NEW ENERGY BUILDINGS TO BE

Its a Brave New Energy World of architecture and design.

Building Design Leaders Collaborating on Carbon-Neutral Buildings by 2030
Lynne d Johnson, May 7, 2007 (Fast Company Magazine)

WHO
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the U.S. Green Building Council and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

WHAT
Issued a memorandum of understanding establishing starting point and goal for net zero-energy building

WHEN
The memorandum targets 2030 for creating carbon-neutral buildings.
WHERE
This is a US national standard.

WHY
- The perfect net zero-energy building would use no energy from the power grid while costing no more to build or sell.
- Buildings account for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation or industry, 38%, and will grow faster over the coming 25 years.
- Commercial building emissions will grow 1.8% a year through 2030.
- Buildings live 50-100 years, burn 70% of US electricity. 15 million new buildings by 2015.

QUOTES
- U.S. Green Building Council press release: "…carbon neutral buildings reduce carbon emissions to help mitigate climate change; reduce dependence on oil power, fuel imports, and the use of fossil fuels in general; and provide a measure of energy security."
- Fact: “If half of new commercial buildings were built to use 50% less energy, it would save over 6 million metric tons of CO2 annually for the life of the buildings -- the equivalent of taking more than 1 million cars off the road every year.”