According to the American Institute of Architects, these are the facts:

• Buildings account for 48% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and this number is set to increase;
• 76% of all power plant-generated electricity is used just to operate buildings;
• In order to avoid reaching the threshold of “dangerous climate change,” the building sector needs to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 10 percent or more in 5-year intervals until 2030.

graphs courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy

The GreenDesignCollective was created to encourage everyone to build smarter and greener buildings, and especially to empower average citizens to save energy. By reducing energy consumption in your home, you reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere, and you help slow down global warming. But saving energy is about more than just reducing carbon emissions - it makes sense financially, as well. As the cost of energy rises, conserving energy in our homes will become even more important.

“Each and every one of us can start thinking about how can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings … (my administration would be) making sure that you are able to weatherize your home or make your business more fuel efficient.”
- Senator Barack Obama, Second Presidential Debate, October 7, 2008

In its "beta testing period", the GreenDesignCollective will provide a tool that allows Americans to find renovation strategies that may save energy in their homes, as well as case studies for comparison and links to additional resources. The GreenDesignCollective hopes to evolve to serve designers as well as the public, in order to empower anyone who wants to learn more about how to build or renovate with green design principles.