Greening the Firm - Long Range Visions

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Greening the Firm - Long Range Visions
Attainable Realities

• VBSR 2007 Spring Conference
• Chad Cliburn Vermont Business Environmental
  Partnership
• Brian Woods Vermont State Employees Credit
  Union
• Steve Avery Vermont State Employees Credit
  Union
• Tom Hengelsberg TruexCullins Partners
  Architects

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Vermont Business Environmental Partnership

• FREE, voluntary business recognition and
  technical assistance program
• Promote improved environmental and economic
  performance and public recognition of
  environmental excellence
• VBEP recognizes businesses as Environmental
  Partners when they achieve a set of eight
  standards
• 33 Partners 2 Leaders

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Vermont Business Environmental Partnership

• VBEP offers marketing materials to members
• Fresh set of eyes
• Assistance resource for compliance
  beyond-compliance issues
• Interested?
• Contact Peter Crawford _at_ 802-728-1423
• www.vbep.org

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What are characteristics of a Green business?

• Mission Statement top management support
• Interdisciplinary Team
• Assess operations for opportunities to minimize
  environmental impacts
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Strive for compliance
• Embrace prevention as the strategy of first choice

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What are characteristics of a Green business?

• Try to become more energy efficient
• Employ reuse and recycling
• Institutionalize purchases of environmentally
  preferable products
• Post-consumer recycled content
• Reduced packaging
• Less toxic
• Recyclable
• Etc
• Utilize green building strategies

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What are characteristics of a Green business?

• Provide incentives / opportunities for employees
  to be environmental stewards both at work and at
  home
• Look to renewable energy sources
• Involved in external environmental initiatives
• Publicize environmental accomplishments
  associate their brand with being green

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What are characteristics of a Green business?

• Reduce their carbon footprint
• Employ green landscaping and grounds keeping
  methods
• Design products to or offers services that
  minimize environmental impacts
• Many other examples

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Vermont State Employees Credit Union
Paine Turnpike, Berlin
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VSECU Environmental Mission Statement

• The VSECU is committed to finding opportunities
  within both our operations and business products
  to promote environmentally sound choices for our
  employees and our member-owners.
• To achieve this objective, the
  VSECU seeks to

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Daily Operations

• 1. Conduct its daily operations in ways which
  contribute to the health and well-being of its
  employees and members, as well as the community,
  the nation and the earth we inhabit

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Products and Services

• 2. Tailor its business products and services to
  encourage and reward environmentally sound
  choices by its member-owners
• E-statements
• E-loans

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Business Activities

• 3. Conduct its business activities (including
  procurement and disposal) in the most
  environmentally sound manner possible, and
  encourage its business partners to do the same
• Statement duplexing on recycled paper
• Restroom Janitorial Products

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Organizations and Programs

• 4. Support organizations and programs whose
  objectives and actions contribute to a safe,
  clean and healthy environment for all and

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Education

• 5. Provide and support educational and other
  opportunities that raise consciousness among our
  members and our community about atmospheric
  carbon deposits and other serious environmental
  threats.

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Vermont State Employees Credit Union
Paine Turnpike, Berlin
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Where to Start?

• 1. Assemble Team
• 2. Conduct Environmental Assessment
• 3. Define Impacts
• 4. Brainstorm Solutions, Improvements, and
• Alternatives to Address Impacts
• 5. Prioritize Projects
• 6. Implement Projects
• 7. Periodically Evaluate Effectiveness
• of Projects

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1. Assemble Team

• VSECU Green Team
• Executive Environmental Strategies Committee
  Member
• Facilities Management
• Purchasing

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2. Conduct Environmental Assessment

• Assessment Scope
• Physical locations
• Operational areas and associated activities
• with a Focus on
• 1. Energy Consumption
• 2. Purchasing
• 3. Waste Reduction Disposal

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Montpelier1994 - 28,000 sf
Bailey Avenue
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Berlin2003 6,100 sf
Paine Turnpike
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Burlington2002 1,980 sf
Pearl Street
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Burlington
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Other Locations
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3. Define Impacts

• Determine and Evaluate
• Prioritize
• Set Goals and Targets

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Impacts

• Air Consumption of Electricity and Heating
  Fuels
• Water Storm water runoff Sewer Potable water
• Waste - Regulated Wastes Solid Waste
• Other Existing practices

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Carbon Footprint
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4. Brainstorm Projects to Address Impacts

• The team will identify specific tasks to support
  each of the top priority goals targets.

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5. Evaluate and Prioritize Tasks

• Evaluate the feasibility of the specific tasks
  identified in the previous step based on
• technical, human resource economic
  considerations
• Prioritize tasks
• Develop a priority list with timeframes, budgets
  and necessary resources.

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6. Implement Tasks

• The tasks approved by the Environmental
  Strategies Committee Board of Directors will be
  implemented and overseen by the responsible party
  according to the timeline and within the approved
  budget.

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7. Evaluate Effectivenessof Projects

• Periodically, the Team will evaluate the
  effectiveness of the specific projects/tasks. In
  doing so, VSECU will be involved in a continuous
  process for environmental improvement.

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Other

• Environmental Mission Statement Link on Homepage

• Bill Pay Online E-Statements

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Thank You
VBSR Conference May 17, 2007 VSECU - Greening
the Firm By Brian Woods, VSECU
Director Steve Avery, Facilities
Manager Presentation Design by Greg Stone
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Greening the FirmFocus on Sustainability
inPractice and Operations

• TOM HENGELSBERG, AIA
• LEED-ACCREDITED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL

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Overview

• Why Green Building?
• LEED
• Green Practice
• Greening the Office
• The Sustainability Coordinator
• Moving to Green Operations
• Inputs and Consumption
• Outputs and Waste
• Office Environment
• Transportation
• Ideas to keep in mind

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Why Green Building?
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Why Green Building?

• Our buildings make a huge impact on the
  environment and people.
• Annually, worldwide, buildings account for
• 25 of carbon dioxide emitted
• 30 of total energy used, 60 of electricity
• 40 of stone, sand and gravel 25 of wood
• 30 of landfill waste
• Billions of gallons of potable water¹
• People spend 80-90 of their time indoors
• Poor planning consumes land and creates sprawl
  and traffic congestion
• Green Building powerful environmental
  leverage!
• ¹ U.S. Green Building Council

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Overview

• The LEED Green Building Rating System is a
  voluntary, consensus-based national standard for
  developinghigh-performance, sustainable
  buildings.
• New Construction and Major Renovation
• Commercial Interiors
• Operations and Maintenance of Existing Buildings
• Core and Shell Development Projects
• Residential
• Neighborhood Development
• Specialized (pilot) standards for Schools,
  Retail, Health Care, Laboratories

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Why LEED?
Its a Measurement Tool
Green/ Sustainable Building Wouldnt it be nice
if

• BTUS/ Sq Ft (ENERGY)
• Gallons/ Year (WATER)
• Grams/ Liter (VOCS)

You get what you measure.
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LEED Categories

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy Atmosphere
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Materials Resources
• Design Innovation

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LEED Point Classifications

• LEED Platinum 52
• LEED Gold 39-51
• LEED Silver 33-38
• LEED Certified 26-32

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Examples of Green Technologies

• Alternative Stormwater Treatment
• Native Plantings
• Solar Building Orientation
• Daylighting
• Natural Ventilation
• Building Shell Improvements
• Water-Conserving Fixtures
• Water Collection and Reuse
• Lighting and Mechanical Controls
• Durable Building Materials
• Recycled Building Materials
• Low Embodied Energy Materials
• Indoor air quality strategies
• Renewable Energy Systems

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What does Green Building Cost?

• First Costs will vary significantly, depending on
  project goals and requirements.
• GSA study gives range of 0.5 to 5.5
• Capital E (Kats) study says 0.5 to 6.5
• Data shows Benefit/ Cost ratio as high as 81 for
  Green features
• Some Green features come at no cost, such as
  proper building orientation on the site

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Economic Benefits from Green Building

• Life-Cycle Savings from
• Energy Lighting Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Materials Efficiency
• Higher Occupant Productivity
• Better Occupant Health
• Construction Debris Recycling
• Higher Bottom Line Performance
• Better Community Integration
• Links to Transportation Network

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Moving to Green Its Not Rocket Science

• The majority of green strategies are just good
  building practices
• Easy, smart measures that pay
• Optimal building orientation
• Good lighting/ daylighting
• High performance, tight envelope
• Thoughtful window placement
• White or light colored roof
• Local materials, manufacturing
• Efficient mechanical systems
• Good site planning
• Linkages to community
• Part of transportation planning

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Greening the Office
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Greening Your OfficeA Change Management Process

• Be the Champion
• Make a Plan
• Identify Management Stakeholders
• Make a Pitch
• Gain Management Buy-In
• Communicate the Plan Clearly
• Enlist Aid from Sympathizers
• Set Goals, Dates, Measurements
• GO AT IT!
• Measure your progress
• Reevaluate and readjust your plan
• Repeat as necessary
• Essential for Deep Success

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Sustainability Coordinator

• Office resource for USGBC/ LEED questions
• Greening of Architecture Interiors Practice
• Greening of Office Operations
• Community Liaison
• Public Advocate for Sustainability
• Serve on board of Vermont Green Building Network

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Green Operations
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Green OperationsReducing Inputs and Consumption

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policies
• Cleaning supplies
• Copy paper, paper products
• Letterhead and marketing materials
• Office supplies
• Mailing supplies
• Printer ink cartridges
• Desk chairs furniture
• Energy Star rated office equipment
• Computers equipment
• Compact florescent light bulbs

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Green OperationsReducing Inputs and Consumption

• Environmentally Preferable Operating Policies
• Building efficiency measures Efficiency Vermont
• Green operations assessment VBEP
• Atmospheric emissions
• Water quality
• Hazardous waste
• Green Operations Maintenance LEED
• All repairs, even minor repainting must be
  screened
• Carpet replacement
• Need a plan Staff must be educated

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Green OperationsReducing Inputs and Consumption

• Intake of Materials
• Stop junk mail
• Only order product samples
• if needed
• Do not accept unsolicited samples, binders, etc.
• Use the Web for research phase out hard copy
• Utilize local providers/local food for office
  functions
• Request environmental
• solutions from your suppliers

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Green OperationsReducing Inputs and Consumption

• Energy Consumption
• Increase Building Efficiency
• Purchase Green Power
• Purchase Carbon Offsets (debatable)
• Install solar PV array, solar hot water heater
  and/or wind turbine
• Consider biomass for heating fuel
• Turn off computers at night!
• Use flat-screen monitors

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Green OperationsChanging Outputs

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Default printers to double-sided
• Check documents on-screen
• Do not print email
• Recycle used furniture e-waste
• Avoid take-out food eat in or BYOL
• Compost kitchen food waste
• Use biodegradable table service or real dishes
• Plan events with environmental values
• Use recyclable or biodegradable packaging
• demand same from your suppliers
• use the least amount possible

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Green Operations Culture, Atmosphere, and
Environmental Quality

• Test your Indoor Air Quality, take action if
  needed
• Availability of fresh air
• Relative Humidity
• Particulates (dust, diesel exhaust)
• CO
• CO2
• Formaldehyde
• Ozone
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Mold Mildew
• Chemicals (process or cleaning)
• Tobacco smoke
• Work with a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)

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Green Operations Culture, Atmosphere, and
Environmental Quality

• Good physical work environment
• Natural light and outdoor views
• Provide indoor plants
• Excellent ergonomics
• Fairness to employees
• Social Equity
• Sponsor a community feeling
• Civic and Community Involvement
• Sustainability Issues
• Planning Community Design
• Housing
• Energy
• Transportation

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Green Operations Transportation Issues

• Often our largest environmental footprint in
  operations

• Sponsor a hybrid purchase
• Endorse/support alternate transport means
• Carpool
• Bus
• Bicycle
• Walk
• Train(?)
• Telecommute/ Web cast
• Teleconference/ Video conference
• Carpool during the day to meetings

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Green OperationsTransportation Issues

• Use shuttle buses if available
• Flex-time and work from home strategies
• Provide a bike rack and shower
• Avoid jet travel if possible
• Carbon offsets (more debate?)
• Conduct retreat meetings locally
• Convert your fleet to biodiesel
• Only purchase the highest-mileage vehicles that
  serve your needs
• Properly maintain fleet vehicles
• Maintain proper tire pressure
• Be politically active!

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Moving to GreenClosing Ideas to Keep In Mind

• Understand the necessity of a paradigm shift
• Experiment
• Think about choices, make conscious decisions
• Always ask for help if you feel stuck
• Strive for the ideal, attain the real

If you always do what you always did, you always
get what you always got.