- Ed Mazria lectures in SB on Tuesday, September
26
- Architect Challenges Nation to
- “Turn Down Global Thermostat”
Nationally recognized Santa Fe architect Ed Mazria will
visit Santa Barbara next month to promote his plan to combat global
warming through more stringent green building and energy efficiency
requirements. Mazria will speak Tuesday, September 26 at 7 pm at
the newly-renovated Marjorie Luke Theater at the Santa Barbara Junior
High, located at 721 E. Cota.
Mazria’s plan known as Architecture 2030 -- was adopted last
December by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and in June by the
U.S. Council of Mayors. The plan aims to reach zero emissions for
building operations by 2030.
“Forty eight percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are the result
of building-related energy use,” said Karen Feeney of The Sustainability
Project, which is co-hosting the lecture. “Nationwide our buildings have
historically been notorious energy wasters, but that could change if
architects and builders really put their minds to it. Ed’s plan should be
particularly well received in Santa Barbara, where we have the resources
and the level of environmental awareness that could help set an example
for California and the rest of the nation.”
Tam Hunt, Energy Program Director for the Community Environmental Council
(CEC) agreed. “The building sector is one area where we can effect real
change in how we use energy -- as individuals and at the local government
level,” he said. Noting CEC’s aggressive goal for eliminating all fossil
fuel use in the region by 2033, he continued that “We do not need to wait
for the federal government or anyone else to show leadership. We can take
this bull by the horn ourselves and start designing smarter
buildings.”
Mazria is a senior principal at Mazria Inc. Odems Dzurec in Santa Fe. He
is the well-known author of the architecture classic, The Passive
Solar Energy Book, as well as senior analyst for the Southwest
Climate Council and adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico. He
speaks nationally and internationally on the subject of climate change
and architecture.
Some of tactics outlined in his Architecture 2030 plan include:
- ·
All
new buildings and developments are to be designed immediately to use half
the fossil fuel energy they would typically consume.
· An
equal amount of existing building area is to be renovated annually to use
half the amount of fossil fuel energy they are currently consuming
(through design, purchase of renewable energy and/or the application of
renewable technologies).
· The
fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings is to be increased
to: 60% in 2010, 70% in 2015, 80% in 2020, 90% in 2025, and
carbon-neutral by 2030 (using no fossil fuel greenhouse gas emitting
energy to operate).
Following the lecture, a panel of local experts will discuss how to apply
Mazria’s Architecture 2030 vision in our community. Panelists include:
Joe Andrulaitis, American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter;
Dennis Allen of Allen Associates; Mayor Marty Blum; Robert Ooley, Santa
Barbara County Architect; and Tam Hunt of the Community Environmental
Council.
The event is being presented by The Sustainability Project, SBCC
Continuing Education and the Community Environmental Council with support
from: the American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter; Antioch
College; Built Green Santa Barbara; the City of Santa Barbara; the County
of Santa Barbara; Fielding Graduate Institute; Green Building Alliance;
Habitat for Humanity; Livingreen; Pacifica Graduate Institute; the
Peikert Group; Santa Barbara Contractors Association; Santa Barbara
Museum of Natural History; and Westmont College.
For more information, visit
www.CommunityEnvironmentalCouncil.orgor
www.sustainabilityproject.org