Minneapolis, April 21, 2009 – Today leading global integrated design firm, Perkins+Will launched the 2030 e2 Energy Estimating Tool. This free online tool was created to assist Perkins+Will’s 1500 designers in designing buildings to achieve the 2030 Challenge. Specifically, 2030 e2 allows users to set target goals for four key areas: energy efficiency, on-site and grid-supplied renewable energy, plus green power offsets (RECs) when designing new buildings or retrofitting existing buildings. In response to the urgency of global climate change Perkins+Will has decided to make the beta tool publicly available.
“Perkins+Will is committed to meeting the 2030 Challenge and has proactively built the estimating tool to support our designers as they strive to achieve the Challenge reduction goals,” said Doug Pierce, a senior associate, AIA, LEED AP™ in Perkins+Will’s Minneapolis office. “We created an easy-to-use tool that would help us set energy goals to comply with all aspects of the design phase and meet the benchmarks of the 2030 Challenge. The data it provides is highly useful, so it made sense to us to make this tool publicly available for everyone’s benefit.”
The 2030 Challenge is a global initiative endorsed by the American Institute of Architects that addresses the need to reduce building energy use. Currently, buildings use about 76 percent of electricity produced in the United States and contribute approximately 48 percent of the annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through energy use, construction and maintenance. The 2030 Challenge calls for the aggressive reduction of energy in all new and existing residential, commercial and institutional buildings over the next 20 years with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Additionally, the 2030 Challenge calls for buildings to incorporate four key elements: energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy, grid-supplied renewable energy and up to 20 percent renewable energy offsets. The 2030 e2 Estimating Tool allows designers to explore different percentages of these elements to achieve the 2030 goals. Additionally, the tool can be used over and over to confirm 2030 compliance throughout the life of the project.
With over one thousand LEED Accredited Professionals, Perkins+Will is dedicated to promoting sustainable design and educating the industry about green building and its importance. The 2030 e2 is one of a series of knowledge-based contributions the firm has made to the wider industry. The internal Perkins+Will Green Operations Plan, which details specific firm practices for running a sustainable business, was the first such contribution. This plan can be found at http://www.perkinswill.com/sustainability/ourplan.
The beta-version of the 2030 e2 Estimating Tool is available for anyone to use. It can be found on the Perkins+Will website at http://2030e2.perkinswill.com. The tool will be updated when needed to incorporate feedback and add new functionality. For questions about this tool or to receive a demo of it, please contact Amanda Sturgeon at amanda.sturgeon@perkinswill.com. Â
About Perkins+Will
Established in 1935, Perkins+Will (www.perkinswill.com) is an integrated design firm serving clients from 21 offices around the world. The firm practices architecture, interiors, branded environments, planning + strategies and urban design with clients in the aviation, corporate + commercial + civic, healthcare, higher education, K-12 education, and science + technology markets. Perkins+Will routinely ranks among the world's top design firms and has received hundreds of awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architects' "Firm of the Year Award."Â With more LEED(r) Accredited Professionals than any other firm, Perkins+Will is recognized as a leader in the sustainable design movement.
