Reader’s Response Draft No. 1

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shares that Envision is a global rating system for every form of infrastructure. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase. The writer further describes that Envision has 5 general aspects and encompasses a 60 credit system with 4 award levels where 6 projects have received awards and completed third-party verifications. Furthermore, the writer noted that attaining memberships and ENV SP credentials can done through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). While I agree that sustainability is important and Envision caters much in that area, we as individuals will need the right attitude and vision to commit ourselves to build and maintain a sustainable environment.

I believe that Envision is an extremely reliant tool which aids engineers in designing a sustainable environment for civilization. Envision focuses on 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW). Grading on these 5 aspects will encourage flexible designs to meet the needs of the population. The first company to achieve an Envision award was the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. As stated in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery brochure, there was a 95% reduction in water usage and only 5% of energy is used for water heating. This is due to the sustainable designs in place. 

Furthermore, incorporating Envision has not only increased cost efficiency but improved the public’s quality of life by creating economic benefits, improving safety features and building design.

Adding on, organizations have looked towards Envision for economic advantages. Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using a sustainable design and not only the costs. Therefore, projects using a sustainable approach would be able to cover the extra cost over the long run.

However, in the design phase of every project, there are many constraints to think about such as physical constraints, maintenance, climate change, etc. According to Nicholas Bishop (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015), Envision would need to find ways to manage retrofitting systems, reconfiguring structures and find the best practices for deconstructing. This would enable projects to further reduce operation and maintenance cost and improve conservation to the environment.

In conclusion, Envision is an extremely reliable system. Projects should incorporate Envision systems in their designs to improve sustainability. The benefits of applying a sustainable design using the Envision rating system would benefit both the environment and our economy. That being said, it takes two hands to clap and we as individuals will need to play our part in providing responsible stewardship towards planet Earth.

References

Winn Hardin (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf



Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.ord/rating/