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
[email protected]@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)