This document discusses sustainability and how organizations can implement sustainability initiatives. It defines sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. It then outlines three main themes covered: sustainability defined, sustainability metrics, and implementing sustainability. Under these themes, it provides details on measuring and tracking sustainability performance, developing sustainability plans and initiatives, and the business benefits of sustainability.
8. Notes: (1) Book: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development: Leadership and Accountability Source: A.T. Kearney Analysis. http://www.atkearney.com/shared_res/pdf/Sustainability_Report_S.pdf Sustainability Defined
25. How does one achieve sustainability? How does one go green? Commitment to sustainability must be founded on quantitative, verifiable results. Sustainability Metrics
26. Environmental Energy consumption per sq ft or unit of production Renewable energy used or bought Compliance: Notice of violations Water conservation and quality Waste generated and recycled Human Resources Employee retention (%) Number of sick days LEED Certification for buildings Carbon Footprint Sustainability Metrics
27. Baseline data points Benchmark against which to track changes Guide for decisions on what to change Scorecard Sustainability Metrics
28. LEED Is a tool to measure sustainability. a tool to promote sustainability. becoming a language for sustainable buildings. Available For New Construction Renovations and Alterations Operations & Maintenance (existing buildings) Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification
29. Design/Operation Must Balance Impacts Site Water use Energy use Materials Indoor Environmental Quality Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification
30. Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification Site Average American Requires 25 Acres of Ecologically Productive Land Preserve undeveloped land, farmland Plant native species Minimize hard surfaces Minimize dark surfaces Minimize light pollution
31. Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification Water Buildings use 12% of US Water Install efficient fixtures Minimize irrigation Identify alternative sources of water for non-potable use
32. Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification Energy Use Buildings use 40% of US energy Optimize whole building to operate efficiently Perform Building Commissioning Use BAS to monitor energy use
33. Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification Materials Buildings use 40% of US Materials Reduce material use Reuse materials Use recycled materials Recycle
34. Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification Indoor Environment The Average American Spends 90% of Their Time Indoors Provide sufficient ventilation Use low-emitting materials Provide occupant control Maintain thermal comfort Provide daylight and views Manage acoustics
35. Benefits of LEED Identify savings Third Party Verification Ongoing Program Start with Energy! Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification
39. GHG and Global Warming Potentials GHG will be quantified and traded in terms of CO2e A ton of methane has the value of 23 tons of carbon dioxide Sustainability Scorecard: LEED Certification
59. Short Term (0 – 6 months) Risk Assessment Stakeholder Mapping Core Capabilities Assessment Priority Action Plans Pilot Projects Medium (6 – 18 months) Develop an environmental tracking system Strengthen education and awareness efforts Promote individual ownership of the process Long Term (18 months and beyond) Re-thinking processes and re-examining markets Stakeholder management and partnerships Corporate Sustainability Plan
60. Sample Sustainability Initiatives: Reduce energy use by 10% in 2 years. Implement a green building policy. Increase recycling by 20% by 2015. Implement a green cleaning policy. Reduce the use of herbicides by 30% by 2015. Decrease employee turnover by 5% in 3 years. Replace laptops every 3 years (instead of every 2). Reimburse employees 50% of public transportation costs. Corporate Sustainability Plan
62. “Such organizations appear to have realized that the cost [of implementing sustainability programs] is far outweighed by the benefits and opportunities it creates.” (Making Advances in Carbon Management: Best Practices from the Carbon Information Leaders. A Joint Carbon Disclosure Project and IBM Study) Corporate Sustainability Plan
Traditional model of businessBusinesses are in business to make money, increase shareholder valueHow do the principles of sustainability fit within the traditional model?
Emphasize that sustainable business means financially sustainableSustainability is NOT sacrificing quality of life in the pursuit of zero impact
Traditional model of businessBusinesses are in business to make money, increase shareholder valueShort term approach both internally and externallyPeople: employees and social responsibilityPlanet: environment inside the building and effect of the building on the environment, carbon footprintProfit: internal profit and shareholder valueHow do the principles of sustainability fit within the traditional model?
More balanced modelIn today’s terms: more sustainable model3 legged stoolProfit? Yes, of course, but this also means that environmental and social aspects of operations are considered in equal measureHow can paying attention to these other two factors, improve profitability?
For business, what does sustainability mean?Strategic focus and trade offsAdopting business strategies that meet the needs of the business and stakeholders today – i.e. – growth and profitability – while protecting the human and environmental resources available in the future. Developing a plan.What are some of the more specific “aspects” of sustainability?
Every buildingcreates environmental impact: offices, medical facilities, factories, power plants, schoolsHave you considered the effect on the environment of the buildings you work in?Look at these percentages of the impact of buildings…..….What are some of these?Energy useSolid waste generatedWater consumedlandscapingWhat else is affected by the buildings you work in?
Depicts what happens in a building over a 50 year lifecycle.Notice, that design is only 1% of the total but by designing sustainability, we can have huge impact on operational efficiency, indoor air quality, energy use. These affect the bottom line and paying attention is the right thing to do…Also notice, that employees make up 88% of that building’s impact.Worker productivity is another sustainability indicatorAlso affects the bottom line.Sustainability initiatives are interdisciplinary - Sustainability is NOT sacrificing quality of life in the pursuit of zero impact
Traditional model of businessBusinesses are in business to make money, increase shareholder valueHow do the principles of sustainability fit within the traditional model?
vague slogans like “go green” and “sustainable” Must be based in practical processes with quantifiable resultsTo mean anything, a commitment to sustainability must be founded on quantitative, verifiable measures.If not, at best, it’s misleading and at , worst ‘green washing’.This is where sustainability metrics – sustainability scorecards – come in.
Wide variety of sustainability metrics
Purpose of these metrics includes….More details on metrics…LEED and carbon footprint
…a tool to measure sustainability in a sample of buildings using a consistent metric for comparison.…a tool to promote the use of sustainable design, construction and operations in the building industry.…becoming a language that assists the building industry in effectively communicating sustainable design, construction and operation strategies.LEED is NOT a design guideLEED is NOT a specificationLEED is NOT a building code, NOR a standard
…develop in already developed areas…reduces irrigation and landscape maintenance (i.e., fertilization, etc)…reduces stormwater runoff…reduces heat island effect…helps to provide a dark sky at night
…develop in already developed areas…reduces irrigation and landscape maintenance (i.e., fertilization, etc)…reduces stormwater runoff…reduces heat island effect…helps to provide a dark sky at night My lifestyle requires 6.78 earths…
…reduce potable water use within the building…reduce site water use by providing efficient irrigation systems, or native species which require no irrigation…consider collecting condensate, rainwater, greywater for use as non-potable water (i.e., cooling tower make-up water)
Reduce material useEliminate material wasteAsk vendors to reduce packagingReuse materialsRenovate a buildingUse salvaged/refurbished furnishingsUse recycled materialsPost-consumer recycled contentPre-consumer recycled contentAlso:-regional materials-rapidly renewable materials-certified wood
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
Carbon footprint = environmental impact quantifiedfor a defined entity – household, building, city, campus, etcUnit of measure – mtonnes of CO2 equivalentMton = 2200lbs.CO2eq
How can you add apples and oranges together?GWP allows comparison of the impact of GHGs to each other and carbon dioxide. Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much a gas contributes to global warming over a period of time – 100 years – compared to carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide most prevalent greenhouse gas (GHG).
5 campus community collegeWhat’s the biggest contributor to the footprint?So, to develop a strategy to reduce the footprint, what will they do?Biggest pieces of the pie result from electricity and natural gas use.Community college will strategize on how to reduce these.Reducing energy use reduces ghg which translates into reductions in carbon footprint.
Traditional model of businessBusinesses are in business to make money, increase shareholder valueHow do the principles of sustainability fit within the traditional model?
Formally adopted
Formally adopted
Sample goals listing for a typical CSP
They save money, reduce environmental impact, and improve the working conditions for employees.COMMUNICATION TOOL
Joint carbon Disclosure Project and IBM Study entitled Making Advances in Carbon Management
Implementing sustainability involves:Define sustainability for your companyChose metrics for tracking initiativesDevelop and implement planAssess