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Energy independence is within our grasp, according to Edward Mazria, founder and executive director of Architecture 2030. Speaking at the first annual National Clean Energy Summit hosted by U.S. Senator Harry Reid, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Mazria explained that buildings are the key to phasing out conventional coal and reducing oil imports by 86% by the year 2030.

Presenting a three-pronged solution called the 2030 Blueprint, Mazria showed how energy use in buildings is fueling both escalating energy needs and climate change. Buildings are responsible for about half (48%) of all energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US annually, and they use 76% of all the energy produced by the nation's power plants. According to Mazria, "If you are serious about energy independence and climate change, you must tackle the Building Sector."