Robert Ries

The Economic Benefits of Green Buildings: A Comprehensive Case Study

Several studies suggest green construction can result in significant economic savings by improving employee productivity, increasing benefits from improvements in health and safety, and providing savings from energy, maintenance, and operational costs. This article quantifies these benefits by establishing a set of measurable performance and building attribute variables, collecting longitudinal data, statistically analyzing the results, and performing sensitivity analyses for a precast concrete manufacturing facility located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Productivity, absenteeism, energy, and financial data are presented and an engineering economic analysis is reported. Results show that in the new facility manufacturing productivity increased by about 25%; statistically significant absenteeism results varied; and energy usage decreased by about 30% on a square foot basis. Considering all aspects, the economic analysis showed that the company made the correct decision to build a new green facility.

Life-Cycle Assessment Modeling of Construction Processes for Buildings

This research examined the environmental impacts due to the construction phase of commercial buildings. Previous building research has often overlooked the construction phase and focused on the material and use phases, discounting the significant environ- mental impacts of construction. The research was conducted using life-cycle assessment LCA methodology, which is a systematic environmental management tool that holistically analyzes and assesses the environmental impacts of a product or process. Life-cycle inventory results focused on particulate matter, global warming potential, SOx ,N O x, CO, Pb, nonmethane volatile organic compounds, energy usage, and solid and liquid wastes. Results over the entire building life cycle indicate that construction, while not as significant as the use phase, is as important as other life-cycle stages. This research used augmented process-based hybrid LCA to model the construc- tion phase; this modeling approach effectively combined process and input-output IO LCA. One contribution was the development of a hybrid LCA model for construction, which can be extended to other sectors, such as building products. Including IO results, especially construction service sectors, is critical in construction LCA modeling. Results of a case study demonstrated that services had the highest level of methane emissions and were a significant contributor to CO2 emissions.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Residential building construction represented about 4.2% of the US Gross Domestic Product in 2000, and residences consumed nearly 20% of total US energy consumption. However, design and construction of residential buildings is often not conducted with an analysis of the life cycle costs and environmental impacts. In this paper, we outline an approach to a life cycle analysis for residences, using the results of a typical construction cost estimate to map into tools for environmental life cycle assessment (using the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment model) and for resources required during the use phase of residences (using the DOE Energy Saver model). In essence, material costs are mapped into input-output sectors and the EIO-LCA model applied to assess environmental impacts. Similarly, operating inputs such as electricity or natural gas are estimated from the Home Energy Saver model and mapped into EIO-LCA sectors. The result of using our toolset is a life cycle assessment based upon the construction cost estimate. We are limited in the life cycle assessment to the building costs and the impacts calculated by the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment.

Life Cycle Assessment and Service Life Prediction

Models of buildings in life cycle assessment (LCA) often use simple descriptions of operational energy, maintenance, and material replacement. The scope of many building LCAs is often limited and uses assumptions such as building lifetimes of 30 to 50 years. In actuality, building lifetimes vary considerably, and scenarios using standard assumptions may have incorrect results. Assumptions concerning material replacement, repair, and maintenance should be deliberate and as realistic as possible. This research was initiated to demonstrate the importance of service life assumptions on building life cycle assessment results. Three roof types (built‐up, thermoplastic membrane, and vegetated) and three wall forms (brick, aluminum, and wood siding) were analyzed. These materials were combined and modeled as nine distinct building envelopes. Five service life models were used to determine the service life of materials and systems. The analysis considered impacts related to material manufacturing, construction, operation, and maintenance. The Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts global warming potential, atmospheric eco‐toxicity, and atmospheric acidification impact assessment indicators were used. The analysis of the cumulative life cycle impact and life cycle impact per year found that life cycle impact was primarily dependent on the predicted frequency of major material replacement as well as differences in the frequency and intensity of prescribed maintenance. In some scenarios, the relative differences in the life cycle impact of the alternatives were dependent on the environmental indicator used.

Challenges of sustainable recovery processes in tsunami affected communities

Purpose – Sustainable housing and community recovery processes in the aftermath of tsunamis have to cope with direct impacts, such as fatalities, destroyed buildings, and loss of economic assets, as well as indirect impacts caused by shortcomings in recovery management. Recent studies on post‐tsunami recovery tend to focus on direct impacts, ranging from monitoring to prevention studies. Less attention is paid to recovery as a complex bundle of multi‐agent processes causing subsequent problems.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents results from field studies evaluating post‐tsunami recovery processes in Sri Lanka against the concept of sustainable housing and community recovery. Semi‐structured observations and interviews were conducted on eight sites in the south‐western part of Sri Lanka during field visits 2005‐2006. The research involved beneficiaries and other citizens, representatives from government and administration, field workers (non‐governmental organizations), and scientists.Finding...

A Method for Quantifying the Benefits of Greening a Healthcare Facility

Abstract: The healthcare industry has begun to examine the role, impacts, and implications of healthcare facilities on peoples health inside and outside their walls. This article reports a snapshot of findings from a multi-year research project of a new green Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh. It identifies key data analysis areas and a method that can be used for comparing the benefits of greening a healthcare facility. A plan for an analysis of the economic benefits of green buildings, using break-even analysis, benefit cost ratio, and net present value is discussed, along with describing how to draw conclusions about the positive impact of the greening to the economic, environmental, productivity and satisfaction metrics of the healthcare industry.

Application of Life Cycle Thinking in Multidisciplinary Multistakeholder Contexts for Cross-Sectoral Planning and Implementation of Sustainable Development Projects

Abstract Development planning and implementation is a multifaceted and multiscale task mainly because of the involvement of multiple stakeholders across sectors and disciplines. Even though top-down sectoral planning is commonly practiced, bottom-up cross-sectoral planning involving all relevant stakeholders in a transdisciplinary learning environment has been recognized as a better option, especially if the goal is to drive development projects toward sustainable implementation (Rowe and Fudge 2003; Müller et al. 2005; Global Development Research Center 2008). Even though many planning approaches have this goal, there are limited decision frameworks that are suitable for achieving consensus among stakeholders from multiple disciplines with sectoral objectives and priorities. In most instances, the upstream and downstream effects of development decisions are not thoroughly investigated or communicated with the relevant stakeholders, strongly affecting cross-sectoral integration in the real world (Wiek, Brundiers, et al. 2006). This article presents methodological aspects of developing a stakeholder based life cycle assessment framework (SBLCA) for upstream–downstream decision analysis in a multistakeholder development planning context. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated using simple examples extracted from a pilot case study conducted in Sri Lanka for sustainable posttsunami reconstruction at a village scale. The applicability of SBLCA in specific planning stages, how it promotes transdisciplinary learning and cross-sectoral stakeholder integration in phases of project cycles, and how local stakeholders can practice life cycle thinking in their village development planning and implementation are discussed.

Life Cycle Assessment Modeling of Heavy Construction Activities

Cost and time are the traditional criteria for selecting heavy equipment for construction tasks. However, non-road diesel-powered construction equipment can have health and environmental effects. For example, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines impact local air quality, carbon dioxide emissions lead to climate change, and diesel fuel consumption is a non-renewable resource. In addition, diverse materials are used for manufacturing heavy-duty construction equipment, which can also impact the environment. An environmental life cycle model of construction equipment including uncertainty was developed to select equipment combinations for tasks based on the environmental impact associated with the life cycle of the construction equipment in addition to time and cost. Selecting equipment for a task based on life cycle environmental impact is another criterion that may be relevant for construction companies seeking to reduce their environmental impact. Results of modeling alternative equipment combinations that can be used to accomplish an example construction activity are presented in terms of time, cost, and life cycle global warming potential.

Investigation of the Relationship between Green Design and Project Delivery Methods

Investigation of the Relationship between Green Design and Project Delivery Methods Submitted to: Lawrence Berkley National Laboratories Submitted by: University of Pittsburgh Melissa M. Bilec, M.S. Robert J. Ries, Ph.D., R.A. Date: April 24, 2006

Life cycle optimization of building energy systems

A life cycle optimization model intended to potentially reduce the environmental impacts of energy use in commercial buildings is presented. A combination of energy simulation, life cycle assessment, and operations research techniques are used to develop the model. In addition to conventional energy systems, such as the electric grid and a gas boiler, cogeneration systems which concurrently generate power and heat are investigated as an alternative source of energy. Cogeneration systems appeared to be an attractive alternative to conventional systems when considering life cycle environmental criteria. Internal combustion engine and microturbine (MT) cogeneration systems resulted in a reduction of up to 38% in global warming potential compared with conventional systems, while solid oxide fuel cell and MT cogeneration systems resulted in a reduction of up to 94% in tropospheric ozone precursor potential (TOPP). Results include a Pareto-optimal frontier between reducing costs and reducing the selected environmental indicators.