MAZRIA CHALLENGE: CARBON NEUTRAL BUILDINGS BY 2030

In 2006, visionary architect Edward Mazria issued The 2030 Challenge, setting his sights on cutting U.S. building fossil fuel emissions 50% by 2010 and getting buildings to carbon neutral by 2030.

A new paper, The 2030 Blueprint; Solving Climate Change Saves Billions, presents the case for the economic value in staying on Mazria's 2030 schedule.

A new survey substantiates Mazria’s case, finding that “green building” has tripled in the last 3 years (from 2% of all construction to 6%). Is there value in the effort?

Michelle Moore, senior vice-president, U.S. Green Building Council: "Green homes are shining through as the bright spot in an otherwise gloomy housing market…"

Since the Boone Pickens and Al Gore splashes in July (see THE GORE PLAN, THE PICKENS PLAN AND THE HEARTLAND), a chorus of calls have come for big undertaking like the Mazria advocates. Some question the viability of such lofty goals.

Mazria: "This twin crisis of peak oil and climate change is spurring innovation, experimentation, and excitement…These big challenges are what the U.S. is best at, frankly."

Efficiency is the cheapest way to save energy. Rocky Mountain Institute energy guru Amory Lovins calls such savings “negawatts.”

Small changes can make big differences and generate lots of negawatts. Mazria says orienting main living areas to the south makes heating and cooling more efficient at no cost. Other suggestions from the award-winning architect: Efficient appliances, furnaces, and lighting. And solar panels.

Here’s Scientific American’s take on Mazria’s plan: “Resolutely practical, the [2030 Blueprint] is a Rosetta stone that will help designers mesh complex, existing construction rules with ambitious green plans.”

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Building a Greener America; Architect Edward Mazria challenges the building industry to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2030
Matt Vela, August 1, 2008 (BusinessWeek)

<WHO
Edward Mazria, architect, Mazria Inc. Architecture Planning Conservation/author, The 2030 Blueprint; Solving Climate Change Saves Billions

WHAT
Mazria’s The 2030 Blueprint; Solving Climate Change Saves Billions makes the case for building efficiency as an important mitigating factor in the fight against global climate change.

Huge savings are available from efficiencies. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- Mazria is calling on the nation and the building sector to cut fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions (GhGs) 50% by 2010 and make U.S. buildings carbon neutral by 2030.
- Mazria issued the 2030 Challenge in 2006.
- 2005: Green building was 2% of U.S. construction.
- 2008: Green building will be 6% of U.S. construction.

WHERE
- Mazria is based in Santa Fe, NM
- Examples of efficient buildings:
(1) Genzyme Center, Boston, Mass: Daylight dimming system cuts energy 45%; All electricity from wind and solar; 90% of construction was recycled.
(2) Adobe Towers, San Jose, Calif: Retrofit cut per-employee electricity 35% and natural gas 41% with CFLs and air economizers; waterless urinals.
(3) Hawaii Gateway Energy Center, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii: 50% of energy from solar panels, 80% less energy use than similar lab.
(4) Friends Committee Headquarters, Washington, D.C.: Civil War-era renovation; Green roof; Geothermal heating; bamboo flooring; energy-efficient windows; 48% less electricity than somparable buildings; powered by wind.

WHY
- Buildings are responsible for 48% of all GhGs.
- 76% of all generated electricity in the U.S. feeds buildings.
- Mazria contends it is necessary to change the way buildings are “planned, designed and constructed” in order to mitigate global climate change.
- Signed on to the 2030 Blueprint: US Conference of Mayors (Resolution #50), American Institute of Architects (AIA), US Green Building Council (USGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA/Target Finder), Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC), International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA)
- South orientation of building living spaces cuts 20% to 40% of winter heating.

Examples of efficient buildings. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Mazria: "Architects come at this from a different perspective…By providing guidelines and strategies, in essence, our job is to keep saying 'yes, it's possible: here's how.'"
- Mazria: "There are a zillion different codes and standards out there…We want to make it much easier for people to adopt our goals."