The 2030 Challenge Environmental Links
Buildings are the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases (GHG). Slowing the growth rate of GHG emissions and then reversing it is the key to addressing climate change and keeping global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. View the Environmental Links bleow.
To accomplish this, Architecture 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge, asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:
* All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.
* At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.
* The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations shall be increased to:
o 70% in 2015
o 80% in 2020
o 90% in 2025
o Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate).
These targets may be accomplished by implementing innovative sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable power and/or purchasing (20% maximum) renewable energy.
Check out our Renewable Energy Solutions »
for your solar, wind, geothermal & biomass needs!
10+ things that each one of us can do to make the pledge to help reduce climate change
- Change a light: Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
- Drive less: Walk, bike carpool, or take mass transit more often. You’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive!
- Recycle more: You save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half your household waste.
- Check your tires: Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!
- Use less hot water: It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead. (50 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).
- Avoid products with a lot of packaging: You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.
- Adjust your thermostat: Moving your thermostat just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer you could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.
- Plant a tree: A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide a year over its lifetime.
- Turn off electronic devices: Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer where you’re not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
- Spread the word! Encourage your friends to watch, buy or read An Inconvenient Truth.
Find out more you can do: www.climatecrisis.net & www.liveearth.org
For our local community in Aldea, Santa Fe, New Mexico here is more you can do:
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- Recycle: Trash Pick up service in Aldea : Ibarras Trash Service, office: 505.471.0873 Cell: 505.920.3264 . You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of your household waste.
- Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket: You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action.
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Buy a fuel efficiency Automobile: When it comes time for a new car, choose a more efficient vehicle. You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid!
Download the PDF of the 10+ things you can do to make the pledge to help reduce global warming: 10things_PDF»
Environmental Resources for Architectural Planning, Design & Building
Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Issues
- Sustainable Building Sourcebook
- International Institute for Sustainable Development
- Ecological Architecture
- Sustainability Guidelines
Environmental Organizations
- Envirolink Network
- Solstice
- Oikos Green Construction
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- US Dept of Energy
- Amazing Environmental Organization Web Directory
Services, Products, Education
Alternative Building Technologies
Environmental Magazines Online
If you have suggestions, comments, and or additions you would like to see on this page, please contact us. We want to be of service and a resource for Environmentally Conscious Architecture, Planning, Design, and Creativity.