A friend of mine passed me a link today to a website I was unaware of called Architecture2030. This site is put up by Mazria Inc. Odems Dzurec an architecture and planning firm in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here’s what they say about their Architecture2030 project:
Architecture 2030 was established in 2005 and is sponsored by New Energy Economy, a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization. Our mission is to conduct research, and provide information and innovative solutions in the fields of architecture and planning, in an effort to address global climate change. We are supported by a range of individuals, firms and charitable organizations.
Their site is interesting and well organized with some great graphics – I recommend it highly.
They talk a lot about the fact that their industry, the building industry, is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. “Unknowingly, the architecture and building community is responsible for almost half of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions annually. Globally the percentage is even greater.”
They are issuing a challenge ➡ to the building industry to do better and pointing out that we already have the techniques at hand. This ‘challenge’ is having a positive effect:
“2030 Challenge” Resolution Adopted Cities across America have just taken an historic step in addressing the issue of global warming. The US Conference of Mayors has made a commitment to reduce global warming pollution from buildings in order to protect the world for future generations. On Monday, June 5, 2006, the US Conference of Mayors adopted the “2030 Challenge” (Resolution #50) for ALL buildings. The resolution was put forward by the mayors’ of cities from the 4 corners of the continental U.S. – Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. As buildings are responsible for emitting half of the green house gas emissions that cause global warming, cities are committing to implement an immediate 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction standard for all new and renovated buildings (50% below the national average for each building type) and setting benchmarks and timelines to increase the reduction standard for new buildings to carbon-neutral by 2030 – meaning they will use no fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy to operate. Last week on May 31, 2006 the City of Santa Fe became the first city in the US to formally adopt the “2030 Challenge”. This means that all new city buildings, starting immediately, will be built to use 50% less fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy.
The Architecture2030 website also has a section ➡ which explains in clear terms what the effects of not reversing our greenhouse gas emissions will do to:
The Arctic
Plants and Animals
Hurricanes
Sea levels
Water Supplies
Coral Reefs
Human Health
Global Weather
To The Architecture2030 Website: ➡
Research thanks to Jerry S.