Sustainability INTRO FINAL

Sustainability

Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.
To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations. - United states environmental protection agency

Think Globally, Act Biblically

God Spoke "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflect our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and yes, earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of earth."

A Global, Systemic Response to Sustainability

In 2015, the United Nations developed 17 sustainable developmental goals.
They are called to action for the world "To end poverty, protect, the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere."
They are meant to be achieved by 2030 a 15-year journey.
There are countries that have already achieved some of the goals; others are not on track.

Sustainable Development Goals

1 - No Poverty
2 - Zero Hunger
3 - Good Health and Well Being
4 - Quality Education
5 - Gender Equality
6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
7 - Affordable and clean energy
8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10 - Reduced Inequalities
11 - Sustainable cities and communities
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
13 - Climate Action
14 - Life Below Water
15 - Life on Land
16 - Peace, Justice, and strong institutions
17 - Partnerships for the goals.

How does an Interior Designer Make a Difference?

As a part of the design and development of built spaces, we can have an influence on:
6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
7 - Affordable and Clean Water
9 - Industry Innovative and Infrastructure
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

The US EPA reports 9.8 million tons of furniture waste per year (2009).
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
- Rethink

12 - Reduce

Using a licensed Interior Designer will reduce the instances of mismeasurement or miscalculation for purchasing products, reducing the need to re-order or replace.

12 - Reuse

Vintage, second-hand, antique; not all sourced furniture needs to be new!
Refurbished furniture will almost always have lower embodied energy than buying new.

12 - Recycle

If furniture has reached the end of its life cycle, dispose of it responsibly (cradle to cradle vs. cradle to grave.)

12 - Rethink

Determine what is really needed for the project!
In the case of renovation, what can be refurbished or preserved instead of replaced?

Sourcing: What is it made of?

Raw Materials
- Responsibly sourced
- Rapidly renewable material
Made from Recycled Materials
- Pre-Consumer
- Post-Consumer
Made from Recyclable Materials
- Cradle to Cradle: Upcycling Vs Downcycling
Location of Material
- Locally sourced materials lessen embodied energy.

Sourcing: How is it made?

Embodied energy, or embodied carbon: The total energy (or CO2 released) of any item, from cradle to grave.

How is it made? Social Sustainability: Labor and Human Rights

Is the Manufacturer providing fair wages? Fair working hours?

How is it made? Environmental Sustainability: Energy Sources

Renewable Energy?

How is it made? Environmental Sustainability: Water Resources

How much water is used, and how is it disposed of or recycled?

How is it made? Environmental Sustainability: Byproducts

Disposal, reuse, or recycling of byproducts, cast offs, or other waste in the manufacturing process.
- source of pre-consumer recycled materials.

How is it made? Environmental Sustainability: Packaging

The amount and type of packaging.

Sourcing: Where did it come from?

As much as 90% of embodied energy is spend before the product is available to consumers.

Where did it come from? Transportation

Can account for large amount of embodied energy of a product, especially if manufactured overseas.
Consider:
- Source of raw material
- Processing location
- Manufacturer location
- Where is it warehoused?
- Retail location
- Source locally when you can!

How is it maintained? Durability

A well-made product will not have to be replaced as quickly.
- Quality Construction Methods
- Quality and well-suited materials

How is it maintained? Maintenance and Preservation: Life Cycle Cost

If upkeep is prohibitively expensive or complicated, the item or material is more likely to fall into disrepair and be replaced.

How is it maintained? Refurbishing and Rehabilitation

Can the product be easily repaired, or individual components replaced?
Antique, vintage, second-hand: significantly lower embodied energy than new products.

Product Life Cycle: Cradle to Grave

A one-way path of a product being produced (cradle), used and then disposed of (grave), no longer offering usefulness.

Product Life Cycle: Cradle to Cradle

A cycle, keeping a product or materials out of landfills and in good use.

Product Life Cycle: Upcycling

Furniture or materials (carpet, for example) are able to be disassembled and utilized for the same or similar purposes.

Product Life Cycle: Downcycling

Reduces the quality of material overtime, leading to an eventual end in a landfill.

How does this product or space affect the well-being of occupants? Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)

A characteristic of spaces in buildings that impacts occupants' comfort, health, well-being, and productivity.

How does this product or space affect the well-being of occupants? Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

IAQ is a characteristic of air in buildings, typically measured as a combination of:
- Relative Humidity
- CO2 Concentration
- Particulate matter concentration (Can indicate inadequate ventilation.)

How does this product or space affect the well-being of occupants? Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A variety of chemicals that release into the air as a gas and can have harmful health implications.
- Most often found in paint, materials and finishes such as carpet or wood products, and others.
- Low or no-VOC products are widely available.

How Much Energy and Resources does this Product Require to Operate?

This Addresses the remaining embodied energy of a product.
Energy use:
- lighting
- Appliances
- HVAC
Water Use:
- Low-Flow Fixtures

How Much Energy and Resources does this Product Require to Operate? Energy Consumption in EU Households (2019)

Space Heating: 63.6%
Lighting and Appliances: 14.17%
Water Heating: 14.8%
Space Cooling: 0.4%
Cooking 6.1%
Other 1.0%

Sourcing: Watch out for Greenwashing! Definition

"Greenwashing is an act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service." -UL

Watch out for Greenwashing!

In a 2010 study, at least one of the following "7 sins of Greenwashing" were utilized by 95% of the 4,744 products in the study:
1. The Hidden Trade-Off
2. No Proof
3. Vagueness
4. Worshiping False Labels
5. Irrelevance
6. Lesser of Two Evils
7. Fibbing

Doing Some of the Work for you: Certifying Organizations: Product Certifying Organizations: 3rd Party

Standards/Certification should be 3rd party (no financial interest in products.)
- Green seal, FSC, Green Guard, Living Building Challenge

Doing Some of the Work for you:
Certifying Organizations: product Certifying Organizations: 2nd Party

2nd Party (People connected to a product or type of product)
- CRI, Floor score, Green Globes, BIFMA, Sustainability Forestry Initiatives.

Built Environment Certifiying Organizations

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

An internationally recognized building certification system development by the USGBC - US Green Building Council.
LEED provides 3rd party verification that a building was design and built using strategies aimed at improving embodied and ongoing energy required in buildings.

Certification has 4 levels based on a total point earned:

Leed Certified: 40-49 points
Leed Silver: 50-59 points
Leed Gold: 60-79 points
Leed Platinum: 80+ points

5 Categories for certification:

B + C - Building Design and Construction
ID + C - Interior Design and Construction
O + M - Building Operations and Maintenace
ND - Neighborhood Development
Homes - Homes

Leed: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design: Interior Design and Construction

Project teams that wish to work towards LEED Certification select the appropriate certification type and follow the rating system, which is broken into categories, the following are the categories for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) for Commercial Interiors, Retail and Hospitality:
- Integrative process
- Location and Transportation
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation
- Regional priority