May 31, 2006: AIA Lobbies Mayors to Produce Carbon-Neutral Buildings
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Mayors will vote in June to endorse a goal of carbon neutrality for all city-funded buildings by 2030. Resolution 50 - sponsored by the mayors of Chicago, Seattle, Miami, and Albuquerque, N.M. - specifically cites the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is similar to the AIA sustainable practice position statement approved last year, and the association is actively lobbying for its passage.
The AIA has adopted a position statement calling for the immediate energy reduction of all new and renovated buildings to one-half the national average for that building type, with increased reductions of 10 percent every five years so that by the year 2035 all buildings designed will be carbon neutral, meaning they will use no fossil fuel energy.