DAJ Design - 2030 Challenge
Jun 4th, 2008 by DAJ Design
“Rapidly accelerating climate change (global warming), which is caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is now fueling dangerous regional and global environmental events. 
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration illustrates that buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all GHG emissions annually. Seventy-six percent of all electricity generated by US power plants goes to supply the Building Sector. Therefore, immediate action in the Building Sector is essential if we are to avoid hazardous climate change.”
The above paragraph is the introduction to the 2030 Challenge, which is an organization created by New Mexican architect, Ed Mazaria, who’s goal is to curb greenhouse gas emissions within the building sector in response to the ever present global warming crisis. The result would be a significant change in the way buildings are planned, designed, and built. The challenge is for all buildings built today to be at least 50% more energy efficient for the regional average performance standard for that building type. Then over time, the fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings shall be increased to:
- 60% in 2010
- 70% in 2015
- 80% in 2020
- 90% in 2025
- Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate)
DAJ Design, an architectural design studio, is one of a few Boulder area firms who have adopted the 2030 Challenge. The projects that DAJ Design has recently completed offer more than the token marketing nod to green building, but rather focus on deep energy retrofits and high performance new home building. Each project undergoes an intense site planning process, along with a complete energy and material use analysis, which help define the means and methods used to construct each building. Access to natural resources help define mechanical and renewable energy strategies, and a tight interior finish specification allows the building to be free from most of the typical indoor air pollutants. All new homes by DAJ Design are LEED for Homes compliant, and all remodels follow the ReGreen 2008 guidelines.
The homes have a huge impact on our environment. According to the USGBC, the U.S. residential market accounts for:
- 22% of total energy consumed
- 74% of the drinkable water consumed
- 21% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to climate change
- Much higher levels of indoor pollutants found in conventional homes
Some of DAJ Design’s recently completed projects (defined by % reduction in average energy usage):
50% reduction
- 1802 Canyon Development, Boulder, CO - speculative housing development
- Utica House, Boulder, CO - custom-built, single family residence (photo above)
70% reduction
- Summerlin Development, Longmont, CO - speculative housing development
- Nine10 Arts, Denver, CO - LEED adaptive reuse project for low cost live-work lofts and individual studio spaces for artists displaced by downtown Denver developments. Selected as the Colorado USGBC’s Colorado Exemplary Project, and selected as the USGBC Greenbuild 2006 Legacy Project.
100% reduction
- Scrub Oak House, Boulder, CO - deep energy retrofit of 1970’s ranch-style house (130% net producer). Used as the case study project for the USGBC/ASID’s ReGreen 2008 guidelines.
1802 Canyon Blvd. Rendering:
Summerlin Rendering:
Nine10 Arts:
Additional Links:
Regreen Deep Energy Retrofit (pdf)
Eco-Futures Building
Is there anywhere to find more information on the Scrub Oak house? I’m dealing with a late 60’s ranch in SE Boulder that would be nice to retrofit. 130% seems like one helluva goal; but just a few pointers would be super.
The Scrub Oak house can be viewed at the ReGreen site: www.regreenprogram.org/documents/cs_deepenergyretrofit.pdf