Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products

1. ENVIROSPEC is the environmental division of ELECTONIC BLUEPRINT. Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products

2. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • “…..there is a real danger that the ecolabels may fail to provide enough precise data on the in-service performance for each product, under a range of applications and climates….. • If unchecked, this could lead to poor decision-making and the selection of products, which appear to be environmentally friendly, but are, in fact, inappropriate for the actual application. ….” • From: • “Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products”, Johnston, R, Gogstad, P, & Woolcock, J, UAE, 2009.

3. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • “…..there is a real danger that the ecolabels may fail to provide enough precise data on the in-service performance for each product, under a range of applications and climates….. • If unchecked, this could lead to poor decision-making and the selection of products, which appear to be environmentally friendly, but are, in fact, inappropriate for the actual application. ….“ • From: • “Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products”, Johnston, R, Gogstad, P, & Woolcock, J, UAE, 2009. • The ENVIROSPEC Protocol sets guidelines for Benchmarking and Life Cycle Assessment, accounting for both in-service and embodied properties.

4. The Dilemma of Green Marketing Consider single-glazed and double-glazed windows.

5. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider single-glazed and double–glazed windows. • The embodied energy of a double-glazed window is approximately twice that of a single-glazed window. • However, the in-service thermal performance of double-glazing is often far superior to that of single-glazing – but not in all climates, all comfort level regimes or in all common combinations of free-running and air conditioning.

6. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider single-glazed and double–glazed windows. • The embodied energy of a double-glazed window is approximately twice that of a single-glazed window. • However, the in-service thermal performance of double-glazing is often far superior to that of single-glazing – but not in all climates, all comfort level regimes or in all common combinations of free-running and air conditioning. • The Dilemma: • When a specification is written for windows, which is the most sustainable- single glazing or double glazing? • Should double-glazing and single-glazing be grouped together in common specifications; or separated by application? • This very complicated dichotomy must be given prominence in any ecolabelling scheme.

7. The Dilemma of Green Marketing Consider shower heads.

8. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider shower heads. • Most regulators and designers agree with the selection of • water-efficient shower heads. • However, shower heads could be used in a region of: • High rainfall area, serviced by an efficient hydro-electric supply; or • Low rainfall area, serviced by energy generated by burning hydrocarbons.

9. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider shower heads. • Most regulators and designers agree with the selection of • water-efficient shower heads. • However, shower heads could be used in a region of: • High rainfall area, serviced by an efficient hydro-electric supply; or • Low rainfall area, serviced by energy generated by burning hydrocarbons. • We need to be clear, when framing regulations, what we are tying to achieve: • Saving water • Saving energy • Saving greenhouse gas emissions.

10. The Dilemma of Green Marketing Consider masonry walls.

11. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider masonry walls. • In winter, heat trying to pass through a wall of high thermal mass will become trapped in the wall, and part will slowly pass back into the room. • In summer the reverse occurs. Heat trying to pass through a wall of high-thermal mass from the outside will become trapped and part will slowly pass back out of the building.

12. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider masonry walls. • In winter, heat trying to pass through a wall of high thermal mass will become trapped in the wall, and part will slowly pass back into the room. • In summer the reverse occurs. Heat trying to pass through a wall of high-thermal mass from the outside will become trapped and part will slowly pass back out of the building. • However, this phenomenon is only significant in relatively benign climates, where the ambient temperature crosses the comfort level .

13. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Consider masonry walls. • In winter, heat trying to pass through a wall of high thermal mass will become trapped in the wall, and part will slowly pass back into the room. • In summer the reverse occurs. Heat trying to pass through a wall of high-thermal mass from the outside will become trapped and part will slowly pass back out of the building. • However, this phenomenon is only significant in relatively benign climates, where the ambient temperature crosses the comfort level . • How should marketers and specifiers account for thermal mass in: • Benign climates ? • Severe climates ? c

14. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Sustainability can only properly be assessed by considering: • Embodied characteristics (energy, green-house gas, water, toxicity) • and • In service performance, which is affected by: • The climate where the product is to be installed • The building application.

15. The Dilemma of Green Marketing • Sustainability can only properly be assessed by considering: • Embodied characteristics (energy, green-house gas, water, toxicity) • and • In service performance, which is affected by: • The climate where the product is to be installed • The building application. • The art of green marketing is to: • Honestly identify sustainable products • Clearly quantify and benchmark the contribution to sustainability • Distribute technical data to Architects, Engineers and Builders. • Whilst retaining scientific quantitative assessment, we must • remove the “black-magic” from the art of sustainability. c

16. Environmental Benchmarking Environmental Benchmarking is: the comparison of a product’s life-cycle analysis and other environmental data to those of the most common acceptable alternative, “benchmark construction”.

17. Environmental Benchmarking Environmental Benchmarking is: the comparison of a product’s life-cycle analysis and other environmental data to those of the most common acceptable alternative, “benchmark construction”. • The logical “benchmarks” are those forms of construction which are both: • the most economical; and • in compliance with the current building regulations. • ..... in other words, the construction most likely to be built, if sustainability criteria were not applied.

18. Environmental Benchmarking Environmental Benchmarking is: the comparison of a product’s life-cycle analysis and other environmental data to those of the most common acceptable alternative, “benchmark construction”. • The logical “benchmarks” are those forms of construction which are both: • the most economical; and • in compliance with the current building regulations. • ..... in other words, the construction most likely to be built, if sustainability criteria were not applied. Any improvement over “benchmark construction” may be considered as a step towards sustainability.

19. Environmental Benchmarking – Example - Energy • Performance may be demonstrated by the following example: • Calculate the embodied energy of the Product throughout its life-cycle, Epe. • Calculate the operational energy consumption of the building, incorporating the Product, throughout its life-cycle, Epo. • 3. Calculate the embodied energy of the Benchmark Construction (that the Product is intended to replace) throughout its life-cycle, Ebe. • 4. Calculate the operational energy consumption of the building, incorporating Benchmark Construction, throughout its life-cycle, Ebo. • 5. Determine the net increase or decrease in total energy use if the Product is used in lieu of Benchmark Construction, from the following. • Net Energy = Total energy for Product – Total energy for Benchmark Construction • = ( EpeN + EpoN) – ( EbeN + EboN) • 6. Report the Net Energy (increase or decrease), together with full calculations.

20. ENVIROSPEC LCI/LCA - Currently various organizations are collecting data for the creation of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases. LCI/LCA Data Base

21. ENVIROSPEC LCI/LCA - Currently various organizations are collecting data for the creation of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases. Design Process - This data will be used to populate design software, enabling designers to minimise environmental impacts. LCI/LCA Data Base Design Process Design & Rating Software

22. ENVIROSPEC LCI/LCA - Currently various organizations are collecting data for the creation of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases. Design Process - This data will be used to populate design software, enabling designers to minimise environmental impacts. Building Product Ecolabels may be prepared using the LCI data LCI/LCA Data Base Design Process Design & Rating Software Ecolabelling ISO 14024 etc

23. ENVIROSPEC LCI/LCA - Currently various organizations are collecting data for the creation of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases. Design Process - This data will be used to populate design software, enabling designers to minimise environmental impacts. Building Product Ecolabels may be prepared using the LCI data - BUT, as noted previously, Ecolabels may be too limited to provide comprehensive design information for each conceivable application. LCI/LCA Data Base Design Process Design & Rating Software Ecolabelling ISO 14024 etc

24. ENVIROSPEC LCI/LCA - Currently various organizations are collecting data for the creation of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases. Design Process - This data will be used to populate design software, enabling designers to minimise environmental impacts. Building Product Ecolabels may be prepared using the LCI data - BUT, as noted previously, Ecolabels may be too limited to provide comprehensive design information for each conceivable application. LCI/LCA Data Base Design Process Design & Rating Software Ecolabelling ISO 14024 etc • ENVIROSPEC presents building product specifications • in a technically credible format • geared specifically for use by designers • tailored for marketing innovative building products • using LCA techniques • “benchmarked” for particular applications. ENVIROSPEC Protocol based on ISO 14044 ISO/DIS 21930

25. Case Study - Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island – Accommodation • Project • In 2008, House Energy Rating was commissioned to assess the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of a 20,000 person camp at Saadiyat Island, consisting of stackable modular accommodation units. • Conclusions • The energy use in the buildings is dictated principally by the number of occupants, • It is quite possible to have a potentially very energy efficient building with little net energy use. • Performance for this particular development is driven by the hot local climate. • Protecting the sub-floor spaces from external conditions resulted in the most significant reduction in overall energy use, up to 50% reduction in overall cooling load. • Reductions to the external surface absorptance of the building, and incorporation of roof design features also had a beneficial effect on thermal performance. • House Energy Rating is an Australian based sustainability consultant, and a partner of Building Product Certification Pty Ltd • (part of the Electronic Blueprint Group). • From: “Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products”, Johnston, R, Gogstad, P, & Woolcock, J, UAE, 2009

26. Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Product • “…..there is a real danger that the ecolabels may fail to provide enough precise data on the in-service performance for each product, under a range of applications and climates….. • If unchecked, this could lead to poor decision-making and the selection of products, which appear to be environmentally friendly, but are, in fact, inappropriate for the actual application. ….“ • From: • “Benchmarking and Specification of Sustainable Building Products”, Johnston, R, Gogstad, P, & Woolcock, J, UAE, 2009. • The ENVIROSPEC Protocol sets guidelines for Benchmarking and Life Cycle Assessment, accounting for both in-service and embodied • properties.

27. For Further Assistance • Rod Johnston • Technical • Electronic Blueprint – ENVIROSPEC • rod@electronicblueprint.com.au • Per Gogstad • Sales - UAE • AEC Online – ENVIROSPEC • per@aeconline.net