Big Picture Green Nicole Ferrini

1

n i co l e fe r r i n i , a s i d , r i d , l e ed ap

© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

big picture basics…


2

Global Disaster

EconomicEnvironmental

Social

Cost

$$$$$Economic Depression

False

Possible Action / Reaction

Global WarmingPossibilities

“Yes” “No”

True

the what if scenario…


triple bottom line:

• environmenthow we impact the planet

• societyhow we impact each other

• economyhow we impact resources and capital

three fold impact…


3

impact categories…

Source: Impact Categories Graphic, USGBC


for every action…


4

climate change…

• What is climate change?

– any distinct change in measures of climate lasting for a long period of time.

• What is global warming?

– an average increase in temperatures near the Earth’s surface and in the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

– Increases in temperatures in our Earth’s atmosphere can contribute to changes in global climate patterns.

• Impacts:

– Temperature, precipitation and sea level

– Which in turn impacts:

• Human health• Agriculture• Forest composition, health and

productivity• Water resources• Coastal areas• Wildlife

Source: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/downloads/Climate_Basics.pdf

“The observed widespread warming of the atmosphere and ocean, together with ice mass loss, support the conclusion that it is extremely unlikely that global climate change of the past 50 years can be explained without external forcing, and very likely that it is not due to known natural causes alone.”

Energy and the Environment Explained—Energy Information Administration


climate change + greenhouse gases…

• What are greenhouse gases (GHG)? – carbon dioxide (CO2)– methane (CH4)– nitrous oxide (N2O)– hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)– perfluorocarbons (PFCs) – sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

• Energy generated by fossil fuels account for 84% of carbon dioxide emissions in the US.

• Carbon Neutral

– achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset.

• Climate Neutral

– Extends to include other GHG regulated by the Kyoto Protocol

– Carbon Dioxide Equivalence (CDE or CO2e)


5

indoor environmental quality…

• Indoor Environmental Quality vs. Indoor Air Quality

– Air Quality addresses:

• Presence of contaminants in the air

• Movement of air in a space—ventilation

• Humidity and Temperature

– Environmental Quality addresses Air Quality

issues AND:

• Access to Daylight

• Appropriate Lighting Solutions

• Access to Views

• Acoustic Quality—privacy and comfort

• Ergonomics

“IEQ encompasses indoor air quality (IAQ), which focuses on airborne contaminants, as well as other health, safety, and comfort issues such as aesthetics, potable water surveillance, ergonomics, acoustics, lighting, and electromagnetic frequency levels. ”

Whole Building Design Guide, Sustainable Committee

Source: national institute of building sciences© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

resource depletion…

• What is a natural resource?

– Economically referred to as land or raw materials

– occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form

• Renewable vs. Non‐Renewable

– Renewable: Can be replenished or reproduced easily

• Sunlight, air or wind, agricultural crops, etc

– Non renewable: formed over long geological periods

• Minerals and fossils

“The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others.”

Theodore Roosevelt, Address to the Deep Waterway Convention, October 4, 1907

rainforest glacier oceans

REDUCE RE ‐USE RECYCLE


6

human health criteria—air, water + materials contact

• Air Pollution

– Six Common Air Pollutants

• Particle Pollution

• Ground level O‐Zone

• Carbon Monoxide

• Sulfur Oxides

• Nitrogen Oxides

• Lead

– EPA Clean Air Act of 1970

– Primary Standards are set based on Human Health

Criteria

– Attainment + Non Attainment Areas

• El Paso, Texas—Non Attainment

• Anthony, New Mexico—Non Attainment

Source: www.epa.gov/air

impact of environmental toxicity on human health



• Water Contamination– Every minute, 7 people die from bad water or no water

– 884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people.

– Lack of sanitation is the worlds biggest cause of infection

– Various causes including:

• Pesticides

• Household waste

• Industrial waste

• Poor Sanitation

Image Source: www.waterwise.com



7


• Materials Emissions

– Off Gassing

• VOCs—Volatile Organic Compounds– Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of

coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

• Common Substances to avoid…just to name a few

– Formaldehyde, Vinyl Chloride, Styrene, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Chromium, Acetone

– Toxic Chemicals

Picture Source: www.wtceo.org

• Number of firefighters on leave for respiratory problems by January 2002: 300

• Tons of asbestos used in the construction of the towers: 1,000

• Tons of debris generated from WTC: 1 Million

• Other contaminants found at ground zero: radionuclides, benzene. dioxins, PCBs, fibreglass. mercury, lead, silicon, and sulphuric acid



water…the world’s forgotten crisis

• We use water for:– Agricultural

– Domestic

– Industrial

– Environmental

• Water Stress– An imbalance between water consumption and available

resources

• Impacts of Global Warming:– Increased evaporation

– Rising Sea Levels cause saltwater infiltration of fresh water supply

– Water: “Too much, too little or too suddenly” (World Water Council)

"There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people ‐ and the environment ‐ suffer badly."

World Water Vision Report


8

water intake

Source: www.worldwatercouncil.org© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

the facts…

The overall green building market is likely to more than double from today’s $36‐49 billion to $96‐140 billion by 2013.

Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change

McGraw Hill Construction

Source: USGBC Green Building Facts

• In the United States buildings represent

– 38.9% of U.S. primary energy use

– 38% of all CO2 Emissions

– 13.6% of potable water usage (15 trillion gallons per year)

– 40% of raw materials usage globally

– 13.2% of the $13.2 trillion dollar GDP

© Copyright Uncommon LLC

9

the results…

Sustainable buildings:

– Save money

• Operating costs decrease

• Building value increases

• Return on investment improves

• Occupancy ratio increases

• Rent ratio increases

– Consume less energy and fewer resources

• 26% less energy

• 33% less greenhouse gas emissions

– Have healthier more productive occupants

• IEQ improvements are estimated to

save $17‐48 billion in total health gains

and $20‐160 billion in worker

performance


built in sustainability…

green projects benefit:

• owner

• end user

• community

• design team

• construction team

• environment

• economy


10

building a TEAM + holding it together…

“The key is to gang up on the problem rather than each other.”

Thomas StalkampDirector of Baxter International


stakeholder buy in…

• identify the stakeholders

• identify the real benefits of building sustainable—for YOUR

project

• this doesn’t work if you’re just checking boxes!!!

• responsibility, accountability and trust

“Management is doing things right—leadership is doing the right things.”

Peter F. Drukerwriter, management consultant, and self‐described “social ecologist

*Source: The Commercial Real Estate Revolution; 2009© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

11

collaborative communication…


the tools in the box…

• BIM—Building Information Modeling

• green building rating systems

• local, state and national standards

• LCA—Life Cycle Assessment

• third party oversight

• common sense + smart design

• creative thinking + innovation


12

process and innovation…

“We believe that innovation is essential anddesign makes a difference.”

David ThurmSenior Vice President of OperationsNew York Times Corporation*

*Source: The Commercial Real Estate Revolution; 2009© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

process and innovation…

Maximize Value

Minimize Waste


13

Decision Making…

the old decision making model


Brace yourselves, this means change…

the new decision making model


14

Does sustainable building have to cost more…

• Compare apples to apples

• Team Experience

• Planning

• Communication

• Accuracy

Cost is variable and dependent on three major factors:


building information modeling, have you joined the race…

• What is building information modeling (BIM) ?1

– the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle

– Typically it uses three‐dimensional, real‐time, dynamic building modeling software to increase productivity in building design and construction

– The process produces the Building Information Model (also abbreviated BIM), which encompasses building geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, and quantities and properties of building components.

• Reported Advantages:– The spreadsheet analogy– Feedback early in the design process = better decisions– Lower cost through better coordination and fewer changes– Can assist in documentation for the purposes of certification

1Source: Wikipedia; 2Source: The Commercial Real Estate Revolution; 2009

3D

• Visualization: Static + Dynamic

4D

• Time Factor: Sequence + Schedule

5D

• Quantity Takeoffs + Cost Analysis


15

LCA—life cycle assessment…

• LCA is a technique for assessing

the environmental aspects and

potential impacts associated

with a product or process over

the course of its life.

– raw materials acquisition

– manufacturing

– product fabrication

– filling, packaging and

distribution

– use, reuse, and

maintenance

– recycle, waste

management

Source: www.epa.gov© 2009 Copyright Uncommon LLC

green rating systems—what’s out there…

• USGBC—United States Green Building Council

– LEED for New Construction

– LEED for Commercial Interiors

– LEED for Maintenance + Operations

– LEED for Schools

– LEED for Homes

• GBI—Green Building Initiative

– Green Globes

• US DOE—United State Department of Energy

– Energy Star

• NAHB—National Association of Home Builders

• State of California

– CHPS (California High Performance Schools)


16

my top ten favorite rating system comments

10. “I couldn’t figure out the template, so I just guessed”

9. “Do I really have to put our actual numbers into the template?”

8. “How much does X number of points cost?”

7. “But I don’t want to provide actual materials cost?”

6. “Can we don’t and say we did?”

5. “Are they going to come back and check that we really

implemented these strategies?”

4. “Phew, 75% construction completion, almost done…can we do

LEEDS now?

3. “We’ve been designing sustainable buildings for years, we don’t

need a checklist.”

2. “How many points do I need to get a plaque?”

1. “I don’t need a rating system to build sustainable”

by : nicole ferrini


additional resources…

internet

• www.buildinggreen.com

• www.usgbc.org

• www.epa.gov

• www.energystar.gov

• www.eia.doe.gov

• www.architecture2030.org

• www.ipcc.ch

• www.greenbuildinginstitute.org

• www.wbdg.org

• www.nationalgeographic.com

• www.informedesign.umn.edu

• www.nature.com

print• the HOK Guidebook to

Sustainable Design• Natural Capitalism: The New

Industrial Revolution• The Commercial Real Estate

Revolution• Green Building A to Z:

Understanding the Language of Green Building

• LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction

• Nature—International Weekly Journal of Science

• National Geographic

* for more information about sustainable practices in this region, contact the USGBC Chihuahuan Desert Chapter


17


Big Picture Green Nicole Ferrini

Documents

Transcript of Big Picture Green Nicole Ferrini