Recent Projects
The following provides information about several projects currently underway or recently completed.
Enhanced Recovery of Roofing Materials
This study, conducted for the Canadian Construction Innovation Council, looked at the recovery of
end-of-life roofing materials. The briefing paper downloadable here is intended as an introductory
status update on the quantity of roofing scrap available in Canada, potential end-uses for this
scrap, and the various economic and environmental drivers that may influence future recycling and
reuse. The paper concentrates on asphalt based roofing products, which make up 90 percent of the
residential market and as much as 80 percent of the low slope (ICI) roofing market in Canada.
(View or download
)
Plastic Products LCA
The Athena Institute commissioned this study of petroleum- and bio-based
plastics which was carried out by Franklin Associates. The report provides
comparative life cycle inventory (LCI) results for the production of various
kinds of plastic consumer products made from petroleum- and bio-based
resins. The Athena Institute was pleased to have the opportunity to
commission the work because we have long been concerned about the general
tendency to identify environmentally preferable products or processes solely
on the basis of specific attributes. While there is often an intuitively
appealing basis for claims about recycled content, renewability, or the
relative merits of bio-based products, the claims do not always stand up to
objective analysis. Life cycle assessment is the method by which we can more
fully assess the environmental effects associated with products and
processes, and better understand the trade-offs that may be implicit in
purchasing or production decisions.
(View or download the Summary Paper
)
(View or download the Technical Paper
)
Upper Canada College Carbon Neutral Synthetic Field Turf System
In June, 2006 Upper Canada College (UCC) in Toronto took the initiative to
offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to the life cycle of the
artificial turf field installed on their campus. The Athena Institute provided
UCC with an estimate of the GHGs emitted during the life cycle of the
synthetic turf system as opposed to a natural grass surface. A life cycle
approach (from raw material acquisition through manufacturing,
transportation, use and maintenance, and end-of-life disposal) was followed
to determine the boundaries and elements attributable to each of the
synthetic and baseline natural turf systems. Comparison between baseline and
project systems is made on the basis of the same reference unit, a 9,000 m2
field over a 10-year period. Total GHG emissions factor of the baseline and
project are estimated respectively at (-16.9) and (55.6) tonnes CO2e. GHG
emissions offset is estimated to be (-72.6) tonnes CO2e. The tree planting
offset requirements to achieve a 10-year carbon neutral synthetic turf
installation is estimated to be 1,861 trees. The sensitivity analysis of the
most significant issues identified is determined as per ISO/FDIS 14044:
2006. At the end, the overall uncertainty was estimated and reported for
each element and the final result.
(View or download
)
Service Life Exploratory Study
The Institute has released the final report of the exploratory phase of a
study of durability and service life issues related to green building. The
work has been undertaken by the Athena Institute in collaboration with
Morrison Hershfield Limited
, with sponsorship from nine North American
organizations. The overall objective of the project is to determine how
service life criteria can be appropriately included in green building rating
systems such as LEED and Green Globes. The intent is to examine the issues
and provide a basis for the development or refinement of credits by those
responsible for the different rating systems.
(View or download
)
EcoSmart Concrete Project
The EcoSmart Concrete Project studied a 22-storey
condominium development in downtown Vancouver to determine
the feasibility of including more semi-cementatious materials
in concrete. The study compared four different structural
systems in terms of cost, greenhouse gas emissions and embodied
energy.
(Confidential Client Report)
Minnesota Demolition Survey
The Minnesota Demolition Survey studied
approximately 230 commercial and residential
buildings that were demolished in St. Paul between
the years 2000 and 2003. The study looked at
reasons for demolition of the buildings relative
to their age and structural systems.
(
View or download report of the project’s findings
)
Regent Park Project
Regent Park is a 70-acre site in downtown Toronto,
built about 50 years ago as a ‘garden
community’ providing
low income housing. The area is now slated to
be torn down and redeveloped. The Institute was
retained to provide sustainability/economic advice
and guidance, especially in relation to life
cycle costing and the pros and cons of green
roofs.
(Confidential Client Report)
Education and Outreach
- Current international work includes acting as Secretariat for the LCI portion of the SETAC/UNEP Life Cycle Initiative.
- The Institute continues to be involved in the Green Building Challenge process, by serving as Secretariat for the Canadian Green Building Challenge team.
- Wayne Trusty and Scot Horst, who heads up our US operations (Athena Institute International), together sit on five different committees on LEED, the US Green Building Council’s rating system for buildings. An important part of this work is trying to determine a method for integrating life cycle assessment into LEED.
- Wayne Trusty was previously Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the board of the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC).
- Wayne Trusty is on the Board of Directors of the Green Building Initiative (GBI), a not-for-profit organization in the US created to promote green building approaches for builders, architects and others who want practical and affordable options for creating environmentally friendlier structures. He also chairs the GBI/ANSI committee, which is working to establish the Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system as an American National Standard