Connection
MC: Sure, our nation’s residential and commercial buildings use about 40% of the nation’s energy and account for 35% of the country’s carbon emissions. Buildings waste onethird of the energy they consume. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year just to heat, cool, and power our building stock. We have a really big opportunity in front of us to accelerate the building sector’s transformation, to meet the growing urgency of the climate crisis, and to have the opportunity to set an example in the federal government, the largest energy user in the whole country. We can improve the efficiency of our federal buildings and facilities. We’re taking a whole-government approach to update programs across government sectors to comply with the current 2019 ASHRAE 90.1 and the 2021 IECC. But we also need to improve the efficiency of the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants. Through collaborations between the Better Buildings Initiative, Better Plants, and the Department of Energy, we’re looking to accelerate and share best practices to do the real work of cutting energy costs by being more efficient. We’re developing specific road maps to guide research and development activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re excited to share potential pathways to decarbonization with our non-governmental partners since we all have a role to play in addressing climate change.
GK: Mark, it has been very inspiring to learn about some of the important roles you have stepped up into and to hear your passion for how architects can be part of the decarbonizing-buildings charge. Before we part, can you tell us about your current state of mind and how you’re hopeful for the change we may see in our future? MC: I am very hopeful right now. I think we are not going to miss this opportunity to galvanize across our federal departments, across our state lines, and across our municipal and town initiatives. I think we’re in a place now where we are the most connected we’ve ever been on the climate change front, and now we just need to utilize our resources to actually meet this particular challenge. For the young architects out there, I encourage you to be advocates and trailblazers. Go discover how your voice can integrate into your firms and into your communities, and don’t be afraid to lead a charge for change. If we all band together on this climate action front, the architecture profession can be the primary partner with our local communities to tip policies towards a greener and more healthy future for us all.
Gail Kubik, Associate AIA
Kubik is the Director of Resilient Design and Research at Fused Studios in Salem, MA. She is also the Massachusetts AIA State Disaster Coordinator and serves as the Associate Representative in the AIA Strategic Council. Kubik is a recipient of the 2018 AIA Associate’s Award.
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