Face It: the 2030 Challenge moving forward

I mentioned this in passing the other day, but it deserves to be given more attention. Following up on its February 2007 webcast, "The 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-in" that reached an audience of a quarter-million to illuminate the role of building design education in global warming, Architecture 2030 — the non-profit research organization founded by Ed Mazria — will host a free 30-minute webcast at 9 am (EST) on January 30 to present the next steps forward. Called "Face It," the presentation — the first of several events planned for 2008 — will address not just energy demand, but also energy supply, as "the heart of global warming," and what to do about it. Additionally, two student graphic design and video competitions offering $20,000 in prize money will be announced. The 2030 Challenge issued by Architecture 2030 is to reduce the fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of all new and renovated buildings by half by 2010 — and that all new buildings should be carbon neutral by 2030. The Challenge has been adopted and supported by the US Conference of Mayors, AIA, National Association of Counties, USGBC, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, EPA's Target Finder, many individual cities, counties, and states, as well as architectural firms and other professional entities. Notably, the federal government will require these energy reduction targets for all new and renovated federal buildings beginning in 2008.