Training Module 1:

Purpose: “To foster a dramatic and necessary improvement in the performance and resiliency of our physical infrastructure across the full spectrum of sustainability.”

Access and improve sustainability Institute for sustainable infrastructure (American Public Works Association, American Council of

Engineering Companies, ASCE) collaborative effort to identify issues and solutions 60 criteria (credits) assess environmental, social, and economic impacts

Quality of Life = Protecting and growing strong communities More than a scoring tool, also a guide A universal framework gives the confidence to know the full range of impacts and trade-offs Not designed for buildings for solely human occupation Planning & Design, Construction (under development) , O&M (under development) Improved, Enhanced, Superior, conserving, restorative Total points achieved / Total points possible Self-Assessments are free and no restrictions Verification

o 1. Register the projecto 2. Pay a service feeo 3. Go through third-party verification

Anyone can use envision can be used at any stage of a project Can be submitted after 95% design completion, up to 3 years after construction is completed

o before that time = not enough documentation Ways to use Envision

o Education, Framework, Communication, Planning and Design Guide, Internal Self-Assessment, Recognition, Achievement, Internal Accountability, Public Accountability

The modern concept of sustainability was first formally established in 18th century Europe. Earth = closed system Triple bottom line Overshoot = when the ecological footprint exceeds biocapacity Infrastructure development should consider its direct impacts on overconsumption and how

infrastructure can encourage more responsible resource consumption As nations develop they increase their ecological footprints Sustainable infrastructure development is about

o building stronger, more resilient communitieso providing safe and reliable services that preserve what people value

Quality of their community Their environment their future

Envision Guidance Manual:o The official referenceo Each credit section has 6 important parts

Improved: Slightly exceed conventional practice

Enhanced: Notable advancements Superior: High Performance Conserving: 100% reductions or no negative impacts Restorative: Positive impact through restoration NOT ALL Credits have all 4 levels of achievement Provide sufficient documentation to answer the criteria questions and demonstrate

achievement Envision is comprised of both qualitative and quantitative credits and evaluation criteria Envision is a guide to making better decisions The ENV SP and project team present a narrative and supporting documentation demonstrating

they have met the requirements of the credit Yes/no, quantifiable targets, and subjective Projects cannot receive partial points or be assessed between levels For non-applicable credits the ENV SP must demonstrate that assessing the criteria is not

possible Not acceptable reasons for identifying a credit as “not applicable”

o The stakeholders indicated the issues are not a priorityo Local laws or regulations prohibit the credit activityo the company or organization conducting the Envision assessment does not have

decision making authorityo the scope of the project does not consider the issueo achieving the credit requirements would be too expensiveo achieving the credit requirements would be too difficult

0.0 Innovate or exceed credit requirements (Extra credit)o exceeding credit requirementso innovation, new-thinking, overcoming significant problems, barriers, or limitations OR

creating scalable and/or transferable solutions Scoresheet

o a digital version of the rating systemo Functionalities

Create and define a project assess performance in each credit tally points and present scores

o Achieving 100% in every credit will not be possibleo envision points encourage projects to focus on where they can achieve the greatest

impacto Projects that score 20% to 50% should be proud of their achievement

Verification and Award Programo requirement, third-party confirmation, internal accountability, recognitiono 6 steps to the reward processo Preregistration: self-assessment o Registration: discuss project overview, verification timeline, answer questions between

ENV SP and ISI verifier

o Assessment: clear and concise documentation for every credit, link each piece of supporting documentation to a specific evaluation criteria

o Verification: Verifier reviews the assessment to confirm levels of achievement and sends back to ENV SP with comments

o Award: Envision award ceremony, press release, award plaque Supplemental Material:

o pre-assessment checklist, does not correlate directly to Envision scores ENV SP

o

For the Blog:

Glossary tab gives you definitions of unknown terms There is a transcript tab that allows you to view the written narration Menu tab shows you what the different sections are. You can not skip sections to you have to

complete the first one before moving on to the next. There is a play/pause button to allow you to stop the module. There is also a prev and next

button the navigate to different sections. Earth is a finite resource Voyager 1 took a photo of the earth as it exited the known solar system. Earth looked like a pale

blue dot. It may not seem significant at that distance but to us it means everything. “That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.” – Carl Sagan “…preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known” 1. Introduction to Envision, 2. Quality of Life, 3. Leadership, 4. Resource Allocation, 5. Natural

World, 6. Climate and Risk, 7. Using Envisiono overview of category, how to assess each credit, interactionso Module 7 = assessing and scoring projects, example projects, details of the verification

process Module 1: Overview of Envision and ISI, Role and purpose of Envision, Brief introduction to

sustainability, organization/structure of Envision, introduction to using Envision

Module 2: Quality of Life

An overview of the category, its importance, organization/structure of credits, information about each credit, examples of its application, practice

project impacts on communities at multiple scales Intangible ways people can be negatively impacted by infrastructure: light pollution, noise,

limited mobility Net positive outcome for the community Projects that are sensitive to the values of the community will be considered more valuable to

the community 13 Credits

o Purpose Macro and long-term impacts of the project “Is this the right project?”

o Wellbeing:

impacts to individuals safety and protection from disturbances, mobility and access to transportation

o Community: Aspects that impact livability and desirability unique history, culture, and local character

1. Purpose: o Does the project align with community goals and plans?o Will it stimulate responsible, equitable, and sustainable economic growth?o Will it lead to improved skills and capabilities for the future?o Project’s impacts on the functional aspects of the community:

Growth, development, job creation. livability, business attractiveness, general improvement

o Positive results include: community education, outreach, knowledge creation, worker training

o Project’s should balance short-term wants with long-term needso QL1.1 (p. 20-21)

about improving the quality of life of communities affected by the project through the understanding and advancement of the needs and goals specific to that community

dialog between stakeholders and skilled professionals holistic assessment of needs and concerns Communities should be:

informed about trade-offs be provided freedom and input to determine their own quality of life

and community charactero QL1.2

encourages the long-term viability of communities through sustainable growth, recognizing that sustainable growth does not necessarily mean expansion

Contributing to sustainable growth and development: Livability - recreation, community attractiveness, culture, capacity attractiveness – creates jobs b/c people want to live/work there

o QL1.3 encourages the long-term viability of communities by expanding the knowledge,

skills, and capacity of the workforce 14 million people are employed in infrastructure projects

2. Wellbeing (6 credits) (First 3) Health and Safety, Noise and Vibration, Light Pollutions (Last 3) Transportation and Mobility

o QL2.1 encourages projects to go above and beyond existing regulatory requirements

regarding health and safety when new materials, technologies, or methodologies are utilized

the system recognizes projects that go above and beyond to ensure these new applications are implemented with an additional focus on health and safety

proper operation and maintenanceo QL2.2

targets the noises and disturbances from infrastructure construction and operation that degrades the quality of life of those impacted by the project

Noise contributed to: cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment of children, tinnitus, sleep deprivation, and annoyance

o QL2.3 encourages projects to reduce unnecessary light in order to improve quality of

life, conserve energy, and protect ecosystems Excessive light at night impacts: disrupts ecosystem health, wastes energy, has

adverse impacts on human health Types of Light Pollution: glare, light trespass, and skyglow

o QL2.4 asks project teams to consider mobility impacts across the community and

encourages collaboration to achieve the best solution for improved mobility Transportation of personal, materials, and waste How the project will impact the mobility of individuals in the community coordination with adjacent facilities, stakeholders, or transportation hubs whether projects can reduce their contribution to congestion

o QL2.5 (p. 34-35) promotes multi-modal systems and alternatives to single occupancy vehicles Non-motorized transportation and public transportation Important for: resource efficiency, reducing greenhouse gases, and improved

livabilityo QL2.6 (p. 36-37)

recognizes the impacts that projects can have on individual safety, accessibility, and wayfinding of individuals on or around the site

Barriers are no always the best way to protect individual safety: more dangerous situations, difficult navigation, negative impacts on property values, increase in vandalism in and around the site

Safe and easy navigation can provide a benefit to the surrounding community and improve perceptions of infrastructure

3. Community (3 credits) Historic and cultural resources are about the culture that makes communities unique today Local character is what makes communities desirable places to live Infrastructure that is a visible asset to communities helps the public understand the importance

of infrastructureo QL3.1 Preserve Historic and Cultural Resources

strives to preserve local culture and history for future generations, as well as enhances community identity, attractiveness, and character

Laws help to protect historic and cultural resources, but many resources are still lost to development or neglect

Identification of historic and cultural resources fully preserving the character defining features of historic resources

increased significance placed on historic and cultural resourceso QL3.2 Preserve Views and Local Character

seeks to maintain the local character, desirability, and sense of community development should seek to preserve: natural landscapes, mountains, forests,

wetlands, farms, trails, observation points Supporting the community in developing policies for local character Determination of the local character

o QL3.3 Enhance Public Space (p. 42-43) seeks to make improvements to public spaces like parks, plazas, recreational

facilities, and hiking trails for the purpose of enhancing community livability Two critical elements to public space:

1. Infrastructure provides the basic services of life and prosperity. In providing one service, we should not have to negatively impact the other.

2. Infrastructure’s history has been to be “out of sight and out of mind.” Where possible, design infrastructure to be attractive and accessible

Adding public space to increase livability Stakeholder satisfaction with project plans

Module 3: Leadership (10 credits)

Determining the best sustainable projects requires collaborators, stakeholders, and project team members.

Broad range of input and perspectives Commitment, planning, and management systems Subcategories: Collaboration, Management, Planning Trends:

o commitments to improve sustainabilityo ICLEI – Local governments for sustainability, over 1000 urban regions, cities, towns, and

rural communities, over 450 US and 30 Canadian memberso Resilient communities for Americao Lots of infrastructure was built after WWII and is reaching end of life (40-60 years)

Collaboration (4 credits)

Broad and effective collaboration early can increase the sustainability potential at little to no cost

address early commitments to sustainabilityo LD1.1 Provide Effective Leadership and Commitment

recognizes that a strong commitment to sustainability by the owner and project team is the only way to ensure a sustainable solution

requires strong documentation: should demonstrate real commitment and actions, focus on owners or lead organizations with decision authority NOT advertising or promotional

The extent to which the project owner and project tam have made public commitments to improve sustainability

o LD1.2 Establish a Sustainability Management system focuses on creating policy and authority regarding the roles and responsibilities

for implementing sustainability plans ISO 14001 & 14004 Standards: Guidance on how to create an EMS to implement

policies and objectives effectively. Can be amended to incorporate the full range of sustainability criteria

o LD1.3 Foster Collaboration and Teamwork foster more sustainable projects by encouraging whole system design and input

from various team members in early decision-making Agreements and contracts should align toward better communication and

collaboration Charettes

o LD1.4 Provide for Stakeholder Involvement (p. 56-57) is critical for ensuring projects align and take into account community input comprehensive, thorough, and well-timed public communication can make the

difference the impacted public provides the social license to operate social license: general support of a community addressing community concerens can help ensure the end users understand the

communities values and the projects intended use

Management (2 credits) Incorporating systems thinking: 1. the integration of material and resources. How waste

materials or waste energy can be utilized. 2. Integration of infrastructure sytems within a project, network, or across infrastructure systems

o LD2.1 Pursue By-Product Synergy Opportunities (p.58-59) recognizes that directly using a waste stream as a resource is even more

efficient than purchasing recycled materials (RA 1.3) Kalundborg Eco-Industrial Park Points can be achieved for by-products utilized during design, construction, or

operation. Envision recognizes that it may not always be possible to utilize by-products

o LD2.2 Improve Infrastructure Integration (p. 60-61) the operational relationships of existing infrastructure networks to improve

performance Asses project in relationship to its impact on the overall performance of the

system

Planning (3 credits)

Operate and maintain the project as efficiently and as long as possible Extend the life of the project

o LD3.1 Plan for Long-term monitoring and Maintenance (p. 62-63) asks projects to put plans and policies in place to ensure proper protection

measures and operational performance are maintained

Plans to monitor and maintain infrastructure help transmit critical knowledge to ensure projects meet performance goals

o LD3.2 Address Conflicting Regulations and Policies (p. 64-65) recognizes that helping to change policies that run counter to sustainability

objectives can have impacts far beyond the individual project Piloting demonstration projects or helping to change design standards can help

ease the way for more sustainable projects in the future Envision recognizes: changing regulations and policies is not always possible and

conflicting regulations may not exist (may not be applicable)o LD3.3 Extend Useful Life (p. 66-67)

Focuses on designing the project to be more durable, flexible, and resilient Planning & Design: proper maintenance can be facilitated during design.

Consider how projects expand or adapt to increased growth and demand Construction: proper maintenance is critical

Module 4: Resource Allocation (14 credits)

Resources: assets that are needed to build infrastructure and keep it operational Subcategories: Material, Energy, and Water Quantity, source, characteristics, impacts on sustainability .008% of all Earth’s water is accessible freshwater All Water: 97.5% Saltwater, 2.5% Freshwater Freshwater: 70% is glaciers and snow. And 30% is liquid freshwater Liquid freshwater: 99% groundwater, 1% rivers and lakes Consider costs and impacts associated with energy and materials needed to: extract water, treat

water, transport water, re-treat water, and discharge water Consider costs and impacts associated with environmental impacts on: source waters, receiving

waters

Materials:

Material Reduction: Minimizing the total amount of materials used should be a primary consideration for infrastructure projects. This reduces the amount of natural resources that must be extracted and processed, and the energy required to produce and transport those materials use must be balanced with safety, stability, and durability.

Material Reuse or Recycling: reusing materials or using materials with recycled content can also mitigate material use

Low Impact Material Extraction: The source of materials also matters. We can reduce the impacts of materials obtained from distant sources by sourcing regionally if the same type and quality of material is available.

Waste Reduction: We can Pursue options to reduce waste and to divert waste to beneficial reuse. The life cycle of a material should always be considered: where it has come from and where it will go after its useful life in the project. Consideration should be given to the materials ability to be recycled or reused, its durability, and its adaptability. These help minimize the amount of natural resources consumed in the future.

o RA1.1 Reduce Net Embodies Energy (p. 74-75)

addresses the need to use materials efficiently and to weight their relative impact by understanding their net embodied energy

Net embodied energy: the energy needed to extract, transport, and process or manufacture “Cradle to gate”, material intensity

An inventory of embodies energy data by manufacturers or sourced from existing databases

A streamlined LCA focusing on materials of significant quantity in the project The embodied energy components of a complete project

o RA1.2 Support Sustainable Procurement Practices (p. 76-77) emphasizes the importance of sourcing materials from companies that

implement sustainable practices Reduce negative environmental impacts by implementing an Environmental

Management system (EMS) (ISO 14001 Standards) & Disclose added chemical constituents and residuals

o RA1.3 Use Recycled Materials (p. 78-79) reduces the impact of material consumption by encouraging the use of

reused or recycled content, reused materials, excavated aggregates NOT RECYLCED METERIALS: reuse of existing plants & soils, or the use of

excavated materials as fill post-industrial or post-consumer recycling Calculated percentages can be of weight of volume (REMAIN CONSISTANT) Component weight/volume * % recycled material = calculated %

o RA1.4 Use Reginal Materials (p. 80-81) minimizes transportation costs and impacts while retaining regional benefits

to local communities assessed on the percentage of total materials that are sourced regionally to

minimize transportation distance soils, mulches, aggregates, and sand (50 miles radius) concrete (100 miles) Plants (250 miles) all other materials (500 miles) use the last manufacturing step for calculation (consider material origins byt

not required) Equipment, such as electromechanical, can be excluded from the calculation The most efficient equipment should be specified regardless of distance

o 1. Project team discuses the credit objectives in order to reach a common understanding and set goals 2. the team identifies specific opportunities and documents design choices for meeting those goals 3. an inventory of the project materials to help document credits 4. identifies those materials that meet the credit requirements 5. a narrative needed to explain calculations 6. some credits have additional requirements specific to each level of achievement which should be documented

o RA1.5 Divert waste from Landfills (p. 82-83)

the goal is to reduce waste generation and to direct waste to beneficial reuse. This is assessed through the percentage of waste diverted from disposal

Both construction and operational waste is counted Acceptable Diversion: waste reduction, onsite reusing or recycling, sending

materials to recycling or reclamation facilities, sending materials directly to manufacturers to be used as recycled content, composting materials on or off site, sing materials as infill, incinerating biomass for energy generation

Unacceptable Diversion: incinerating materials not classified as biomasso RA1.6 Reduce Excavated Materials Taken Off Site (84-85)

minimizes the impact of transporting excavated materials and helps protect the quality of the soil ecology

o RA1.7 Provide for Deconstruction and Recycling Levels of Achievement (86-87) encourages designing projects in a manner to maximize the potential reuse

or recycling of materials or usable components when the project reaches the end of its useful life

ensuring materials have value at the end of their life

Energy (3 credits)

Monitoring energy systems is critical to: ensure projects function as planes. Maintain the intended level of efficiency throughout the project

o RA2.1 Reduce Energy Consumption (p. 88-89) targets operational and maintenance energy consumption over the

project’s life reduce energy used by fossil fuels Does not include operational energy calculation should consider: electricity form the grid, onsite energy

generation, fuel consumption, vehicular energy consumption Benchmarks: the estimated energy consumption of a proposed

project alternative, existing codes for energy consumption, a comparison of the energy consumed by existing systems which the project will replace, and measured data of a similar project with justification the comparison is valid

o RA2.2 Use Renewable Energy (p. 90-91) encourages projects to meet energy needs though renewable

energy sources % from Renewable Sources decreasing overall energy use (RA2.1) leads to an increase in %

renewable energy (RA2.2)o RA2.3 Commission and Monitor Energy Systems (p. 92-93)

addresses the need to ensure projects operate as intended and continue to operate efficiently over their intended life

Factors that can impact project operation: 1. systems not being installed correctly 2. systems not being maintained properly with a

decrease in performance 3. adaptation later in life without understanding the system impacts 4. the loss of institutional knowledge on how the systems should be operated

Water (3 credits)

Two roles of water: 1. integral part of the natural world involved in all ecosystem services. 2. A vital resource used by society for industry, energy, food, recreation, landscape, and health

factors associated with water as a resourceo RA3.1 Protect Fresh Water Availability (p. 94-95)

encourages Envision users to look beyond the project site to the greater watershed

o RA3.2 Reduce Potable Water Consumption (p. 96-97) Targets reducing overall water consumption. The credit encourages

replacing potable water consumption with non-potable alternatives water conservation is not only an issue for water scarce regions Conserving water avoids the large amounts of energy consumed in:

pumping water, treating water, distributing water, collecting wastewater, retreating wastewater, chemical use, waste impacts, and effluent impacts

o RA3.3 Monitor Water Systems (p. 98-99) recognizes the need to monitor water systems to ensure their

proper performance 7 billion gallons of treated water are lost a day due to leaks 10% of all treated water from utilities was lost through leaks performance areas: reduced consumption, improved efficiency,

shifting water demand to off-peak hours, increasing groundwater recharge, improving the quality of discharge or runoff

Module 5: Natural World

Ecosystems – Biotic and abiotic Four Categories of Ecosystem Services

Consideration should be given to whether restoring them might be most beneficial for projects and the communities they serve

Addresses how to be aware of and minimize negative impacts to ecosystems Encourages infrastructure to interact with natural systems in a synergistic way Subcategories: Siting, land and Water, Biodiversity

World population has double over the past 40 years 40% waterways too contaminated for swimming

Siting (7 credits)

Siting projects to minimize environmental impacts avoiding sensitive sites (surface waters, prime habitat, farmland) providing sufficient buffers to avoid direct disturbance Avoid disrupting natural cycles by protecting geology for: groundwater recharge, preserving

floodplains, reducing risks of erosion Location risks: earthquakes, floods, landslides, wildfires The use of previously developed or disturber sites are ideal for: preventing further damage,

improving land value, and remediating contamination Documentation should demonstrate that locating the project on or near the sensitive site was

consideredo NW1.1 Preserve Prime Habitat (p. 106-107)

encourages projects to avoid development on sites of high ecological value or sites that have species of high value, and to provide protective buffers around existing prime habitats

Not all “environmentally critical” areas are protected at the municipal, state or federal level

Do you know the ecological value of the site?o NW1.2 Protect Wetlands & Surface Water (p. 108-109)

addressed the need to protect wetland and surface waters with natural “buffer” zones in order to ensure their proper functioning

Riparian Buffers (Vegetated Soil Protection Zones (VSPZ)): protect wildlife habitat, regulate water temp, maintain water quality, protect hydrology, protect against human disturbance

o NW1.3 Preserve Prime Farmland (p. 110-111)

helps ensure productive farmland is not used for developmento NW1.4 Avoid Adverse Geology (p. 112-113)

has a dual purpose of preventing damage to sensitive geologic formations, as well as safeguarding projects from hazards posed by adverse geology

Karst Topography = protecto NW1.5 Preserve Floodplain Functions (p. 114-115)

limit development and the impacts of development in floodplains maps delineating the site, the floodplain, and calculating pre- and post storage By actively avoiding any development in the floodplain, the project would

receive Conservingo NW1.6 Avoid Unsuitable Development on Steep Slopes (p. 116-117)

seeks to prevent the social and environmental damage that can occur from improper development, leading to landslides, erosion, and other natural hazards

try to avoid step slope sites landslides cost $1-$2 billion dollars

o NW1.7 Preserve Greenfields (p. 118-119) encourages locating projects on previously developed or greyfields sites as well

as sites classified as brownfields “greyfields” refers to all previously developed sites “brownfields” are properties with contamination caused by former use

Land & Water (3 credits)

Disturbances to ecosystem health (pesticides, fertilizer, stormwater runoff, and other contaminants)

o NW2.1 Manage Stormwater (p. 120-121) emphasizes the important role stormwater plays in the natural world development changes the natural flow and runoff on a site Stromwater is a transport mechanism for contaminants target performance is dependent upon whether the site was formally a

greenfield, greyfield, or brownfield Greenfields: target water storage capacity is 100% Greyfields and brownfields: percentage of improvement over target water

capacityo NW2.2 Reduce Pesticide & Fertilizer Impacts (p. 122-123)

aims to reduce the quantity, toxicity, bioavailability, and persistence of pesticides and fertilizers

30%-50% nitrogen in fertilizers is not absorbed by plants it is transported through vaporization surface runoff, and groundwater

leaching 50%-80% nitrogen in fertilizers is absorbed by plants Toxicity: degree to which these substances can damage living organisms Bioavailability: fraction of a substance that reaches and can be absorbed by

living systems Persistence: Measure of a pesticide or pollutant’s resistance to degradation

o NW2.3 Prevent Surface & Groundwater Contamination (p. 124-125) recognizes that infrastructure can inadvertently become a source of pollution

and encourages projects to increase protection and prepare response plans

Biodiversity (4 credits)

Natural extinction rate is around one species every 200 years In the past 40 years there have been 89 extinctions with 169 mammal species critically

endangered 30% of all plant and animal species may be extinct within the next 100 years maintaining habitat connectivity, proper soils, and surface water functions controlling invasive species how indirect disruptions of habitats can impact species biodiversity

o NW3.1 Preserve Species Biodiversity (p. 126-127) aims to protect species by preserving their habitat connectivity land transformation and habitat fragmentation are primary drivers in the loss of

biodiversity – limits species ability to adapto NW3.2 Control Invasive Species (p. 128-129)

recognizes that invasive species represent a threat to biodiversity Invasive species: compete for limited resources, often without natural

predators, grow exponentially in population

o NW3.3 Restore Disturbed Soils (p. 130-131) encourages to protect healthy ecological and hydrological functions by restoring

soils disturbed during construction Soil Disturbance: compaction, churning, puddling, displacement, and removal 1 gram of soil can contain 50,000 unique species natural soil porosity is critical to: air flow, water infiltration, water storage Disturbed soils can: destroy existing vegetation, prevent future vegetation,

disrupt the hydrological cycle, and impact faunao NW3.4 Maintain Wetland & Surface Water Functions (p. 132-133)

recognizes the important role healthy wetlands and surface waters play in providing habitat

Four main ways to improve the ecosystem functions of wetland and surface waters by maintaining or enhancing: 1. Hydrological Cycle 2. Water Quality 3. Habitats 4. Sediment Transport

Many healthy waterways and wetlands receive much of their normal flow from underground sources

Documentation: current source of the waterway’s normal flow, water quality of its source water, how water quality will be maintained or enhanced

p. 132-133

Past projects that may have removed the: natural riffle, pool, meander sequence

Lakes and watercourses may have structures on shoreline, destroying habitat for plants and animals

Sediment transport is important for a healthy ecosystem Projects may choose which of the functions they address at each level

Module 6: Climate and Risk (8 credits)

Reducing the production of harmful emissions ensuring projects are resilient to short- and long-term risks

Emissions (2 credits)

targets the reduction of emissions primarily quantitative goal is to reduce these emissions during all stages of a projects life

o CR1.1 Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (p. 140-141) reduced CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere greenhouse gas emissions are factored according to their global warming

potential (GWP) Calculating life cycle carbon equivalency (ISO 14040 & 14044) Measured, calculated, or estimated data Estimated emissions: materials, construction, operations, maintenance Accepts Streamlined Life Cycle Assessments: focus on the primary sources of

greenhouse gas emissions Net emissions can include carbon-capture and carbon sequestration from man-

made or natural processes Baseline Comparisons: existing conditions, standard practice, considered

alterative, comparison with a similar projecto CR1.2 Reduce Air Pollution Emissions (p. 142-143)

targets the reduction of six criteria air pollutants including particular matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead

air pollution regulations: National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Envision accepts projects that can demonstrate an equivalent or greater

standard has been met Least Stringent: 1. NAAQS2. CAAQS Most stringent: 3. SCAQM 4. No air pollutant emissions

Resilience (5 credits)

encourages projects to prepare for changing operating conditions assessed on the degree of consideration of risk and vulnerability Project, system or community’s ability to: reduce or avoid risks, withstand or absorb

disturbances, respond quickly, and adapt to changing conditions resilient infrastructure should: respond to extreme events and have adaptive capacity for long-

term changing conditionso CR2.1 Assess Climate Threat (p. 144-145)

provides the foundation for incorporating resilience into projects by requiring a comprehensive risk assessment and adaptation plan

awards points for conducting a comprehensive assessment of potential climate change impacts

Changes in long-term weather patters changes in extreme weather and natural hazards increases sea level increased desertification and drought climate assessments do not need to be created specifically for the project local, municipal, regional, state or provincial, or federal studies can be

referenced as long as they are applicable Ensure the relevance of reference studies and the clarity of the connection Conserving is the ONLY level of achievement

o CR2.2 Avoid Traps & Vulnerabilities (p. 146-147) addresses broader risks and vulnerabilities, including (but not limited to) climate

change that projects may face over their useful life determine the extent to which mean, variance, and plausible extremes could

change Common Traps:

Resource traps: dependence on resources that could become scarce and expensive

Configuration traps: configurations that increase project or community vulnerability

Standards traps: not taking into account changing operation conditions or other concerns

A. identify changing variable that will increase vulnerability B. Assess traps and vulnerabilities and their potential risks C. Acting to avoid, alleviate, or eliminate vulnerabilities

o CR2.3 Prepare for Long-term adaptability (p. 148-149) addresses the need for infrastructure to be resilient to long-term climate

change, perform under changing operating conditions, and adapt to long-term changing scenarios

The results of a climate assessment could form the foundation for designing ling-term adaptability

o CR3.4 Prepare for Short-term Hazards (p. 150-151) increases resilience and reduced recovery time from natural and man-made

hazards

Short-term hazards: extreme events whose frequency or intensity may be unpredictable or increase over the life of the project

non-climate and man-made hazards (NOT Climate-related natural hazards)

o CR2.5 Manage Heat Island Effects (p. 152-153) reduces localized heat accumulation and the associated impacts on

communities, project performance, and environmental quality Heat islands: negatively impacts lifespan and performance of infrastructure,

increases energy consumption, reduced comfort can have larger climate related effects increased rainfall 20-40 miles downwind by 28%-50% negative effects can occur in non-urban contexts as well reduce the amount of heat-absorbing surfaces Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) measure of a surfaces ability to reject solar heat Black SRI=0 White SRI=100 hardscapes should be shaded within 5 yeats of planting or have an SRI of at least

29 Vegetated areas are not included in calculations SRI for materials is calculated according to ASTM International standards

the insurability of infrastructure that is NOT resilient may be in question in the future

Module 7

Envision was created to help project teams better incorporate sustainability into their projects Use Envision:

o as a communication tool for stakeholderso to prioritize a list of projectso to assess project alternativeso as a communication tool with the project teamo to identify sustainability opportunitieso to quantify the value of sustainable practiceso to evaluate project performanceo to recognize achievement

Planningo It can help to guide decisions when defining a project scope, prioritizing a list of

projects, and considering project alternativeso cost can be a limited way to describe the benefits of a project

Communication: o Explain how the project will affect a neighborhoodo Seek feedback from community memberso Explain how the project will address community proioities

transportation historic and cultural resources views and character public space

noise and light levels economic development

o engage stakeholders and seek their feedbacko communicate with the project team

project owner planners designers contractors etc.

Design:o Are we doing the right project?o Are we doing the project right?o Including Envision early streamlines this process and limits potential impactso review credits early and revisit them throughout the project lifeo You can use Envision for self-assessments to determine a project’s sustainability

performance Evaluation:

o Assessments can be a routine part of project evaluationo ENV SPs play a key part in conducting Envision assessments

How to encourage the use of Envisiono RFQ: request for qualifications ask respondents to

sustainability experience ENV SP qualifications Full project assessment award level sought

o Funding Funding agencies can increase funding for projects that meet an Envision award

level

Self-assessment Process

when a project team uses Envision to evaluate a project Envision is available for project self-assessments at no cost The guidance manual and online scoresheet are available to facilitate the self-assessment There are three steps to a self-assessment

o 1. clearly define the scope and boundary of the project Project intent, goals, schedule, team members, prominent sustainable features physical location, dimensions, infrastructure components Condition of the site, neighborhood, and community What is (and is not) included in the assessment

o 2. Assess each of the 60 Envision credits Is the credit applicable? (Provide documentation if No) Was the credit addresses?

No? – no credit, no points What was the level achieved?

look at lettered criteria and descriptive text receive points, provide documentation, add points

Innovation Credits Bonus Points no required not included in total possible points do not count against a project

o 3. Determine the project score Final score breakdown of score by category the score represents the project’s sustainable achievement above and beyond

conventional design practices Earned points / applicable points Share your results with stakeholders or other community members record the results for tracking performance and value over time use the score as a benchmark to aid in decision-making in the future

Verification Process: Envision Verification and Award Program: the 3rd party confirmation of the Envision

score May submit for verification after 95% completion of project and for up to 3 years after

construction is complete Registration fee + Verification Fee Projects must be submitted by an ENV SP

o has been credentialed to use the Envision rating system and understand the process

o can be any member of the project teamo does not need to be employed by the projects owner or designero guides the project team through the verification processo will be the main point of contact for ISI and the project verifier

Verifiers:o Is specially trained by ISI to review projectso is available to mentor the ENV SP in Envision and the verification processo reviews the credit levels of achievement and required documentationo confirms that the project meets the evaluation criteriao Preregistration – Registration – Assessment – Verification – Award

Preregistration: o complete a self-assessment and contact ISI to discuss the verification process,

timeline, fees, and other concerns Registration:

o fee = $1000 Assessment:

o must be submitted through the online scoresheeto description is required for verification

o Describe: project intent, goals, schedule, team members, most prominent sustainable features, the site, neighborhood, and/or community

o actual or anticipated dates for the start of design, start of construction, and completion

o Justify credits marked as “not applicable”o Support the credit levels of achievemento use a coversheeto arrange in a way that is easy to understand (in order of the credit criteria)o Reports, studies, drawing, specifications, meeting minutes, etc.o The purpose of documentation is to communicate effectively how the project

met the credit level of achievement criteriao It is your responsibility to present this information clearlyo Highlight if necessary o make certain the documentation is relevant to the project as defined in the

project description o Upload one 10Mb file of supporting documentation for each credit

combine relevant information into one PDF fileo Submit all 60 credits at one time using the online scoresheeto Coversheet: include narrative of why they got level of achievement, call

attention to relative sections of the reporto Reports: title page, table of contents, relevant pageso Construction Plans: consider how the plan will support the criteria and how the

verifier will find the information, sheet with signage (highlight if needed), the scale of the drawings

o Meeting Minutes: one meeting or reoccurring meetings

To strengthen this documentation provide the underlying data Explain how it is relevant

o use callout boxeso highlight relevant areaso include a short narrative

Baseline conditiono clearly describe the baselineo be consistent in using the same baseline for all relevant creditso existing conditions, a seriously considered project alternative, conventional practice,

comparison to a similar projecto explain what baseline you’re using and why it is an appropriate comparison

Verification:o When you submit, you will not be able to edit the levels of achievement or

documentationo verification fee varies on the type of the projecto 1. Initial verification: you will not have access to online scoresheeto 2. ENV SP response: have online score, can respond to the verifier’s comments by

providing additional documentation or accepting the level of achievement provide a narrative explanation of new documents

o 3. Final verification: if credit is verified – do not need to respond and no changes are made by the

verifier if they don’t agree – provide additional documentation as noted, then resubmit

o 4. Authentication ISI staff acts as an authenticator This is to ensure verifiers apply an equal and consistent level of rigor in their

determination of a project achievement. If there is a disagreement there can be an appeal

notification – per-credit fee – verifier panel Award:

o Bronze = +20%o Silver = +30%o Gold = +40%o Platinum = +50%

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery Projecto incorporate Envision earlier in the project

South Los Angeles Wetland Parko The ENV SP was the project directoro involvement from a functional team member who was also an ENV SP resulted in an

efficient assessmento the effort to prepare and compile documentation would have been easier if it had

occurred during design

Role of the ENV SP:

Lead the project team in the verification and award programo registering the projecto finalizing the assessmento compiling documentationo acting as the project’s point of contact for ISI and the Envision verifier

Staying current on Envisiono ISI policieso credit interpretationso changes to the rating system