retrofitting urban apartment buildings: promoting sustainable living
DESCRIPTION
When you hear the word, retrofitting, many images come to mind. One in particular is the idea of rummaging around your parent’s closet in search of 70s or 80s disco duds and then trying them on... Instead, this is my working definition, if you will.TRANSCRIPT
Retrofitting Urban Apartment Buildings: Promoting Sustainable
Living
Retrofitting Urban Apartment Buildings: Promoting Sustainable
Living
Presented By: Julie NorthUniversity of DenverEnvironmental Policy
April 22nd, 2011
Presented By: Julie NorthUniversity of DenverEnvironmental Policy
April 22nd, 2011
Retro…what?Retro…what?
• Retrofitting:• The processes, products, services, and
general innovative ideas needed to create and sustain better efficiency
• Retrofitting:• The processes, products, services, and
general innovative ideas needed to create and sustain better efficiency
Background InfoBackground Info
• “The United States, in regards to building emissions, are responsible for over 65% of energy consumption, over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, 136 million tons of demolition waste and 12% of potable water use” (Fosket and Mamo 2009).
• The City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+units) apartment buildings and approx. 80,859 individual units (Valdez 2011).
• “The United States, in regards to building emissions, are responsible for over 65% of energy consumption, over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, 136 million tons of demolition waste and 12% of potable water use” (Fosket and Mamo 2009).
• The City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+units) apartment buildings and approx. 80,859 individual units (Valdez 2011).
FoundationsFoundations
• Urban apartment buildings house a larger population of people in a given area than a solitary residential home
• Therefore, the ability to educate and empower that concentrated population of co-housing individuals about sustainable living practices is considerably better (and ideally more successful).
• Urban apartment buildings house a larger population of people in a given area than a solitary residential home
• Therefore, the ability to educate and empower that concentrated population of co-housing individuals about sustainable living practices is considerably better (and ideally more successful).
Objectives: Sustainability & Urban Apartment
Buildings
Objectives: Sustainability & Urban Apartment
Buildings• “Bridging the Gap”
• Increase awareness for property mgmt to receive info & funding for weatherization, energy efficiency, resource management
• Promote community participation through education and empowerment of tenants
• Pilot projects for local businesses
• Overall Sustainability Report• Develop & organize
template for Denver area neighborhoods
• “Bridging the Gap”• Increase awareness for
property mgmt to receive info & funding for weatherization, energy efficiency, resource management
• Promote community participation through education and empowerment of tenants
• Pilot projects for local businesses
• Overall Sustainability Report• Develop & organize
template for Denver area neighborhoods
Sustainability RevisitedSustainability Revisited
• Education is key…• Definition of Sustainability:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Triple Bottom Line Approach to Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit
• Education is key…• Definition of Sustainability:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Triple Bottom Line Approach to Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit
Fostering Sustainable Behavior
Fostering Sustainable Behavior
• “Those initiatives to promote behavior change are often most effective when they are carried out at the community level and involve direct contact with people” (Mckenzie-Mohr 1999)
• “Those initiatives to promote behavior change are often most effective when they are carried out at the community level and involve direct contact with people” (Mckenzie-Mohr 1999)
Cost Benefit Analysis Structure
Cost Benefit Analysis Structure
• Upfront costs• How much a project will cost & how it will be
implemented• Grants, funding, and “legwork”
• Repayment periods, incentives, rebates• Benefits
• Measured and/or unexpected• Renters, Management Companies,
Community at large• Overall Sustainability Report
• Feasibility of the project
• Upfront costs• How much a project will cost & how it will be
implemented• Grants, funding, and “legwork”
• Repayment periods, incentives, rebates• Benefits
• Measured and/or unexpected• Renters, Management Companies,
Community at large• Overall Sustainability Report
• Feasibility of the project
Benefits to RentersBenefits to Renters• Updated and highly
efficient products and services
• Extensive education-based “how to” on products and services
• Empowerment of tenants through “hands-on experience”
• Updated and highly efficient products and services
• Extensive education-based “how to” on products and services
• Empowerment of tenants through “hands-on experience”
Benefits to Rental Management Agencies
Benefits to Rental Management Agencies
• Direct cost savings
• Increased desire to become more efficient
• Positive business advertising
• Direct cost savings
• Increased desire to become more efficient
• Positive business advertising
Benefits to CommunityBenefits to Community
• Local neighborhood receives:• More informed and
efficient renters• Investments into
local economy• Data on rental
retrofits/attachments
• REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS
• Local neighborhood receives:• More informed and
efficient renters• Investments into
local economy• Data on rental
retrofits/attachments
• REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS
Current ProjectsCurrent Projects
Dual Flush Toilet Converters
Dual Flush Toilet Converters
• “Enhancing water efficiency involves a focus on products (such as water-saving plumbing fixtures) and practices (such as repairing leaks)” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Dual-flush toilets enable the user to select either a full-tank flush or a half-tank flush
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• “Enhancing water efficiency involves a focus on products (such as water-saving plumbing fixtures) and practices (such as repairing leaks)” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Dual-flush toilets enable the user to select either a full-tank flush or a half-tank flush
• www.epa.gov/watersense
Reduction EstimatesReduction Estimates
*www.gomjsi.com
Dual Flush Toilet Converters Total Units 26 Cost & Installation $20 Total Upfront Cost $520 Family of Four (4)* 15,000 gal/yr # of occupants per unit ~2 7,500 gal/yr As a building unit (26 units) 195,000 gal/yr Denver Water usage charge $2.53 per 1000 gal 195 x $2.53 Money Saved $494.00/yr
Dual Flush Toilet Converters Total Units 26 Cost & Installation $20 Total Upfront Cost $520 Family of Four (4)* 15,000 gal/yr # of occupants per unit ~2 7,500 gal/yr As a building unit (26 units) 195,000 gal/yr Denver Water usage charge $2.53 per 1000 gal 195 x $2.53 Money Saved $494.00/yr
Sustainability ReportSustainability Report
• Environmental• Impacts on living and non-living
natural systems• Social
• Impacts on the social systems within operations
• Economic• Impacts on the economic interests of
stakeholders
• Environmental• Impacts on living and non-living
natural systems• Social
• Impacts on the social systems within operations
• Economic• Impacts on the economic interests of
stakeholders
Future RecommendationsFuture Recommendations• 161 S. Emerson
• Community Garden • Pilot Projects with local
businesses• Waste Farmers:
Composting & Recycling• Partial Green Roof/Solar• EPA & Denver Water:
water conservation efforts • Cohousing expenses
• % of monthly rent goes to projects/social events
• Utlimately, neighborhood organization
• 161 S. Emerson • Community Garden • Pilot Projects with local
businesses• Waste Farmers:
Composting & Recycling• Partial Green Roof/Solar• EPA & Denver Water:
water conservation efforts • Cohousing expenses
• % of monthly rent goes to projects/social events
• Utlimately, neighborhood organization
Future RecommendationsFuture Recommendations• Denver County
• City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+ units) apartment buildings in Denver County and approx. 80,859 individual apartments.
• Apt Mgmt Co. & Neighborhoods can compete in becoming more energy efficient
• Apply for rebates, incentives, and pilot projects• Better informed communities to educate
Denver residents• Provide “how-to” guide to promote sustainable
objectives
• Denver County• City of Denver estimates there are approx.
6,330 (5+ units) apartment buildings in Denver County and approx. 80,859 individual apartments.
• Apt Mgmt Co. & Neighborhoods can compete in becoming more energy efficient
• Apply for rebates, incentives, and pilot projects• Better informed communities to educate
Denver residents• Provide “how-to” guide to promote sustainable
objectives
ReferencesReferences• Aalto, C and Wooley, S. 2011. SCORE. CU Environmental Center. University of
Colorado, Boulder. February 23rd, 2011
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• Fosket, J., and Laura Mamo. 2009. Living Green: Communities That Sustain. British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D. 2000. Fostering sustainable behavior through community-based social marketing. American Psychologist 55 (5) (05): 531.
• ———. 2000. Promoting sustainable behavior: An introduction to community- based social marketing. Journal of Social Issues 56 (3) (09): 543-54.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D., and William Smith. 1999. Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. Washington,
D.C: New Society Publishers.
• Riley, T., and Heather Gadonniex. 2009. Greening Your Business. New York: Penquin Group Inc.
• Valdez, A. 2011. Phone Interview. City & County of Denver, April 18th, 2011
• Aalto, C and Wooley, S. 2011. SCORE. CU Environmental Center. University of Colorado, Boulder. February 23rd, 2011
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• Fosket, J., and Laura Mamo. 2009. Living Green: Communities That Sustain. British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D. 2000. Fostering sustainable behavior through community-based social marketing. American Psychologist 55 (5) (05): 531.
• ———. 2000. Promoting sustainable behavior: An introduction to community- based social marketing. Journal of Social Issues 56 (3) (09): 543-54.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D., and William Smith. 1999. Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. Washington,
D.C: New Society Publishers.
• Riley, T., and Heather Gadonniex. 2009. Greening Your Business. New York: Penquin Group Inc.
• Valdez, A. 2011. Phone Interview. City & County of Denver, April 18th, 2011
Thank youThank you
Julie NorthDU Environmental Policy
Master’s [email protected]
Julie NorthDU Environmental Policy
Master’s [email protected]