Committed Sustainable Practice: Part 1

Lets start with something simple: map lab believes global climate change IS happening. We believe that human activity is a major contributor to this. We believe it is our charge to integrate solutions in our daily operations, professional practice, and personal behavior. Let us also say that architects hold a unique responsibility to weigh all measures of the carbon and, more importantly, the energy issues now and in an immediate and uncertain future. While we advocate for the integrations of various forms of alternative energies through sustainable fuels and technologies, all alternative energy forms are heavily dependent on a rapidly depleting fossil fuel driven infrastructure. Building efficiencies and progressive urban design and planning strategies will be of utmost importance going forward. In another way, electric cars are cool, but it doesn't change the miserable commute or an open window may be the best and most energy efficient air conditioning and even selecting the SUN versus choosing one light fixture over another - the issues are complex but the solutions may be very simple (and cost effective).

We are practice but also we are a lab. As a lab we explore avenues of enriching our practice with progressive ideas and how they are to be applied practically. We have worked hard to develop our collective skill sets and knowledge base, methods of delivery, and tools as well as our network of collaborators to be able to work with clients, communities, and beyond to arrive at solutions to these pressing issues of our time. Our understanding of the policies driving the ever evolving energy codes and community based financial support, such as the Green Communities Act, are issues we keep a very good grasp on so that we may open up the lens of our abilities to offer services to clients and communities. In June 2006, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously approved the 2030 Challenge. map lab has been a participant in the Architecture 2030 program that pushes firms to make their practice carbon neutral by the year 2030. That level of cognoscente commitment will need practices such as map lab to help lead the way. We intend to be very active in doing so.

We are not strictly an academic practice. We are an active, nimble, well-researched, collaborative practice - bringing knowledge to imbed in the results. Over then next few months there will be a series of entiries to our blog regarding the work we are doing as a progressively sustainable practice, sharing our experience and knowledge with the wider audience in part to act as a resource but also to invite critique and alternative methodologies. By allowing commentary and criticism, we allow ourselves to grow in knowledge as well as grow our community of collaborators. So let's get started. Our first entry is literally, us. It's what we require to run our practice and how we intend to advance our goals sustainably while lowering operating costs.

Transparency:

Over the past two years we have made several measurable sustainable commitments available to the architectural profession as well as many we have implemented on our own.  Along with self-driven actions such as composting (diverting waste from landfills), map-lab is committed to both the AIA 2030 Commitment as well as Architecture 2030 that have significant metrics and initiatives that the firm must commit to in order to report that it is operating as "carbon neutral" by 2030. We are one of only TWO Boston firms to make such a commitment.  Mileposts (measures) must be documented and reported along the way. At present we are far and away ahead of the mileposts for actions that the firm currently undertakes to where these metrics expect us to be.

Taking a quick step back to define: Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for around three-quarters (77%) of the climate change impact of current human greenhouse-gas emissions. The key source of CO2 is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Add to that things that absorb CO2 are being destroyed, be they clearing Amazon jungle for palm oil production or unsustainable forestry practices that do not restore the tree cover. So energy use, especially BY individuals IN buildings (as well as by the extraction of construction materials) is the majority driver here.  The average American generates about 20 tons of CO2 each year.

Here is a personal breakdown of an Individual’s Carbon Footprint:

 

Our Sustainable Business Practice Efforts are as follows and will continue to become greater in number and enhanced as we become able to push further and further:

Office Energy Use Action Plan: We track & report energy use in the office.

BASELINE Office Energy Use

• map-lab’s (occupying 28% of co-habitated space) office space energy use in 2010 = 22,106 kWh (at $ .089/kWh = $1,967.44) @ 28% = 6,190 kWh *(share of use) or 7.28 kWh/SF/year OR 24,862 BtU/sf/year
  • 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ or 3,414 BtUs
• Emissions factor for New England = 0.908902 lbs CO2/kWh
• 22,106 kWh x 0.908902 lbs CO2/kWh = 20,093 lbs CO2 emitted
• Space total of 20,093 lbs CO2 = 9.2 metric tons CO2 @ 28% = 2.6 metric tons CO2
  • (1 Metric Tonne = 2,204.6 Pounds)
  • the average American produces about 20 metric tons of CO2

• EQUIPMENT - all desktops and printers are Energy Star compliant.  it is policy that shutting down all machines at the end of the workdays is mandatory as well as any room not being used. NO CRT monitors are in use, only LCD monitors are used.

• LIGHTING - an almost complete lack of necessity for the office lighting due to the substantial access to daylighting for all employees. Summer lighting needs is ZERO (during normal 8-10 hour work day). Winter lighting needs is around 2 hours/day and its generally at-desk task lighting. A full replacement of all incandescent lamps with fluorescent (OR LED when feasible) is well underway.

• HVAC - our office has no air-conditioning system apart from a central building-distributed heating (via iron hydronic radiators at window wall). Substantial ocean breezes through the operable windows render  a select few days where warm-month comfort levels approach less than ideal. Ceiling fans were installed in 2010 to alleviate the tougher warm days.

• GREEN POWER: Established a timeline and engaged in initial discussion to for ultimately purchasing/supplying our own 100% green power. Currently we are investigating the Green Power billing offered by our service provider.

Please visit the AIA 2030 Commitment and join the effort. Here is our Action Plan.