Cal Poly Participates in International Webcast on Global Climate Change Feb. 20

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design invites the university community and the public to participate in the Global Climate Change Teach-In Webcast, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PST in Chumash Auditorium.

Students, faculty and practicing professionals in the architecture, planning and design communities around the world will learn how they can reduce greenhouse emissions through design during the international, interactive event. The event is free but seating is limited to 800.

Participants unable to join the Chumash event can log on at http://www.2010imperative.org and are encouraged to log on in groups to help avoid excessive system load.

The Teach-in is sponsored by Architecture 2030, in partnership with the Campus Climate Challenge, the United States Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects, the Home Depot Foundation, AmericaSpeaks and others.

Despite the focus on transportation, buildings are the largest single source of greenhouse emissions in the world, according to Architecture 2030, a non-profit spearheaded by internationally renowned passive solar architect Ed Mazria that is devoted to getting the building industry carbon neutral by the year 2030.

During the Teach-in, participants can interact with leaders at the forefront of design and climate change. Panelists include Susan Szenasy, editor in chief of Metropolis Magazine; James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies; Edward Mazria, AIA, founder of Architecture 2030; and Chris Luebkeman, director of Arup’s Global Foresight and Innovation Initiative.

For more than a decade, Cal Poly has been engaged in sustainability and ecological design projects including an award-winning solar house, part of the United States Department of Energy’s 2005 Solar Decathlon competition; a national award for eco-literacy for interdisciplinary CAED coursework on sustainable environments; a new photovoltaic system, part of an extended California State pilot program, which is expected to generate 263,000 kilowatt hours per year; and LEED Certification is expected for Cal Poly’s newest student housing project, Poly Canyon Village.

For more information about other Cal Poly sustainability initiatives, visit http://www.facilities.calpoly.edu/campusprojects/projects/sustainability/index3.htm.

For more information about the event, contact Architecture Professor Sandy Stannard at 801-8858.

For information about Architecture 2030, visit http://www.architecture2030.org/.

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