David Eisenberg Christchurch 8 Sep 2008

Development Center for Appropriate Technology - 2008

Christchurch City Council ChambersSeptember 6, 2008

Sustainability:Beyond Green Building and Smart Growth

David EisenbergDirector

Development Center for Appropriate Technology


For the past dozen yearsI've been working towardsan intention:that if we are to dealresponsibly with the risksassociated with buildingand development, weneed to be able to seethose risks…fully, clearly,and in context…


I think we have a smallwindow of opportunity to save

ourselves as a species.

I believe that window is thesize and shape of the

human heart…


Most of the systemswe have created are

far beneath thedignity and

magnificence of thehuman species.

These systemsdenature us.

They override ourfundamental nature

as a caring, creative,nurturing species.


Finding the Trailhead…

Almost exactly 11years ago I got up infront of a thousandbuilding officials inPhoenix, Arizona,knowing that I onlyhad ten minutes togive the 20 minutepresentation I hadprepared…


Finding the Trailhead…

Phoenix was a breakthrough for me and the work.It was when we started (unofficially) doing what wecall "Heart Work with Code Officials"

It was also just the beginning of a long process.

We created "Building Sustainability into the Codes"- a three-phased program -1st - Building Awareness of the need for change2nd - Building Capacity to be able to change3rd - Transfer of Leadership


19982000

20022003

2004

2005

And We Went to Work…

Contributing to the magazinesof BOCA, ICBO, SBCCI, ICC…

Creating awareness,providing needed informationand access to technical resources…


1st and 2nd Phases…

We produced a 50 minute videoBuilding Codes for a Small Planetto tell this story more widely.

We upgraded theDCAT websitewww.dcat.net


And things are moving…

ICC-USGBC MOU May 2007

ICC Green Building Home Page August 2007

Third Phase!Third Phase!


2007 - Some Acknowledgment


What we have now in the USA platform…The audience…A strong message:

We have a regular column inthe ICC magazine, BuildingSafety Journal. My firstcolumn frames this shift as"The Challenge of a Lifetime"essentially calling them to dothe most important work oftheir careers!

A Lot is Happening…


A Lot is Happening…


The Timing is Right for the Next Leap

So, the code officials are coming on board just intime… we're going to have to greatly acceleratethis work and ratchet up the goals and targets aswe begin to deal with the realities of peak oil andclimate change and more. Great progress…butwe're nowhere near there yet…


Green building, Smart Growth,Energy Star, LEED, changes incodes, etc. are all steps in theright direction, but they're reallyonly first steps…

The magnitude of what we'refacing is daunting.

The good news is that we've finallyovercome inertia of rest and thingsare moving… But we need to keepseeing the big picture…

Bigger Context: Just the tip of the Iceberg…


Ecological footprint is aconcept based oncarrying capacity. It's away to calculate theamount of productiveland required to supplyresources and absorbwastes from a givenactivity - of an individual,organization,community, nation orpopulation, including theworld population.

Where We Are - Ecological Footprint


There's credibleevidence that if eachperson on Earth usedresources & generated wastesat the rate of the average American,Canadian, or member of the EU wewould need several more Earths tosustain that level of human activity.And that's for Earth's current population.

Our Ecological Footprint, Wackernagel and Rees

The Picture that is Emerging…


The Big Picture - Living Planet Report

Download the Report:http://www.footprintnetwork.org


www.footprintnetwork.org


From the 2006 Living Planet Report

www.footprintnetwork.org


REALITY - We're maintaining our high standard of living byimporting resources, cheap labor and ecological capacityfrom the developing world.

Surplus global ecological capacity no longer exists.

Ecological footprint is increasing in both the developed anddeveloping world and world population is growing.

Buildings account for a majority of this footprint and energyaccounts for much of that.

Where We Are…


Where We Can Go…


Climate change


Don't Trust Scientists?…How About Insurers?


Where We Are - Peak Oil

Source: Dr. Donald Aitken, ISES/ASES World Solar Congress 2005


It may not beScience Fictionbut it surely is aBrave New World!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4133668.ece

Excerpted from,and a Sign of"The Times…"

And I didn'thave to makethis up…


There is a large energy component to water,and a large water component to energy…

Not Just Energy - Water and Energy are Linked


Where we are - at a Crossroads


Time to Evolve…


We can't rely on our past assumptions aboutprogress, technology, risk, standard of living,national security, global security, trade, oreconomics. It is all changing.

Today's energy and climate realities are stunningand stark. We have crucial choices to make andnot much time to make them. We have what weneed to find a safer path forward but to choose it,we have to change our minds and then changeour behaviors…

Life After Cheap Energy & a Stable Climate


We often hear that weneed to think "outside thebox" to deal with ourproblems today.

But it's a process -expand your field of view,get out of the box you're in…into the next bigger box.

Get Out of the Box


To get out of boxes requiresknowing if you're working inthe details or the big picture,in the past, present orfuture, and constantlyshifting your focus back andforth.

That helps keep things inperspective and proportion,enabling us to see the thingsas well as the relationshipsbetween them.

See the Details AND the Big Picture…


International Building Code (USA) - 2000 edition

101.3 The purpose of this code is to establishthe minimum requirements to safeguard thepublic health, safety and general welfarethrough structural strength, means of egressfacilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light andventilation, energy conservation, and safety tolife and property from fire and other hazardsattributed to the built environment.

Big Picture in White - Details in Blue

The Purpose of Building Codes


Modern building codes enable us to design andbuild structures that are safe for their occupants,making it seem that we've eliminated or greatlyreduced the risks associated with buildings.

What's Protected and What's at Risk?


We've just moved those risks in space and time:- away from the building site, and- into the future.

What's Protected and What's at Risk?


Big Problems Hidden in Plain View

Looking at buildings throughcodes is like looking througha microscope. The individual,building-related risks fill thefield of view.

But, it's like dealing with riskwith tweezers, while creatingmany orders of magnitudegreater, generalized risk foreveryone, including all futuregenerations.


Fire SafetyStructural IntegrityMeans of EgressLightVentilationHeatWater & WastewaterElectrical & GasEnergy Efficiency

Risks to Future Generations

Risk - The Bigger Picture…

Nutrification of Water

Externalized Costs to Society

Climate Impact Resource Depletion

Pollution Loss of Habitat

Loss of Agricultural Land

Embodied Energy Dependence on Non-Renewable Energy

Loss of BiodiversityToxicity of Materials

Increased TransportationHeat Island Effect

Risk - Through the Microscope of Codes…



Risks to Future Generations

Risk - The Bigger Picture…

Nutrification of Water

Externalized Costs to Society

Climate Impact Resource Depletion

Pollution Loss of Habitat

Loss of Agricultural Land

Embodied Energy Dependence on Non-Renewable Energy

Loss of BiodiversityToxicity of Materials

Increased TransportationHeat Island Effect



We have a maze of varying regulatory structures,with an often conflicting and disconnected set ofminimum standards to control what gets built…

We're designing and trying to build projects thatsurpass those minimums while taking on a set ofhuge risks not yet incorporated into regulations

This is OUR Current Situation…


That projects seeking to meet all the existingminimum standards while addressing huge risksthat have yet to find their way into regulations are aproblem for the regulatory system is a clearindicator of a problem with the regulatory system.

Our Understanding of Risk is Bigger…


Our understanding of what is required to safeguardpublic health, safety and welfare from hazardsattributed to the built environment - recognizingand attempting to balance the whole risk profile ofa project - is larger and more comprehensive thanthe scope of concern or regulatory authority of anyof the individual agencies or regulations thatgovern our projects.

Our Understanding of Risk is Bigger…


To achieve these higher goals, we useunfamiliar methods - so the regulatorshave a problem with our projects…

Big problem—it's not a "system."Regulatory responsibility/authority isbroken into different jurisdictions,agencies, and departments, with rules,codes and standards varying fromplace to place–with approvals nestedbut not necessarily linked at each level.

This is OUR Current Situation…


An Example: a Water Approvals Maze


A Couple More Problems…

Codes and regulations are reactions to disasters,failures, or major past problems. They are aboutkeeping bad things from recurring through the useof minimum standards.

It's logical, important and insufficient. A risk-aversemindset tends to view change (the unfamiliar) as atleast as dangerous as known risks.

So the regulatory mindset tends to be nearly aseffective at preventing the best things as the worst.


As Important, it Looks Back and Down…

The focus stays on the Known and on Minimums.

There's no built-in forward-looking, problem-seekingcapability to address larger-pattern, systemic risk orrisks of a new kind.

When such risks do arise, the system is often slow(or worse) in recognizing and starting to deal withthem.

The agencies are typically under-funded and under-staffed for their normal work load, let alone change.


And here's the BIGGER QUESTION:What if the large-scale risks we've createdwhile looking through that microscope arelarge enough now that minimum requirementto "safeguard public health, safety and welfarefrom hazards attributed to the builtenvironment" is the most we can do and thequickest transformation to sustainablepractices we can achieve?

What if the Minimum is the Maximum?


English does not contain a suitable word for "systemof problems." Therefore I have had to coin one. Ichoose to call such a system a "mess." The solutionto a mess can seldom be obtained by independentlysolving each of the problems of which it iscomposed. - Russell L. Ackoff

Or, more simply put…Optimizing components in isolation tends topessimize the whole system.

- Paul Hawken, Amory & L. Hunter Lovins

Buildings are Complex Systems of Systems


Building codes typically optimize components of abuilding in isolation, often pessimizing both thebuilding and the systems to which it's connected.

To truly optimize buildings requires consideringthe whole system of systems. All technologiesneed to be viewed this way, to include their wholerisk/benefit profile.

How to Not Pessimize the System?


What Buildings Should and Shouldn't Do…

Building codes could be a set of principles for whatbuildings should and shouldn't do…

A good first principle would be a corollary of theHippocratic Oath; buildings should first do no harm.

To consider the harm a building might do requireslooking at the impacts from its entire lifecycle…


Acquisition of Resources through Demolition & Beyond


What?Where?To Whom?When?How?How Long?How Much?Reversible?Necessary?At What Costand to Whom?We can't get where we need to be by avoiding risk…

We Need to Ask New Questions about Risk


We need to recognize and address the greatmodern myth - that we know what we're doingand are in control. We don't and we're not…

The Great Modern Myth


We could have theintention of minimizingunintended consequencesand make that part of ourdecision-making process.

Addressing the Great Modern Myth


Thinking deeply about ourchoices of materials andsystems might lead us todevelop a preference fordoing things as locally aspossible, as simply aspossible, and doing aslittle as possible of thosethings that we know areharmful or about whichour knowledge andunderstanding is limited.

Addressing the Great Modern Myth


Appropriate technology - the lowest or simplestlevel of technology that can do the job well.

Appropriateness relates to where and for whatpurpose technology is used and the social,economic, and ecological context.

Truly appropriate technology doesn't make peopleor their communities dependent on systems overwhich they have no control. This meanstechnologies that enhance the local capacity tomeet local needs - in a lower energy world this isthe foundation for security and sustainablecommunities.

A Place to Start


Doing things locally is important for manyreasons, but first and foremost, the feedbackloops are shorter and much higher quality.You're much more likely to run into theunintended consequences of your actions.

Relocalization


If security is a goal, strengthening regional andlocal self-sufficiency is an essential strategy for usand for everyone else, everywhere else.Enhancing the local capacity of people and theircommunities to meet their own needs, also:

- shortens vulnerable supply lines - creates more robust & resilient supply systems - supports vital, durable local economies, and - supports healthy cultural, political, and social structures

Relocalization


When we don't have inexpensive, abundantenergy to drag materials around the world,process them as much as we imagine we need to,and then drag them around some more, it willbecome crucial that we learn, once again, how touse well those resources that are available to uswhere we live…

The rules and the way we think about risk andbenefit will have to change - to become morenuanced, more inclusive, and more responsive.

Relocalization


The relocalization movement is a key part of theshift toward sustainable development and truesecurity. This includes energy, materials, food,economic development and more. Check out thesewebsites for more information:

www.relocalize.net

www.postcarbon.org/informed/relocalization

Some Tools and Resources


And We Keep Asking Questions…

Why do all our systems appear to be designed tomake the world safe for technology and capital?


Making the World Safe for Technology?

What if we understood that our task as humanbeings on this planet is to make the world safefor all life forever…


Some Questions We Should Be Asking

Does this choice or action:enhance or undermine your capacity to meet yourneeds locally/regionally?create benefit without making you dependent onsystems over which you have little or no control?transfer wealth out of the community?embed you and others in your community ordisplace or compel people to become transient?


Does this choice or action:enhance or destroy equity - both the social andcultural equity related to fairness and justice, andthe tangible physical/economic benefits ofbelonging to and being "invested in" a place-based community?promote or undermine health - your health, thehealth of your family, your neighbors, yourcommunity, region, nation and the health ofpeople and living systems anywhere in the world?



Does this choice or action:increase or decrease the level of unintendedconsequences flowing from what you are doing?increase or decrease your awareness,comprehension and ability to mitigate theunintended consequences of what you are doing?bring people together or drive them apart?



Does this choice or action:cause offense, concern, or harm?bring joy and/or satisfaction to you and toeveryone effected by it?



We have to acknowledge that there are risks in allthat we do. Until we can see the whole risk profile,however, we will not be able to make gooddecisions about which risks are worth taking.

Our task is to keep revealing what we now know istrue, not claiming that what we do is risk-free. Weneed to make clear that we've recognized a muchlarger set of risks than the regulators and we'retrying to address them as well as their concerns.

The Task Before Us…


The Larger Context

Source: SERA Architects, Portland, OR - 2008



Truly restorative and regenerative projects demanda fundamentally different mindset; a commitment tohonor the essence of each place we inhabit and toenhance the evolutionary capacity, vitality andhealth of both the natural and human systems.


Harvests all its own energy and water

Adapted to climate and site

Operates pollution free

Promotes health and well-being

Comprised of Integrated Systems

Is Beautiful

www.cascadiagbc.org/lbc

The metaphor of the flower…

The Living Building



www.biomimicry.net/

Why Not Look at How We Got Here?





Photograph: Bill Steen


Congressional Briefing

Next Friday, June 20Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C.Laura Bartels,Bob Gough,Sandy Wiggins, andme…

Look for the audiorecording andpresentations atwww.eesi.org


A Focus Shifting Template - What's MissingThings you used to think about

Important stuff youdon't yet know

Things you never thought about but should

Linkages to related realms

UnintendedConsequences Delayed impacts

Internalized risks Externalized risks

Internalized benefits

Linkages to unrelated realms

Externalized benefits

Important stuff youknow that isn't true

A Focus Shifting Template - The Usual Stuff

The list of thingsthat always holdyour attention


A Focus Shifting Template - What's MissingThings you used to think about

Important stuff youdon't yet know

Things you never thought about but should

Linkages to related realms

UnintendedConsequences Delayed impacts

Internalized risks Externalized risks

Internalized benefits

Linkages to unrelated realms

Externalized benefits

Important stuff youknow that isn't true

A Focus Shifting Template - The Usual Stuff

The list of thingsthat always holdyour attention


And Remember -
