June 2009
As funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act begin to matriculate through states, a recent poll from the shows that 87 per cent of voters agree with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) that stimulus funds should be split between a mix of short- and long-term projects. This directly reflects a call to action for which the organization lobbied heavily during the passing of the bill. The results are from the AIA’s annual voter poll, which surveys opinions and attitudes on a number of infrastructural, environmental and political issues.
Voters Misidentify Greenhouse Gas Culprits
While voters agree with the AIA’s recommendations regarding how the stimulus dollars should be spent, they are less clear on major issues regarding sustainability efforts. The number of Americans aware that buildings contribute the majority of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere has fallen – down to four per cent from nine per cent in 2008. Voters incorrectly deemed cars and trucks (36 per cent), natural causes (22 per cent) and emissions from power plants (21 per cent) as the major offenders.
“While we are extremely pleased that our calls to action regarding the spending of stimulus funds on shovel-ready and long-term projects have resonated with Congress and the voters, it’s clear we still have work to do stressing the importance of sustainable design in regards to the built environment,” said AIA president, Marvin Malecha, FAIA.
“The energy-efficient retro-fitting of existing buildings, as well as the green development of new ones, will generate jobs for the building and construction industry and have a positive effect on generations to come.”
Less Driving, More Public Transportation
The poll also shows that calls for the building of mass transit centers are gaining traction among the electorate. The percentage of voters who said they agree federal and state governments should allocate less money for building new highways and more for building mass transit systems rose six percentage points-68 per cent agreeing in 2009, as compared to 62 per cent in 2008.
In addition, voters supported economic stimulus package funds going toward the rebuilding of transportation, sewer and water systems (11 per cent) and modernizing of school buildings (6 per cent)–an additional area for which the AIA has heavily advocated.
Funding Renewable Energy Sources
Voters also would like to see more money dedicated to the exploration of energy independence. The percentage of voters calling for the U.S. to become less dependent on foreign oil rose fourteen per cent–65 per cent in 2009 as compared to 51 per cent in 2008. More than half of those surveyed (56 per cent) indicated they would support a tax that would increase gasoline taxes by 50 per cent per gallon if they money went into a 10-year program to develop alternative fuels and create new energy sources. That number dips to 41 per cent, however, if funds are invested in programs that reduce global warming, cut carbon emissions and protect the environment.
Through its ‘Walk the Walk‘ campaign, the AIA will continues educate, promote and encourage sustainable design among consumers, business owners and architects. The full results of the AIA’s Nationwide Voter Survey can be found here.
This survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 voters in the United States between January 13-19, 2009. The survey was developed for the American Institute of Architects by The Clarus Research Group. The margin of error for the sample overall is +/-3.1%.
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