which
includes two strategies in line with the 2030 Challenge: to have all
residential buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2020, and to have all
commercial buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2030.
(NOTE: I used the actual term in the CPUC’s plan, “zero net energy use”, but
I believe “net zero energy emissions” to be more accurate. I’m not just being
picky here, there’s a difference.)
Oregon’s governor announces a 2009 legislative climate change package with
proposals for net zero greenhouse gas emissions for homes and buildings by
2030.
City of Vancouver adopts The 2030 Challenge. The City of Vancouver adopts The
2030 Challenge target of carbon neutral buildings by 2030.
