Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) governs the LEED rating systems which it describes as a “voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven program that provides third-party verification of green buildings.”

Now 13 years old, the LEED rating systems have been used to certify projects in 135 countries. LEED rating systems can be applied to a variety of building project types including home construction, commercial buildings, existing building operations and maintenance, community development and more. The program offers certifications at four levels (certified, silver, gold, or platinum) depending on how many rating “points” the project earns.

The specific green building requirements vary depending on the rating system a project applies under, but the main categories in which projects can earn credit towards certification include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Projects can also earn bonus credits for particularly innovative techniques, or for addressing environmental issues specific to their location.

LEED is frequently updated based on continued research and input from USGBC staff and volunteer committees. LEED Version 4 is next up and according to USGBC, is anticipated to include changes like new market sectors (for example, data centers), increased technical rigor (for example, life cycle analysis of materials), and streamlined services including an improved LEED Online platform for applicants.

Living Building Challenge

A relative newcomer, the Living Building Challenge was launched in 2006 as a standard available to the public. The Living Building Institute (LBI) was founded to administer the challenge and certified its first projects in 2010. The LBI describes the challenge as “the built environment’s most rigorous performance standard. It calls for the creation of building projects at all scales that operate as cleanly, beautifully and efficiently as nature’s architecture.”

The program offers three levels of certification (petals, net zero energy, or full certification). The challenge takes seven building performance categories into account including: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty. Projects must be operational for 12 months prior to being evaluated for certification so that the certification can be based on actual performance. The challenge includes 20 requirements, most striking of which include the requirement that the project be energy and water self-sufficient.

Example – Green Roof Anacostia Gateway courtesy of GarberDC via flickr creative commons.

As the New York Times reported this week, the Bullitt Center in Seattle claims that it will be the greenest commercial building in the world when it officially opens on April 22, 2013. The project is seeking Living Building Challenge certification and includes water-related features like a green roof, composting toilets, grey-water treatment, permeable pavement and green stormwater infrastructure, all in the name of protecting nearby Puget Sound. The building will use solar arrays to generate as much power as it uses, with strict metering for tenants.

While every green building rating system has its critics and proponents, these two seem to be continually raising the bar in building performance. Considering that buildings can take a significant portion of a country’s resources (39% of U.S. energy use goes to buildings (PDF)) and that there is a growing/modernizing world population, a continued effort to improve building performance will be critical to resource and environmental protection efforts in the future.

How “green” is your home or office? Have you ever worked with a green building rating system? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons!

Earth Month is in Full Swing!

Earth Day is April 22nd, and this month will bring a host of environmentally focused activities around the world!

In honor of Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging people to “Pick 5” for the environment, which entails pledging 5 environmentally focused actions. For example, you might pledge to “help keep water clean by using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products” or “learn about composting, try it out! ” Check out their interactive map to see what people have pledged so far!

Sowing the Seeds of Healthy Eating in DC

First Lady Michelle Obama continued the tradition of planting the White House Garden this week. She had help from school children from around the nation. All of the schools that joined the First Lady have made significant improvements to their school lunch programs under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The garden will feed the First Family, White House Guests, and local charities.

Aging Pipeline System May be to Blame for Spill in Arkansas

Updates on the ExxonMobil Oil Spill in Arkansas continue and while the exact cause is still unknown, the spill is calling attention to potential risks of aging pipeline systems. The Pegasus pipeline, where this spill occurred near Little Rock, is 65 years old.

The Andes create a rain-shadow effect as moist air rises on one side of the mountains (orographic precipitation) leaving no moisture when the air passes over. (Chile and Argentina as seen from Space December 24, 2001 courtesy of NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr. Photo Credit Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC)

Watering the Desert in Peru

In a massive engineering project, plans are in place to divert water from the Huancabamba river on the water-rich side of the Andes in Peru to the drier Olmos Valley over the next several years in order to expand opportunities for irrigated agriculture. The coastal side of the Andes currently lies in the “rain shadow” of the mountain, receiving less than 2% of the country’s fresh water.

Shy Cherry Blossoms in DC This Year

Peak bloom time for Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms is now estimated to occur from April 6th – 8th. This is the second time the date has been pushed back. According to the National Park Service, recent colder temperatures in Washington, DC will delay the peak bloom, but 70% of the blossoms should be in bloom during the new peak estimate.

]]> https://pancho.eps.jhu.edu/jhensdev/?feed=rss2&p=548 1 https://pancho.eps.jhu.edu/jhensdev/?p=424 https://pancho.eps.jhu.edu/jhensdev/?p=424#comments Sun, 24 Mar 2013 17:56:41 +0000 Sinead Goldman http://jhens.jhu.edu/?p=424 World Water Day and the International Year of Water Cooperation

March 22^nd is the United Nations World Water Day, a day to call attention to water issues around the globe. 2013 is also the International Year of Water Cooperation, highlighting the importance of water as a global resource. Check out this list of worldwide events to find something near you!

No Deal: Obama Administration Won’t Trade ANWR Drilling for Energy Fund

The Obama administration says that drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge is not an option as they seek support to launch an Energy Security Trust Fund. The proposed fund aims to support the research and development of automotive technology that doesn’t rely on oil.

Creative Commons image courtesy of ali_pk via flickr

Wind is Picking Up

The wind industry appears to be experiencing an uptick following the renewal of a tax credit. In late 2012, the U.S. Congress allowed the production tax credit to lapse and the industry experienced a lull of uncertainty. The credit (which provides 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 10 years of a wind facility’s operation) was renewed in January and as a result many delayed projects are being picked up.

Something Fishy Going on in Coronel, Chile

Locals are baffled by the thousands of dead prawns washed up on the shores of Coronel, Chile, this week. Fishermen speculate that local power plants using seawater as a cooling fluid may be to blame, but an investigation into the water temperature and oxygen levels is still underway.

Coral Reefs: A Delicate Balance at Heron Island

National Public Radio launched a weeklong news series on coral this week, focusing on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Scientists at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef are simulating potential future scenarios to determine what’s next for coral and other reef organisms if current trends in ocean temperature and acidity changes continue.

The USDA Organic Seal

Organic certification is governed by the US Department of Agriculture and products sold under the USDA Organic label are subject to the National Organic Program. Per USDA’s requirements, the labels 100% Organic, Organic, and “Made With” Organic have different requirements, though all must note the certifying agent on the label.  A label touting 100% Organic content means that all ingredients are certified organic as are the processing aids used in production. Plain old organic requires that all agricultural ingredients be certified organic, but allows certain exceptions in small amounts. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances contains these exceptions and organic products may contain up to 5% non-organic ingredients if those items are on the allowed list. For example, synthetic ammonium bicarbonate may be used as a leavening agent. Mixed products that are labeled “Made With” Organic are not allowed to use the USDA’s organic seal on the product and as much as 30% of the ingredients may be non-organic. These ingredients, however, can’t be produced using certain excluded methods like genetic engineering, and any non-agricultural ingredients must be on the allowed list.

The term “fresh” is governed by Food and Drug Administration regulations on food labeling and can only be used when “food is in its raw state and has not been frozen or subjected to any form of thermal processing or any other form of preservation,” with a few exceptions, like the application of wax coating, post-harvest use of approved pesticides or ionizing radiation. Yum.

“All natural” and “natural” are where things get nebulous, and suits have been brought regarding their use. The FDA does not strictly govern the term “natural,” and as described by the Wall Street Journal in September 2011, the FDA has provided only vague guidance on the subject, stating in an informal policy that “nothing artificial or synthetic… is included in, or has been added to, the product that would not normally be expected to be there.” Understandably, this can lead to confusion for consumers unsure of how to interpret the label. So, the jury is still out on “all natural” and you should use your best judgment and review the nutrition label when deciding whether to buy!

Think about it: Do you choose specific labels when shopping for food? Are there any labels that you find particularly confusing?

Sinead Goldman thinks fresh all natural organics are deliciously confusing and will graduate from the M.S. Environmental Sciences & Policy program in May.