How can we begin to understand the impacts of climate change in our daily lives? And once our awareness is awakened, how do we engage ourselves in an improved relationship with the earth?
These are big questions that people around the globe are asking. Architects are confronting the fact the buildings are the largest single contributor to production of greenhouse gases – almost half of the total annual production. They are renewing their commitment to the importance of good design, that is, design that effectively responds to the needs of both natural and human systems. Individual structures, clusters of buildings, small towns, and large cities are all involved in making a more sustainable built environment.
Raising public awareness, understanding the science in the solutions, and empowering people to try new technologies requires leadership and innovation. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is committed to developing and promoting the means to reach at least a 50% carbon emission reduction by 2010 and carbon neutral buildings by 2030. This exciting challenge offers many opportunities for integrated, high-performance, environmentally-conscious buildings that will become valued assets for future generations.
How do we get to carbon neutrality from buildings? It is certainly possible to produce self-sustaining buildings. While there are already some good pathways that demonstrate how, there is also significant unmapped territory. The SustAIAnability2030 Toolkit herein is a virtual connection to resources and examples that demonstrate the greening of our built environment.
The toolkit is organized around three major sections. The first chapter on Advocacy focuses on sustainability policies and practices at the national and state levels. You will find links to federal web sites like the Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/climatechange, and state resources such as http://dsireusa.org that provides a database of energy efficiency state incentives. There are also links to sustainability education in this chapter, including presentation materials and curricular references for students of all ages and interests who want to learn more about sustainability.
The second chapter, Design, incorporates a variety of tools for design professionals and for anyone who wants specific ideas about constructing buildings that are more environmentally responsive. One exciting tool in this chapter is called “50 to 50.” Organized around Frank Lloyd Wright’s Tree of Life image, it suggests 50 green principles that can lead to 50% reduction of carbon emission. This flexible web-based tool will be periodically updated with new information and examples; the leaves on the Tree of Life will be increasingly abundant with new ideas. Another important tool is this chapter is the metric standard by which the carbon reduction challenge is being measured. An analysis of rating systems is offered to assist designers in understanding how building design and performance links to the carbon reduction challenge.
The third chapter focuses on Community. With energy conservation and human health and wellbeing at its core, this section offers ideas about high-quality, diverse, mixed-use communities that use green principles to foster a sense of place. Included are suggestions about compact development, wise use of infrastructure and community resources, walkable environments, and open space preservation. There are links to projects and programs that individuals and communities have developed to engage their communities in the carbon reduction challenge. There are demonstrations of how to maintain and operate buildings in sustainable ways, and there are suggestions on how consumers can make green choices in planning meetings and conferences.
Good design is inquisitive and considers many potential solutions. To that extent, this toolkit asks questions that we invite you to explore and consider the linked resources. To find out what might work for you, click on any of the Toolkit sections and follow the instructions provided.
