the professionals blog

1
APR

The Smarter Building

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One of the problems we encounter today when defining sustainability initiatives is that most everything associated with the environment, from energy efficiency to social responsibility, is in a fundamental state of flux -­­ constantly changing, ever evolving. While expanding our knowledge and, consequently, our concerns associated with environmental stewardship, we witness organizations and corporations vying for a sense of place arrive by the busloads, and they also leave by the busloads. The boundaries and parameters become blurred, often with conflicting messaging. With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), as well as other organizations, promoting smart growth and social responsibility, a heightened awareness will be focused toward building technology and automation. As we assimilate the data and establish our goals, this emerging technology will become a more relevant and active participant in the way we will provide sustainable buildings that integrate into sustainable communities.

However, in order to provide truly sustainable buildings, we should ask the question: is being green enough? Is a green building the same as a sustainable building? Although the terms are generally accepted as being interchangeable, one could legitimately argue they are not the same. On one side, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition.”

On the other side, consider the fact that we’ve been successfully creating green buildings for some time now and though we’ve made great strides, for a multitude of reasons, we’ve also fallen short of our expectations. To meet the above stated goals, as sustainable professionals we need to embrace a well-coordinated and expanded process. The state of the art of buildings is that they aren’t just green, but “smart” ­­ structures that go beyond simple resource efficiency and indoor air quality, built with the latest technology for building controls and automation.

Smarter buildings provide the essential foundation for creating smarter cities. As smarter cities likewise provide the support for creating a smarter planet.

Smart Buildings

Smart buildings - the future of building technology: A study on the future of building technology shows that requirements are undergoing lasting changes. Which changes are coming up and how Building Technologies is dealing with these changes is shown in this movie.

Smart Buildings = Better Buildings: White House Nov. 4, 2011 Summary:

Today, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)—a cabinet-level interagency group of scientists and engineers—released a new report that recommends systematic consideration of submetering technologies that can yield up-to-date, finely grained snap shots of energy and water use in commercial and residential buildings to drive energy efficiency and capture the advantages of a modernized electric power grid.

Greenbang, a publisher of daily news and insights about the energy and IT industries, presents the white paper eight definitions of ‘smart buildings’ . One of the more succinct definitions of smart buildings, from Siemens:

“Only solutions which create the greatest synergies between energy efficiency, comfort and safety and security will be sustainable over the long term … solutions that turn buildings into living organisms: networked, intelligent, sensitive and adaptable.”

Siemens offers an excellent video that puts this in perspective, Smart Buildings - the future of building technology. Of particular note is the, albeit brief, introduction into systems and synergies. Sustainable professionals fully understand systems thinking and synergies is key to providing sustainable projects. Additionally, USGBC promotes regenerative design, which, interestingly, is also discussed in the video. One of the goals of an Integrated Project Team is to incorporate regenerative design principles that provide flexibility in order for the project to accommodate future needs, therefore reducing the burden on our natural resources by eliminating the need for new facilities to be built.

For additional information related to smart buildings:

The IBM Approach to Smarter Buildings

Smart Buildings = Better Buildings

GSA & Smart Buildings

The Rise of Smart Buildings

Smart Grid Needs Smart Buildings and Policy

This post is part of Studio4’s the smarter approach series that includes smart buildings, smart cities, smart growth, and green cloud technology. The scope of the series, as well as the content in each post, will be updated as necessary.




1
MAR

What is Smart Growth?

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Smart buildings. Smart cities. Smart growth. What’s the meaning of all this “smart” talk? In the most basic sense, all three are associated with sustainability and social responsibility, with smart buildings and smart cities individually and collectively supporting smart growth.

So what is smart growth, and why is it important? With respect to sustainability and social responsibility, smart growth is of critical importance. In 2010, 82 percent of Americans lived in urban communities (towns and cities) and by 2050 it will be 90 percent. For the first time in history, more than half of the people on Earth live in cities, and urban populations are projected to double by mid-century. Towns and cities are responsible for approximately 65 percent of all energy used, 60 percent of all water consumed and 70 percent of all greenhouse gases produced worldwide. As compared to less densely populated rural areas, urban communities offer increased potential for resolution of environmental and social problems, generate jobs and income, relieve pressure on natural habitats and areas of biodiversity, and with proper governance they can deliver education, health care and other services more efficiently. In essence, smart growth is about urbanization.

Smart Growth

The challenges presented by sustainable urban development are immense. Smart growth, an urban planning and transportation theory, values long-range, regional considerations of sustainability over a short-term focus. Its goals are to achieve a unique sense of community and place; expand the range of transportation, employment, and housing choices; equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development; preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources; and promote public health. Utilizing growth management tools to encourage sustainable communities, combat sprawl, and strengthen urban centers through existing infrastructure, smart growth is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and many other environmental organizations, such as Smart Growth America. USGBC promotes smart growth through their LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System and the EPA’s support is focused around their EPA Smart Growth Program.

The EPA has compiled a set of best-practice examples of adopted codes and guidelines from around the U.S. that support smart growth, grouped into six categories: Continue Reading →




1
JAN

Are CFL lamps ready for prime time?

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As we get closer to banning the use of incandescent lighting and mandating alternatives, such as CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamp), more data is being made available that should be cause for untethered public debate — in consideration that some of the information we are currently reviewing could be credible. Most everyone, whether or not they really understand why, agree we need to remain diligent in finding reasonable ways to curb our energy consumption and reduce emissions. We get that. However, we also get the fact that government intrusion and manipulation generally makes a travesty of otherwise promising green energy technology, such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. As sustainable professionals we do understand and are confident we’ll get there — with technology that considers human health as well as the environment. It may be that CFLs are ready for prime time… maybe not.

Many consumers in the dark about CFL bulbs

We’ll be following this story as it progresses and update as necessary. In the event you are not aware, regardless which side of the argument you support, it would be beneficial to read the EPA recommendations on how to clean up broken CFL bulbs. The agency urges Americans to use CFLs, arguing their energy savings outweigh the potential health hazard. Well, isn’t that reassuring? If it concerned fish I would likely be more inclined to believe it, but after dealing with the EPA over the years, I find little comfort in their claim.

Although there are those who will tell you the same concerns and cautions hold true for standard fluorescent lamps, just tell them they are, somewhat, correct… but until now, you’ve had the choice NOT to use them!




7
SEP

Nature Journal of Science Discredits Man-Made Global Warming

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This should be welcome news for both Global Warming believers and non-believers alike, as a long awaited scientific study refutes the Global Warming theory.

Breitbart’s BIGGOVERNMENT published a summary analysis of this: Nature Journal of Science study, based on research conducted by CERN.

Nature Journal of Science, ranked as the world’s most cited scientific periodical, has just published the definitive study on Global Warming that proves the dominant controller of temperatures in the Earth’s atmosphere is due to galactic cosmic rays and the sun, rather than by man. One of the report’s authors, Professor Jyrki Kauppinen, summed up his conclusions regarding the potential for man-made Global Warming: “I think it is such a blatant falsification.”

The research was conducted by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which invented the World Wide Web, built the multi-billion dollar Large Hadron Collider, and now has constructed a pristinely clean stainless steel chamber that precisely recreates the Earth’s atmosphere. Nature Journal has been the holy-grail of scientific research publication since it was established in England in 1869.

For Nature to now publish research that eviscerates the Anthropogenic theory heralds a tectonic rejection by academia of support for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UN protocol requires every nation on earth to reduce their atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gas to 94.8% of 1990 levels to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The U.S. Senate legislation that Nature sought to stridently lobbying for is named “America’s Climate Security Act of 2007”; commonly known as the Cap-and-Trade Bill.

After 20 years of academic supremacy and hundreds of billions of dollars of costs; the Anthropogenic Global Warming theory seems headed for the dust bin of history. Perhaps the admirable action of the Nature Journal of Science to place scientific integrity above partisan politics will be a valuable lesson for the scientific community in the future. Continue Reading →




6
SEP

The Solyndra Scandal

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Putting aside the fact that we the people have long debated the extent of government intervention in our free enterprise system, let’s begin with this, via Wikipedia: Free market capitalism consists of a free-price system where supply and demand are allowed to reach their point of equilibrium without intervention by the government.

Businesses succeed only when they can supply viable products to meet a demand, and demand simply cannot be fabricated or forced. So why am I talking about this here? First, this is personal. We recently borrowed great sums of money from our grandchildren to help jump start the economy and put people back to work. Secondly, the government has demonstrated a complete lack of competence in distributing these large sums of money. In doing so, in this instance, it makes our jobs as sustainable professionals much more difficult by casting a shadow on responsible environmental stewardship. And, unfortunately, this one does reek of politics and the corruption associated with politics.

Much has been written about the Solyndra Scandal. Here are a few links that are better read in their entirety, then form your own opinions:

From the Center for Public Integrity: Missed warning signs: A Solyndra timeline and Obama-backed solar firm collapse after big federal loan guarantee and Skipping safeguards, officials rushed benefit to a politically-connected energy company

From Breitbart: Why the Special Treatment: Is there a Solyndra/ObamaCare Connection? and Solyndra Scandal Hits Obama White House and 80% of ‘Green Energy’ Loans Went to Top Obama Donors

From ABC News: Feds Visit Homes of Solyndra CEO, Execs :

The company goes belly up. The government sues. Anybody see anything wrong with that?

“Payola” is a contraction of the words “pay” and “Victrola”, and entered the English language via the record business. However, “The cancer of payola cannot be pinned on rock and roll.” …. Billboard Magazine.




17
AUG

Obama’s ‘green jobs’ fizzle

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This is not intended to be a rant or a political statement - merely an impassioned opinion. Okay, perhaps the headline is a (little) bit over the top, I borrowed it from the recent wizbang article, Obama’s ‘green jobs’ fizzle. However, given my position on the subject, I couldn’t come up with a more appropriate replacement.

When I started a small design/build company in 1983, my second project was a partial berm residence. At that time, many of the private building related energy reducing strategies were passive solar and/or earthen bunker structures, drawing on principles going as far back in time as the caveman. “Renewable Energy” technology was practically non-existent, with green technology companies struggling to hang on and keep their heads above water. It was apparent for renewable energy to progress and the technology to succeed, the industry needed to be substantially subsidized by private investors and, to some extent, the government.

Fortunately, private investments in renewable energy technology began to materialize, and as a result the industry steadily evolved in a positive direction. Additionally, organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) came on the scene and developed green building rating systems that promoted renewable energy. Unfortunately however, during the past several years, politicos have taken control, in my opinion, to gain political capital from large corporate players and environmentalists. In their efforts to “appease”, many of these policy makers are ill-informed, misguided and, seemingly, concerned more about the political bandwagons they associate with than being responsible environmental stewards. So what could go wrong? To begin, as we’ve witnessed recently with AGW and Cap n’ Trade, these (failed) policy proposals are extremely detrimental to those of us who support and advocate a more reasonable pro-environment position. It’s proving difficult to get consumers attention when rebuttals to these divisive policies are garnering most of the spotlight. The best selling author Michael Crichton coined the phrase “Environmentalism as a Religion“

Wind turbines? Not much coming from the environmentalists, or the government for that matter, about the impact of these massive wind turbines on the bat habitat. Farmers depend heavily on bats to help control pests and in Pennsylvania alone, bats save farmers an estimated $277 million annually. High speed rail? Several states have returned stimulus funds when they realized the untenable costs associated with maintaining this form of mass transit. The California High Speed Rail Project will cost more than expected - much more than the original estimated cost of $33 billion as presented to the voters. That estimate was revised to $43 billion, and if the entire system over runs the budget by the same percentage as the first leg is expected to, the total cost will likely be somewhere between $63 - $87 billion dollars. This project is over budget before a single foot of track has been laid. Due in large part, most ironically, to environmental impact studies. This has become a national embarrassment. Continue Reading →




22
JUL

Social media history becomes a new job hurdle

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Most novices launching websites labor through the perplexing task of trying to understand and implement procedures and techniques designed to increase site traffic. SEO, post titles, key words, tags, links, trackbacks, pings, commenting on other sites and forums, etc. are all important considerations. So when you read an article, post or other commentary, there was generally a great deal of behind-the-scenes prep work done before it was published.

Recently, I read a report where both Google and Bing agreed that social networking is now the Numero Uno - #1 - factor for delivering visitors to websites. Perhaps in support of this proclamation is the fact if you pay attention, you’ll notice the increase in companies linking to Facebook, Twitter and other social media sources. In consideration of this newly discovered revelation, I began my quest to connect with as many professionals and other sources as I could on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter - with more to come as time permits.

We know that the content on LinkedIn, Facebook and other media sources we use to establish connections and communication is considered public domain. But were we aware that, like e-mail, our actions can, or will, rest somewhere in the heavens forever? Once you say it, it lives on forever.

Well now, who would have thought that a new cottage industry of Cyber Snoopers is seeing gold in them thar hills! The NYT has (disturbing) news where possible employers may look at everything you’ve said or done online in the past seven years. In their article Social media history becomes a new job hurdle: Companies have long used criminal background checks, credit reports and even searches on Google and LinkedIn to probe the previous lives of prospective employees. Now, some companies are requiring job candidates to also pass a social media background check.

A year-old start-up, Social Intelligence, scrapes the Internet for everything prospective employees may have said or done online in the past seven years.

And what relevant unflattering information has led to job offers being withdrawn or not made? Mr. Drucker said that one prospective employee was found using Craigslist to look for OxyContin. A woman posing naked in photos she put up on an image-sharing site didn’t get the job offer she was seeking at a hospital.

Given complex “terms of service” agreements on most sites and Web applications, Mr. Rotenberg said people do not always realize that comments or content they generate are publicly available.

As one commenter stated:

Go ahead, search me. I don’t do drugs, my president sucks and since I don’t speak any ‘foreign’ languages I shouldn’t have to press one for English. NOW will you hire me?

After reading the entire NYT article, you may find yourself changing the way you communicate with colleagues and friends. Oh, you might also need to reconsider some of those other sites you frequent!




20
JUL

Be Green: 10 Steps to Keep Your Employees Healthy

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Article written by Barbara O’Brien, 20 July, 2011

Being an employer is more than just providing an energetic and productive work atmosphere; it is setting an example.

The environment in which your employee’s work is actually more important than the type of job they are doing. Regardless of whether your company is in a high-tech, eco-friendly industry, providing a healthy work environment is more important than any output.

Being green is more than just providing an eco-conscious product but ensuring that those staffers working in your offices remain healthy. Beyond your company’s output, it is critical to ensure that your office is as eco-friendly.

The health impacts of these important changes are partially short-term: they provide an environment that ensures the long-term health of employees but also the relative impact on the Earth.

Ultimately, by being a role model, by providing an environmentally conscious work atmosphere has more influence than just producing low-impact products.

Filter Your Office Water
Stop providing bottled water. Stop providing water coolers. You are contributing to the already high plastic pollution. Instead, install water filters on your taps. Even better: install water-saving faucets with filters. This will ensure that your employees are drinking healthy and uncontaminated water but also reducing your waste output.

Reduce
Technology is our friend and an environmental savior. By reducing the amount of paper used throughout your office will, clearly, reduce the amount of paper recycled. Further still, by reusing old paper will be a cost and environmental saver. Encourage your employees to reuse or even not use paper. Of course, if it is necessary, use recycled paper.

Recycle
Virtually every thing in a typical work environment can be recycled. From ink cartridges to old copiers, there is an eco-conscious life after relative expiration. Encourage your employees to recycle everything from paper, ink, batteries, keyboards and even cell phones. Set an example.

Compost
In most large companies, there are on-site delis or cafeterias. Beyond just the waste and recycle bins, provide a container for biodegradable products, like banana peels and tea bags. This vital compost can fertilize gardens, and even encourage your staff to grow a garden that can be used for internal use.

Update HVAC Units
Surprisingly, circulating polluted air is a silent killer of your employees. According to the EPA, air pollution still runs rampant. By updating your HVAC units, you are not only providing clean, healthy air to your employees, but saving money. For your return-on-investment, not only do governmental agencies – local, state and federal – offer financial incentives to update outdated units. Allow your employees to breathe safely and freely.

Replace Hazardous Materials
With older commercial spaces; there is a prevalence of asbestos products. From ceiling and floor tiles to insulation and wiring systems, these products put your employees in a health crisis. As buildings age, products and systems fail, allowing toxins, including asbestos to leak and circulate through the HVAC systems. By replacing these items, not only protect your employees but also reduce your overall energy usage. Not only do these hazardous toxins cause mesothelioma, a disease that is common to constant exposure, the treatments are far behind the epidemic.




12
AUG

China’s Ghost Cities and Malls

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With all the current reporting that China may be in freefall, I thought it appropriate to refresh this report from 2011. China was trying to game the world into believing they had a robust economy as indicated by their increased auto production and crazy construction projects. The results were predicted: large parking lots to mothball their cars and cities few could afford to rent and shopping malls with few retailers.

This excellent reporting provides shocking visuals and commentary exposing the issues people, and the government, are faced with by China forcing lifestyles on the population. If there is any lesson to be learned here, it illustrates the fact that if you build it, they will not necessarily come. Or perhaps in these instances… if you build it, they can not necessarily come!

Is China’s rapid and forced development of new cities and infrastructure, with little or no demand, a poor decision to increase GDP? Is it deepening social divisions?

h/t Wizbang:

What happens when a government focuses on infrastructure projects and nothing else? In one case, you get Chinese Ghost Towns! This is what happens when you ignore real market pressures, and focus on just building crap that nobody can afford. This could happen here. Make no mistake, this could be the United States.

I read a somewhat related article about China’s astonishing increase in the production and sales of new automobiles. Interestingly, several analysts and investors noticed an apparent anomaly - there was no discernible difference in China’s fuel consumption, as would have been expected. Similar pattern? Is the government of China forward thinking? Or perhaps wishful thinking?

Alarming, however, is the observation of a prominent sociologist that polarization is causing a deepening in social divisions.

Another lesson to be learned… it’s not the quantity of GDP, it’s the quality of GDP.




14
JUL

LEED Green Associate Test Prep Resources

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The key to earning a LEED Green Associate is a thorough understanding of green building and LEED. Earning the LEED GA credential is a prerequisite of taking any of the LEED AP with specialty exams.

The following steps are essential for preparing to ace the exam.

Download and read the free LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook very carefully. Reading the LEED GA Candidate Handbook will give you an understanding of the value in purchasing study materials from the US Green Building Council (USGC), USGBC partners, or third party sources such as Studio4LLC.

The LEED Green Associate Exam is designed to test the general knowledge of green building practices and how to support other professionals working on LEED projects.

The primary sources for the development of the LEED professional exams are the LEED rating systems. The following list of references is not meant to be comprehensive. When combined with the test specifications, the candidate has the material from which the exam is based.

The LEED v4 exam is based on the following text specifications and references. The exam questions reflect Task Domains and Knowledge Domains.

Task Domains: Task Domains reflect the tasks necessary to perform LEED safely and effectively. These include concepts such as LEED Project and Team Coordination, LEED Certification Process, Analyses Required for LEED Credits, and Advocacy and Education for Adoption for LEED Rating System.
LEED Green Associate Tasks (100%)

  • LEED Green Associate Tasks (100%)

Knowledge Domains: Knowledge Domains reflect the rating systems’ credit categories and what one needs to know. These include concepts such as LEED Process, Integrative Strategies, LEED credit categories, and Project Surroundings and Public Outreach.

LEED Process (16 questions)
Integrative Strategies (8 questions)
Location and Transportation (7 questions)
Sustainable Sites (7 questions)
Water Efficiency (9 questions)
Energy and Atmosphere (10 questions)
Materials and Resources (9 questions)
Indoor Environmental Quality (8 questions)
Project Surroundings and Public Outreach (11 questions)

References
The primary sources for the development of the LEED professional exams are the LEED rating systems. The following list of references is not meant to be comprehensive. When combined with the test specifications, the candidate has the material from which the exam is based.
The LEED Green Associate Exam is designed to test the general knowledge of green building practices and how to support other professionals working on LEED projects.

LEED credentials are granted by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

There are 2 main Tiers (types) of accreditation for individuals, each with their respective LEED exam prep classes: Tier 1 LEED Green Associate (GA) and Tier 2 LEED Accredited Professional (AP).

Tier 1 LEED GA is a foundational professional credential signifying core competency in green building principles.

Tier 2 LEED AP with specialty is an advanced professional credential signifying expertise in green building and a LEED rating system based on the Rating System Reference Guide.

Note: Passing the LEED Green Associate exam is a requirement to sit for a LEED AP exam.

Tier 3 LEED Fellows are a highly accomplished class of individuals nominated by their peers and distinguished by a minimum of 10 or more years of professional green building experience. LEED Fellows must also have achieved a LEED AP with specialty credential.

The value of LEED Credentials

Adding a LEED credential to your name is a feather in your cap. It advances your career and opens doors to a greener future. The sustainable building industry is growing at an exponential rate and the world needs more LEED Green Associates and LEED APs to help certify ALL buildings around the globe.




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