Retrofitting Urban Apartment Buildings: Promoting Sustainable
Living
Retrofitting Urban Apartment Buildings: Promoting Sustainable
Living
Presented By: Julie NorthUniversity of DenverEnvironmental Policy
April 22nd, 2011
Presented By: Julie NorthUniversity of DenverEnvironmental Policy
April 22nd, 2011
Retro…what?Retro…what?
• Retrofitting:• The processes, products, services, and
general innovative ideas needed to create and sustain better efficiency
• Retrofitting:• The processes, products, services, and
general innovative ideas needed to create and sustain better efficiency
Background InfoBackground Info
• “The United States, in regards to building emissions, are responsible for over 65% of energy consumption, over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, 136 million tons of demolition waste and 12% of potable water use” (Fosket and Mamo 2009).
• The City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+units) apartment buildings and approx. 80,859 individual units (Valdez 2011).
• “The United States, in regards to building emissions, are responsible for over 65% of energy consumption, over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, 136 million tons of demolition waste and 12% of potable water use” (Fosket and Mamo 2009).
• The City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+units) apartment buildings and approx. 80,859 individual units (Valdez 2011).
FoundationsFoundations
• Urban apartment buildings house a larger population of people in a given area than a solitary residential home
• Therefore, the ability to educate and empower that concentrated population of co-housing individuals about sustainable living practices is considerably better (and ideally more successful).
• Urban apartment buildings house a larger population of people in a given area than a solitary residential home
• Therefore, the ability to educate and empower that concentrated population of co-housing individuals about sustainable living practices is considerably better (and ideally more successful).
Objectives: Sustainability & Urban Apartment
Buildings
Objectives: Sustainability & Urban Apartment
Buildings• “Bridging the Gap”
• Increase awareness for property mgmt to receive info & funding for weatherization, energy efficiency, resource management
• Promote community participation through education and empowerment of tenants
• Pilot projects for local businesses
• Overall Sustainability Report• Develop & organize
template for Denver area neighborhoods
• “Bridging the Gap”• Increase awareness for
property mgmt to receive info & funding for weatherization, energy efficiency, resource management
• Promote community participation through education and empowerment of tenants
• Pilot projects for local businesses
• Overall Sustainability Report• Develop & organize
template for Denver area neighborhoods
Sustainability RevisitedSustainability Revisited
• Education is key…• Definition of Sustainability:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Triple Bottom Line Approach to Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit
• Education is key…• Definition of Sustainability:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Triple Bottom Line Approach to Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit
Fostering Sustainable Behavior
Fostering Sustainable Behavior
• “Those initiatives to promote behavior change are often most effective when they are carried out at the community level and involve direct contact with people” (Mckenzie-Mohr 1999)
• “Those initiatives to promote behavior change are often most effective when they are carried out at the community level and involve direct contact with people” (Mckenzie-Mohr 1999)
Cost Benefit Analysis Structure
Cost Benefit Analysis Structure
• Upfront costs• How much a project will cost & how it will be
implemented• Grants, funding, and “legwork”
• Repayment periods, incentives, rebates• Benefits
• Measured and/or unexpected• Renters, Management Companies,
Community at large• Overall Sustainability Report
• Feasibility of the project
• Upfront costs• How much a project will cost & how it will be
implemented• Grants, funding, and “legwork”
• Repayment periods, incentives, rebates• Benefits
• Measured and/or unexpected• Renters, Management Companies,
Community at large• Overall Sustainability Report
• Feasibility of the project
Benefits to RentersBenefits to Renters• Updated and highly
efficient products and services
• Extensive education-based “how to” on products and services
• Empowerment of tenants through “hands-on experience”
• Updated and highly efficient products and services
• Extensive education-based “how to” on products and services
• Empowerment of tenants through “hands-on experience”
Benefits to Rental Management Agencies
Benefits to Rental Management Agencies
• Direct cost savings
• Increased desire to become more efficient
• Positive business advertising
• Direct cost savings
• Increased desire to become more efficient
• Positive business advertising
Benefits to CommunityBenefits to Community
• Local neighborhood receives:• More informed and
efficient renters• Investments into
local economy• Data on rental
retrofits/attachments
• REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS
• Local neighborhood receives:• More informed and
efficient renters• Investments into
local economy• Data on rental
retrofits/attachments
• REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS
Current ProjectsCurrent Projects
Dual Flush Toilet Converters
Dual Flush Toilet Converters
• “Enhancing water efficiency involves a focus on products (such as water-saving plumbing fixtures) and practices (such as repairing leaks)” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Dual-flush toilets enable the user to select either a full-tank flush or a half-tank flush
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• “Enhancing water efficiency involves a focus on products (such as water-saving plumbing fixtures) and practices (such as repairing leaks)” (Riley and Gadonniex 2009).
• Dual-flush toilets enable the user to select either a full-tank flush or a half-tank flush
• www.epa.gov/watersense
Reduction EstimatesReduction Estimates
*www.gomjsi.com
Dual Flush Toilet Converters Total Units 26 Cost & Installation $20 Total Upfront Cost $520 Family of Four (4)* 15,000 gal/yr # of occupants per unit ~2 7,500 gal/yr As a building unit (26 units) 195,000 gal/yr Denver Water usage charge $2.53 per 1000 gal 195 x $2.53 Money Saved $494.00/yr
Dual Flush Toilet Converters Total Units 26 Cost & Installation $20 Total Upfront Cost $520 Family of Four (4)* 15,000 gal/yr # of occupants per unit ~2 7,500 gal/yr As a building unit (26 units) 195,000 gal/yr Denver Water usage charge $2.53 per 1000 gal 195 x $2.53 Money Saved $494.00/yr
Sustainability ReportSustainability Report
• Environmental• Impacts on living and non-living
natural systems• Social
• Impacts on the social systems within operations
• Economic• Impacts on the economic interests of
stakeholders
• Environmental• Impacts on living and non-living
natural systems• Social
• Impacts on the social systems within operations
• Economic• Impacts on the economic interests of
stakeholders
Future RecommendationsFuture Recommendations• 161 S. Emerson
• Community Garden • Pilot Projects with local
businesses• Waste Farmers:
Composting & Recycling• Partial Green Roof/Solar• EPA & Denver Water:
water conservation efforts • Cohousing expenses
• % of monthly rent goes to projects/social events
• Utlimately, neighborhood organization
• 161 S. Emerson • Community Garden • Pilot Projects with local
businesses• Waste Farmers:
Composting & Recycling• Partial Green Roof/Solar• EPA & Denver Water:
water conservation efforts • Cohousing expenses
• % of monthly rent goes to projects/social events
• Utlimately, neighborhood organization
Future RecommendationsFuture Recommendations• Denver County
• City of Denver estimates there are approx. 6,330 (5+ units) apartment buildings in Denver County and approx. 80,859 individual apartments.
• Apt Mgmt Co. & Neighborhoods can compete in becoming more energy efficient
• Apply for rebates, incentives, and pilot projects• Better informed communities to educate
Denver residents• Provide “how-to” guide to promote sustainable
objectives
• Denver County• City of Denver estimates there are approx.
6,330 (5+ units) apartment buildings in Denver County and approx. 80,859 individual apartments.
• Apt Mgmt Co. & Neighborhoods can compete in becoming more energy efficient
• Apply for rebates, incentives, and pilot projects• Better informed communities to educate
Denver residents• Provide “how-to” guide to promote sustainable
objectives
ReferencesReferences• Aalto, C and Wooley, S. 2011. SCORE. CU Environmental Center. University of
Colorado, Boulder. February 23rd, 2011
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• Fosket, J., and Laura Mamo. 2009. Living Green: Communities That Sustain. British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D. 2000. Fostering sustainable behavior through community-based social marketing. American Psychologist 55 (5) (05): 531.
• ———. 2000. Promoting sustainable behavior: An introduction to community- based social marketing. Journal of Social Issues 56 (3) (09): 543-54.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D., and William Smith. 1999. Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. Washington,
D.C: New Society Publishers.
• Riley, T., and Heather Gadonniex. 2009. Greening Your Business. New York: Penquin Group Inc.
• Valdez, A. 2011. Phone Interview. City & County of Denver, April 18th, 2011
• Aalto, C and Wooley, S. 2011. SCORE. CU Environmental Center. University of Colorado, Boulder. February 23rd, 2011
• www.epa.gov/watersense
• Fosket, J., and Laura Mamo. 2009. Living Green: Communities That Sustain. British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D. 2000. Fostering sustainable behavior through community-based social marketing. American Psychologist 55 (5) (05): 531.
• ———. 2000. Promoting sustainable behavior: An introduction to community- based social marketing. Journal of Social Issues 56 (3) (09): 543-54.
• McKenzie-Mohr, D., and William Smith. 1999. Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing. Washington,
D.C: New Society Publishers.
• Riley, T., and Heather Gadonniex. 2009. Greening Your Business. New York: Penquin Group Inc.
• Valdez, A. 2011. Phone Interview. City & County of Denver, April 18th, 2011
Thank youThank you
Julie NorthDU Environmental Policy
Master’s [email protected]
Julie NorthDU Environmental Policy
Master’s [email protected]
