I N S T I T U T I O N A L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

AT T H E M H S

Introduction
Project Components
Schedule
Product
Case Studies

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
What is institutional sustainability?
What is a sustainability audit?

I NTRODUCTION

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
I NTRODUCTION

Definitions
Sustainability
“…meet*ing] the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own
needs.” (UN Brundtland Commission)

Institution
“…an established organization, especially of
a public character.” (Merriam Webster)

These definitions do not help us

operationalize sustainability.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
I NTRODUCTION

Sustainability Assessment
Quantify sustainability using an established
and robust method.

Helps to prioritize sustainability goals and

strategies.

Weigh relative impacts of each to other

considerations like cost and time.

Communication tool to help convey to various

audiences the current situation and future
plans for sustainability.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
I NTRODUCTION

Project Components

+ Assessment / Audit
+ Green Strategies
+ Communications
+ Implementation
+ Costs

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROJECT C OMPONENTS

Assessment / Audit
Means for quantifying current level of
sustainability.
Important to establish a baseline.
Can also use it as a reference point when
improvements are made.

Initial phase of assessment will utilize utility

bills and documentation.

Secondary phase will focus on several key

areas and utilize direct measurements.

Results presented in terms of utility units AND

CO2 equivalents.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROJECT C OMPONENTS

Green Strategies
Utilize the initial phase of assessment to
establish a few key goals or targets.
Select most impactful strategies.

The most potential for reduction of

environmental impact, for the least capital
cost.

Can continue using the method for

assessment as a means to measure
progress.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROJECT C OMPONENTS

Communications
Internal communications to raise awareness
and interest in the Society.

Blog, internal events, expanding the Green

Team.

External communications to promote the

Society in the community.

Blog, external campaigns, publications,

media, social networking.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROJECT C OMPONENTS

Implementation
Select most impactful strategies.

Recommendations for each site, which takes

into consideration the context.
Recommendations for the institution as a
whole.
Life cycle cost analysis for each strategy.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROJECT C OMPONENTS

Costs
May include some professional services.

+ Building commissioning
+ Lighting specialist

Utilize volunteers or interns for additional data

tracking.

Track funding opportunities for various

strategies throughout project.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
What is the time frame of the project?
What are the milestones?

SCHEDULE

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
SCHEDULE
3 Main Parts – Audit, Communications, Funding

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
 SCHEDULE
Oct – Nov 2010
Preliminary Audit

Dec – Jan 2011

Scope Narrows, Detailed
Audit

Feb – Apr 2011

Brainstorm Green
Strategies, Goals
Developed, Life Cycle Costs

May - Jun 2011

Reports and
Recommendations
gathered in various reports
for different audiences

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
 SCHEDULE
Throughout project, other
components include
communications and
recommendations for
funding the green strategies.

Key Dates
(exact dates to be scheduled)
+ Nov 29 Prelim Audit
complete
+ Dec 20 Scope Defined
+ Jan 10 Professional
Services RFPs
+ Apr 25 Green Strategies
+ May 30 Report
Components Gathered

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
How do you use a sustainability audit?

P RODUCT

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P RODUCT

Technical Report
Contains all information from
audit and recommendations
History / Origins
Process
Calculations
Data tables or sources
Analysis
Conclusions

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P RODUCT

Summary Report
Key findings
Key recommendations
Summary charts and data
Less than 10 pages

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P RODUCT

Tool
Establish a process, system, or tool that can
continue to be used.

+ Checklist of indicators
+ Simpler version of the GHG / CO2
Accounting

Help to continue tracking progress towards

sustainability goals.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P RODUCT

Site Recommendations
Sets of recommendations for each site, in
addition to the institution as a whole.

Life-cycle cost analysis on a few key

recommendations.

RETscreen can be used to supplement and

continue the recommendations.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
P ROGRESS

Current Completed
+ Utility bills recorded for FY 09-11
+ Sites visited (SRL, NWC, CAL, JPG, MHC,
MCM)
+ Still deciding on Management Agreement
sites

+ Processing data
+ RETscreen

+ Blog and internal communications started

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
Who else has done this before?

C ASE STUDIES

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

Phipps Conservatory
+ New-building oriented program
+ Green Heart of Pittsburgh project
+ LEED certified building in 2005
+ Green roofs
+ Geothermal for heating and cooling
+ Restorative landscape
+ Photovoltaics
+ Most energy efficient conservatory in the
world, includes a Tropical Forest area

+ Ties their Botany research to a public

outreach site for general sustainability tips

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

Oregon Museum of Science and

Industry
+ Awareness and campaign oriented program
+ CO2 Analysis
+ Tracked Energy Usage and Waste
+ Created their own indicator system to track
progress with Natural Step (N/A, Brone,
Gold)
+ Created production criteria to help everyone
make everyday decisions

+ Bioswale in the parking lot

+ Recycling program

+ Educational elements in exhibits

+ Internal communications among employees

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

Cincinnati Zoo
+ Process-oriented program
+ 37,000 pounds of waste from zoo animals
+ Partner with Duke Energy to use biomass
energy
+ Bio-diesel fleet
+ LEED NC building
+ LED lighting and new HVAC controls
+ Geothermal heating and cooling

+ Limited online communications

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

City of Seattle
+ Grassroots and government-
led efforts
+ CO2 analysis, Eco-footprint
analysis
+ Community developed
indicator system
+ Subsidized energy audits for
residents
+ Encouraged improvements to
transportation, industrial,
commercial and residential
buildings.

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

Burger Study
+ Jamais Cascio, Worldchanging and Open
the Future
+ Carbon footprint of a cheeseburger
+ On average, we eat 3 burgers / week
+ Factor in energy use for feed, livestock,
farms, transportation, processing energy

+ Concluded that annual American burger

consumption is equivalent to 195,750,000
annual metric tons of CO2 equivalent
+ Compares to about 6.5 – 19.6 million
SUVs emissions over a year

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
C ASE STUDIES

MHS
+ Uniqueness of the MHS project
+ Combines historical preservation and
sustainability

+ Combines a broad range of functions –

archival storage, office, retail, education,
museum, historic sites
+ Scale of the project differs from most
museum greening projects, and is quite
similar to city-scale efforts

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010
F OLLOW US ON OUR B LOG
http://blogs.mnhs.org/sustainability

In st it u t io n a l S u sta in a b ilit y at t h e M HS
S h e n gyin Xu
12/3/2010