A Valentine to the Planet
The 2030 Challenge for Products Unveiled

(February 14, 2011) In place of Cupid's Arrow, Architecture 2030 is unleashing the power of the pen to dramatically reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions in the Building Sector. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims for the global architecture, planning, design, and building community, to specify, design, and manufacture products for new developments, buildings, and renovations to meet a maximum carbon-equivalent footprint of 30% below the product category average through 2014 – increasing this reduction to 35% in 2015, 40% in 2020, 45% in 2025, and 50% by 2030.

It is well known that the Building Sector is currently responsible for almost half of the energy consumption (49%) and GHG emissions (47%) in the U.S. While the majority of the energy consumption, and their associated emissions, come from building operations (such as heating, cooling, and lighting), the embodied energy and emissions of building products are also becoming increasingly significant. Approximately 5% to 8% of total annual U.S. energy consumption and associated emissions is for building products and construction. When including all products for the built environment (furniture, movable equipment, appliances, etc.), the percentage is even greater.