Although buildings produce nearly half of all greenhouse gas
emissions contributing to global warming, 40 percent of voters believe
cars and trucks are the highest contributors, compared to just 7
percent who accurately identified buildings as the top cause of
emissions, according to a new released today by the American Institute
of Architects (AIA).
Studies show that buildings produce 48
percent of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, and
that they consume 71 percent of electricity produced at U.S. power
plants, according to AIA. Nevertheless, in the survey, the public
ranked commerical buildings nearly last as a contributor to global
warming. Only only aerosol cans finished behind commercial buildings (1
percent) as being identified as the top source for greenhouse gas
emissions. Power plants (19 percent) and natural causes (15 percent)
were thought to be top contributors, while 10 percent of respondents
were not sure what the top cause was and 8 percent responded “other.”
The
survey emerges as Congress reconvenes to finalize a new energy bill.
Energy bills from both the House and the Senate include the AIA’s
Federal Building policy position, which requires that all new and
significantly-renovated buildings owned or leased by the federal
government be carbon-neutral by 2030.
In addition to the
inclusion of the AIA’s Federal Building policy position in the House
and Senate energy bills, the AIA also is advocating for:
—The extension and deepening of the energy efficient commercial building tax deduction from $1.80 per square foot to $2.25
—Establishing a national energy efficiency goal for all sectors of the U.S. economy
—Establishing an Office of Green Buildings within the General Services
Administration (GSA) and a consortium that includes architects
—The creation of a Zero-Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative at DOE to focus on the goal of carbon neutrality
—The
construction of a “Sun Wall” on the Department of Energy’s (DOE)
headquarters in Washington D.C. that will generate 200kW of electricity
The
AIA will continue working with the members of the conference committee
to ensure the final energy bill makes the federal government a leader
in energy efficient buildings.
Survey Methodology
This
survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,000
voters in the United States. The survey was developed for the American
Institute of Architects by The Tarrance Group and Lake Research
Partners. The margin of error for the sample overall is plus or minus 3.1 percent.
