IES Blog

Having recently become a father of a baby girl, I have now started living a life as a father. No doubt it is a tough job and it sure is challenging, but on the other hand it is joyful. You might think why am I writing about fatherhood in this blog? Because how you raise or take care of a baby is closely related to our environment.

I read an article last month about being a “green family”. The couple are raising their kid in a diaper free environment. Just a bit of fact, on average a baby will go through about 6,000 disposable diapers by the time he/she turns two years old, that means millions of diapers end up in the landfills every day, taking about 200-500 years to decompose. At first I thought this sounds a bit exaggerated, but now I do believe 6,000 diapers in two years maybe achievable.

So one solution for this is of course change to cloth nappy, and at best nappy-free. This sounds easy, but it does require quite a bit of effort. I do admire the couple’s effort getting their baby to use the cloth nappy all the while and turn nappy free after six months. We have tried using just the cloth when our baby was about 1 -2 months, but soon realised it is too much trouble and have then switched to disposable. After reading this, I think I should try using the cloth nappy again since she is now older and the frequency for toileting should not be as high as before. I was always hoping to see something like bio-degradable diapers (since we can have bio-degradable plastic bags, why not for diapers) in the market, but so far no luck, I think this will be a good product for the market.

I may not be doing so well on the diapers side, but I do try to help the environment in other area, i.e. after bathing our baby, will keep the water for flushing the toilet. There are also a lot of things parents can do or be aware of, for example, not to buy too many baby clothes as you will soon realise they can’t fit in them after wearing a few months as they just grow too quickly. Don’t buy too many toys, as they probably prefer parents playing with them instead (at least that what I have noticed). 

Let’s not forget our children’s’ future environment while happily raising them.

To read the “Green Family” article, please click here.

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Tags:Environment, free, nappies

In the USA - the birthplace of behavioural psychology - you may hear of people going to see a “shrink”. When we think about people who are actively involved in creating a sustainable World, we think of policy makers, industry leaders, innovators and engineers. So how can a “shrink” shrink our environmental impact?

It has long been established by psychologists such Erwin Schroedinger and BF Skinner that much of our behaviour is controlled by the unconscious mind, implying that we are driven more by our desires, instincts and emotions, as opposed to rational thought and our ‘civilised’ modern environment. (You only have to see the way that software developers descend on a fresh chocolate cake; akin to a pack of vultures!)  Many leading scientists strongly believe in the existence of ‘selfish genes’ inherent in every one of us, giving us a genetic tendency to “look after #1.”

If we think of that chocolate cake as a bountiful World full of natural resources, we can clearly see the same thing happening on a bigger scale. Entire nations clamour for the few fish left in our oceans (remember the cod wars?); global corporations compete for the ‘right’ to remove the remaining fossil fuels from the Earth only for energy providers to compete for their perceived right to burn as much of these resources as their considerable profit margins allow. If you wondered why the Copenhagen summit last year was such a failure, you only have to think about the human condition. We didn’t get to the top of the food chain by being considerate, sustainable and nice to each other.

As the developed World strives for a better quality of life and material values, the developing nations naturally want the same things. With the World population predicted to rise from 6.5b to over 9bn in the next forty years, there are already concerns about shortages in global food production and drinking water. How long will it take before we fully understand it is our greed-driven lifestyles and subconscious desires that form the root of the problem?

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Tags:Engineers, Environment, Sustainability, USA

Apparently VE-Gaia was named after the Greek goddess of the earth rather than James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis but I am using this tenuous link to talk about him in an IES blog anyway.

Gaia was the name that William Golding, the author, suggested for Lovelock’s hypothesis that life on earth has a regulatory effect on the Earth’s environment that acts to sustain life. The Gaia hypothesis was readily accepted by the environmental community but was not so readily accepted by the scientific community, including Richard Dawkins.

To my shame I only really knew of Lovelock through his Gaia hypothesis, and the fact that he upset many of his environmentalist fans on his pro nuclear power stance, but I saw an interesting programme on BBC 4 about him this week. He has had an amazing career as an independent scientist with his lab being the converted barn at his home in Cornwall. The program highlighted his work at NASA where he proposed using the atmosphere on Mars to determine whether there was life on the planet. It turned out that Mars has a relatively inert atmosphere of mostly CO2 with very little oxygen, methane, or hydrogen - very different to that of the Earth where there is life.

Lovelock’s invention of the electron capture device allowed very small levels of chemicals to be detected in the atmosphere, including CFCs. He took a trip by ship down to the Antarctic to measure CFC’s across the earth and then wrote a paper in the journal Nature that showed that CFCs were not being broken down in the atmosphere. After hearing a lecture on the subject of Lovelock’s results, Frank Rowland and Mario Molina embarked on research that resulted in the first published paper that suggested a link between stratospheric CFCs and ozone depletion in 1974, and later shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work.

Lovelock also invented the Microwave oven and has been published in the journal Nature so many times it would make any academic green with envy.

You can still find the programme information, ‘Beautiful minds’, on the BBC Website, amd a video clip can be found here.

Like Lovelock, Thomas Midgley, Jr. was another very talented scientist that was celebrated for his discoveries and patents. His legacy is somewhat different to Lovelock’s though. Midgley was the scientist that developed the ‘lead’ additive in petrol. He was also on the team that developed the use of CFCs as a refrigerant. Perhaps luckily for him he died in 1944 before anybody discovered the effect his discoveries had on the atmosphere.

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Tags:Academic, Environment, Environmentalists, IES, Sustainability, VE-Gaia

eSim, IBPSA-Canada’s biennial conference, brings together professionals, academics and students interested in building performance simulation. Being held, in Winnipeg, Canada on May 19 and 20, this year’s conference will focus on recent developments for modelling the physical processes relevant to buildings, methods for modelling whole-building performance (including integrated resource management, renewable energy sources and combined heat, cool and power generation) and the use of building simulation tools in code compliance and incentive programs.

IES is happy to have been asked to be a part of the conference, as performance modelling becomes an ever-important part of the design process. Not just a software developer, but also a respected International consultancy, IES is trying to tackle the big problems of sustainable building design, focusing on analysis of a design throughout the entire process.

One of our consultants will be showcasing the IES Virtual Environment as part of the Software Demo Sessions. Much like technical presentations, these special demo sessions will be presented in front of a live audience during the show.  We’ll be covering the latest step-by-step workflow interface capabilities and LEED developments in our software.

A quick overview of us for those less familiar – IES provides advanced performance analysis for all types of sustainable strategies and LEED evaluation for existing buildings, new construction and core and shell projects, among others. Its software and consulting services help design teams to integrate ‘green’ design strategies throughout all stages of the design process and beyond to create low-energy sustainable buildings. IES Consulting is also a BIM GSA contract holder.

If you won’t be at eSim this year and are interested in a demo of the Virtual Environment either in-person or via web conferencing, we would be happy to arrange one at your convenience. We run regular weekly web demo sessions.  Please register online at http://www.iesve.com/Software/Web-Demo

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Tags:Academic, BIM, Building, Environment, Renewables

On April 22, 2010, the ‘Global Day of Conversation’ engaged more than 500 mayors and locally elected officials around the world in separate conversations within their local communities on issues of climate, energy and sustainability. This Global Day of Conversation illustrates the commitment of millions to make the natural environment a priority for 2010 and beyond.

However, with the arrival of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the United States has failed to enact a comprehensive climate bill. The Earth Day Network insists Congress enacts climate and clean energy legislation in 2010.

On Sunday, April 25, Earth Day Network and partner organizations organized a massive climate rally on the National Mall, Washington DC. With the participation from thousands, The Climate Rally is a chance to be heard on climate legislation and tell Washington;

“It’s time to enact climate and clean energy legislation.”

The Climate Rally also featured live music from Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Jimmy Cliff, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Willie Colón, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph and many more.

The White House Response
Washington, D.C. – On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Vice President Biden announces the selection of 25 communities for up to $452 million in Recovery Act funding to “ramp-up” energy efficiency building retrofits. However, more than $3.5 billion in applications were received for the just over $450 million in Recovery Act funds available, an eight-fold difference, indicating significant demand for investment in energy-saving and job-creating projects like these across the US.

The selected projects for a retrofit ramp-up are available by clicking here.

On a final note, Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Please get involved and let every day be an earth day!

Liam

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Tags:Building, climate, earth day, Environment, Sustainability

We’ve all heard about ENERGY STAR.

And you probably heard President Obama talk about the Home Star (aka “Cash for Caulkers”) program recently. Designed to provide financial incentives for homeowners who perform a variety of energy-efficiency upgrades, the Home Star program is urging Americans to green up their homes while getting a little green in return.

Well, add another “star” to the list. Melissa Hincha-Ownby reported earlier this week about USGBC’s support of the proposed Building Star legislation, which, if passed, will provide incentives for energy-efficient retrofits for existing buildings. Similar to Home Star, Building Star will provide financial incentives for energy-efficiency retrofits in multi-family residential units as well as commercial buildings.

According to the MNN article, “Every year, the American economy loses more than $130 billion from leaky, inefficient buildings,” Fedrizzi added. “We can change that through the advancement of programs like Building Star - which would create approximately 150,000 jobs. Senators Merkley and Pryor get the ‘gold star’ for introducing it; now all the Senate has to do is include it in the next jobs package.” {Source: USGBC} Therefore, if passed, according to an article on Earth2Tech, “the program is expected to save building owners more than $3 billion on their energy bills annually by reducing enough peak electricity demand to avoid the need for nearly three dozen 300 MW power plants.”

This looks like a good deal all the way around. Building will be upgraded, saving the building owners money for heating, cooling and other inefficiencies. Plus that’s less strain on the environment. And more retrofits means more jobs, which will continue to boost the economy and create more spending in other areas.

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Tags:Building, Energy Star, Environment, reduce, USGBC

The New CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme came into force on 1st April

The new Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme began in earnest on the 1st April! The scheme aims to achieve an annual energy reduction of 3.2m tonnes by 2020 and stimulate businesses to make their buildings more energy efficient.  It affects around 20,000 organisations – is yours one of them?

Any organisation with a half hourly settled electricity meter needs to do something.  It was the requirement for qualifying organisations to start monitoring energy usage from all qualifying sources that started on 1st April 2010.  And whilst it may be straight forward to gather retrospective data from half hourly sources, this may not always be the case for class 5-8 meters, for example, which are also considered as core sources under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Those qualifying for the CRC will also need to register while those under the threshold still need to make an information disclosure.  Both actions must be done before 30 September 2010.  However, as the process could take up to 4 weeks to complete don’t leave it until the 29th September!

A raft of recent surveys indicates just how confused and unprepared organisations are for its implementation…

A survey by energy consultancy McKinnon and Clarke found that 54 per cent of participants were uncertain whether they come under the scheme, which encompasses all bodies and businesses with half-hourly meters (HHMs) that consumed more than 6,000 MWh of electricity during 2008.  Around 5,000 of the UK’s heaviest energy users will need to participate fully, while another 15,000 odd organisations that consumed less will need to make an information disclosure. 

In addition, the survey also found that three in five companies had not factored in the financial implications of having to participate fully in the scheme.  At the lowest qualifying level, a typical organisation will pay £45,000 a year to advance purchase allowances at a rate of £12 per tonne of carbon dioxide.  In addition, they will be placed in a league table, showing their carbon emissions relative to their peers.  Companies at the bottom of the table will be penalised, with the money recycled into rewards for the most energy-efficient.

In another survey by the power supplier Npower, nearly half of companies surveyed said official advice about the new legislation had been “inadequate”.  About 49 per cent said they did not understand how to buy the necessary carbon allowances and 44 per cent said they do not know how to forecast their carbon emissions.

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Tags:Building, carbon assessor, Environment, recycle, recycling, Renewables

On a recent trip to Florida, I got a chance to visit the Tampa Electric Company (TECO).  While this may not seem like a prime vacation destination, it must be said that this power plant goes above and beyond the normal community obligations.  TECO signed a $1.2 billion dollar plan in 1999 with the U.S. EPA and Florida Department of Environment Protection to reduce air emissions by 89% from their 1998 levels. 

Along with this pledge to reduce the emissions, they will be installing approximately 100,000 silicon-based photovoltaic panels.  The panels will generate enough electricity from the sun to serve electric needs for around 3500 homes. 

With Florida’s growing population, TECO is working hard to plan for the future of the environment.  Aside from the power plant objectives to reduce emissions and generate more renewable energy sources, they are also interested in preserving the environment for the future population of Florida.  The company holds a number of initiatives including an Aviation Protection Plan, Manatee Viewing Center, and environmental education center. 

Manatees, also known as sea cows, are listed on the World Conservation Union’s list as vulnerable to extinction.  While they have few natural predators, they are slow moving and fall victim to human interactions such as the numerous boat propellers around Florida’s coast. They have however, found a safe haven in inlets around the TECO plant.  The plants releases warm water that attracts a wide range of ocean creatures including around 300 manatees at a given time.  

Click below for a live web cam of the manatees in the inlet - http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/funstuff/

To find out more about the Photovoltaic and chart the hourly output click here
http://www.tampaelectric.com/

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Tags:Environment, reduce, Renewables

There is a great diversity of climate zones across the planet. Each climate zone presents its own particular challenges for the architects and engineers of the design team. High humidity year round with a small diurnal range presents a challenge to human comfort in the humid equatorial climate zone. At the other extreme, sub zero temperatures in cold regions present an entirely different obstacle. Looking to the past, at the indigenous architecture in each region, we see a remarkable level of ingenuity in design. Before the luxuries of central heating and air conditioning, people used the very form of the building as their only means to control conditions inside the building. The traditional igloo allowed people to survive in an inhospitable climate which offered little in the way of building materials. Utilising the principal that hot air rises, the sleeping area was situated on a raised platform inside the igloo. The thick snow walls insulated the occupants from the sub zero temperatures outside and protected them from the biting wind.

No less ingenious is the traditional Malay house which has an entirely different set of challenges to overcome. Large levels of openable area help keep the house well ventilated, while the overhanging roof functions as a solar shade.

All across the world, the vernacular architecture shows a wonderful degree of congruence with the climate in which it is found. Contrast this with the modern urban skyline where generic high rise apartment and office blocks replace the highly specialised, climate specific designs of the past.

Building form is now more a result of function than climatic conditions. The inventions of central heating and air conditioning represent a great achievement in allowing us greater levels of indoor comfort and flexibility in design.

However, the energy used to condition our buildings represents a significant portion of global C02 emissions. Whilst technological advancements have delivered ever more efficient heating and cooling solutions, there perhaps remains scope for improvement in the external form of the buildings themselves. Lessons can be learned from the climate specific designs of our ancestors. With the benefit of tools and technology which did not exist for the indigenous builder, we can take inspiration from their designs to create buildings better suited to their environment. If we can control climate as much as possible utilising the form of the building alone we reduce the energy expended using mechanical methods, thus helping us towards the goal of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

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Tags:Architects, Building, climate, Engineers, Environment, reduce

I recently read about the Environment 2.0 Exhibition at FutureEverything 2009. In particular two exhibits made a point of highlighting sources of Carbon Emissions in ways that encourage people to think of the impact they could be having on the environment.

The first was Aaron Koblin’s Flight Patterns

It is accepted that air travel is a major source of carbon emissions and will have to be tackled by governments who are aiming to cut emissions to meet increasingly ambitious targets and shows the reality of the current dependence on air travel by animating the flight paths of thousands of aircraft over US airspace in a 24 hour period.

The second was HeHe’s large-scale environmental installation Nuage Vert (meaning Green Cloud).

A laser image was projected on to the cloud of vapour as it spewed out from a power plant chimney (“the ultimate icon of industrial pollution”) over Helsinki with the aim of making the local population consider the emissions from the plant the relationship to their own power consumption. The image shape and size was adjusted according to power consumption and people in the local area were encouraged to reduce electricity usage while the image was projected so that “the green cloud could grow”.

These projects show us how the everyday activities of people are affecting the environment by presenting the effects of our actions in a visual way that anyone can appreciate. In much the same way, IES is constantly working to present solutions to these issues in a way that people can fully appreciate and use to improve building design so that emissions are lowered in future.

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Tags:Building, Environment, reduce