Archived NEWS
HDR Architecture signs 2030 Challenge
HDR Architecture, Inc., a global architecture/engineering firm, has signed the “Architecture 2030 Challenge,” an initiative designed to achieve a dramatic reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed.
Building Design and Construction
Portland, Maine Adopts the 2030 Challenge
for City Buildings
The Portland City Council unanimously approved a green building ordinance, requiring all municipally owned new construction and major renovations building projects to be built to LEED Silver standard with additional energy credits to meet the energy and carbon reduction goals of the Architecture 2030 Challenge.
City of Portland
Ontario Association of Architects Adopts 2030 Challenge
On March 5, 2009 the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Council demonstrated its strong support for ‘going green’ by adopting the 2030 Challenge.
Ontario Association of Architects
Final Report of the Massachusetts Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force
Massachusetts's Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force has recently completely a report to guide policy in the Commonwealth, which includes the 2030 Challenge goals and aspects of Architecture 2030's housing mortgage interest rate buy-down program.
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
A Hog in a Tuxedo is Still a Hog
NAIOP releases disinformation study downplaying building efficiency potential.
Architecture 2030
Edward Mazria to Testify in Front of US Congress
Edward Mazria is to testify in front of the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, February 26, to provide recommendations for reducing energy consumption in buildings.
US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Obama Asked For It: Here It Is
Garnering the support of a large and diverse number of organizations and businesses, the 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan is quietly gaining momentum both on and off the Hill.
Architecture 2030
BusinessWeek Features
the 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan
BusinessWeek has reported that the 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan is “generating buzz” amidst the “feeding frenzy” of proposals vying for inclusion in President-elect Obama’s highly-anticipated economic stimulus package.
BusinessWeek
Atlanta to Implement the 2030 Challenge
The City of Atlanta's new Green Building Ordinance requires that new buildings and major renovation meet the 2030 Challenge targets. Any project exceeding the 2030 Challenge targets will receive a 20% rebate on the taxes levied on that property.
SoutheastGreen.com
DOE Releases OpenStudio Plugin for EnergyPlus Simulation Software
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released OpenStudio, a free energy design plugin that works seamlessly within the Google SketchUp 3D drawing environment. The plugin simplifies use of DOE's award-winning EnergyPlus simulation software, which identifies potential energy savings by modeling lighting, heating, cooling, ventilating, water, and other building energy flows.
US Department of Energy (DOE)
Vote for The 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan
The 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan has garnered a lot of attention on the Hill and is now being reviewed by the Transition Team. Please vote for the Plan as one of the "Top Ten Ideas for America" at Change.org.
Change.org
DOE Develops Benchmark Models to Improve Building Energy Simulations
The Department of Energy (DOE), in conjunction with three of its national laboratories, has developed and made available commercial building benchmark models [based on new construction data] for building professionals to use when analyzing whole-building energy performance across the commercial building stock.
US Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE Reaches 50% Milestone toward Commercial Zero-Energy Buildings
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released the first technical support documents to show 50% energy savings in commercial retail buildings.
US Department of Energy (DOE)
Oregon Governor's plan to meet the 2030 Challenge Oregon's governor unwrapped an ambitious 2009 legislative climate change package with proposals for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for homes and buildings by 2030, with benchmarks to be sure the goal is reached.
The Associated Press
DOE moves forward with Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative
DOE requested proposals from its National Labs and private sector companies to achieve cost-effective savings of 50 percent above the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers for new commercial building designs, and a savings of 30 percent for retrofits to existing buildings.
US Department of Energy (DOE)
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Adopts Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan
The CPUC has adopted a new plan, which includes two "Big Bold" strategies in line with the 2030 Challenge: to have all residential buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2020, and to have all commercial buildings achieve zero net energy use by 2030.
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector is Crucial
The American Physical Society (APS) released Energy Future: Think Efficiency, a new report that states that "the technological potential for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in the buildings sector is considerable."
American Physical Society (APS)
Aspen, Colorado is on its way to adopting the 2030 Challenge
On September 15, the Aspen City Council directed its environmental staff to move forward on developing a plan that will tighten building codes so that, by 2030, all buildings constructed in the city will be carbon-neutral.
The Aspen Times
2030 E-News ISSUE 7
"The comprehensive energy plans proposed by politicians that are centered on oil drilling and nuclear power would supply just 1.8% of total US energy needs - a drop in the bucket." -Edward Mazria
Architecture 2030
DOE Pursues Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings
DOE launched the Zero-Net Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) on Tuesday, with the goals of developing new commercial buildings that produce as much energy as they use and making these buildings marketable by 2025.
US Department of Energy (DOE)
Networking® Magazine Cover Story
VETERAN GREEN ARCHITECT EDWARD MAZRIA. His “2030 Challenge” Calls For ‘Carbon Neutral’ Buildings
Networking® Magazine
Mayors endorse residential energy code improvements
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) endorses a 30% residential efficiency improvement in the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which would put new residences in line with meeting the initial 50% energy reduction target of the 2030 Challenge. The USCM was one of the original adopters of the 2030 Challenge when they unanimous passed Resolution #50 for all cities.
USCM
RAIC launches a carbon-neutral building wiki
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's new wiki allows architects to share information on achieving the goals of the 2030 Challenge - to make buildings carbon-neutral by 2030.
RAIC
Meeting the 2030 Challenge Through Building Codes
Edward Mazria and Architecture 2030 have released an unprecedented and much-anticipated guide for every city, county and state in the nation to swiftly meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets of the 2030 Challenge.
Architecture 2030 Press Release
ASID Joins the 2030 Challenge
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) joins the growing list of organizations, cities, counties, and states that have committed to the 2030 Challenge.
Healthcare Design Magazine
IES Incorporates the 2030 Challenge into Free Software
As a direct response to the Architecture 2030 Challenge, Integrated Environmental Solutions has released a free software tool, which assesses building energy performance against the 2030 Challenge targets.
IES:: News
Major Victory in the Midwest The Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 Bill
On May 8, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 bill, which requires that buildings receiving state funding meet energy efficiency targets of the 2030 Challenge with a 60% reduction in 2010, 70% in 2015, 80% in 2020 and 90% in 2025.
The Sustainable Building 2030 Bill (SF 2706 and HF 3401)
National Wildlife Federation Bestows Top Honor to Edward Mazria
At their annual awards banquet in Keystone, Colorado last Saturday, the National Wildlife Federation awarded Architecture 2030 founder, Edward Mazria, with their most prestigious honor: the National Conservation Achievement Award. Mr. Mazria received this accolade in the Special Achievement category for his seminal work on the Building Sector's role in global warming.
Architecture 2030 Press Release
Innovative Company Offers Free Software to Support the 2010 Imperative
Integrated Environmental Solutions is offering a free software license for their to any school signed on to the 2010 Imperative.
Official IES Press Release
CEC Study Indicates The 2030 Challenge Is Feasible
This study indicates that the AIA/RAIC 2030 Challenge goals are achievable – technically. Moreover, by 2030, for the US residential and commercial sectors, and for the Canadian residential sector, GHG emissions are significantly lower than 1990 levels i.e. the Kyoto reference point.
iGreenBuild.com
Sustainable Buildings 2030 Proposal Passes Minnesota State Senate
Legislation authored by Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth) that will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions passed the Minnesota Senate last week. The Sustainable Buildings 2030 proposal helps transform the building industry in Minnesota by instituting design standards which will result in new buildings being carbon neutral by the year 2030.
Minnesota Senate
The 2030 Blueprint: Solving Climate Change Saves Billions
Faced with the daunting crisis of global warming, the U.S. is struggling to find a solution while preserving the energy status quo. This approach will not work. As the following analysis illustrates, a new approach is needed that both avoids dangerous climate change and is advantageous for the U.S. economy. The implementation of the 2030 Blueprint proposed below will dramatically reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously provide a much-needed stimulus to the U.S. economy.
The 2030 Blueprint
THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR COAL: A Long Year in the Life of the U.S. Coal Industry
What began as a few local ripples of resistance to coal-fired power plants is quickly evolving into a national tidal wave of opposition from environmental, health, farm, and community organizations as well as leading climate scientists and state governments.
Earth Policy Institute
2030 Challenge Target Embedded in the HERS Index
Architecture 2030 and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) finalized an agreement of understanding this week, bringing the Building Sector one step closer to taming the ever-increasing fossil-fuel energy use of buildings.
Architecture 2030 Press Release
BYOBlue: Wear blue for Earth Day 2008 to vote for no coal!
Earth Day 2008 is going to be historic. Architecture 2030, along with numerous other groups around the nation, are calling on everyone to wear blue during Earth Day 2008 to signify a vote for no coal.
Gristmill
Finally, Good News About Global Warming and the Economy
Amidst increasingly dire news about the economy and climate change, Architecture 2030 released good news that could help turn the US economic crisis around while dealing a much-needed blow to climate change.
ENN: Environmental News Network
Banks Shy Away from Financing New Coal
It's no surprise that after the Department of Energy pulled its $1.8 billion funding of an experimental new coal-fired power plant due to ballooning cost, the three largest investment banks on Wall Street are reevaluating the financing of new coal-fired power plants. Citigroup Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley are asking utilities seeking financing of new coal-fired power plants to “prove the plants will be economically viable even under potentially stringent federal caps on carbon dioxide…”, and to look at energy-efficiency and renewable-energy options. The new standards will make it more difficult for utility companies to burn coal, the one fossil fuel positioned to push the planet beyond 450 ppm and trigger dangerous climate change.
Wall Street Journal
FED'S TO CANCEL 'CLEAN COAL' DEMONSTRATION PLANT: Cite Huge Price Tag
The U.S. Department of Energy plans to pull its support of a $1.8 billion project to build an experimental coal-fired power plant, due to ballooning costs. The plant's carbon capture and storage technology has yet to be proven on a large, cost-effective scale.
Associated Press
PBS e2: Architecture 2030
The half-hour PBS series e2–design, which features Architecture 2030, is up online as of January 4, 2008. e2–design (the economies of being environmentally conscious) is a six–part series that explores the vitality of the environment through architecture. Narrated by Brad Pitt, the Architecture 2030 episode introduces Edward Mazria, The 2030 Challenge and the drive to address today’s most pressing issue, climate change.
design: e2
President Signs Energy Bill Containing The 2030 Challenge Targets
After being passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Energy Independence and Security Act became law with the President's signature. Section 433 of this bill requires that all federal buildings meet the energy performance standards of The 2030 Challenge.
The Library of Congress: Click here and search
Face It: There is a Solution to Global Warming
According to Architecture 2030, there is a 'silver bullet' solution to global warming and it's time the nation faced up to it. To get its message out, the non-profit research organization will be hosting a nationwide webcast, called Face It, focusing on the solution. In addition, during the webcast, they will unveil two competitions about the solution with $20,000 in prize money.
Architecture 2030 Press Release
It's Been A Great Year!
Congratulations are in order for all of you who have helped us at Architecture 2030 get our message out. We're looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of the New Year. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Architecture 2030
Energy-efficiency goals adopted by state panel
California should make all new homes so energy-efficient by 2020 that they won't need to draw power from the state's electrical grid, according to a plan for meeting the state's future energy needs.... The plan calls for applying the same standard to commercial buildings by 2030.
San Francisco Chronicle
Idaho Power gives up on coal-fired plant
Idaho Power Co. is the latest utility to temper its enthusiasm for new coal plants, telling federal stock market regulators that escalating costs, permit issues and greenhouse-gas-emission concerns led it to abandon plans to build enough coal-fired electricity generation by 2013 to light 187,500 more homes.
Idaho Statesman
Seattle plan would force developers to curb GHG emissions
Seattle would become the first US city to require developers of large buildings and roads to identify -- and reduce -- their projects' greenhouse gas emissions under a new proposal.
Building Design + Construction
Opposition takes on coal plants
"There's no way we can even stabilize, let alone begin reducing, our greenhouse gas emissions if we don't get a handle on coal," says Mazria, who founded Architecture 2030, a non-profit aimed at reducing U.S. emissions.
USA Today
Santa Barbara boosts green building standards
A glowing Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved the Architecture 2030 Energy Ordinance today, legislation that, if approved by the California Energy Commission, will give Santa Barbara some of the most stringent environmental building standards in the state.
Santa Barbara Daily Sound
Mazria Challenges ULI to Help Combat Climate Change
"The future of the planet is in your hands," said Ed Mazria, founder of the Architecture 2030 challenge, during yesterday morning's general session. "It is a huge responsibility, but a huge historic opportunity to change the world. Today, I am issuing the 2030 challenge for ULI."
The Ground Floor: Heard at the Urban Land Institute
Richmond, Va., Adopts 2030 Challenge
Mayor L. Douglas Wilder announced October 3 that his City of Richmond, Va., has adopted the 2030 Challenge, with the intent of making the capital of that commonwealth carbon neutral by the year 2030.
AIArchitect
What Global Warming Looks Like
Edward Mazria wants people to know how rising sea levels — made worse by global warming — will affect residents along U.S. coastlines. Goodbye, Hollywood, Fla. So long, Boston. New Orleans? Forget about it.
ABC News
Mayors: No Dirty Coal
The U.S. Conference of Mayors promotes the installation of advanced coal technologies to capture and store CO2 emissions and other pollutants as the logical next step for the construction of any new coal-fired power plants in the US. The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges all mayors from around the nation to join this effort to encourage their state and the federal government to promote the use of these technologies to mitigate climate change.
Architecture 2030
City of Vancouver adopts The 2030 Challenge
The City of Vancouver adopts The 2030 Challenge target of carbon neutral buildings by 2030.
Peter Ladner: Vancouver City Councillor
The State of Illinois Adopts The 2030 Challenge
The State of Illinois legislature voted for final passage of Senate Joint Resolution 27, adopting the 2030 Challenge.
Illinois General Assembly
Press Release: The 2030 Challenge Benchmark Set
Building Design Leaders Unite on Energy Reduction Targets
Architecture 2030
Study: Worldwide carbon dioxide emissions soar Warnings about global warming may not be dire enough, according to a climate study that describes a runaway-train acceleration of industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
USA TODAY
Devil is in details of carbon cap system Despite broad consensus, fault lines run through 'cap and trade' debate
MSNBC
Pelosi vows to turn Capitol green U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday the Capitol will be considerably greener by 2009, with more efficient lighting, electricity from renewable sources and furnishings made of recycled material.
Reuters
Home Depot to Display an Environmental Label The new environmental initiative would become the largest green labeling program in American retailing.
NYT
US generals urge climate action Former US military leaders have called on the Bush administration to make major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
BBC
Clinton Introduces Zero Emissions Building Legislation The bill requires that all new and renovated buildings owned or leased by the federal government reduce fossil fuel energy usage by 50 percent as compared to a 2003 baseline. In 2010, the requirement would increase to a 60 percent reduction and increase by 10 percent every five years until carbon neutrality is reached in 2030.
AIA Angle
Environmental exhibits slated for park opening The North Brunswick 2030 initiative stems from The 2030 Challenge, an idea formulated by architect Edward Mazria of Architecture 2030 in New Mexico, which advocates society controlling and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions within 10 years.
North Brunswick Sentinel
U.N. panel issues stark climate change warning Climate experts issued their starkest warning yet about the impact of global warming, ranging from hunger in Africa to a fast thaw in the Himalayas, in a report on Friday that increased pressure on governments to act.
Reuters
Architecture: Green and Greener A new report from the UN Environment Program (UNEP) released last week [re]confirmed what many of us already know, but what policy-makers and giant development corporations still need to hear from places like the UN: that the building sector plays a huge role in achieving the greenhouse gas reductions necessary to effectively combat climate change.
World Changing - Sarah Rich
Supreme Court Rules EPA Can Regulate Greenhouse Gases The Bush administration failed to follow the requirements of the Clean Air Act when it refused to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today. The 5-4 decision in Massachusetts v EPA orders the administration to reconsider its decision, a move that could result in the first nationwide regulations aimed at tackling emissions linked to global warming.
ENS
Oil Peak Could Catch United States Unprepared he U.S. government needs a strategy to coordinate and prioritize federal agency efforts to reduce uncertainty about the timing of an oil peak and to advise Congress on how best to mitigate consequences, finds a new report by the Government Accountability Office, GAO, the investigative branch of Congress.
ENS
Building sector can play key role in combating global warming, UN report says The right mix of appropriate government regulation, greater use of energy saving technologies and behavioral change can substantially reduce global-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the building sector, which accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of total energy use, according to a United Nations reported released today.
download pdf
United Nations News
Top scientist seeks halt on coal plants One of the world's top scientists on global warming called for the United States to stop building coal-fired power plants and eventually bulldoze older generators that don't capture and bury greenhouse gases.
FT. LAUDERDALE SUN SENTINEL
Global warming real, likely to get worse, scientists say Global warming caused by human activity is real and will continue for hundreds of years, a panel of some of the world's top climate scientists said Friday.
Ecomall
In the Rockies, Pines Die and Bears Feel It One recent Forest Service study suggested that in the next century a global warming would reduce by 90 percent the acreage that has the kind of cold and high altitude climate where the trees now grow.
NYT
Architecture and Climate Change: An Interview with Edward Mazria
BLDGBLOG
Melting ice means global warming report all wet, say some experts who warn it'll be even worse Later this week in Paris, climate scientists will issue a dire forecast for the planet that warns of slowly rising sea levels and higher temperatures.
The Heat Is Online
Washington Wakes Up to Global Warming For years, the president and his supporters argued that not enough was known about global warming to do anything about it. But during last week's State of the Union address Bush finally referred to global warming as an established fact.
ABC News
Record warmth (again) in 2006 On the fever chart of rising temperatures, 2006 was the warmest year on record for the 48 contiguous states, pairing a lethal summer heat wave with a winter so mild that in some places daffodils bloomed out of season and bears forgot to hibernate, government climate experts reported Tuesday.
CommonDreams.org
Balmy weather breaks records, jolts Northeast The National Weather Service reported record or near-record temperatures across the region Saturday after a long warm spell. Furthermore, eight of the 12 warmest years on record have happened since 1990, and the big culprit for the overall trend has been global warming, said David Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist at Rutgers University.
CNN
Plugging Into the Sun Spurred by recent legislation that provides financial incentives — and by rising energy costs and, perhaps, by a lingering distrust of power companies in the aftermath of the California electricity crisis at the start of the decade — homeowners across the state have come to see solar power as a way to conserve money as well as natural resources. Architects in California are routinely designing solar systems into custom homes, and developers are offering solar systems and solar-ready wiring in new spec houses and subdivisions.
New York Times
Changing the Architectural Climate Edward Mazria's campaign to reduce the industry's environmental impact heats up.
Metropolis
Rising oceans could threaten low-lying coasts The world's oceans may rise up to 140 cms (4 feet, 7 inches) by 2100 due to global warming, a faster-than-expected increase that could threaten low-lying coasts from Florida to Bangladesh, a researcher said on Thursday.
MSNBC
The Building Sector Unites to Confront Global Climate Change Recognizing that the Building Sector is responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, key leaders in this Sector have banded together to confront the global-warming crisis. Last week, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at the 2006 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, a conference presented annually by the USGBC. During the meeting, the group reached a consensus on three critical issues facing the Building Sector as it works to bring energy consumption and GHG emissions in this sector under control: the need for a common goal, the definition of this goal and a baseline to measure progress against.
Full Press Release
Massive Ice Shelf 'May Collapse without Warning' The Ross Ice Shelf, a massive piece of ice the size of France, could break off without warning causing a dramatic rise in sea levels, warn New Zealand scientists working in Antarctica.
CommonDreams.org
Supreme Court to Take Up Global Warming Twelve states, mainly along the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, three cities, a U.S. territory and 13 environmental groups are arguing that the EPA ignored the clear language of the Clean Air Act. Under the 1970 law, carbon dioxide is an air pollutant that threatens public health and the EPA must regulate it, they said.
SFGate.com
Only decade left to avoid climate change, says thinktank The world has less than a decade to reverse the growth in greenhouse gas emissions if dangerous climate change is to be avoided, according to a report from a thinktank that goes further than the landmark Stern review last week.
The Guardian
U.K. report: Warming will damage economy aising the stakes in the global warming dispute with the United States and China, Britain issued a sweeping report Monday warning that the Earth faces a calamity on the scale of the world wars and the Great Depression unless urgent action is taken.
Boston Globe
Allies Dressed In Green Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Western allies have been asking: What will replace the threat of communism as the cement that holds together the Atlantic alliance? Some have argued terrorism, but I don't think so. I think my German friends have the best idea: the issue that will and should unite the West is energy and all its challenges.
sustainablebusiness.com
Urgent Call for Higher Standards The following email was sent on October 1, 2006 to the President and Board of the US Green Building Council
Letter to the USGBC
Scientists Issue Global Warming Report The climate of the nine northeastern states could become like that of the South by the end of the century unless greenhouse gas emissions are steadily lowered, the Union of Concerned Scientists warned in the most detailed regional report yet on the issue.
washingonpost.com
Warming Trend Is Hatching a Business U.S. governors, impatient with federal inaction on global warming, are taking matters into their own hands. The result could add impetus to an emerging industry. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) yesterday signed legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions. And seven Northeastern states, which together emit as much greenhouse gas as Germany, have banded together to set rules that would cut their emissions by 10 percent by 2019. Other states may join them.
washingtonpost.com
NASA Study Finds World Warmth Edging Ancient Levels A new study by NASA scientists finds that the world's temperature is reaching a level that has not been seen in thousands of years. The study, led by James Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, N.Y., along with scientists from other organizations concludes that, because of a rapid warming trend over the past 30 years, the Earth is now reaching and passing through the warmest levels in the current interglacial period, which has lasted nearly 12,000 years. An "interglacial period" is a time in the Earth's history when the area of Earth covered by glaciers was similar or smaller than at the present time. Recent warming is forcing species of plants and animals to move toward the north and south poles.
nasa.gov
Al Gore Calls Designers to Action Al Gore gave a speech at NYU in which he calls the architecture community into action, saying that "...new architecture and design techniques are creating dramatic new opportunities for huge savings in energy use and global warming pollution... As an example of their potential, the American Institute of Architecture and the National Conference of Mayors have endorsed the 2030 Challenge asking the global architecture and building community to immediately transform building design to require that all new buildings and developments be designed to use one half the fossil fuel energy they would typically consume for each building type, and that all new buildings be carbon neutral by 2030, using zero fossil fuels to operate."
Grist
Supreme Court case challenges Bush stance on global warming Opening briefs are due before the U.S. Supreme Court today in a case challenging the Bush administration's reluctance to issue regulations to control global warming.
San Francisco Chronical
Public Doesn't Understand Global Warming Recently, the David Suzuki Foundation conducted a focus group about global warming to see where people are at in their understanding of this complex and challenging problem. The results? Let's just say they were disconcerting, to say the least, says Dr. Suzuki.
Climate Wise
Calif. Unveils Anti - Global Warming Plan SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California will impose broad caps on its greenhouse-gas emissions under a landmark plan that marks a clear break with the federal government and which backers hope will become a national model.
nytimes.com
Environmentalists: State failing in race to fight global warming BOSTON --Midway through a decade-long effort to dramatically reduce greenhouse gases, Massachusetts is nowhere near meeting a series of key goals, according to a report released Monday by environmental groups.
boston.com
Advocates give Vermont low marks on combating global warming MONTPELIER — A coalition of environmental advocates is giving Vermont low marks for efforts in reducing global warming pollution, according a report released Tuesday.
vermontguardian
Nevada Utilities Offer $100 Million for Efficiency Programs Nevada's largest utilities released a three-year, $100 million solicitation on August 29th for 11 major energy efficiency and load management programs. Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power, both subsidiaries of Sierra Pacific Resources, are looking for contractors to run programs that offer incentives for manufacturing homes that qualify for the Energy Star; for purchasing Energy Star lighting and appliances; for installing or retrofitting high-efficiency air conditioning equipment in homes; for removing and recycling extra home refrigerators; and for retrofitting home pools with energy-efficient two-speed pool pumps. In addition, contractors are needed to provide weatherization and efficiency services for low-income and senior homeowners and to install energy efficiency controls in small hotels and motels.
Nevada Utilities Efficiency Programs
Rise in wildfires linked to climate change Researchers see connection to higher temperatures, earlier spring
MSNBC
How Melting Glaciers Alter Earth's Surface, Spur Quakes, Volcanoes
Wall Street Journal
Sustainable Architecture Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions Carbon dioxide was the focus of a presentation at last month's conference, "The Architecture of Sustainability," sponsored by the American Institute of Architects national committees on design and on the environment. Addressing the conferees packed into the Corcoran Gallery of Art auditorium, New Mexico architect Edward Mazria delivered a sobering, persuasive opening presentation about carbon dioxide and global warming. He also delivered a daunting challenge to architects: Design all new buildings, whatever the type, to use half the fossil fuel energy used now by buildings of that type.
Washington Post
Gorbachev warns UK on nuclear energy: Remember Chernobyl
Times OnLine
"2030 Challenge" Resolution Adopted Cities across America have just taken an historic step in addressing the issue of global warming. The US Conference of Mayors has made a commitment to reduce global warming pollution from buildings in order to protect the world for future generations. On Monday, June 5, 2006, the US Conference of Mayors adopted the "2030 Challenge" (Resolution #50) for ALL buildings. The resolution was put forward by the mayors' of cities from the 4 corners of the continental U.S. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. As buildings are responsible for emitting half of the green house gas emissions that cause global warming, cities are committing to implement an immediate 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction standard for all new and renovated buildings (50% below the national average for each building type) and setting benchmarks and timelines to increase the reduction standard for new buildings to carbon-neutral by 2030 - meaning they will use no fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy to operate. Last week on May 31, 2006 the City of Santa Fe became the first city in the US to formally adopt the "2030 Challenge". This means that all new city buildings, starting immediately, will be built to use 50% less fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy. By year 2030 all new city buildings in Santa Fe will be built to operate without emitting any greenhouse gases. Additionally, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued his first executive order this year requiring that all new state buildings and major renovations meet the 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions reduction standard called for by Architecture 2030. This is another important step in the "2030" initiative to address major greenhouse gas reductions in the Building Sector. The 78,000 member American Institute of Architects formally adopted the "2030 Challenge" in January 2006. As this initiative spreads across the country and around the globe, it will be the most significant movement to influence architecture and building design since the industrial revolution. Please stay tuned...
USCM "2030 Challenge" Resolution
Unexpected warming in Antarctica Winter air temperatures over Antarctica have risen by more than 2C in the last 30 years, a new study shows.
BBC
Melting Ice Threatens Sea-Level Rise The Earth is already shaking beneath melting ice as rising temperatures threaten to shrink polar glaciers and raise sea levels around the world.
The Namibian
Scientists find Antarctic ice shrank significantly The Antarctic ice sheet shrank significantly during the past three years, according to the findings of a NASA study released on Thursday.
RedOrbit
Greenland's glaciers losing ice at faster rate Satellite observations indicate that Greenland's glaciers have been dumping ice into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate that's doubled over the past five years, researchers reported.
MSNBC
Studies of ancient climates suggest Earth is now on a fast track to global warming.
UC Santa Cruz
NASA and Global Warming Listen to a conversation with NASA's top climate scientist James E. Hansen
On Point
Eco-friendly houses have been built in Somerset as part of a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) project to create more sustainable homes.
BBC
Architects Call for Fifty Percent Reduction by 2010 of Fossil Fuel Used to Construct and Operate Buildings
AIA
2006 Was Earth's Fifth Warmest Year Climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City have found that 2006 was the fifth warmest year in the past century.
NASA
American global warming gas emissions accelerate to a record high:
The Guardian
Global warming to speed up as carbon levels show sharp rise
The Independent
Green Building New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issues Executive Order creating "State of New Mexico Energy Efficient Green Building Standards for State Buildings"
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