Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2009 - (Page 10) In The News Green-building partnership expanded he Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have agreed to expand their cooperative efforts to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitting from newly constructed buildings around the world. According to the U.N. Environment Program, homes, schools, and other buildings account for 38% of carbon dioxide emissions globally. Improving building efficiency in the United States could save the American economy more than $160 billion by 2030. To that end, the mission of the CCI-USGBC partnership is to rethink and redefine new building developments, increase energy efficiency, and cut pollution. “Retrofitting buildings represents an immediate and measurable opportunity to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve our economy,” said former President Bill Clinton. “They are a T priority for my Climate Initiative, which is encouraging retrofit projects around the world.” According to USGBC CEO/president Rich Fedrizzi, CCI has helped bring national and global attention to the urgent need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through improved building efficiency. Efforts have touched on efficiency of both new and existing buildings. To date, CCI’s Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program reportedly has helped participating organizations and companies initiate more than 250 retrofit projects, covering more than 500 million sq ft of real estate, in more than 30 cities around the world. The retrofits include structures in the municipal, private, commercial, education, and housing sectors, and have resulted in energy improvements ranging from 30% to 60%. ASHRAE/AIRAH issue a joint resolution on climate change SHRAE and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) issued a joint resolution on climate change. Key issues addressed in the resolution include the use of renewable energy, educating the building industry, and responsible refrigerant use. “The use of HVAC&R technologies is an essential element of contemporary life,” Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president, said. “Yet, HVAC&R systems contribute to greenhouse gas releases through energy-related effects and through the effects of refrigerant losses. ASHRAE and AIRAH are emphasizing a variety of measures to decrease emissions associated with energy use and its effect on global climate.” “I see this joint statement as an acknowledgement of the role we affiliated organizations must play to address the complex challenges we collectively face,” John Bosci, AIRAH president, said. “AIRAH is committed to creating awareness and acceptance through further education and to the promotion of sustainable building practices and the responsible development of alternative technologies within the Australian market.” Through this resolution, ASHRAE and AIRAH resolve to: • Support research and development activities designed to reduce buildings’ energy use and greenhouse gas emissions • Educate building owners, operators, users, designers, and constructors on the importance of building energy efficiency, A corresponding climate change impact, and proper operations and maintenance measures • Encourage the supply of renewable energy into buildings and building engineering systems when economically feasible • Develop and implement sustainable building designs, materials, components, systems, and processes that minimize environmental impacts, including climate change, while maintaining indoor environmental quality • Provide advice, information, and assistance to governments and other influential bodies on energy efficiency and climate change emissions in both new and existing buildings • Encourage responsible refrigerant use, including emissions reduction strategies and technologies, and encourage development of energy-efficient refrigerants with low or zero global warming potential • Support the development and implementation of standards, building codes, incentive programs, and voluntary initiatives aimed at reducing building environmental impacts • Implement holistic and coordinated approaches to identifying and resolving environmental issues at all stages of a building’s life cycle—from conception, design, and construction through operation, maintenance, refurbishment, and deconstruction. 10 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • MARCH 2009
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