of envision: a sustainability system for infrastructure projects · 2018-02-21 · overview of...

Overview of ENVISION: A Sustainability Rating System for Infrastructure Projects

Michael F. Bloom, P.E.,CFM, ENV SP, BCEEManager, Sustainability Practice

Houston, TexasMay 19, 2016

• 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

TOPICS

CHARTER MEMBERS

ENVISION QUALIFIED COMPANIES

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”

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX VS. ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

SOURCE: ISI, 2012, adapted from Living Planet Report 2006, World Wildlife Fund.

Sustainable “Ecological

Footprint” = 1.79 hectares per

person

HDI Elements: Life expectancy Years of Education IncomeUnited Nations Development Program

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

SOURCES: John Elkington, 1997.

ENERGYGeothermalHydroelectricNuclearCoalNatural GasOil/RefineryWindSolarBiomass

WATERPotable water distributionCapture/StorageWater ReuseStorm Water ManagementFlood Control

WASTESolid wasteRecyclingHazardous WasteCollection & Transfer

TRANSPORTAirportsRoadsHighwaysBikesPedestriansRailwaysPublic TransitPortsWaterways

LANDSCAPEPublic RealmParksEcosystem Services

INFORMATIONTelecommunicationsInternetPhonesSatellitesData CentersSensors

WHAT TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE?

60 CREDITS IN 5 CATEGORIES

Purpose, Community, Wellbeing

Siting, Land & Water, Biodiversity

Materials, Energy, Water

Collaboration, Management, Planning

Emissions, Resilience

QUALITY OF LIFE

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.

MINIMIZE NOISE AND VIBRATIONINTENT: Minimize impacts during construction and operation to maintain and improve

community livability.METRIC: The extent to which noise and vibration will be reduced.

Adapted from ISI, 2012.

LEADERSHIP

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‐check‐act. 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.

ESTABLISH SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMINTENT: 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.


RESOURCE ALLOCATION


(2) No immediate negatives. Determine water needs. Look for reuse opportunities. Consider peak usage rates. Estimate long term impacts.

(4) Good water management. Assessand 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.

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.


NATURAL WORLD


(2) Avoid or mitigate impacts. Avoid or limit development in floodplain, unless “water dependent infrastructure” must cross or be adjacentto a waterway. Maintain pre‐development floodplain storage and do not increase flood elevation.

(5) Maintain infiltration and water quality. Limit oreliminate 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) Enhanceconnectivity and sediment transport.Modify or remove structures frequently damaged by floods. Design project to avoid trapping sediment. Design for fish passage.

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.



(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 storagecapacity. 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 stormwatermanagement. 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) Enhancedstormwater 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.

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 pre‐

development capacities. (Use TR‐55)


CLIMATE AND RISK

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.

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.

PREPARE FOR LONG‐TERM ADAPTABILITY

INTENT: Prepare infrastructure systems to be resilient to the consequences of long‐termclimate change, perform adequately under altered climate conditions, or adapt toother long term change scenarios.

METRIC: The degree to which the project has been designed for long‐term resilience and adaptation.


• Project registration fee: $1,000 per project

• Verification Fees:

• Appeal Fees: $500 per credit

FEE SCHEDULE

ProjectSize ($)

Non‐MemberPrice

MemberPrice

< $2 million $3,000 $2,400

$2 ‐ 5 million $8,500 $7,000

$5 – 25 million $17,000 $14,000

$25 ‐100 million $25,000 $21,000

$100 – 250 million $33,000 $28,000

> $250 million Contact ISI Contact ISI

PROJECT DESIGN AND VERIFICATION

REGISTRATION ASSESSMENT

VERIFICATION

Project Planning and Design Using Envision

Self‐Assessment

AUTHENTICATION RECOGNITION AWARD

Guided by Envision Sustainability Professionaland Timeline Controlled By Project Team

Performed by ISI Verifier andISI During 90 Day Period

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%

PROJECT AWARDS

http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/content/projects/images/4248‐william‐jack‐hernandez‐sport‐fish‐hatchery‐3795.jpg

http://cdmsmith.com/en‐US/Solutions/Water/‐/media/Images/Solutions/Water/674x315/CDM_Smith_SnowCreekRestoration_674x315.ashx

Snow Creek StreamEnvironment Zone Restoration,Placer County, CA (Platinum)

William Jack Hernandez Sports Fish Hatchery, Anchorage, AK (Gold)

South Los Angeles Wetland ParkLos Angeles, CA (Platinum)

http://southcentralbungalow.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/southlosangeleswetlandspark1.jpeg

Line J Section 1 Water Pipeline,Tarrant Regional Water District, Tarrant County, TX (Silver)

http://blogs.asce.org/tarrant‐regional‐water‐district‐earns‐envision‐silver/

Sun Valley Watershed Multi‐Benefit Project, Los Angeles County, CA

(Platinum)

http://blogs.asce.org/sun‐valley‐watershed‐multi‐benefit‐project‐earns‐envision‐platinum‐rating/

Tucannon River Wind Farm,Portland, Oregon (Gold)

Low Level Road,Port Metro, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Platinum)

http://www.stantec.com/content/stantec/en/about‐us/news/2015/port‐metro‐vancouver‐llr‐earns‐isls‐envision‐platinum‐award/_jcr_content/promotionalImage.rpath.1200.0.medium.1443101049240.jpg

http://www.elp.com/articles/2014/12/pge‐completes‐267‐mw‐tucannon‐river‐wind‐farm.html

Brooklyn 26th Ward Wastewater Treatment Plant,

New York City, NY (Silver)

http://blogs.asce.org/canadian‐wastewater‐treatment‐facility‐becomes‐first‐isi‐envision‐verified‐project‐in‐north‐america/

Grand Bend Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, Lambton Shores, South Huron, Ontario, Canada (Platinum)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nycwater/20842725342

Historic FourthWard Park,

Atlanta, GA (Gold)

Ridgewood View Park Reservoir and Pump Station, Portland, OR (Gold)

West Park Equalization Facility,Nashville, TN (Platinum)

• 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

ENVISION BY THE NUMBERS

SOURCE: ISI, 2014.

• 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

DALLAS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (MARCH 2013)

SOURCE: ISI, 2014.

• 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.

SAN ANTONIO LID DESIGN CONTEST GOALS

SOURCE: http://www.lwsforum.org/page.php?page=sanantoniocompetition

HOUSTON AREA RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT

QUESTIONS?

Michael F. Bloom, P.E., ENV SP, CFM, BCEE

Sustainability Practice Manager

281‐921‐[email protected]

@michaelfbloom

www.linkedin.com/in/mfbloom

of envision: a sustainability system for infrastructure projects · 2018-02-21 · overview of...

Documents