Oregon Association of Professional Energy Manager's 2009 Spring Forum

The 2030 Challenge was a direct call to action issued by Edward Mazria to significantly reduce greenhouse gases released into the environment from the commercial building sector by the year 2030.  This set a goal for the architectural and engineering industry to change the way buildings are designed to generate as much energy as they use. This concept of "Net-Zero Energy" is a new way to design and build next-generation climate responsive buildings that can dramatically reduce consumption of fossil fuels, and put us on a path to achieve the 2030 Challenge.

"The road to energy independence, economic recovery and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions runs through the Building Sector." -Edward Mazria

Because it had become increasingly obvious in the early years of the 21st century that “business as usual” would not provide solutions to global warming, let alone provide them in time, in May of 2007 the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), The Illumination Engineering
Society of North America (IESNA) along with other groups came together to issue a challenge to their members.  The challenge is to design buildings so that by 2030 all new buildings will release no net carbon to the environment.

This is especially significant for two reasons.  First, this challenge has not been issued by a fringe group, this challenge been adopted by the professional societies that the designers who create our buildings aspire to join.  Second, besides just issuing an end goal they have also set intermediate targets that are increased every five years forcing technology to be developed and leap frog to meet the challenge.

The immediate target is buildings that use 50% less energy than the normal code building.  The first increment is a 60% energy use reduction for new buildings by 2010.  Every five years an additional 10% reduction is required until we achieve net-zero in 2030.  How is this even possible? Has anybody met the intermediate targets?  Extraordinary times require
extraordinary solutions. Are we up the challenge?

Speakers include:
Kelly Hoell, The Good Company: The Significance of Carbon;
Terry Egner, Better Bricks: Commercial Building Design of the Future: Implications of the 2030 Challenge;
Mitch Dec, Glumac: The 2030 Challenge, What is it and the Hurdles;
Jim Benya, Benya Lighting: Seriously Sustainable Lighting, The Road to Net Zero;
Nick Collins, PAE: The Columbian Building, Meeting the 2010 Targets a Case Study

The event will be catered by Artemis, known for use of local and sustainable products in the preparation of their award winning meals.

A tour of the theater is included emphasizing the elements that helped the "old Armory building" become LEED Platinum certified, the home of Portland Center Stage, and a world class theater.

Of course, with each forum come ample opportunities for networking. Please join us!

FORUM AGENDA*

8:00-8:30      Registration - coffee & pastries, check-in

8:30-8:40      Welcome and Introductions - David Christie, Oregon APEM President

8:40-9:00      The Significance of Carbon - Kelly Hoell, The Good Company

9:05-9:35      Commercial Building Design of the Future: Implications of the 2030 Challenge - Terry Egner, Better Bricks

9:35-9:50      Networking Break

9:50-10:30    The 2030 Challenge: What Is It?  What Are the Hurdles? Mitch Dec, Glumac

10:30-11:15  Seriously Sustainable Lighting: the Road to Net Zero - Jim Benya, Benya Lighting

11:15-12:00  The Columbian Building: Meeting the 2010 Targets - Nick Collins, PAE

12:00-12:30  Tour of the Armory

12:30-1:00    Lunch & Networking

*Scheduled speakers at time of publishing.