The Charles Pankow Foundation has released a study and tools to calculate embodied carbon impacts on building interior work.
The documents focus on Mechanical - Electrical - Plumbing (MEP) and Tenant Improvements (TI). “The recurring nature of MEP and TI installments are important to consider, especially in the context of the full building lifespan,” according to a Pankow Foundation news release.
“MEP and TI are often replaced every 10 to 20 years, and the accumulated impacts can be significant,” the release says. The report summarizes the study results, compares findings with other benchmark studies, and discusses their implications.
It estimates ranges of material quantities consumed and environmental impacts attributed to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and to finishes, furniture, and fixtures.
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2014
Developers are exceeding LEED standards for marketing purposes
Using LEED certification as a marketing tool is perceived by developers to be a successful tool, and this has pushed them to go above the minimum requirements at each level of certification, according to a study in the Environmental Science & Technology journal.
| Jan 31, 2014
OSHA extends feedback period for disclosure of workplace injuries proposal
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it would extend the comment period for a proposal that would require employers to submit electronic reports of workplace injuries and illnesses.
| Jan 31, 2014
DOE releases new efficiency standards for halide lamps
The Energy Department has finalized new energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures, which are used in lighting for big box stores and parking lots.
| Jan 31, 2014
New LEED online platform now available for LEED v4 projects
LEED v4 projects will be the first to experience the new LEED Online platform with streamlined documentation and processes.
| Jan 26, 2014
New York extends, enhances tax abatements to promote green roofs
The expansion of a tax-abatement program for green roofs under New York state law doubles the previous maximum benefit of $100,000, adds new plant species to the list of those applicable for the tax break.
| Jan 23, 2014
Washington state micro apartment law prompts fire safety concerns
Proposed legislation to further regulate the building of micro apartments has triggered appeals from community activists concerned that fire safety standards are sub-par.
| Jan 23, 2014
Pennsylvania owes school districts $1B for construction projects
The Pennsylvania Department of Education owes about $1 billion to numerous school districts for about 350 state-approved renovation and construction projects.
| Jan 23, 2014
About 1,500 concrete buildings in Los Angeles found vulnerable to earthquakes
Some 1,500 concrete structures built in Los Angeles before 1980 could be vulnerable to earthquakes, according to University of California researchers.
| Jan 23, 2014
Low-slope roofs with PVs tested for wind uplift resistance
Tests showed winds can cause photovoltaic panels to destroy waterproof membranes.
| Jan 16, 2014
Bio-based materials could transform the future of sustainable building
Recent winners of the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge include a brick made from bacterial byproducts and insulation created from agricultural waste products.