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Architects Travel to L.A. for AIA's Annual Convention
2006 convention marks new record number of attendees.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition focused on the importance of sustainable design. Attracting 24,860 registrants, AIA had a record number for this year’s convention, held in Los Angeles. The convention offered numerous environmentally focused continuing education seminars, including defining sustainable design, regenerative design, and green business and office practices.
Located in the Green Products Pavilion of the Expo Hall, ASLA’s booth attracted a variety of architects who had a special penchant for landscape architecture. Many were very interested in ASLA’s new green roof, and requested more information on how to include green practices in their own work. One of the most innovative product booths was actually right next door to ASLA. Countless attendees stopped by to check out UltraTouch’s Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, made with natural denim fibers from scraps of blue jeans.
Also announced at the convention was the U.S. Conference of Mayors vote to unanimously approve the resolution “Adopting the 2030 Challenge for All Buildings.” The AIA position statement that calls for the immediate energy reduction of all new and renovated buildings helped prompt the mayors of Chicago, Albuquerque, Miami, and Seattle to sponsor this resolution. With increased reductions of 10 percent every 5 years, all buildings designed by the year 2030 will be carbon neutral, using no fossil fuel energy.
According to certain scientific calculations, buildings and the embedded energy within their interiors account for an estimated 48 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, far more than the 27 percent for transportation and 25 percent for industry. Additionally, 76 percent of all electricity generated by power plants goes toward operating buildings. If current trends continue, it is anticipated that annual energy consumption in the United States will increase by 37 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent in the next 20 years.
The AIA and the U.S. Conference of Mayors seek to reverse this trend by setting a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. The plan will reduce the use of fossil fuels in buildings by 60 percent in 2010, 70 percent in 2015, 80 percent in 2020, 90 percent in 2025, and full carbon neutrality by 2030.
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