Beyond Green Buildings: Measuring the Ecological Footprint of an Institutional Site

USGBC – Indiana Chapter USGBC – Indiana Chapter •• January 27, 2005 January 27, 2005

James EflinJames EflinAT&T Industrial Ecology FellowAT&T Industrial Ecology Fellow

Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental ManagementDepartment of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Energy Education ScholarEnergy Education Scholar

Center for Energy Research/Education/ServiceCenter for Energy Research/Education/Service

Ball State UniversityBall State University

Muncie, IN 47306Muncie, IN 47306

jeflin1@bsu.edujeflin1@bsu.edu

Beyond Green Buildings:Beyond Green Buildings:Measuring the Ecological Footprint Measuring the Ecological Footprint

of an Institutional Siteof an Institutional Site

Origins: Industrial Ecology Origins: Industrial Ecology informing Institutional Ecologyinforming Institutional Ecology

Industry + Ecology = Industry + Ecology = Industrial EcologyIndustrial Ecology

Applying metaphors from ecology:

Industrial Ecology

Industrial Metabolism

Industrial Symbiosis

What is Industrial Ecology?What is Industrial Ecology?

Intentional evolution of material Intentional evolution of material and energy flows toward a and energy flows toward a

sustainable balance within an sustainable balance within an industrial eco-systemindustrial eco-system

Emphasizes dematerialization, Emphasizes dematerialization, design for environment, design for environment,

entropy reduction, entropy reduction, life-cycle analysis, life-cycle analysis,

pollution prevention, pollution prevention, zero emissions zero emissions

What is Industrial Metabolism?What is Industrial Metabolism?

Flows of materials and energy through an Flows of materials and energy through an industrial system or organizationindustrial system or organization

Mutual and beneficial exchanges of Mutual and beneficial exchanges of materials or energy between organizationsmaterials or energy between organizations

What is Industrial Symbiosis?What is Industrial Symbiosis?

Inspiration for an Inspiration for an ‘Institutional Ecology’‘Institutional Ecology’

Defining Institutional EcologyDefining Institutional Ecology

Uses “ecosystem” as a metaphor to address the complementary linkage potentials of

resources used or affected by an institution

Emphasizes systems analysis and thermodynamics to analyze,

and provide recommendations for improving, the performance of institutions other than

manufacturing or service industries.

Why might this be of value?Why might this be of value?

It recognizes that impacts of a facility (building, campus, firm, institution)

extend beyond the site.

It moves beyond the parts toward understanding the whole.

It embraces the full life-cycle of activities.

Life-cycle Flows of an InstitutionLife-cycle Flows of an Institution

Material Flow AnalysisMaterial Flow Analysis

“…analysis of the throughput of process chains comprising the extraction or harvest, chemical

transformation, manufacturing, consumption, recycling, and disposal of materials.’’

- S. Bringezu (2000)

Material Flow AnalysisMaterial Flow Analysis

Material Flow Analysis: StagesMaterial Flow Analysis: Stages

• Conceptualization of model/flows

• Baseline data collection

• Data analysis

• Alternative scenario simulations

• Performance improvements

• On-going monitoring

MFA functional units for analysisMFA functional units for analysis

• By spatial units– Buildings; landscaped areas; paved areas; etc.

• By user units– academic, administrative, support, other

• By users (groups)– Students; faculty; staff; vendors; visitors

• Activity realms– Instructional; administrative; recreational; athletics;

entertainment; etc.

• Spatial boundaries– Trans-boundary (in, out); internally circulating

• Materials

MFA@BSU: Emphasis on UsersMFA@BSU: Emphasis on Users

MFA@BSU: Emphasis on MaterialsMFA@BSU: Emphasis on Materials

What do institutions consume What do institutions consume heavily?heavily?

Think paper!

Think energy!

Think food!

Think water!

….and a lot more….

MFA@BSUMFA@BSU

Materials targeted for data collection & analysis:

• Paper• Food• Fuels• Electricity• Water• Wastewater• Vehicle flows• Other?

Animation by Jackson Eflin

MFA@BSU: Emphasis on PaperMFA@BSU: Emphasis on Paper

MFA@BSU: Office PaperMFA@BSU: Office Paper

95973

How much is ~96,000 reams?How much is ~96,000 reams?

• Nearly 2.5 miles stacked in one pile• 98 times the height of tallest building

on campus (Shafer Tower)• Laid out sheet-to-sheet, would stretch

from New York to Los Angeles, back to New York and south to Washington

• 252 tons • + 2 tons of wrapping • + 50 tons of cardboard boxes

How much is ~96,000 reams?How much is ~96,000 reams?

MFA@BSU: Campus Energy UseMFA@BSU: Campus Energy Use

• Analysis getting underway• Primary energy: coal, natural gas, and oil

for Heat Plant; gasoline, diesel, and bio-diesel for motor fleet; electricity

• Results may help inform decisions for replacement of aging Heat Plant (mixed-fuel a possibility, including biomass)

• Results may help guide decisions in replacing vehicles, policies for use

MFA@BSU: Campus Water UseMFA@BSU: Campus Water Use

• Yet to be addressed

• Wastewater Treatment facility (city-owned) reports a jump in wastewater flows by ~2 Mgal/day when BSU is in session (approx. 12%-15% increase over ‘base’ load)