Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008 - (Page 96)

STUDIO By Paul Mendelsohn, vice president, AIA Government and Community Relations Lead by Example THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS WANTS TO SEE ALL NEW FEDERAL BUILDINGS GO GREEN. AIA Position The American Institute of Architects (AIA) believes that governmental policies, programs and incentives should encourage energy efficiency, especially as it relates to the built environment. The AIA believes that Congress should use its authority over federal buildings to lead the way for the private sector in further reducing the energy consumption footprint of the built environment. 0001), which calls for a 50 percent reduction in energy consumption for new and renovated public buildings in New Mexico. ALTHOUGH SOME FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE PURSUED THESE ENERGY USE REDUCTION TARGETS MORE RIGOROUSLY THAN OTHERS, THE AIA BELIEVES MORE CAN BE DONE. rigorously than others, the AIA believes more can be done. Executive Order 13123, which was issued by President Clinton in June 1999, requires each federal agency to reduce energy consumption per gross square foot at existing facilities by 30 percent by 2005 and by 35 percent by 2010, relative to a 1985 baseline. Two years ago, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the energy reduction goals outlined in Executive Order 13123 for existing federal buildings by mandating that agencies use a new baseline of 2003 energy consumption and achieve additional reductions per gross square foot of 2 percent each year beginning in 2006 and ending with a 20 percent reduction by the year 2015. In addition, in June 2006, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution (Resolution No. 50), which calls for immediate delivered fossil-fuel energy consumption reduction in all new and renovated city buildings to half the national average for that building type, with increased reductions of 10 percent every five years starting in 2010, so that all new and renovated city buildings designed by the year 2030 will be carbon neutral. New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson, signed a similar executive order (2006- What America Thinks In a nationwide poll of voters (1,000 sample, margin of error +/- 3.1) conducted January 21-24, 2007, by two respected national pollsters — The Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, and Lake Snell and Perry, a Democratic firm — 75 percent of voters polled said that “government should take the lead in promoting real estate development that conserves our natural resources such as oil, gas and electricity.” In addition, 70 percent of voters polled believe that “global warming is already having an effect on weather, and government should immediately put into effect new energy policies that drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions that may be causing climate damage.” Reinforcing the public popularity of green buildings, it was also found in the Tarrance-Lake poll that 85 percent of voters said they agreed with the statement, “New tax breaks should be given to encourage the design and construction of buildings that significantly reduce pollution and energy consumption.” Voters in demographic groups across the board were strongly in agreement on this issue. Actions Sought The AIA seeks legislation that directs federal agencies to immediately require that all buildings constructed or significantly renovated consume no more than half of the fossil fuel-generated energy that a similar federal building consumed in 2003 using Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Agency. Beginning in 2010, the agencies should then further reduce their fossil fuel-generated energy consumption, compared to the 2003 baseline, by the following percentages: ■ 2010 - 60 percent ■ 2015 - 70 percent ■ 2020 - 80 percent ■ 2025 - 90 percent ■ 2030 - 100 percent Explanation and Justiﬁcation This approach builds on an existing executive order and existing federal statute that seek greater energy efficiency in federal buildings. Although some federal agencies have pursued these energy use reduction targets more PAUL MENDELSOHN IS VICE PRESIDENT OF AIA GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. 96 ed+c N OV E MBE R 08

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008

Environmental Design %2B Construction - November 2008 Contents Web TOC Editor's Note Newsline New %2B Notable Green by Nature Award Winner: Juvenile Justice Award Winner: Desert Living FSC Special Section Designing a Greener Building with BIM The Case for Modular Creating a Rustle Lessons Learned The Move Toward Sustainability Lead by Example A%2B Rating Nurture by Nature Commitment to Sustainability Eyeing the Future Work of Art Green has Gone to the Dogs Sensible Upgrade Moisture Issues in Courthouses Green Build - Green Product Buzz Guide Benefi ts of BIM Product Focus Marketplace %2B Classifieds Advertiser's Index Parting Shot

Environmental Design + Construction - November 2008

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