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With local governments being in an ideal position to advance the green building movement, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has adopted a resolution supporting the American Institute of Architects (AIA) SustAIAnability 2030 Challenge that calls for public buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030. U.S. buildings account for nearly the same amount of carbon emissions as the economies of Japan, France and the United Kingdom combined, and if designed in an energy-efficient manner they can significantly reduce energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and slow the effects of climate change.
Paul Mendelsohn, AIA vice president, Government and Community Relations, said, “The momentum for more eco-friendly building design is continuing to gain steam. NACo has been a strong supporter of climate change and green initiatives, including the creation of the Green Government Advisory Board and other programmatic actions. We will continue to work with NACo and offer support and tools, such as the SustAIAnability 2030 Toolkit for local governments to pursue energy efficient buildings.”
NACo Commissioner Shannon Staub stated, “It was important to pass this initiative because this will help further support of the 2030 Challenge. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has already done this and it is timely to show that the counties support the goals of this initiative as well.”
The Resolution Urging Counties to Adopt the “2030 Challenge” Goals for Public Buildings also asserts that NACo supports federal efforts to promote green buildings. The resolution also highlights the outsized benefits of green, high performance school buildings and the need for greater emphasis to be placed on “life cycle costs” of all buildings rather than just on the initial capital costs.
“It is great when organizations of the caliber of NACo and the AIA can work together on this important issue,” added Commissioner Kenn Gardner, AIA. “The county level is where the rubber meets the road because local government is closest to the people, and this is where you solve land use, planning, and so many other important issues. Citizens don’t generally call the federal government when they have a problem, they call their local government.”
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