Washington, DC — The U.S. will need to renovate and retrofit 75% of its existing building stock in order to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment and meet the 2050 net-zero emission target, the American Institute of Architects told Congress recently.
In testimony before the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, 2018 AIA President Carl Elefante outlined critical steps the U.S. must undertake in order to reduce greenhouse gases and achieve climate goals in the built environment.
“The threat posed by climate change to our homes, cities, nation and the planet require that we fundamentally re-examine how we develop and adapt the built world,” Elefante testified. “We know that new standards of design and construction can be utilized to combat climate change.
“Success on these initiatives will mean a holistic approach and long-term commitment from every aspect of our society to incorporate these principles into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the nation’s buildings.”
Buildings represent 39% of the nation’s primary energy usage and 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the AIA, which recently launched an initiative within the architecture profession to drive climate action through a commitment to sustainable and resilient design.
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