ARCHITECTS in Worcester are being challenged to design energy-efficient buildings to help save the planet.
The West Midlands Region of the Royal Institute of British Architects wants the city's designers to play their part in cutting carbon dioxide emissions to stall the effects of global warming.
Professor Peter Smith, the RIBA's environment spokesman, warned the end of fossil fuels was at hand and that in the future, electricity used in buildings would come from millions of micro turbines, solar panels and hydrogen powered fuel cells.
"We are on the threshold of a series of technological breakthrough," Prof Smith said.
"The RIBA is among many who believe that the fuel cell is the power source of the future.
"Within the next five to 10 years there should be a quantum improvement in the efficiency of solar cells coupled with a substantial reduction in unit cost."
RIBA's campaign is backed by the Midlands Renewable Energy Technology Transfer and De Montfort University.
"Buildings account for more than a third of energy consumption and therefore offer the best potential for making reductions in carbon dioxide emissions," said Clare Jenkins, regional director for RIBA West Midlands.
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