Green Building
“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.” — Buckminster Fuller
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
LEED – by USGBC
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by USGBC (United States Green Building Council) is a rating system to achieve high-performance buildings. LEED is available for all building types and sectors providing a framework for new construction and existing buildings to:
Be energy-efficient
Procure no/low-toxic materials
Improve air and water quality
Reduce site disturbance
LBC – by International Living Future Institute
LBC (the Living Building Challenge) is the most rigorous building standard in the world. The International Living Future Institute has developed programs to achieve zero energy buildings, zero carbon buildings, living products, living communities, and transparency labels such as The Red List.
WELL – by International Well Building Institute
WELL is the leading tool for advancing health and well-being of building occupants. The WELL Building Certification was formed by IWBI (International Well Building Institute) and its parent company DELOS, a wellness real estate pioneer and technology startup.
OPERATIONS
Energy Star
Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy that promotes energy-efficient products including commercial fridges, washers, and dryers. Energy Star certified appliances will save 10% to 50% of energy costs.
GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria and Suggested Indicators for Hotels were created in an effort to come to a common understanding of sustainable tourism, and are the minimum that a hotel (or any type of built accommodations) business should aspire to reach.
OFFSETTING
RECs – Renewable Energy Credits
Buildings who cannot install solar panels can still invest in renewable energy by purchasing credits. RECs reduce the carbon footprint by indirectly lowering fossil-fuel electricity consumption and emissions. Businesses can purchase RECs from renewable energy projects, third-party suppliers, and brokers.
Cloverly is helping the world go carbon neutral.
Sustainability-as-a-service. Cloverly is a carbon offset API platform that calculates and purchases carbon offsets to neutralize the environmental impact of everyday activities like shipping and deliveries, ecommerce, flights, ridesharing, and more.
Carbon offsets are part of a complementary sustainability strategy, not the end all be all solution, because we can’t simply offset ourselves out of an unsustainable system.
Looking for a LEED, sustainability, or high-performance building consultant? Seeking education on how new codes affect construction decision making? Contact info@kanyini.co for a referral.
MATERIALS
Construction Material Pyramid
Now we can easily visualize the environmental impact associated with the production of different building materials. Inspired by the food pyramid, the digital Construction Material Pyramid and interactive calculation tool were developed by Center for Industrialized Architecture (CINARK) at the Royal Danish Academy.
Hemp
The benefits of industrial hemp are worthy of a book itself. Hemp, as all plant-based materials, sequesters (absorbs) carbon from the air. Hemp is also mold resistant, fire retardant, lightweight (thus reducing the embodied carbon during transportation), can be used in a variety of climates, and grows quickly while improving soil health. Here’s how you can integrate hemp into your project:
Hempcrete by Hempitecture and hempbricks
Hempwool insulation
Hemp textile (bed linens, towels, pillows, clothing, napkins)
Hemp oil (ingredients in food and bath and body products)
“Few decisions in your construction program can take as much carbon out of the atmosphere as deciding to build with hempcrete.” - Hempitecture
“Environmental transparency and accountability are vital to tracking progress towards a thriving, sustainable future”