Building Sector Unites to Confront Global Climate Change
The building industry seems to have really come together to show that strong targets can be set across an entire industry
From their press release......
Santa Fe (December 1, 2006) - recognizing that the Building Sector is
responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually,
key leaders in this Sector have banded together to confront the
global-warming crisis. Last week, the American Institute of Architects
(AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030 and
about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at the 2006 Greenbuild
International Conference and Expo, a conference presented annually by the
USGBC. According to Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chairman of
USGBC, "Eliminating the built environment's negative contribution to climate
change is not just a strategic priority, it's our collective responsibility
to generations to come. Science tells us we have 3650 days to meet that
goal, and urgent action is required."
During the meeting, the group reached a consensus on three critical issues
facing the Building Sector as it works to bring energy consumption and GHG
emissions in this sector under control: the need for a common goal, the
definition of this goal and a baseline to measure progress against. "The
building industry is coming together around the common goal of Architecture
2030's targets for reductions in energy use. The organizations and
individuals in this meeting need to reach out to the entire industry,
encouraging them all to work together in achieving these targets.", said
R.K. Stewart, President-elect of AIA.
In a show of solidarity and commitment, these leaders have adopted 'The 2030
Challenge' targets. The 2030 Challenge, a global initiative officially
launched by Architecture 2030 in January 2006, calls for all new buildings
and major renovations to reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting energy
consumption by 50 percent immediately, increasing this reduction to 60% in
2010, 70% in 2015, 80% in 2020, 90% in 2025, and finally, that all new
buildings would be carbon neutral by the year 2030. Terry Townsend,
President of ASHRAE, stated that, "ASHRAE is committed to developing the
tools needed to accomplish the Architecture 2030 challenge."
Building Sector Unites to Confront Global Climate Change (p2)
The 2030 Challenge targets had previously been adopted by the 78,000 member
AIA, the US Conference of Mayors (for all buildings in all cities;
Resolution #50) and individual cities and counties; endorsed by the
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and
incorporated into their "Statement of Action"; integrated into the EPA's
Target Finder; and promoted by the National Wildlife Federation and others.
However, last week's collaborative adoption creates a powerful consensus,
allowing for the sharing of information and support.
A critical component to the success of this effort is the definition of a
baseline by which all reductions will be measured. A complete regional
database of actual energy use for all building types is not currently
available. To provide an immediate and interim solution, the group adopted
the data supplied by the Energy Information Agency's (US Department of
Energy), which is currently used by the EPA in their Target Finder program.
All participants agreed that collaboration is necessary to reach the goal
and each will develop the tools necessary for their membership to accomplish
this. The participants are openly inviting other industry leaders to join
forces with them. Edward Mazria, founder and Executive Director of
Architecture 2030, said, "The task we face is daunting. Working separately,
we could accomplish something significant in each of our respective spheres.
But by working together, we actually have a chance to influence the course
of history."
# # #
American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
p 202-626-7300
f 202-626-7547
infocentral@ aia.org
Taryn Holowka
Communications Manager
U.S. Green Building Council
1800 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
p. 202.828.1144
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
Inc.
1791 Tullie Circle, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30329
p 404.636.8400
f 404.321.5478
info@ ashrae.org
Architecture 2030
607 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
p 505-988-5309
f 505-983-9526
info@ architecture2030.org
Posted by admin at December 8, 2006 6:24 PM
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