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 Candidatenorthjul@gmail.com

Julie NorthDU Environmental Policy

Master’s Candidatenorthjul@gmail.com