We have less than seven years to dramatically alter our future. Under our year-long Vision 2020 program, we have conferred with building industry experts to establish a timeline critical goals and metrics we must establish and meet by the year 2020 in order to preserve our environment and meet large-scale goals such as those of the 2030 Challenge. Scroll over points in the timeline below, which has been updated for 2013, to learn more about the path ahead in green building. Then, visit Ecobuildingpulse.com/Vision-2020 to learn more about what we uncovered in this year's program.
Architecture 2030 releases the 2030 Palette, a free online tool to foster low-carbon building principles.
Open Building techniques, separating a homeís shell from its interior systems and components to extend the building's lifespan, gains traction in the U.S.
DOE Challenge Home Version 2 released.
Nationwide professional certification program established for building science experts.
A minimum of five builders offer net-zero home designs as options in the top 50 housing markets.
American buildings cut energy use by an average of 2.5% annually, and reduce energy use by 20% since 2011.
2027: Net-zero energy homes become a national standard.
Market expands availability of affordable energy retrofit systems.
IECC 2012 adopted by all 50 states.
Twenty U.S. cities operate energy benchmarking and reporting programs.
Home energy-management systems become a standard residential feature on new homes.
Water and energy policies addressed jointly on a consistent basis.
Energy modeling becomes standard for 50% of all new homes.
The majority of U.S. states adopt the IECC 2015.
100 MW of installed renewable capacity across federally subsidized housing stock achieved.
Renewable electricity generation doubled from 2013 level.
Federal government gets 20% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations pass 400 parts per million (ppm). (Recommended threshold: 350 ppm.)
The U.N. reports scientists are 95% sure that humans are causing global warming.
U.N. climate talks to establish 2020 global climate treaty goals.
Arctic scientist predicts collapse of Arctic sea ice from global warming.
America reduces its greenhouse gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels.
50% of all new single family housing starts and 80% of new multifamily housing starts are green certified.
U.N. target for binding climate treaty and creation of $100 billion fund to assist poor countries with compliance.
Net-zero new homes mandated in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
Rapid prototyping patents expire, allowing widespread use.
IECC 2015 requires outdoor air monitoring to address indoor filtering requirements.
All electric appliances come equipped with radio-frequency identification chips for smart-grid management.
Bio-based mapping becomes common practice in design firms, fostered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred Program.
All homes equipped with smart meters.
50% of materials used in new homes are made from recycled content.
A standardized, far-reaching digital database of product ingredients becomes available.
2025: SIPs and insulating concrete forms account for 50% of residential construction.
San Francisco launches the Alliance for Innovation in Urban Water Systems to foster collaboration on water efficiency practices.
Beijing recycles 100% of its wastewater.
Prerequisites mandate collection, treatment, and use of alternative water sources.
Major U.S. cities begin creating designated recycled-water use areas that require dual plumbing in projects.
All public utilities offer demand response/time-of-day rate programs, as peak and off-peak season rate programs.
Residential water consumption reduced to 20 gallons/person/day.
California reduces water use by 20%; Santa Monica eliminates 100% imported water.
All homes meet EPA WaterSense criteria.
2021: Lake Mead goes dry.
2021: Irrigated turf landscaping limited to 40% of property footprint.
2022: National graywater use standard established.
2022: Water subsidies removed, and block water pricing implemented.
LEED v4 passed by USGBC membership.
NGBS ICC 700-2015 released with progressive performance guidelines.
National certification program created for residential energy efficiency professionals.
LEED v5 released, featuring an increased association between energy and water.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) included in Federal Trade Comission Green Guides.
NGBS ICC 700-2018 released with new performance guidelines.
All of the Leading Home Builders of America certify 90% of homes under independent green certification.
LEED v6 released, addressing regenerative and energy- and water-positive design and occupancy.
Majority of U.S. building codes shift from prescriptive to outcome-based codes.
2023: Solar permitting and installation requirements are standardized.
The Green Appraisal Addendum from the Appraisal Institute aims to better value the performance of green homes.
Research finds owners of energy-efficient homes are 32% less likely to default on their mortgages.
SAVE Act passes.
Twenty states legislate insurance discounts for green-certified homes.
16,000 jobs created by passage of SAVE Act.
Federal energy tax credits extended to 2020 for solar, wind, and ground-source heat pumps.
50,000 jobs created by passage of SAVE Act.
Cost of home efficiency ratings becomes eligible for financing and is included in home inspection or appraisal processes.
Green mortgage backed securities market begins to flourish as real-time property data is linked with loan files.
