ShareThisEcodistrict Features May Enhance Corporate Campuses
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Clonburris, a new proposal for an EcoDistrict located in Ireland, presents a model for sustainability in the Dublin Metropolitan area. (image source) |
The rising interest in “ecodistricts” by cities and neighborhoods represents the expansion -- to a community level -- of the growing trends toward greater energy efficiency, more local services, and a sustainable quality of life. Cities including Portland, Denver, and Salt Lake City have begun to explore and implement various styles of ecodistricts, in particular as part of urban renewal efforts.
However, taking the ecodistrict concept a step further makes it applicable to industrial campuses and business parks as well. Businesses are communities also. An ecodistrict approach can translate to lower costs over the long term through energy efficiency, a healthier working environment, loyal employees, and community engagement and visibility.
Let’s start with a definition. An ecodistrict is a neighborhood or other distinct district with a broad commitment to accelerating district scale sustainability, according to the Portland Sustainability Institute. The idea is to create a “triple bottom line” community with the lowest environmental impact and the highest long-term economic and community returns. An ecodistrict commits to achieving ambitious sustainability performance goals, guiding district investments and community/employee action, and tracking the results over time.
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Measures implemented by an ecodistrict may include energy efficient buildings and retrofits, renewable and low carbon energy production, water reuse, habitat enhancement, walkability, shared amenities, and accessible retail and service locations.
Adapting some of these measures to the industrial campus is not a significant leap, and certain aspects can be implemented at minimum cost on a gradual basis. Here are a few of many ecodistrict components that could offer value for corporations looking to enhance their own communities.
Energy Efficiencies. Energy conservation and renewable obviously plays a large role in reaching the ecodistrict goal of a reduced carbon footprint and lower energy bills.
- Federal, state and local tax credits can help subsidize building retrofits with improved insulation, weather sealing, efficient lighting, and occupancy sensors
- More sophisticated energy monitoring systems are available with sensor-and-response programs that can identify energy use patterns, as well as HVAC ventilation systems triggered by air quality monitors that run only when needed.
- Renewable energy options to meet limited loads include the addition of solar electricity and or solar hot water panels on large roofs, adjacent land or over an outdoor parking lot; and waste burning for electricity.
- District-scale thermal systems can minimize distributed use of natural gas for heating and cooling.
Water management. This is a critical piece of the solution for industry, from fabs to foundries, who use enormous amounts of clean water form local watersheds for many uses.
- Water reuse is affordable with major cost saving potential across campuses through such programs as using only greywater for toilet flushing and irrigation of grounds. Installation of dual flush toilets and waterless urinals can also go a long way towards water savings.
- Rainwater capture and storage can reduce water table usage significantly in all areas but the Southwest.
- Stormwater management options include filtering 100 percent of campus stormwater onsite through a district-scale filtering system, use of permeable pavement on top of filtering beds to help eliminate polluted run-off, vegetative roofs that absorb rainwater, and rooftop rainwater capture.
Creating Community and Habitat. Creating planted areas of native species can attract local wildlife while offering a more natural environment that encourages human productivity and interaction.
- Volunteer gardens (coupled with flex-time policies allowing gardening) offer the opportunity to get employees engaged in non-work teams, fostering more interchange and productivity, exercise for those whom may not want to go jogging aroundthe campus. The main benefit of course is fresh, locally grown food. Create a company farmer’s market where employees can pick up food on Friday afternoons.
- Local vendor stands for lunches. Invite local vendors in to offer specialty food, other products (gifts, sundries) and services (5-minute massages) on a periodic basis. It keeps staff onsite (reduced car use and lost productivity) and promotes the company within the business community.
- Subscription farm produce delivery is increasing in the residential market, but it is not often considered by corporate cafeterias. It’s a natural fit to supply the salad bars. The benefit is locally-grown and better-tasting food for the cafeteria, and promotion of healthier eating habits among workers.
- Healthy and/or scenic meeting areas for employees that can foster company culture and brainstorming
- Shared amenities such as onsite childcare can create a common focal point for employees who are parents to see each other in a different environment.
How do companies get from where they are now to ecodistrict features? For existing campuses, the name of the game is incremental change, as investment and budget become available. A new affordable approach is third party management of energy, whereby an independent entity will undertake retrofitting at no cost in return for selling the extra power savings on the open market.
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