BACKGROUND ESSAY
In 2002, architect Edward Mazria established the non-profit organization Architecture 2030. Its mission was to rapidly transform both the U.S. and global building industries from being major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions, to being key parts of the response to global warming. Because the building sector is responsible for almost half (48 percent) of greenhouse gas emissions, Mazria decided to put his architecture career on hold and dedicate himself full-time to convincing the building sector to change its ways.

The goal of the organization is to dramatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the building sector by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed. The organization issued a challenge (the "2030 Challenge") to the global architecture and building community that asked them to adopt the following targets:

 . All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, greenhouse-emission, and energy consumption performance standard of 50 percent of the regional (or country) average for that building type.

 . At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, greenhouse emission, and energy consumption performance standard of 50 percent of the regional (or country) average for that building type.

 . The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings shall be increased to:

60 percent in 2010
70 percent in 2015
80 percent in 2020
90 percent in 2025

carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel or other greenhouse gas-emitting energy to operate)

It is Edward Mazria's belief that, by using innovative, sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable energy, or purchasing renewable energy credits, these targets can be met. In fact he believes that they must be met to avert catastrophic climate change.

PRE-VIEWING QUESTIONS
1. Where do you think most of the CO2 being released into the atmosphere comes from?

2. What are some of the effects of climate change that we have already seen?

3. What do you think the term "green architecture" means? What is a "green building"?

Link to resources to conduct research on these topics.

POST-VIEWING QUESTIONS
1. Why does Ed Mazria compare the 2030 challenge to an insurance policy?

2. If you're not an architect, what can you do to help the 2030 challenge succeed?

3. Ed Mazria talks about three valves: investment, building codes, and education. What are some specific actions that can be taken within each of these values to support the 2030 challenge?

NATIONAL STANDARDS FROM MCREL STANDARD

Engineering Education
Standard 5.6: Knows renewable and non-renewable sources of energy (e.g., fossil, wind, nuclear, solar).

Standard 14.4: Understands how societal interests, economics, ergonomics, and environmental considerations influence a solution.

Standard 17.6: Understands tradeoffs among characteristics such as safety, function, cost, ease of operation, quality of post-purchase support, and environmental impact when selecting systems for specific purposes.

Technology
Standard 3.3: Knows that alternatives, risks, costs, and benefits must be considered when deciding on proposals to introduce new technologies or to curtail existing ones (e.g., Are there alternative ways to achieve the same ends? Who benefits and who suffers? What are the financial and social costs and who bears them? How serious are the risks and who is in jeopardy? What resources will be needed and where will they come from?)

Standard 4.6: Knows that a design involves different design factors (e.g., ergonomics, maintenance and repair, environmental concerns) and design principles (e.g., flexibility, proportion, function).