commentThe 2030 Challenge
Edward Mazria’s sustainable building group, Architecture 2030, has recently announced the kick-off of an aggressive new green initiative. The 2030 Blueprint seeks to tackle the ongoing problem of out-of-control energy consumption with a number of concrete steps that support the group’s overall goal of achieving carbon neutrality in all buildings by 2030.
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The first and most immediate action recommended by the Blueprint is a moratorium on all new coal plants, which are responsible for the majority of emissions in the energy sector. Existing coal plants will be gradually phased out as their workforces are retrained to prosper in other sectors. The Blueprint also calls for all projects receiving federal funds to meet Architecture 2030 standards, and for the National Energy Conservation Code Standard to be adjusted to 2030 standards. Both efforts would immediately reduce energy demand and consumption from structures. Another major point of action in the Blueprint calls for a $21.6 billion investment each year for five years in developing green building standards through existing federal programs and creating new energy efficiency incentives.
In addition to the above steps tax credits will be given to stimulate construction in general, reduce building sector energy consumption, reduce CO2 emissions, save consumers $128 billion dollars, and to create one million new jobs that are in harmony with a sustainable future. The Blueprint is as ambitious in its aims as the environmental situation is emergent, and it will interesting to observe 2030’s efforts to generate the massive political will required to enact the above initiatives, especially given the uncertain outcome of the upcoming presidential election. A detailed report on the implementation of the 2030 Blueprint is due out in 2008. Visit www.architecture2030.com for updates and upcoming access to the full document.
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