Sustainable Interiors + LEED

SUSTAINABLE INTERIORS + LEED

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Module One 06 | Introduction to LEED + Sustainability 10 | Core Concepts: Section One Module Two 16 | Core Concepts: Section Two 18 | Sustainable Design Theory + Application Module Three 22 | LEED Introduction 26 | Location + Transportation 28 | Sustainable Sites Module Four 34 | Water Efficiency 36 | Energy + Atmosphere Module Five 42 | Materials + Resources 46 | Indoor Environmental Quality Module Six 50 | Innovation in Design + Regional Priority 51 | Primary References, About USGBC + LEED 54 | Forums

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MODULE ONE Introduction to LEED + Sustainability Core Concepts: Section One

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|LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that was put together by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

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LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Today, LEED is perhaps the most well-known and well-respected programs of its kind. LEED aims to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated and aims to promote a more environmentally-, economically-, and socially-responsible environment that improves the quality of life. LEED is a voluntary program that was put together by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC is responsible for overseeing the LEED rating systems and for establishing a standard for green building design and a platform for innovative sustainable design and construction. Despite LEED being managed by the United States Green Building Council, the third-party program is recognized and utilized internationally.

GCBI (Green Building Certification Institute) administers the LEED exam and monitors credential maintenance for those who have passed LEED exams. Since a major rehaul in 2009, students have been able to take the LEED GA exam, assuming that they fulfill the proper requirements through education.

The LEED exam at a glance...

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The exam is administered in a twohour period.

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100 200 multiple-choice questions based on green building & LEED core concepts (sustainability)

The student price to take the LEED exam is $200 per appointment.

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Why green building?

What is a green building?

A green building is about creating a place that is environmentally responsible; provides healthy environments and promotes healthful lifestyle for its users; utilizes materials that are developed and obtained in a sustainable, fair, and just manner; and is equitable and profitable.

Why is green building important?

Society’s current “standard operating procedure” for the way buildings are built and operated just isn’t cutting it. Our current habits have proved to be extremely detrimental to the environment.

Clearing vast amounts of land are destroying wildlife habitats. Pollution from extracting, manufacturing, and transporting materials is releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the air. Building operations are using astronomical amounts of energy and water and are producing large amounts of waste that often ends up in landfills. Building-related transportation is adding significantly to energy use and creating damaging outcomes for the environment as a result of pollution. While buildings are not the whole problem, we can assume that they will play a major part in the solution.

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In the U.S. alone, buildings account for…

14% of potable water consumption 24-50% of energy use 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually) 38% of CO2 emissions 40% raw materials use 72% of electricity consumption

What are some positive impacts of green buildings?

With the rise of green buildings, we’ve been able to observe the positive impacts of rethinking the way we build and design buildings. A recent study shows that green buildings: use 26% less energy, have 27% higher occupant satisfaction, have 13% lower maintenance costs, and have reduced CO2 emissions by 33%.

Why do green buildings cost so much?

Actually, they don’t. The idea that green buildings are much more expensive than regular buildings is a common myth. In a recent poll, respondents believed that green features add, on average, 17% to cost of building. In reality, a study of 146 green buildings found that in actual expenditures, the cost of green features was actually less than 2%. The common perception is that green buildings cost more but, in the grand scheme of things, they are definitely worth the investment.

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"Green Building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout a building's life cycle."

Sources of Greenhouse Gases (Three Big Ones) • Vehicles and equipment • Purchased electricity • Travel and commuting Greenhouse gases are contributing to climate change; green buildings aim to mitigate this.

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Things to Consider When "Going Green" Location – not just about the building, but where it’s located Natural context (climate, orientation, how sun interacts with building, prevailing winds, local precipitation, flora/fauna) Infrastructural context (what’s already there – resources, materials, skills, utilities, roads, transit – if it’s already there, you don’t need to build it) Social context (what are the local priorities, culture, traditions, vernaculars of place, incentive programs, etc.)

Is it fair? Economical? Environmentally responsible?

Green buildings strive to maintain the Triple Bottom Line, by contributing to 1) Economic prosperity 2) Social responsibility 3) Environmental stewardship

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MODULE TWO Core Concepts: Section Two Sustainable Design Theory + Application

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KEY TERMS SYSTEM

A system is an assemblage of elements or parts that interact in a series of relationships to form a complex whole. Systems can be small or large, simple or complex.

Buildings are an assemblage of parts that form a complex whole; they can be summarized as large and complex systems. Systems thinking believes in looking at the whole system and optimizing an entire system. Optimizing in isolation tends to hurt the whole system by making it less efficient.

FEEDBACK LOOPS Feedback loops allow a system to give feedback and self-correct.

They enable systems to adjust their operations based on the desired outcome and what is actually happening. Feedback loops allow us to see if a system is working by constantly giving and receiving information.

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOPS Negative feedback loops self-correct but stay within a certain set of parameters, like a thermostat.

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POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOPS

Positive feedback loops take energy from the output of a system and reapply it to the input, resulting in constant increases.

Despite its name, the result is not always positive. For example, temperatures rise, causing ice to melt, which increases the water level, which then increases temperature (what’s being positively reinforced is not the outcome you want).

NESTED SYSTEMS A nested system is a series of interrelated systems that are one within the other. A change in one system has a chain effect on several larger systems.

REGENERATIVE BUILDING A building that is self--supporting and uses only as much water and energy as it produces (closed system). Most buildings are open systems (rely on electricity and water to come from outside source).

SUSTAINABLE THINKING LEVERAGE POINTS Leverage points are a point in a system where a small change can lead to large changes in results. If you’re trying to impact a system, these 12 points (in increasing order of effectiveness) tells various places where you can impact change.

1. Constant, parameters, numbers 2. The sizes of buffers and other stabilizing stocks 3. The structure of material stocks and flows 4. The length of delays, relative to the rate of system change 5. The strength of negative feedback lops, relative to the impacts they are trying to correct against 6. The gain around driving positive feedback loops 7. The structure of information flows 8. The rules of the system 9. The power to add, change, or self-organize system structure 10. The goals of the system 11. The mindset or paradigm out of which the system—its goals, structure, rules, delays, parameters—arises 12. The power to transcend paradigms

LIFE-CYCLE APPROACH This approach looks at the entire life of a project, product, or service, rather than just first costs and base bids. It considers things like initial extraction, manufacturing, transportation, assembly, disposal, fuel, etcetera.

• Cradle to grave vs. cradle to cradle • Cradle to grave – product ends up in landfill at the end of its life (we want to avoid this!)

• Cradle to cradle – something that can be infinitely recycled • Upstream activities – relates to extraction of raw materials used in a project • Downstream activities – relates to processing of materials all the way through the delivery of that to the end user • Embodied energy – the whole amount of energy used to extract, manufacture, transport, install, and use a product across its lifetime (more than just the energy used to make it) • Life cycle assessments – overall environmental impact associated with a material or product throughout its life cycle • Life cycle costing – related to costs of all these things (initial purchase, acquisition or construction; fuel; operation, maintenance, repair; replacement; disposal; finance charges; other intangible benefits or costs)

INTEGRATIVE PROCESS This is a comprehensive approach to building systems and equipmen that involves looking at all building and site systems and how they work together. In terms of a integrative team, it is often comprised of the owner, user, architects, contractors, designers, property managers, etc. all being involved from the beginning so that everyone is collaboratively coming up with a solution that maintains triple-bottom line.

• Phases • Discovery • Implementation • Occupation • Iteration (iterative process)

IMPACT CATEGORIES IN LEED 1. Reverse contribution to global climate change (LEED buildings cannot use CFCs).

2. Enhance individual human health and well-being (personal controls, access to natural light).

3. Protect and restore water resources (protect resources we have and restore ones that have been depleted – CA water crisis).

4. Protect, enhance and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services (we can’t just clear cut trees, ruin habitats, and expect to have a healthy planet).

5. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles (specifying rapidly renewable materials like cork and bamboo).

6. Build a greener economy.

7. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, community health and quality of life.

An underlying principle of these LEED impact categories is the idea of maintaining the triple bottom line (thinking about planet, people, profit, i.e. environmental/social/economic sustainability).

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PARADIGMS 6GREEN DESIGN in

Researchers Simon Guy and Graham Farmer, identified underlying themes in the work people were doing in the fields of sustainable design and green building, and summarized their findings in these six paradigms. In a given project, you may see many of these paradigms at work.

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ECO-TECHNIC Technical approach; using science and technology to make a sustainable building.

Example: High-energy/efficiency buildings, Energy Star program ECO-AESTHETIC Characterized by a sensual, post-modern, non-linear, organic approach; using computers to come up with new, organic forms.

Example: Frank Gehry buildings ECO-CULTURAL Low-tech, commonplace, vernacular approach; looking at cultural ecology; experiential point of view; based on how we experience the world.

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ECO-CENTRIC Based on wholism, autonomous recycling, and renewables.

Example: Reduce, reuse, recycle

ECO-MEDICAL Focus on human health and wellbeing.

Example: Reducing off-gassing, improving indoor air quality ECO-SOCIAL Involves participation, usually at the local level.

Example: Farmer’s markets

BIOPHILIC DESIGN & BIOMIMICRY Biophilia, a term coined by E.O. Wilson, refers to the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life.

Biophilic design, then, refers to the use

There are various dimensions, elements, and attributes that define biophilic design, such as: • Environmental features • Natural shapes and forms • Natural patterns and processes • Light and space • Place-based relationships • Evolved human-nature relationships

of nature as an inspiration for design. It can be analyzed from three perspectives: as a theory, as a science, or as a practice. Biologist E.O. Wilson belief that the only way to solve real-world problems is through an interdisciplinary lens, combining environmental policy, ethics, biology, social science, and more.

Biomimicry, an idea advanced by author

Biologist E.O. Wilson

Janine Benyus, is defined as “the concious emulation of nature’s genius” and involves looking at nature as a source for problemsolving. When drawing inspiration from nature, we can mimic it in one of three ways: • the form • the process, and • the system.

Key themes in biomimicry focus on function, an appreciation of good, "life-friendly" design, organic forms & structures, daylighting, natural ventilation, natural color palettes, bio-inspired gardens, and bringing nature’s wisdom back into the building process.

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MODULE THREE LEED Introduction Location + Transportation Sustainable Sites

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BECOMING a LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE WHAT? WHAT WILL I BE TESTED For professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice, GBCI has created the LEED Green Associate credential, which denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations.

WHY?

HOW?

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LEED offers a wide range of opportunities, and not just in design. For designers, it just makes sense to become accredited, as it is a great credential to have and many firms are requiring that their designers become accredited.

The accreditation process first involves educating yourself on LEED, LEED core concepts, and sustainability. This education foundation sets you up to take the LEED GA exam, proctored by Prometric Testing Centers. The exam contains 100 multiplechoice questions that must be completed in 2 hours. The three levels of questions are recall (memorization), application (of core concepts, & analysis. It is scored on 200 points, and you need a score of 170 to pass.

ON?

The different knowledge domains for the LEED GA exam are:

LEED Process

Integrative Strategies

Location and Transportation

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy and Atmosphere

Materials and Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Project Surroundings + Public Outreach The primary references to study and prepare for the exam are the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, LEED v4 Rating Systems, the LEED/USGBC website, & the LEED GA Exam Prep Guide.

WHAT 'S NEXT?

Once you become LEED-accredited, so will need to maintain your credentials. Credential maintenance varies based on your level of accreditation, but for a LEED Green Associate, it consists of 15 hours of continuing education every two years.

IN LEED v4, THERE ARE

5 LEED RATING SYSTEMS & 21 RATING SYSTEM ADAPTATIONS. LEED v4 Rating Systems

1. LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD + C) 2. LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID + C) 3. LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) 4. LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) 5. LEED for Homes Design and Construction

LEED Rating System Checklists contain: • the name of the rating system, • credit categories, • prerequisites, • If you don’t meet a prerequisite for any of the prereqs. For the LEED green building rating systems, you cannot have your building certified • credits (as a team, you decide which credits you’re trying to achieve), • available points, and • point thresholds (what level of LEED credential is the building going to be).

WHAT ARE ADAPTATIONS?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was founded in 1993. Their mission statement is "to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, LEED BD + C Adaptations (Memorize LEED BD + and prosperous environment that improves the C checklist for LEED GA exam.)

Quick Fact: quality of life.” The Green Building • LEED BC + C: New Construction Certification Institute (GBCI) oversees Buildings are • LEED BC + C: Core and Shell certified, people are the certification and credentials of: • LEED BC + C: Schools accredited (LEED • LEED Green Associates • LEED BC + C: Retail Certified Building, • LEED Accredited Professionals, and • LEED BC + C: Healthcare LEED Accredited • LEED Fellows (highest distinction).

Adaptations are specializations within a rating system. Think of them as more specific subcategories of a rating system.

LEED ID+C Adaptations: • LEED ID + C: Commercial Interiors • LEED ID + C: Retail • LEED ID + C: Hospitality

Professional).

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CERTIFYING a LEED BUILDING POINT THRESHOLDS Minimum Program Requirements to Put a Building up for LEED Certification • Must be in a permanent location on existing land • Must use reasonable LEED boundaries • Must comply with project size requirements (listed on website) • • • • •

Steps in the LEED Certification Process Rating system selection Project registration Credit submittals Project review Project certification

IMPACT CATEGORIES

The following impact categories are integral and central to LEED and aim to maintain the triple bottom line of social, economic, environmental responsibility: • Reverse contribution to global climate change • Enhance individual human health and wellbeing • Protect and restore water resources • Protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services • Promote sustainable and regenerative materials resources cycles • Build a greener economy • Enhance social equity, environmental justice and community quality of life 24

Certified Silver Gold Platinum

40-49 50-59 60-79 80+

100 points* + 4 regional priority and 6 innovation and design = 110 *Core system is 100 points, except for LEED for Homes (125-point scale).

KEY CATEGORIES WITHIN EACH RATING SYSTEM

• Location + Transportation • Sustainable Sites • Water Efficiency • Energy + Atmosphere • Materials + Resources • Indoor Environmental Quality • Innovation + Design (10 add-on points)

How do you know which rating system to choose?

• 40/60 Rule • If a rating system is appropriate for less than 40% of the gross floor area, do not select that rating system.

• If it is appropriate for over 60%, select the rating system.

• If it's between 40-60%, decide which rating system seems best.

How are the credits and prerequisites organized?

• These can be found within a category. All categories will contain credits, but only some will contain prerequisites. Prerequisites are required to achieve certification, but with credits, you pick and choose which ones you are trying to meet.

• Intents and Requirements • Each sustainable category has a group of credits that defines a particular sustainability goal. The sustainability goal is referred to as the intent.

• Example: The credit for reducing the amount of water used for lanscaping by 50% has the intent of reducing potable water use.

• The requirements section outlines what a project team must do to achieve a prerequisite or credit.

A project team typically includes the owner, the agent, and the project administrator.

LEED ONLINE

Use to: • Manage project details • Complete documentation requirements for LEED credits and prerequisites • Upload supporting files • Submit applications for review • Receive reviewer feedback and • Ultimately earn LEED certification

DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES

Need: • Project narrative • Project photos and/or renderings • Elevations • Typical floor plans • Project details • Distinguish boundary of project • Project boundary • LEED boundary • Property area

TERMS TO KNOW LEED Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) The CIR process is designed to allow Project Teams to obtain technical guidance on how LEED requirements including Minimum Program Requirements (MPR), Prerequisites, and Credits pertain to their projects. Any registered project team is able to view CIRs online LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG) TAG is the organization within LEED that makes advisory decisions about rating systems.

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LOCATION + TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS LOCATION

• Choose redevelopment and infill development • Redevelopment = previously developed • Infill = vacant area in a high-density urban center • Locate near existing infrastructure • Includes roads, electrical lines, water and sewer, phone lines • Lowers carbon footprint of building • Ideally a green infrastructure (solar power/wind power electricity) • Protect habitat • Home to various species and biodiversity • Increase density • Increase diversity of uses • Encourage multiple modes of transportation • Use of train, metro, bicycles, foot

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LOCATION is everything.

• Locate project within a LEED Certified Neighborhood Project • Already has green infrastructure • Locate the buildings within proximity of surrounding density and diverse uses

WHAT ARE "DIVERSE USES?"

It is ever-important that we create projects in places where inhabitants have access to all of various types of facilities, services, and diverse uses, such as: Food retail (supermarkets, grocery stores with produce) Community-serving retail (convenience stores, hardware stores, farmer’s markets, pharmacies – any kind of retail that is serving the community) Services (banks, hair salons, laundry, dry cleaners, gyms, restaurants) Civic and community facilities (adult daycare, childcare, government offices, fire stations, police stations, post offices, recreation/community centers, places of worship, libraries) Community anchor uses (commercial office spaces)

In the US in 2008, 33% of greenhouse gases were a result of transportation.

Transportation accounts for 13.5% of total carbon dioxide emission worldwide.

There are three main factors to consider with transportation: • Land use • Vehicle technology • Transportation fuels

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TRANPORTATION & CHOOSING A SITE

Locate the project near mass transit Limit parking Encourage bicycling Encourage carpooling Promote alternative fuel vehicles Offer incentives (closer parking if you carpool) • Support alternative transportation

TRANPORTATION STRATEGIES

• Limit available parking • Develop in areas with multimodal transportation access (bus, metro, train) • Designate 5% of parking for green vehicles (Prius, hybrid, electric) • Provide 5% preferred parking for carpools • Install electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in 2% of parking spaces • Install liquid or gas alternative fueling facilities for at least 2% of spaces The main goal here is to encourage people to think differently about how they can get to work in a more sustainable manner.

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SUSTAINABLE SITES SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD PATTERNS • • • • • • •

How to Create an Environment for Sustainability Design walkable streets (prevalent in Europe, not in the US) Include street trees Promote connectivity Provide diverse land uses Create a diverse community Support access to sustainable food Ensure that all residents have easy access to grocery stores

HEALTH & LIVABILITY STRATEGIES

• Develop in areas that promote walkability • Provide bicycle storage facilities, shower rooms and bicycle networks in close proximity to diverse uses • Provide a bicycle maintenance program for employees or bicycle route assistance for employees and customers • Provide pedestrian amenities • Promote connectivity • Promote access to sustainable food • Provide access to grocery stores

SITE SELECTION GOALS

• Increase density • Choose redevelopment • Protect habitat

SITE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

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We must strive to design communities that are socially, economically, and environmentally equitable.

• Avoid developing environmentally sensitive lands • Locate the project on a site that has been previously developed • Locate the project on a high-priority site (such as brownfield)

WHAT KIND OF SITES SHOULD I BUILD ON?

Sensitive Lands – avoid these!

• Farm land – used for food production • Flood plains – land likely to flood • Habitats • Water bodies • Wetlands (marshes, bogs) – important for removing pollution and recharging groundwater supply

High Priority Sites – build on these!

• Brownfields – some sort of hazardous waste is associated with site and in order to build on it, you must remediate the site first; development is encouraged so that these sites can be cleaned up • Historic infill site – empty site in a highdensity urban location • Superfund site • Federal empowerment zone • Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions fund (CDFI Fund) sites • US Department of Housing and Urban Development Qualified Census Tract (QCT) or Difficult Development Area (DDA)

DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE SITE DESIGN

• Minimize hardscape – they radiate heat back into the environment and raise the local temperature; minimize hard surfaces • Use native landscaping – reduce amount of potable water needed for watering plants • Prevent light pollution • Preserve open space and sensitive areas • Protect and restore habitat • Other things to think about: • Prevent construction pollution • Protect and restore habitat

• Reduce the building footprint – overall size of building on site • Increase density on site – Floor Area Ratio (looking at total non-residential building floor area divided by total buildable land area • Maximize open space (maximize open space around building/make it more compact) • Plant native and adapted species • Xeriscaping: a style of landscape design requiring little or no irrigation or other maintenance, used in arid regions 29

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE SITE OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT Develop a sustainable site management plan HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

• • Implement conservation programs • Maintain site lighting to prevent light pollution • Light where people are going to be – don’t light the sky; light the walking or driving paths • Prevent light trespass – spillage of light across property lines

RAINWATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES • Minimize impervious areas (hardscape that can’t be penetrated) • Pervious sidewalks and paring areas • Control stormwater • Incorporate rainwater management into site design • Construct bioswales (formation in landscape that controls where rainwater goes) • Put in dry ponds (excavated areas designed to hold rainwater when it’s raining and be dry when it’s not) • Low-impact development (LID) – emulate nature’s strategies of how to manage water

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Strategies from Rainwater Management in Operations and Maintenance: • Redirect rainwater • Harvest rainwater • Create a rain garden – depressed area that contains soil, stone, and vegetation and is designed to catch rainwater and slow it down/keep it on the site

• Caused by an influx of hard surfaces all together • Hard dark surfaces collect and store heat (then release/radiate it)

Negative Impacts • Increases local air temperature • Requires more AC • Impacts wildlife not accustomed to increased temperatures Strategies to Reduce Heat Island Effect • Install reflective roof surfaces • Two Factors to Consider: • Albedo – metric on a scale of 0 to 1 that defines the reflectivity of a surface from darkest black to white; we want a highly reflective roof material • Solar reflectance index (SRI) – white is best; the higher the number, the better (scale of 0-100) • Reduce the area of paved surfaces exposed to sunlight • Plant an urban forest or green roof

This diagram details and demonstrates some of the sustainability principles and solutions that we learned in this module (outdoor areas, clean air parking, alternative transportation, bio-infiltration swales), as well as others that we will learn in the coming modules.

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MODULE FOUR Water Efficiency Energy + Atmosphere

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WATER EFFICIENCY • • • • • • • • • • • •

KEY TERMS

Blackwater – water from toilets/urinals Graywater – water from showers & sinks Potable water – drinking water Wastewater – any water that has been adversely affected in quality; "used" water Baseline versus design – design cases aim to reduce water consumption 20% reduction over baseline Cooling towers – structures that use water to absorb heat out of AC systems Gallons per flush – measurement of flush fixtures (i.e. toilets/urinals (1.6 gallons/flush)) Gallons per minute – measurement of flow fixtures (faucets) Irrigation efficiency – drip irrigation, etc.

Harvested rainwater – rainwater that is collected to be used for irrigation & flushing toilets Water closets – toilets Lavatories – sinks

Three Types of Water Use • Indoor water – used in plumbing fixtures • Irrigation water – used to water plants outdoors • Process water – used in the running of a building (ice makers, cooling towers, dishwashers, etc.)

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QUESTIONS FOR THE TEAM

How much rain fall on site per year?

• If there’s a lot, you may want to capture some of it for other uses.

• If there’s a little, you’ll want to landscape in such a way that you aren’t having to use potable water for irrigation.

How will water be used on site? And how can the amount be reduced?

What are the sources of graywater (such as from sinks and showers) that could be collected anD reused for nonpotable uses (such as irrigation)?

EASY WAYS TO REDUCE INDOOR WATER USE

Use more efficient fixtures Use more non-potable water to flush toilets, irrigate, etc.

Install submeters • Submeters allow you to monitor water usage in different fixtures & household users of water so that, in the case of a spike in water usage, you can see where the problem is & what fixture is responsible for it, identify a leak, or adjust your usage habits.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO WATER CONSERVATION

Baseline versus Design Cases Design cases aim to reduce water consumption 20% reduction over baseline.

Baseline water use upholds a standard and simply meets building codes. Baseline water use assumes what the water use would be in a building that was designed to meet all current codes. It results in minimal water usage savings (design water use aims to improve on that and reduce water use by a minimum of 20%).

EPAct of 1992 Outlined how to reduce water use in particular fixtures Water closet usage limited to 1.6 gallons per flush;urinal limited to 1 gallon per flush Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is the hours spent in a building by one person on a full-time basis. “Full-time” for a person is considered 40 hours per week spent in a building. The default ratio in terms of gender is 50% for each.

Default ratio is 50/50

REDUCING INDOOR WATER USE

Intent: minimum 20% reduction Strategies: • Install efficient fixtures – low flow/ultra low-flow water closet, dual-flush W.C., ultra low-flow/waterless urinal, low flow aerator on faucets, composting toilets • Water reclamation systems • Install submeters – have irrigation, boiler, water heater, indoor plumbing fixtures be individually monitored • Reduce process water use • Use efficient fixtures • Use non-potable water where possible (cooling towers) • Install submeters

REDUCING OUTDOOR WATER USE

• Choose locally adapted plants – grow based on local rainfall • Use xeriscaping – require little to no water • Select efficient irrigation technologies • Evapotranspiration – water is lost to evaporation when you water plants • Drip irrigation (puts water at the roots of the plant and reduces amount of water lost to evaporation) • Use non-potable water • Install submeters

Showering accounts for nearly 17% of residential indoor water use. The average family could save 2,900 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. On a national scale, if every home in the United States installed these showerheads, we could save more than $2.2 billion in water utility bills and more than 260 billion gallons of water annually.

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ENERGY + ATMOSPHERE

ADDRESSING THE DEMAND FOR ENERGY

The United States was the 2nd largest energy consumer in 2010 (after China) considering total use. The U.S. ranks 7th in energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small nations. Currently, our main goal is to reduce our energy demand, and much of it starts with are buildings.

HOW CAN WE REDUCE IT?

Our main goal is to reduce the energy demand.

These strategies can help us do so: • Baseline and design cases • Baseline case – meet current and existing building codes and energy codes • Design case – measure against baseline case

Energy Use Breakdown

chiller boilers other AHU's lighting

While chillers and boilers are the largest drains on energy combined, the largest single user of energy is lighting. It is important to design lighting in a way that spaces aren’t overlit, because the more lighting there is, the more AC is required.

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• High performance building envelope • Establish design and energy goals for commissioning • Install submeters and automated controls – monitor energy use Additionally, being more concious of the things that impact energy use can help us reduce the demand: • Water use (heating) • Interior color schemes – paint colors can impact the amount of AC or heating you need • Increased ventilation strategies • Lighting • Conventional incandescent lamps use approximately 4 times the energy to create the same light output as a standard compact fluorescent.

STRATEGIES TO LIMIT USE & INCREASE EFFICIENCY

• Establish design and energy goals • Size the building appropriately • More building = more energy • Use free energy • Solar power, wind power, doesn’t have to be mined • Insulate • The better insulated a building is, the less energy/more stable the temperature • Monitor consumption • Monitor major users of energy in a building to adjust accordingly • • • • •

Increasing Energy Efficiency Participate in demand response program Benchmarking buildings • What is the standard amount of energy the building should be using?

Use high performance systems Specify high efficiency appliances (Energy Star) Implement energy modeling (can use plugins in Revit to simulate how much energy a building will need)

PRODUCING RENEWABLE ENERGY

Purchase & produce off-site renewable energy.

Green power Renewable energy certificates Green-energy certification program Carbon offsets

Refrigerant Management (CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs) • Refrigerant trade-off • Refrigerant elimination • Using more ozone-friendly refrigerant • HFCs are better than CFCs (ozone depletion potential)

LEED IN PRACTICE

Distinguish between regulated and process energy Process energy – energy used to operate building/keep it going; runs runs office equipment, computers, appliances Regulated energy – powers lighting, mechanical systems, HVAC, and service water heating

Install on-site renewable energy systems.

Solar/photovoltaic Wind Bioenergy Geothermal Hydropower

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MAINTAINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY 1. Identify passive design opportunities • Taking advantage of the way in which the sun interacts with the building, prevailing winds, siting the building to take advantage of natural design opportunities 2. Address the building envelope (exterior materials) • Address roofing, facades, glass materials 3. Install high performance mechanical systems 4. Specify high-efficiency appliances (ENERGY STAR) 5. Use energy simulation models • Figure things out before the building is built 6. Use high efficiency infrastructure 7. Use thermal energy storage 8. Capture efficiencies of scale • You don’t need to build the biggest building; build what you need and capture the efficiencies of scale 9. Monitor and verify performance • Recalibrate, check for inefficiencies

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10. Adhere to owner’s needs and wants 11. Provide staff training 12. Conduct preventative maintenance 13. Create incentives for occupants & tenants 14. Prepare an OPR (owner’s project requirements) • Should be basis for design and construction • Make sure owner’s needs & green energy goals are matched 15. Training building managers • You can design the greenest building in the world, but then once it’s in operation, if people don’t know how to use it, it could be functioning improperly.

16. Giving regular reports of energy use • The Prius effect • If you show people that they are saving energy by turning the lights on when they aren’t in use, people tend to do that habit more often

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MODULE FIVE Materials + Resources Indoor Environmental Quality

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MATERIALS + RESOURCES Strategies for Conserving Materials Throughout a Project’s Life-Cycle Reuse existing buildings and salvaged materials Plan for smaller, more compact communities Design smaller, more flexible homes and buildings Use efficient framing techniques Promote source reduction in operations

CONSERVATION IS KEY. Material Conservation Reuse buildings and materials Historic building reuse (can earn up to 6 points) Renovation of abandoned of blighted building (can earn up to 6 LEED certification points) Building and material reuse Using 25-75% of the existing materials can earn 5 points Perform whole-building LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments)

This energy-conserving house in the Rousa region in Spain is made from recycled materials (predominantly recycled wood) and is a work of eco-architecture, energy conservation, and simplistic but stunning design.

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ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCTS:

Support the local economy Sustainably grown and harvested Have intended end-of-life scenarios that avoid landfill Contain recycled content from industrial or consumer sources Made of bio-based material Free of toxins Long-lasting, durable, and reusable Made in factories that support human health and workers’ rights

PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES & DISCLOSURES

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) • Whole-Building LCA & Product/Material LCA • LCC (Life Cycle Costing): cost of material over its entire life cycle PCR (Product Category Rule) • Set of requirements based on international standards (ISO – Int’l Standards Org.) for environmental product declarations • For every type of material, there’s certain requirements of what needs to be included in the EPD (environmental product declaration) EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) • Includes: • Results of LCA • Information about PCR • If you can get these, you know you can trust the product • Type 3 = third-party certified ("seal of approval" from outside organization)

HPD (Health Product Declaration) • Material information that talks about the relationship to human and ecological health

WHEN SPECIFYING MATERIALS, ALSO CONSIDER...

Using products with EPDs • Product-specific declarations • USGBC approved program • Cradle-to-Cradle certified, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), Sustainable Agriculture Network, the Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number, Health Product Declarations Using verified sourcing of raw materials Researching material ingredients • Use materials with known ingredients • Perkins and Will: list of chemicals that have been shown to be harmful to humans • Cradle to Cradle certification program: banned chemicals list & material health assessment Implementing sustainable purchasing policy Reducing energy use from material transportation • Sourcing locally • Location valuation factor – 100 mile radius • Intended end-of-life uses that divert waste from landfills (cradle to cradle) Ensuring that products maintain the triple bottom line (socially-, environmentally-, and economically-responsible)

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SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING

Identify local sources of environmentally preferable products • Produced within 100 miles Develop a sustainable materials policy • Should say that when you’re buying things for the building, they should come from one of several types of products: • Rapidly renewable – can be regenerated quickly (bamboo, cork) • Regional – within 100 miles • Salvaged from a building • Third-party verified: An independent organization has reviewed the manufacturing process of a product & has independently determined that the final product complies with safety, quality or performance standards.

Specify green materials & equipment Specify green custodial products

REDUCE WASTE

DURING OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE Develop a solid waste management policy Conduct a waste stream audit (who’s producing what and where is it going) Maintain a recycling program Monitor, track and report Compost Provide recycling for durable goods

MAIN GOAL:

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DIVERT TRASH FROM LANDFILLS!

REDUCE WASTE

DURING CONSTRUCTION Design buildings that produce less waste Develop a construction waste management policy Establish a tracking system

WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Reduce the size of the building footprint Implement recycling plans Conduct waste stream audits Implement construction and solid waste planning and management policies Monitor and track waste and recycling

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INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INDOOR AIR QUALITY

• • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

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Promoting Good Indoor Air Quality Improve/design for proper air ventilation (MERV: minimum efficiency reporting value – higher number = cleaner air) Prevent sick building syndrome (eye, nose, throat irritation from poor air quality) Set minimum indoor air quality performance (ASHRAE 62.1-2010 – minimum ventilation rates) Use indoor air quality performance strategies (natural and mechanical ventilation mixed) Control tobacco smoke (LEED v4 prohibits smoke in non-residential buildings) Use enhanced indoor air quality strategies • Entry way systems • Exhaust • Filtration • Increase ventilation • Carbon dioxide monitoring • Naturally ventilated spaces Specify low-emitting materials (paint with low or no VOCs – volatile organic compounds) Manage construction indoor air quality Perform an indoor air quality assessment Establish a green cleaning policy Use integrated pest management Test for radon or other on-site contaminants Calibrate sensors (commissioning – make sure everything is working properly) Develop and implement a green cleaning policy Conduct custodial effectiveness assessment Improving Air Quality During Construction Keep building clean during construction Protect materials and equipment Conduct a flush-out before building is in use

LIGHTING

• • • •

Allow natural light into the space Improve interior lighting Provide individual controls for lighting Daylighting • Skylights • Lightshelves • Suntubes • Larger window areas and appropriate interior wall space planning

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is composed of four main categories: Indoor Air Quality, Lighting, Acoustics, and Occupant Experience.

ACOUSTICS • • • •

Acoustic Performance Strategies Optimize acoustic performance Create soft surfaces by using sound absorbing materials made from recycled products Use designs and geometries that improve acoustics Design rooms with privacy and concentration in mind • Enclose spaces where privacy is important

OCCUPANT EXPERIENCE Improving Occupant Comfort, Health, & Satisfaction • • •

• • • • • •

Provide thermal comfort (ASHRAE 55-2010) Improve views Space Categorization • Occupied versus unoccupied spaces • Regularly versus non regularly occupied spaces • Individual occupant versus multi occupant spaces Use daylighting Install operable windows Give occupants lighting, temperature, and ventilation control Conduct occupant surveys Provide ergonomic furniture Include appropriate acoustic design

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MODULE SIX Innovation in Design + Regional Priority Primary References About USGBC + LEED

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UT DALLAS STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING

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INNOVATION in DESIGN

A SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE, ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE THAT IS NOT ALREADY DEFINED IN THE LEED RATING SYSTEM.

LEED encourages innovation, so much so, that they created a special category to award additional points for innovation toward a building's certification. Innovation in Design points (up to 5 points + 1 for LEED AP = 6 possible total) can be awarded for: • Exemplary performance: exceeds the credit requirements; goes above and beyond; double what a credit requires Example: increasing the use of alternative transporatation, rainwater management, reducing heat island effect, etc.

• Innovative performance: demonstartes a quantifiable environmental benefit using an approach not found in the LEED Rating System Example: including a pilot credit (credits that are on their way to being added based on previous projects) • Having one LEED AP participant on the project team

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REGIONAL PRIORITY Regional priority points provide an incentive to pay special attention to site-specific issues. It serves as a chance to respond to local climate, population density, regulations, issues and address environmental, social equity, and public health priorities. For each state in the U.S., the USGBC decides what these priorities will be.

Outside of the U.S, the members of the LEED International Round Table designate their their own regional priorities based on their country's concern.

There are 4 possible points in this category.

RECAPPING

LEED:

LEED FOR BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION NEW CONSTRUCTION CORE AND SHELL SCHOOLS RETAIL HEALTHCARE DATA CENTERS HOSPITALITY WAREHOUSES AND DISTRIBUTION HOMES MULTIFAMILY MIDRISE LEED FOR INTERIOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL INTERIORS RETAIL HOSPITALITY LEED FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE EXISTING BUILDINGS DATA CENTERS WAREHOUSES AND DISTRIBUTION HOSPITALITY SCHOOLS RETAIL LEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN BUILT PROJECT LEED FOR HOMES HOMES MID-RISE

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY + ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE: VALIDATES BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF GREEN BUILDING AND THE PROFESSIONAL FIELD, AS GAINED THROUGH EXPERIENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN BUILDING OR RELATED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

LEED ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL: DEMONSTRATES A DEEP FAMILIARITY WITH THE LEED RATING SYSTEMS DEVELOPED THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN AND CONTRIBUTION TO A LEED REGISTERED PROJECT LEED FELLOW: DISTINGUISHES PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, CONTRIBUTION TO THE STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND BODY OF KNOWLEDGE, AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE FILED COST TO REGISTER: BD+C, ID+C, AND 0+M REGISTRATION FOR NON-MEMBERS IS $1200 ND IS $1500 CAMPUS REGISTRATION IS $1200 HOMES ARE $225 CERTIFICATION RANGES IN PRICE BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE

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WHAT LEED MEASURES Innovation Energy Savings Carbon Footprint Corporate Responsibility

GETTING STARTED Learn.

Learn about the LEED rating systems.

Register.

Visit the Green Building Certification Institute's site to learn more about registering a project with LEED and the certification process.

Already familiar with the project application and certification process?

Go to LEED Online to register your project.

Become an expert.

LEED professional credentials distinguish building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED APs and LEED Green Associates have demonstrated a thorough 52

understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED rating systems. Visit GBCI.org to learn about LEED professional credentials.

Educate.

USGBC offers a wealth of resources to support you in the path to LEED certification, including LEED reference guides and education programs available online or in person.

Collaborate.

Use integrated design. Having everyone at the table from the beginning—architects, designers, engineers, facility managers, and other key team members—dramatically improves ultimate building performance and helps keep costs in check.

Celebrate.

Achieving LEED certification is a significant accomplishment, and sharing your suc cess encourages others to follow your lead. A LEEDcertified project can market itself as truly green using the LEED logo.

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FORUMS

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MODULE ONE

Hi, guys! I am a junior majoring in Interior Design and minoring in Sustainable Natural Environments and Leadership and Social Change. Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity and privilege to go to Italy (primarily Florence and Venice) with the interior design department, so that's definitely been the highlight of my summer.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building rating system intended to reduce the impact of the built environment on the natural environment by designing more efficient and environmentally-conscious buildings. Anymore, it seems that new builds and LEED-certified buildings are almost synonymous and that the number of LEED buildings has skyrocketed in recent years. In designing and building LEED buildings, people have seemingly promoted more of a “why not?” mentality, which is good in that it results in more LEED-certified buildings, but that most people are not actually educated in what LEED is or means. I think that there is a disconnect in the education standpoint of LEED that needs to be improved upon for it to have a more far-reaching impact. Regardless, LEED has, without a doubt, propelled the sustainability discussion, has promoted a “LEED Platinum” rating as the “hip” new benchmark that all companies should strive to meet, and has promoted sustainable practices in design and building construction.

Sustainable design addresses our need to innovate, as well as our obligation to preserve the environment. It represents a change in thinking – that design shouldn’t solely be about form, function, and aesthetics, but that it should also have context, be considerate, and have a minimal impact on the environment. “Sustainable design” deals largely with responsibility and finding ways to achieve a higher quality of life through lower-impact design solutions, while also setting future generations up for success and the ability to maintain and improve upon these sustainable designs.

Over the last couple of years, I have taken special interest in green buildings and sustainable design and I think that, as young designers, we really are obligated to educate ourselves on these principles and ideas and work to implement them into future design careers. Ultimately (like everyone here, I suppose), I hope to leave this class not only with an understanding of LEED and sustainable design, but with the ability to apply this knowledge and achieve LEED certification.

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MODULE TWO

Above all else, I think this class has taught me to be more conscious of the decisions I make as a designer. Looking at each decision as part of a larger, interconnected system and recognizing the impact they can have on said system is an important aspect of my design approach.

I’ve learned that changing one element of a design can have a major effect on the rest of system, both positively and negatively. This module really emphasizes attacking sustainability in a system, such as looking at the whole building versus just one aspect, or working in an integrated team to ensure that every aspect of a building and site incorporates sustainable solutions. The idea of regenerative buildings – where buildings use as only much water and energy as they produce – is something that I see being a big need as we enter the workforce and something that we will need to start considering in our design approach.

MODULE THREE

In my most recent studio project, we were challenged to design a boutique in one of three locations selling a product of our choice. I designed a bicycle shop in Portland, Oregon. My feature wall was inspired by and mimicked the terrain of Oregon, showcasing natural forms that were unique to the Oregon landscape. Looking back, I wish I would have found a less literal way to use bio-inspiration in my design and let it drive my concept from the start of the project. I would also like to incorporate more local, life-friendly materials that encourage both environmental and cultural sustainability, bringing the project more full-circle and making it more unique to its place.

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People receive LEED Accreditation and buildings become LEED Certified.

Going out on a limb, I would say that U.S. cities are more sustainable in their layout than suburbs. I’ve visited major cities throughout the U.S. (Chicago, New York, & San Francisco to name a few), as well as cities abroad in Italy. In each place, I appreciate one thing more than anything – the convenience of walking. Where I live, it’s even less than a suburb; I have to drive 30 minutes for the nearest grocery store, for work, or for any ounce of civilization and I rely on my car all the time. Being in a city where everything is walkable, accessible, and easier to get to without a car, it breeds a more sustainable and active lifestyle. For the last week, I’ve gotten to explore Austin, Texas to move my brother down and have gotten to see a lot of the city – both its suburban and metropolitan areas. In Austin, more so than other cities I’ve been to, there is a major emphasis on biking and riding the bus. Austin has rejected ideas of a metro system or expansive train system and recently got outlawed certain rideshare companies, including Uber, but counters it with extensive bike paths, trails, and lanes, and a reliable, convenient, and clean public bus system. While traffic is still a problem, I didn’t find

MODULE THREE

it to be as bad in the central city compared to other cities, and they even shut down blocks of the downtown area at night to encourage walking. Austin has a nice balance of skyscrapers and open space (parks, bike trails, etc.) and has a way of making the “big city” feel smaller than it is. What Austin suburbs do have going for them, aside from quirky restaurants and shops within walking distance, is an emphasis on restoration.

MODULE FOUR

One of the easiest and most cost effective ways for average people to conserve water is implementing low-flow faucets, shower heads, and fixtures in their home. Low-flow, highefficiency plumbing fixtures can be more than 20% more water-efficient than traditional fixtures. “According to the U.S. EPA, if all U.S. households installed water-efficient fixtures and appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion dollars per year” (http://www.thegreenspotlight.com/2010/08/high-efficiency-watersaving-plumbing-fixtures/). A designers, we play an integral role in raise awareness for and educating people on the importance of water and energy conservation. Being more conscious of the different ways in which we can implement water-saving initiatives in a building, one project at a time, can make a big difference and lead to a more environmentally-educated and environmentally conscious society.

As someone mentioned earlier, many of the houses in the suburbs are being renovated rather than demolished, and many of the neighborhoods are seeing a revival. They develop their own identity and are filled with colorful homes, a lot of dogs, and room to breathe a short distance away from the city center. Additionally, I’ve noticed an emphasis and xeriscaping, which this week’s lecture discussed (http://xeriscapinginaustin.com/Xeriscaping_In_Austin.html). While these neighborhoods have a lot of green space and lots of character, many have limited walkability to grocery stores, pharmacies, etc., which in turn causes people to rely on their cars a lot, contributing to the carbon footprint of the city.

Switching to high-efficiency fixtures can also help conserve energy. According to the EPA, “if one out of every 100 American homes were retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, that would save about 100 million kWh of electricity per year—avoiding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions: equivalent to removing nearly 15,000 automobiles from the road for one year.” It’s amazing to see what a massive impact that small changes can have when implemented on a larger scale. I think that a lot of these changes can work like a “domino effect” – if one person switched to low-flow fixtures or Energy Star appliances and then told a friend who made those changes in their own life who talked to another friend and so on – and that, in due time, it can become a movement. Another strategy to conserving energy is to ensure that buildings and homes are properly insulated. People often assume that good insulation is a given in every building and aren’t aware of the sheer value of it, but my dad, as a home inspector, often sees 57

MODULE FOUR

many homes that are improperly insulated and are, in turn, causing clients to waste a lot of energy and money on heating and cooling costs.

First and foremost, the needs of the client and user of a building and space are most important. Finding ways to meet these needs and exceed them in terms of energy- and waterefficiency will be key in future projects. Simple solutions will be to specify energy-saving appliances, more efficient light fixtures, and low-flow, high efficiency plumbing systems.

Additionally, something I learned in the lecture, is that there are certain color schemes that can increase energy savings. As designers, we are often responsible for selecting a color scheme in projects. According to Smart Ideas, “if your new, energy-conscious home will be located in a warm climate, light-coloured walls are ideal. Whilst darker colours are better at maintaining heat, a light exterior will help your home stay cooler in summer by reflecting heat.

MODULE FIVE

With dark coloured exterior walls having the tendency to absorb up to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun, a light and bright exterior colour scheme has a big impact on indoor comfort, particularly for those living in the Southern hemisphere at the height of summer� (http://smarthomesforliving.com.au/smartideas/choose-best-exterior-colours-energy-efficienthome/). Educating clients and users on the importance of water and energy conservation and showing them that implementing these changes are worth the investment in the long run will be key to ensuring that they continue to commit themselves to conserving water and energy and positively impacting the environment.

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This week's lectures have made me more aware of the benefits and repercussions of certain material and product selections, as well as shown me multiple factors that affect the user's experience in an interior environment. From optimizing the amount of natural light to providing users with air, temperature, and lighting controls, even the slightest change can majorly impact the user, both positively and negatively. Transitioning into junior year, I plan to be more careful in my material selections and cite more renewable, sustainably-produced, low VOC-content, recyclable materials, so as not to expose the user to harmful chemicals and to prevent materials from ending up in landfills. I will also try to design spaces with the intent to give as many users access to nature and natural light as possible, as views of nature can boost productivity, health, and well-being. Additionally, this week enhanced the importance of acoustics within a space and how much of an impact they can have on the user. Personally, there is nothing more frustrating than when you cannot comfortably have a conversation in a space and not being able to hear or worrying that the noise will carry. I want to research more ways to improve the acoustic absorption of spaces so that I can specify more up-and-coming solutions in my designs. If a product I like does not have an EPD, then I will research and

MODULE FIVE MODULE SIX

identify an alternative and equivalent product that has an EPD, as they are very important to providing information about the product and their impact on the environment. because EPDs are important to find out about the product. I will have to be willing to part with a particular material or product in order to promote sustainability and environmental responsibility.

My biggest takeaway from this class is the importance of education, in multiple senses.

For one, educating ourselves on LEED and sustainable design is a responsibility we have as designers. It is our job to advance the field of design and work towards a more sustainable future. We’re also obligated to educate others on these principles and bring environmentallyconscious design to everyone. We must implement these technologies and educate people on how to properly use them, otherwise we may be doing more harm than good. We need to show people how the little things they do can make a big impact on the environment, both positively and negatively. If we are all more conscious of our decisions, both day-to-day and design, we will be able to more quickly and efficiently work towards a sustainable future.

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Shelby Burnett Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University College of Architecture + Design Interior Design shelby18@vt.edu | 540.522.8124

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