As part of its well-publicized 2030 plan (reducing the fossil fuel use of buildings by 50% in 2010 and carbon neutrality by 2030), the American Institute of Architects is offering a wonderful guide to 50 strategies for greening up buildings. The strategies provided in the “50to50″ book range from “Active Solar Thermal Systems” to “Windows and Openings.”
As stated in the introduction:
The 50 strategies … have been selected to provide readily available and effective tools and techniques that will have an effective and immediate impact on architects’ ability to achieve significant carbon reduction. The strategies span a spectrum from broad-based site and planning objectives to specific, building-based concepts.
Each topic in the 50to50 provides an overview of the strategy, typical applications, emerging trends, links to other information resources, and the relationship of the current strategy with other carbon-reducing strategies. The strategies are specifically intended to address the carbon neutrality goal, but also provide a great base for sustainable building design.
The book is offered as a free download from the AIA web site, and you do not have to be a member to access it. While there, I noticed several other interesting downloads, so don’t be shy about gathering more. Great building design requires skill and knowledge, and you can’t download skill!
For more information regarding the AIA’s 2030 plan, see the following Green Building Elements articles:
The AIA and Dwell Magazine Team Up to Spread the Word About Sustainability
Alliance Between USGBC and AIA
AIA Launches “GreenStep” Video Series
What is funny about all of this is that CO2 is PLANT FOOD. Instead, we should all focus on INCREASING our CO2 “footprint” so that we will be able to EAT.
Stupid, misguided, and lying environmentalist freaks.
What is funny about all of this is that CO2 is PLANT FOOD. Instead, we should all focus on INCREASING our CO2 “footprint” so that we will be able to EAT.
Stupid, misguided, and lying environmentalist freaks.
JB,
While I take exception to your last comment, you do have a point. The problem is that we are removing all the plants that could clean the CO2, thus leaving an abundance of it in the atmosphere.
Our choices are to cut down less trees and vegetation or to reduce our CO2 emissions so the plants we do have can handle it. Both of these are addressed by the green building movement and the 50to50 guide.
JB,
While I take exception to your last comment, you do have a point. The problem is that we are removing all the plants that could clean the CO2, thus leaving an abundance of it in the atmosphere.
Our choices are to cut down less trees and vegetation or to reduce our CO2 emissions so the plants we do have can handle it. Both of these are addressed by the green building movement and the 50to50 guide.