BETTER BUILDINGS BUDDING

Mission Accomplished? Not Just Yet, But We Have the Momentum
January 23, 2012 (Architecture 2030)

"Each year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes its forecast for U.S. building energy consumption. Since the 2030 Challenge was issued, this outlook has vastly improved…[In] the EIA's 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) projections to the year 2030…estimates of residential and commercial building energy use to 2030 have been dropping dramatically since 2005 – by nearly 70% – due to considerable movement within the Building Sector to improve building design and efficiency…

"…In its most recent estimate, the AEO 2011 forecasts that American consumers will spend $3.66 trillion less on energy between 2012 and 2030 than was originally projected in 2005…If, by 2030, we embrace the most efficient building technologies available, these savings will top $6 trillion…"

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"…In 2005, the AEO forecast an increase in total U.S. building floor area of 51.9% from 2005 to 2030, with energy consumption and CO2 emissions increasing by 44.4% and 53.1% respectively. While the AEO 2011 projects a slightly lower building floor area increase of 38.6% over this same time period, the projected energy consumption and related CO2 emissions from the Building Sector are dramatically less than what was projected in 2005…If we take advantage of the best available technologies, total U.S. building energy consumption and CO2 emissions in 2030 will be reduced…[to] well below where they were in 2005…

"…[From improved] building design and efficiency…AEO 2011 projects that the average Primary Energy Use Intensity of the Building Sector will continue to decrease and, in the question is, will it transform quickly enough?"