Local groundswell for industry-wide 2030 Challenge

2030 Challenge targets (image courtesy Architecture 2030)

BY BRIAN LIBBY

As many now know, buildings are the primary source of energy demand and the main user of materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases. But since its creation in 2002, led by architect Ed Mazria, the 2030 Challenge (administered by the Architecture 2030 nonprofit organization) has steadily gained steam as a primary collective effort of architects to address climate change. Its simple rallying point is to for all buildings within 18 years of now to be net-zero in energy and other resource usage – to become carbon neutral at least.

The challenge asks all architects who sign on to commit to all new buildings, developments and major renovations they design being at least 60 percent lower than their regional or national code performance standards for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. At least half of this should be renovation of existing buildings.

The fossil-fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations is set to be increased to 70% in 2015, then 80% in 2020, 90% in 2025 and finally carbon neutrality by 2030. By which time—assuming the Mayans turn out to be wrong—I’ll be 58 years old.

Portland’s architecture and building community has played a pioneering role in advancing sustainable building, from having the most LEED-rated buildings per capita of virtually any US city much of the past decade to today taking a leading role in eco-districts and other expanding scales of change.

Representatives from about 35 Portland firms have signed on to the 2030 Challenge, including not only small firms and practitioners such as In Situ Architecture, Emily Refi, Atelier Z and Communitecture but also larger ones such as Ankrom Moisan, YGH, SERA Architects, Mahlum and GBD Architects, not to mention Award winning design studios and firms such as THA Architecture, Opsis and Hennebery Eddy and contractors like Green Hammer and even realtors such as Living Room, Redside and Realty Trust. (You can read the full list here.)

Another sign of commitment is how local organizations are leading the charge. Starting next week on February 10, for example, the Portland chapter of the American Institute of Architects will begin offering a 10-class series for architects seeking to become part of 2030 philosopy and practice. Classes will meet from 8AM-noon the second Friday of each month at the Center for Architecture (403 NW 11th Avenue). Registration ends at 5PM Friday, February 3, but should you read this post after that magic hour, your carriage need not necessarily turn into an organic pumpkin: last minute add-ons will be taken as space is available. Before long, phrases like "thermal envelope" and "load reduction" will be second nature.

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