Big Green: Call for stricter LEED and ASHRAE-189 standards

[mivanovich at penton.com]

FYI,, from Ed Mazria's Architecture 2030 eNewsletter:


The following email was sent on October 1, 2006 to the President and Board
of the US Green Building Council:


URGENT CALL FOR HIGHER STANDARDS


Rick Fedrizzi
President, CEO & Founding Chairman
U.S. Green Building Council
1015 18th Street, NW, Suite 508
Washington, DC 20036


Dear Rick,


Rapidly accelerating climate change, which is now fueling dangerous
regional and global events, requires immediate and effective action if we
are to avert a global catastrophe.


Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration illustrates that
buildings are responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions annually; globally the percentage is even greater. Currently the
most widely-recognized certifier of green buildings -- LEED certification
by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) -- requires relatively little in
building fossil-fuel energy consumption reductions to attain certification.
While the USGBC is moving to correct this, it will be too little, too late.


Because the USGBC has taken a leadership role in advancing green building
design, it is imperative that LEED-certified buildings be models of energy
efficiency. It has been 10 months since the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) called on its 78,000 members to implement an immediate 50%
reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption for all new and renovated
buildings. It has been 4 months since the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted
Resolution #50 and The 2030 Challenge calling for an immediate 50%
reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption for all buildings in all
cities. The EPA (Target Finder) has already defined the 50% energy
reduction benchmark for commercial buildings. Clearly, it is time for the
USGBC to immediately establish a 50% fossil-fuel building energy
consumption minimum for LEED certification.


Therefore, we ask the USGBC to implement the following without delay:


that the fossil-fuel building energy consumption reduction standard
required for all new LEED-certified buildings and major renovations be
increased to:


Certification: 50%*
Silver: 65%*
Gold: 80%*


Platinum: Carbon Neutral (no fossil fuel greenhouse gas emitting energy
consumption to operate.


*percentage below the average for each building type as established by the
AIA and EPA's Target Finder


In addition, we ask that ASHRAE Standard 189-P, now under development by
the USGBC and ASHRAE, establish a baseline of half (50%)* the fossil-fuel
energy consumption of the average for each building type (as defined by the
AIA and EPA's Target Finder). We also ask that ASHRAE 189-P be fast-tracked
and issued within 4 to 6 months. It is essential that this standard be
completed and adopted as soon as possible. We simply do not have the luxury
of time on our side.


*We understand a 30% energy consumption reduction is currently being
discussed.


Credible scientists give us at best 10 years to be well on our way toward
global greenhouse gas emissions reductions in order to avert catastrophic
climate change (see: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14834318/). There are hundreds
of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. currently on the drawing boards.
Seventy-six percent (76%) of the energy produced by these plants will go to
operate buildings. Mayors are forming coalitions to stop the building of
these coal plants (see:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2380650). Resolution #50 is
their hope for eliminating the need for these plants - we must give them
the tools necessary to implement this Resolution.


Although we will certainly be affected, the global warming crisis is not
really about us, it is about our children and grandchildren, and the planet
we leave them. We call on you to lead, you who have both the opportunity
and responsibility to make a real difference.


Sincerely,


Architecture 2030