Sustainability

Delia Tacheny
Reading: The Codes Guidebook for Interiors
INT 324 - Building Codes

Keywords:

• Sustainable Design
• Green Design
• BREEAM
• LEED 
• Green Globes
• The Living Building Challenge
• Sustainable Product Standards (SPS)
• Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)
• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

While each topic we have discussed thus far has mentioned sustainability-related factors, this week we are studying an overview of Sustainability. Up to this point, the book and codes have emphasized the safety of the occupants, and how the building affects the occupants... but what about how the building affects the environment? Even more so, what if sustainable design also impacts the safety and well-being of the occupants? "Although there are many different definitions of the term sustainable, the one developed for the Brundtland Commission's report defines sustainable development as development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

It's important to recognize the difference between sustainable design and green design. Green design refers to environmentally-friendly design, while sustainable design encompasses three fields of consideration: environmental, economic, and social. 

In recent years, sustainable design has gained ground and become more popular. Various rating systems, organizations, and standards now exist to encourage a more environmentally friendly approach to design. 

Green Rating Systems

There are three primary Green Rating Systems: 

• Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) - originally developed in 1990 in the UK.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - developed by 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGB)
• Green Globes for Existing Buildings - developed by 2000 by Canada

*All of these rating systems have become expanded to include greater scopes of building type and construction, and they are used in many countries around the world. 

LEED provides a rating for assessing a building's overall performance and environmental impact. It assesses a variety of features and the rating operates on a point system. Based on the number of points a building receives, it can be rated LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. 

The Green Globes system originated from BREEAM Canada. Acquired by Green Building Initiative (GBI), the system has now been adapted for use in the US and  can now be used for new or Existing Buildings. Green Globes is an online assessment with live feedback as information is entered; the assessment then has preliminary and final verification. 

The Living Building Challenge is an additional rating system developed in 2006 by the Living Future Institute; it measures and certifies one of the highest levels of sustainability. The system is broken down into measuring seven "petals": Place, Water, Energy, Healthy, Materials, and Equity. To become certified, projects must meet a series of actual performance measures including Net Zero Energy, Waste, and Water. 

SPS, LCA, and EPD

Similar to other standards, a variety of sustainable product standards (SPS) exist for products and materials, created primarily by ISO and ASTM International. In addition, product certification programs exist to prevent "greenwashing" - false marketing of eco-friendly features. Higher levels of certification require third-party review. Examples of these certifications include:

• Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) for Wood
• The Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label and Green Label Plus
• ENERGY STAR and WaterSense by the EPA
• GREENGUARD

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) are a more comprehensive assessment of a product, analyzing it's environmental impact across its entire life span. Products will often be within the category of Cradle to Grave or Cradle to Cradle. Some green rating systems incorporate LCAs as part of their evaluation. "The Red List" is a comprehensive list, developed by the Living Future Institute, of ingredients that should be avoided in products for the health of the environment and humans; as of May 2014, the list included 815 chemicals. 

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is another level of evaluation and certification incorporating all the data of an LCA as well as information related to human health, mechanics, and safety. EPD's include more detail and transparency, and are overall more comprehensive.

Source(s):

Kennon, Katherine E., and Sharon Koomen Harmon. “Appendix A: Sustainability.” The Codes Guidebook for Interiors, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2022.