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Easy ways to make your organization more environmentally friendly

June 30 — Non-Profits going Green

Absolute Green Design

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

How to make your organization more environmentally friendly, save money and model the way for your constituents on easy ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, and conserve resources

Greening your Non-Profit




Environmental Impact?


The U.S. constitutes about 5% of world population and

uses 26% of world oil supply, more than any other country,

producing 24% of global carbon emissions.

Source: Worldwatch Institute



What’s that?


In the last 100 years, we have:

Lost 50% of the world's wetlands

Cleared 50% of the world's forest

Depleted 70% of the world's major marine fisheries

Put nearly 60% of coral reefs at risk

Source: Worldwatch Institute



Should we care?


Success in the natural

world is defined as keeping

oneself and one’s

offsprings alive



Of course we do care...




• Environment - where we live AND what is available to us

• Impact - how we use what is available - RESOURCES

• Some are finite (WATER)

• Some are not (ENERGY)

The FOOTPRINT Idea

Absolute Green DesignAncient sunlight = fossil fuels

Currentsunlight = renewable

energiesTuesday, April 20, 2010





Carbon footprint

Because we are using finite resources and ancient sunlight, green gas emissions result from our consumption and contribute to global warming

OPERATING a building, whether as an owner or a tenant generates 8 to 10 times more CO2 emissions PER YEAR than its embodied footprint


SET GOALS OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION

Source: USGBC - 2008




QuickFacts



• Over the next 25 years, CO2 emissions from buildings are projected to grow faster than any other sector, with emissions from commercial buildings projected to grow the fastest—1.8% a year through 2030.

• Buildings have a lifespan of 50-100 years during which they continually consume energy and produce CO2 emissions.

• The world population is projected to grow significantly over the coming decades, increasing the need for new buildings - to meet this demand, approximately 15 million new buildings are projected to be constructed by 2015 in the US alone.

Source: USGBC -200811Absolute Green Design

QuickFacts




Green Building Works




Different Shades of Green




“Kilowatt Ours”The Cheapest watt is the one that is not consumed!

No-cost changes to reduce daily energy use

Turning down the heat (-2 degrees)

Turning up the air-conditioning during off-peak hours (+2 degrees)

Lighting. Turn lights off when you're not using them or when they're not needed due to available daylight, etc.

Unplug lamps, chargers, office equipment before locking-up

Behavior change is another indirect consequence of reducing

usage. Provide education about the differences that tenants/occupants can make by shutting off computers and monitors for the day, turning off task lights and fans when they're not at their workstations, etc.




Opportunities for Reduction

Low-cost changes to reduce daily energy use

Calculate your organization’s carbon footprint and identify areas of improvements

The CarbonFree® Partner program - Small Businesses

Occupancy sensors

DIMMERS

Install CFL

Although it can be tricky to get people to change their behavior, some manufacturers are now offering integrated software as part of their building-automation systems that can instantly provide a specific tenant/occupant with the percent of energy he/she is saving (or not saving) as a result of his/her actions.

Associating a number with everyday work habits can be a motivating and inspiring factor in changing a routine.



Water Footprint -


Fresh water availability is at the forefront of all 21st century debates

WATER

CONSUMPTION

AND CONVEYANCE REDUCTION

DrinkingCleaning/Flushing

Potable

water use


Water Conservation Efforts

• Efforts mandated by legislation - Mandatory conservation measures in California

• Practical impact on non-profits - Education opportunity for constituents



Host xeriscaping clinics Showcase “Home”

movieAdvocate for water

filtration devicesPartner with

municipalities and water districts on strategy implementation




The Technical Approach

1


From the Inside Out...

•Consider the off-gasing of materials

•Concept of high-low VOC

•Health implications

•Absenteeism link




Materials - Choose the Good

•Nature shops locally and doesn’t create waste

•No VOC Paint

•Indoor Air Quality:

Install HEPA air filters MERV13

•FSC (Forest Stewarship Council) as FIRST choice

•Use LEED as a guiding principleAbsolute Green Design





Differenciate Your Operations

By advocating for sustainability, your organization:

becomes a good steward in your community and in the world,

can become the “go-to” resource for the community - ride-

share programs, e-waste recycling, co-ops

is more appealing to potential donors,

helps ensure that future generations can enjoy a respectable

quality of life,

can access new capital through block grants programs,

municipalities and private investors




Why Bother? because it pays back...




Eve Guilbaud, MS, LEED AP310-293-3065

www.absolutegreendesign.com


http://www.absolutegreendesign.com

http://www.absolutegreendesign.com

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Easy ways to make your organization more environmentally ...absolutegreendesign.com/Absolute_Green_Design/News_files/Go Gre… · Greening your Non-Proﬁt Carbon footprint Because