ITEM NO:

9C

DATE OF MEETING: September 24, 2019

Progress Update: Sustainable Project
Framework
Leslie Stanton and Paul Meyer
September 24th, 2019

1

Sustainable Project Framework Overview

• Commission directive
• Research and key findings
• Recommendations
- Key policy elements
- New procedures
- Costs and resource needs

• Schedule and implementation plan
Finalizing proposed process and continuing research on emerging issues
2

Commission Directive
•

Develop a framework that incorporates the following goals (including
Century Agenda) into decision-making processes when evaluating
energy sources and projects for Port operations:
- Reduce GHG emissions and increase energy system resilience
- Protect public health and the environment
- Advance innovation
- Leverage partnerships
- Support local economic development
- Advance race and social justice

•

Increase transparency for Commission regarding sustainability aspects
of capital projects
3

Findings: Certification Systems

4

Key Policy Elements
• Integrate sustainability early in the capital process
• Screen projects to focus resources on opportunities
• Convene subject matter experts to develop sustainable design
approaches
• Share approaches with Commission and public to provide
transparency
• Analyze lifecycle benefits and costs in design
• Implement sustainability strategies as appropriate
• Track progress and recognize achievements of project teams
Key policy elements of the proposed Sustainability Framework can translate into procedures
5

Sustainability Categories
Category
1. Energy
2. Air emissions (includes carbon)
3. Transportation/mobility
4. Water (potable and stormwater)
5. Waste
6. Materials
7. Habitat
8. Resiliency
Evaluate only categories relevant to each project
6

New Procedures
• Screen Projects
- Tier 1: Smaller projects
• Apply standards and specifications

- Tier 2: Medium-sized projects
• Opportunities for sustainability benefit

- Tier 3: Large projects
• Full sustainability certification
• Project-specific goals as applicable
Piloted screening with list of proposed capital projects and found more than half are Tier 1
7

New Procedures
• Conduct Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Committee
(SPARC) meeting
- Research and evaluate sustainability options

• Draft sustainable design approach
- Require evaluation of sustainability costs and benefits in Design

• Share with Commission and public
- Request for Design Funds: sustainable design approach
- Request for Construction: final sustainable design strategy

• Implement strategy and track progress
Sustainable project designs to be shared along with requests for approval
8

Example: Sustainable Design Approach
Category

Example
Strategies

Expected outcome

1. Energy

Dynamic glass

Reduce energy

2. Air: GHG

Building efficiency

Minimize carbon

3. Transportation/mobility

Signage, amenities

Support employees

4. Water

Rainwater harvesting

Conserve water and
manage stormwater

5. Materials

Use low carbon
materials

Reduce embodied carbon

Recognition

Approach focuses on categories relevant to each project
9

New Tools: Reduce Embodied Carbon

Port has focused on operational carbon, but can begin to focus on embodied carbon
10

New Partnership: EC3 Tool
• Calculates embodied carbon for range
of materials
• Use to compare among producers and
as specifications in bidding
• Send market signals for lower carbon
construction materials

Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3)
11

Resource and Cost Estimates
• 2 FTEs (1 maritime, 1 aviation) to support projects
• Potential project-related costs depend on size and
complexity
• Funding source: integrate into project budgets

Evaluate program through 2020 and review cost estimates
12

Schedule
• Q4 2019
- Revise Framework according to feedback
- Finalize guidance documents
- Finalize analyses of pilot projects
- Begin testing new procedures on projects as appropriate
(C1, Westside Campus)
- Finalize implementation schedule
Implementation and testing begin in early 2020
13

Findings: Certification Systems
PORT

LEED

Chicago (O'Hare and Midway), IL

○
○
●
●
●
●

Dallas Fort Worth Intl. Airport, TX
Denver Intl. Airport, CO
Hartsfield-Jackson Intl. Airport, GA
Los Angeles World Airports
Massport, MA

LEED Level

Envision

Salmon Safe

○

○= Limited application
● = Broad application

Gold
Silver
Silver
Certified

Metro Washington Airports Authority, DC
Miami Intl. Airport, FL
Philadelphia Intl. Airport, PA
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Port of Long Beach, CA
Port of Los Angeles, CA

●
○
●
●

Silver

Certified
Certified

Port of Oakland, CA
Port of Portland, OR
San Francisco Intl. Airport, CA

○
●

○
Gold

●

Vancouver Airport Authority, BC, Canada

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, BC, Canada

○

14