Overview of ENVISION: A Sustainability Rating System for Infrastructure Projects

Transcription

1 Houston, Texas May 19, 2016 Overview of ENVISION: A Sustainability Rating System for Infrastructure Projects Michael F. Bloom, P.E., CFM, ENV SP, BCEE Manager, Sustainability Practice

2 TOPICS Who is ISI? Why a New Rating System? Envision Rating System Overview Details on Selected Credits Project Verification Process Envision by the Numbers Envision in Texas

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4 CHARTER MEMBERS

5 ENVISION QUALIFIED COMPANIES

6 ENVISION QUALIFIED COMPANIES

7 WHY WAS ENVISION DEVELOPED? Current rating systems for infrastructure in the U.S. are sector specific No U.S. system covers all aspects of infrastructure Envision is designed to fill the gap Envision = LEED for Horizontal Projects

8 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX VS. ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Sustainable Ecological Footprint = 1.79 hectares per person HDI Elements: Life expectancy Years of Education Income United Nations Development Program SOURCE: ISI, 2012, adapted from Living Planet Report 2006, World Wildlife Fund.

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10 TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE SOURCES: John Elkington, 1997.

11 WHAT TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE? ENERGY WATER WASTE TRANSPORT LANDSCAPE INFORMATION Geothermal Hydroelectric Nuclear Coal Natural Gas Oil/Refinery Wind Potable water distribution Capture/Storage Water Reuse Storm Water Management Flood Control Solid waste Recycling Hazardous Waste Collection & Transfer Airports Roads Highways Bikes Pedestrians Railways Public Transit Public Realm Parks Ecosystem Services Telecommunications Internet Phones Satellites Data Centers Sensors Solar Ports Biomass Waterways

12 60 CREDITS IN 5 CATEGORIES Purpose, Community, Wellbeing Collaboration, Management, Planning Materials, Energy, Water Siting, Land & Water, Biodiversity Emissions, Resilience

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14 QUALITY OF LIFE

15 MINIMIZE NOISE AND VIBRATION INTENT: Minimize impacts during construction and operation to maintain and improve community livability. METRIC: The extent to which noise and vibration will be reduced. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (1) Studies, predictions. Conduct baseline studies of existing levels specified in the project for construction and operations. Predictions of levels based on proposed project siting and design are produced. (8) Achieving acceptable levels. Proposals for mitigation are created based on studies and determination of the goals of the affected communities. Proposals are presented, approved, and incorporated. Construction specifications are set. Monitor during operations. (11) Creating quieter communities. Design project to reduce ambient noise in area. Noise levels substantially reduced. Specifications set for noise and vibrations during construction take community needs into account. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

16 LEADERSHIP

17 ESTABLISH SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INTENT: Create project management system that can manage the scope, scale, and complexity of a project seeking to improve sustainable performance. METRIC: The organizational policies, authorities, mechanisms and business processes have been implemented and the judgment that they are sufficient for the project. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (1) Sparse mechanisms. Limited details. Processes and mechanisms appear insufficient. Roles and responsibilities for addressing sustainability are not well defined. Sustainability positions are at low levels in the organization. (4) A basic plan. Good but incomplete system. Some elements included. Some important elements are missing. Roles are better defined. (7) Plan do checkact. System includes processes and management controls to address almost any issue. Roles and responsibilities assigned. Team member authority to affect change is sufficient. (14) Full implementation. Full system is inplace. Robust, with multiple mechanisms to manage change. Authority and responsibility at a high level in the organization. High clarity about how sustainability will be addressed. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

18 RESOURCE ALLOCATION

19 PROTECT FRESH WATER AVAILABILITY INTENT: Reduce the negative net impact on fresh water availability, quantity, and quality. METRIC: The extent to which the project uses fresh water without replenishment. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (2) No immediate negatives. Determine water needs. Look for reuse opportunities. Consider peak usage rates. Estimate long term impacts. (4) Good water management. Assess and control water use over average maximum conditions. Offset peak withdrawals during low water need periods. Reuse water. Assess long term needs. (9) Wise water management. Design project to use water that can be replenished in quality and quantity. Control water usage over average maximum conditions. Offset peak withdrawals during low water need periods. Determine impacts of water use on aquatic species. (17) Total water management. No net impact on water supply volumes. Manage runoff to recharge groundwater and surface water to offset withdrawals. Replenish supplies. Discharges meet quality and quantity requirements of historic high value aquatic species. Project may include recycling. (21) Positive impact. Replenishes quantity and quality of water supplies to undeveloped, native ecosystem state. Discharges meet historic predevelopment seasonal cycles of quality and quantity including temperature. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

20 NATURAL WORLD

21 PRESERVE FLOODPLAIN FUNCTIONS INTENT: Limit development and its impacts to maintain water management capacities and capabilities. METRIC: Efforts to avoid floodplains or maintain predevelopment floodplain functions. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (2) Avoid or mitigate impacts. Avoid or limit development in floodplain, unless water dependent infrastructure must cross or be adjacent to a waterway. Maintain predevelopment floodplain storage and do not increase flood elevation. (5) Maintain infiltration and water quality. Limit or eliminate impervious surfaces. Maintain vegetation and soil protection zones. Do not decrease capacity of riparian area to support vegetation. Consider beneficial use of stormwater runoff. (8) Enhance riparian and aquatic habitat. Prepare flood emergency plan for infrastructure. Maintain or enhance riparian and instream habitat. (14) Enhance connectivity and sediment transport. Modify or remove structures frequently damaged by floods. Design project to avoid trapping sediment. Design for fish passage. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

22 MANAGE STORMWATER INTENT: Minimize the impact of infrastructure on stormwater runoff quantity and quality. METRIC: Infiltration and evapotranspiration capacity of the site and return to predevelopment capacities. (Use TR 55) IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (4) Increased storage capacity. Employ low impact development to reduce post development runoff volumes. Achieve onsite water storage (reduce runoff) by 30%, 20%, or 100% for greyfield, brownfield, or greenfield sites. (9) Extended storage capacity. Employ low impact development to reduce post development runoff volumes. Achieve onsite water storage (reduce runoff) by 60%, 40%, or 100% for greyfield, brownfield, or greenfield sites. (17) Sustainable stormwater management. Employ low impact development to match post development runoff to pre development conditions. Achieve onsite water storage (reduce runoff) by 90%, 60%, or 100% for greyfield, brownfield, or greenfield sites. (21) Enhanced stormwater management. Employ low impact development to match post development runoff to meet or exceed runoff from site in its undisturbed climax ecosystem conditions. Systems capture and repurpose more than 100% of stormwater onsite. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

23 CLIMATE AND RISK

24 ASSESS CLIMATE THREAT INTENT: Develop a climate impact assessment and adaptation plan. METRIC: Summary of steps taken to prepare for climate variation and natural hazards. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (16) Highly Resilient and Adaptive. Plans and designs to prepare for long term climate change. (20) Recovery From Adverse Effects. Restoration and rehabilitate the effects of long term changes. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

25 PREPARE FOR LONG TERM ADAPTABILITY INTENT: Prepare infrastructure systems to be resilient to the consequences of long term climate change, perform adequately under altered climate conditions, or adapt to other long term change scenarios. METRIC: The degree to which the project has been designed for long term resilience and adaptation. IMPROVED ENHANCED SUPERIOR CONSERVING RESTORATIVE (16) Highly Resilient and Adaptive. Plans and designs to prepare for long term climate change. (20) Recovery From Adverse Effects. Restoration and rehabilitate the effects of long term changes. Adapted from ISI, 2012.

26 FEE SCHEDULE Project registration fee: $1,000 per project Verification Fees: Project Size ($) Non Member Price Member Price < $2 million $3,000 $2,400 $2 5 million $8,500 $7,000 $5 25 million $17,000 $14,000 $ million $25,000 $21,000 $ million $33,000 $28,000 > $250 million Contact ISI Contact ISI Appeal Fees: $500 per credit

27 PROJECT DESIGN AND VERIFICATION Project Planning and Design Using Envision Self Assessment REGISTRATION ASSESSMENT Guided by Envision Sustainability Professional and Timeline Controlled By Project Team VERIFICATION AUTHENTICATION RECOGNITION AWARD Performed by ISI Verifier and ISI During 90 Day Period

28 VERIFICATION AND AWARD LEVELS Independent review provides confidence to stakeholders and rate payers Projects eligible for ISI awards Online process Award Level Credits Bronze: 20% Silver: 30% Gold: 40% Platinum: 50%

29 PROJECT AWARDS William Jack Hernandez Sports Fish Hatchery, Anchorage, AK (Gold) william jack hernandez sport fish hatchery 3795.jpg Snow Creek Stream Environment Zone Restoration, Placer County, CA (Platinum) US/Solutions/Water/ /media/images/solutions/water/674x315/cdm_smith_snowcreekrestoration_674x315.ashx

30 South Los Angeles Wetland Park Los Angeles, CA (Platinum) Line J Section 1 Water Pipeline, Tarrant Regional Water District, Tarrant County, TX (Silver) regional water district earns envision silver/ Sun Valley Watershed Multi Benefit Project, Los Angeles County, CA (Platinum) valley watershed multi benefit project earns envision platinum rating/

31 Tucannon River Wind Farm, Portland, Oregon (Gold) completes 267 mw tucannon river wind farm.html Low Level Road, Port Metro, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Platinum) us/news/2015/port metro vancouver llr earns isls envision platinumaward/_jcr_content/promotionalimage.rpath medium jpg

32 Brooklyn 26 th Ward Wastewater Treatment Plant, New York City, NY (Silver) Grand Bend Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, Lambton Shores, South Huron, Ontario, Canada (Platinum) wastewater treatment facility becomes first isi envision verified project in north america/

33 Historic Fourth Ward Park, Atlanta, GA (Gold) Ridgewood View Park Reservoir and Pump Station, Portland, OR (Gold) West Park Equalization Facility, Nashville, TN (Platinum)

34 ENVISION BY THE NUMBERS Project awards granted: 12 Project in the award pipeline: ~25 Projects using Envision: ~150 Number of ENV SPs: Total 4,200 Texas: >230 Number of ENV SP Verifiers: 70 SOURCE: ISI, 2014.

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36 DALLAS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (MARCH 2013) Respondent s understanding of the requirements of low impact development (LID) as related to infrastructure projects: (15 points) Provide verifiable examples of experience with projects of similar type, complexity and scope that will illustrate the use and understanding of iswm, complete street, and LID principles. Provide a verifiable list of projects (current or past) on which iswm or complete street principles were used and incorporated. Provide verifiable list of projects in which the Envision Rating System was followed. Provide verification of individuals within your firm that are Envision Sustainability Professionals. Provide a verifiable list of projects (current or past) on which any other LID principles were used and incorporated. Provide certificate(s) or other verification of LID continuing education, training and/or workshops SOURCE: ISI, 2014.

37 SAN ANTONIO LID DESIGN CONTEST GOALS Increase community s use of the Envision green infrastructure rating system tool. Increase application of the City of San Antonio s Complete Streets Policy. Eliminate the use of potable water resources needed for irrigation and where practical provide for the reuse of rain water. Use enhanced quality of life values and reduced maintenance costs inherent in LID practices to increase marketability of the development and long term property values. SOURCE:

38 HOUSTON AREA RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT

39 QUESTIONS? Michael F. Bloom, P.E., ENV SP, CFM, BCEE Sustainability Practice Manager