Design, Applications and Policy. By: Anthony Cupido, P.Eng. November 4, 2009.

Design, Applications and Policy By: Anthony Cupido, P.Eng. November 4, 2009.

Overview My background What is Green Engineering? McMaster s Approach and Application Sustainable Building Policy McMaster and LEED Buildings Policy Opportunities Next Steps

My Background Professional Engineer for 29 years. Currently the Assistant Vice President, Department of Facility Services. The Department oversees all Construction, Maintenance, Custodial, Grounds operations and Utilities on campus. Oversee policy development for the department. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering (Environmental). Thesis topic: The Development and Application of Policy Based tools for Institutional Green Buildings

What is Green Engineering? Green Engineering is the design, commercialization and use of processes and products that are feasible and economical while: Reducing the generation of pollution at the source. Minimizing the risk to human health and the environment.

Principles of Green Engineering* Engineer processes and products holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools. Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting human health and well being. Use life cycle thinking in all engineering activities. Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently safe and benign as possible. Minimize depletion of natural resources.

Principles of Green Engineering Strive to prevent waste. Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, aspirations, and cultures. Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate, and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability. Actively engage communities and stakeholders in development of engineering solutions. *(as developed by more than 65 engineers and scientists at the Green Engineering: Defining the Principles Conference, held in Sandestin, Florida in May of 2003)

Principles of Green Engineering The term Green Engineering registered 65,900,000 results on a Google search.

McMaster s Approach and Application We have a policy driven approach to sustainable planning, design, construction and operations. Policy was developed in April 2005. Straightforward concepts in the policy. Synergy between Principles of Green Engineering and the McMaster Policy. LEED driven model.

Policy Framework Public policy defined as; set of interrelated decisions, taken by public authorities, concerning the selection of goals and the means of achieving them. Policy development seen as complex and comprehensive. Of the 4300 higher education institutions in Canada and the U.S., only 2 percent have policies that promote sustainable buildings. Policy development is growing rapidly.

Key Definitions Policy: a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual (Compact Oxford English Dictionary 2009). Guideline: a general rule, principle or piece of advice (ibid.). Standard: a required or agreed level of quality or attainment (ibid.). Law/Statute Law: is the body of principles and rules of law laid down in statutes (ibid.). Goal: an aim or desired result (ibid.).

Sustainable Building Policy McMaster University will provide leadership in the conservation, protection, improvement and sustainability of the environment by: 1. Informing, supporting, and promoting sustainable building principles and benefits. 2. Implementing sustainable building principles in all new and existing buildings to achieve measurable life cycle cost savings. 3. Developing new occupied facilities to meet or exceed the Silver Level Rating of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System.

Sustainable Building Policy 4. Developing new facilities to achieve a minimum annual energy consumption saving of 35% and developing renovated buildings to achieve savings of 25%, when compared with the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB). 5. Evaluating and changing, as appropriate, University processes to promote development and operation of sustainable buildings.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ) A nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance buildings. Promotes a whole building approach to sustainability Ensures creditable standards for a green building. Is the dominant assessment rating system in North America.

Principal Categories of LEED Sustainable Sites 14 pts Water Efficiency 5 pts Energy and Atmosphere 17 pts Materials and Resources 14 pts Indoor Environmental Quality 15 pts Innovation and Design Process 5 pts Total 70 pts

LEED Certification Process Registration. Planning. Construction. Independent review by an audit team. Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) rates the project Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Ratings are based on a point system. Currently, 121 LEED projects awarded and 1536 Registered in Canada.and growing!

Typical Green Building Features Uses approximately 40% less energy. More cost effective to operate. Optimal site selection. Thermal efficient roofs, walls and windows. Smaller HVAC systems. Efficient water systems including rainwater and wastewater recycling. Optimize natural daylighting.

LEED Scorecard Certified: 26 to 32 points Silver: 33 to 38 points Gold: 39 to 51 points Platinum: 52 or more points

LEED Water Efficiency WEc1 Landscape Irrigation: Reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% (1 point) or 100% (2 points) relative to baseline by using only captured rain or recycled site water OR design the landscape so that a permanent irrigation system is not required. WEc2 Wastewater: Reduce usage of potable water for sewage conveyance by 50% OR treat 100% of wastewater to tertiary standards on site. WEc3 Indoor Water Use Reduction: Reduce potable water use by 20% (1 point) or 30% (2 points) relative to the baseline calculated for the building (not including irrigation) by meeting specified fixture flow requirements.

Core credits: 100 points Innovation & Design: 6 points Regional credits: 4 points Total 110 points Levels Certified: 40 points Silver: 50 points Gold: 60 points Platinum: 80 points

The substantial changes include the following: a regular development cycle (every three years the rating system will be redeveloped) the number and weighting of points (to better reflect the environmental importance of certain credits) new regional priority points (extra points available in certain existing categories that address issues of regional environmental importance) certification submittal process some credit requirements

Sustainable Sites changes: no buildings on prime farmland (Class 1, 2, and 3) structure of credits bike racks must be covered Water Efficiency changes: prerequisite is a 20% reduction in water use water meters required thresholds for water use reduction increase to 35 and 40% for each credit baseline faucet flow rate reduced from 9.5 to 1.9L/min

Energy Efficiency changes: prescriptive compliance options for EAp2 and EAc1 energy model for EAp2 and EAc1 must include process energy EAp2 is based on energy cost savings renewable energy thresholds changed to 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13% Material Selection changes: bottom tier threshold (55%) for building reuse recycled content thresholds increased to 10 and 20% regional material thresholds increased to 20 and 30% rapidly renewable threshold dropped to 2.5% all wood product vendors must be FSC Chain of Custody certified

Indoor Environmental Quality changes: all low emitting flooring covered controllability split into lighting (task lighting) thermal comfort (windows and individual controls) thermal comfort: verification requires occupant survey Innovation changes: maximum of three points for Exemplary Performance) four Regional Priority points three points for meeting credit important to region (i.e. achieving waste diversion credit in regions with limited recycling options)

Canmet Building (M.I.P.) targeted for LEED Platinum Ron Joyce Center targeted for LEED Gold. Engineering Tech. Building (ETB) targeted for LEED Gold. Burke Science Building targeted for LEED Silver. David Braley Athletic Center (DBaC) LEED Certified. Les Prince Hall Residence Building LEED Certified.

The Engineering Technology Building

Engineering Technology Building LEED Target Tentative Points Sustainable Sites 10 pts Water Efficiency 4 pts Energy and Atmosphere 7 pts Materials and Resources 7 pts Indoor Environmental Quality 10 pts Innovation and Design Process 5 pts Total 43 pts (Gold)

LEED during Construction

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting and Water Treatment

McMaster University is currently undertaking and planning several exciting new energy projects!

Solar Thermal

Photovoltaics New O.P.A. Feed in Tariff program will offer institutions an opportunity to participate in the capture of solar energy with a higher rate of return on the capital investment!

Policy Opportunities and Next Steps McMaster s Sustainable Building Policy to be reviewed annually. Provincial Policies on sustainable buildings and water conservation are scarce and/or need review and updating. As Engineers excellent opportunity to develop, influence, challenge and uphold new policies relating to Green Buildings. Must be patient!! Working in and around policies is not quick and easy stuff!

Policy Opportunities and Next Steps Learn to recognize that working with government on policies may be as rewarding as it is frustrating. Challenge the status quo. There is a huge opportunity for the development of policy in the Green Engineering field. Do not be afraid to take a leadership role in Green Engineering. Remember that what you design needs to be built and then needs to be operated!!!

APPA s 2008 Thought Leaders Symposium revealed that one of the top facility issues was to make sustainability central to facility operations. Critically important for senior facility professionals to understand major trends affecting higher education. A strong champion in a position of power or authority is needed to implement a formal green building policy. Green buildings are an opportunity to showcase innovation to incoming students and attract additional students and faculty to the campus.

Many institutions using LEED for the first time. Follow up needed with several institutions to complete the documentation cycle. A better understanding is needed on the correlation between Provincial/State Legislation, the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and institutional policy and non policy compliance. Need to improve the cost and performance of Green Buildings.