Education and OUTREACH
Community Outreach
Presentations and “green papers” (see below) are at the heart of Symbiotic Engineering’s mission to provide a clear perspective on defining green.
From the true embodied energy of building materials and transport to a complete carbon footprint of a city, Symbiotic Engineering will present all data in a clear, transparent and effective format. Local communities are rapidly developing and deploying sustainable / green business programs in an attempt to educate and engage the local business community. Rather than developing unique programs with custom emission calculation and data storage tools, the Carbon Neighbors tool provides a common reporting platform that provides a standardized back end data storage and calculation capabilities that follow the Climate Registry protocol, while allowing for goal tracking and trends that lend to the local branding of sustainable business programs. Tailored educational materials regarding energy efficiency, local renewable programs and carbon offsets can also be provided on custom log-in portals.
Education and Downloads
Presentations
- An Overview of Carbon Regulations, Baselines, CSR and Carbon City Model
- Presented to Business Environmental Program Series, Fort Collins, Colorado October 7, 2008. >> DOWNLOAD
- Quantifying the Role of High Performance Green Concrete in Green Buildings and Cities with LCA
- Presented to USGBC, Colorado Chapter, Technical Seminar in Denver, Colorado - August 15, 2007 >> DOWNLOAD
- Life-Cycle Assessment: National and Regional Policies
- Presented to the USGBC Colorado Chapter Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado - September 21, 2007 >> DOWNLOAD
- Overview of 3 SE Green Papers
- Davis Partnership Architect Presentation, October 18, 2007 >> DOWNLOAD
- Overview of 2 SE Green Papers
- Presented to ESCO group on December 7, 2007 >> DOWNLOAD
- Quantifying the Other Two Bottomlines of Corporate Sustainability
- As presented at Valparaiso University – February 21, 2008 >> DOWNLOAD
- Metrics of Engineering – New Meaning to Significant Figures
- As presented at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - March 4, 2008 >> DOWNLOAD
- Quantifying the Role of High Performance Green Concrete (HPGC) in Sustainable Urban Infrastructure in Denver, Colorado
- Presented at the Beneficial Use of Industrial Materials Conference, Denver, Colorado - April 1, 2008 >> DOWNLOAD
Publications
- Life Cycle Assessment of the Use of Jatropha Biodiesel in Indian Locomotives
- With India's transportation sector relying heavily on imported petroleum-based fuels, the Planning Commission of India and the Indian government recommended the increased use of blended biodiesel in transportation fleets, identifying Jatropha as a potentially important biomass feedstock. The Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Railways are collaborating to increase the use of biodiesel blends in Indian locomotives with blends of up to B20, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decrease petroleum consumption. To help evaluate the potential for Jatropha-based biodiesel in achieving sustainability and energy security goals, this study examines the life cycle, net GHG emission, net energy ratio, and petroleum displacement impacts of integrating Jatropha-based biodiesel into locomotive operations in India. In addition, this study identifies the parameters that have the greatest impact on the sustainability of the system. DOWNLOAD
- Embodied Energy Considerations In Existing Leed Credits
- This paper evaluates the importance of embodied energy of materials compared to the operating energy over the service life of a building and the existing LEED credits that help to reduce the environmental GHG impact of material selection DOWNLOAD
- Substantiating the Environmental Claims of Green Buildings
- This paper examines the increasing need to substantiate claims of being 'green' or 'sustainable' and how current markets are complicating the verifiable environmental claims that green building can make. DOWNLOAD
- Implications of Carbon Cap and Trade Systems for the Green Building Community
- This paper explores the potential roles for the green building community under carbon cap and trade systems and discusses the impacts of these systems on the ability of green building owners to substantiate environmental claims. DOWNLOAD
- October 29, 2007: Substantiating and Reporting the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Triple Bottom Line Metrics
- This paper evaluates the importance of defining boundaries and environmental priorities for the 2008 DNC. In addition, the 2004 DNC in Boston is reviewed for lessons learned and examples to build from DOWNLOAD
- January 29, 2008: Evaluation of Potential pH Environmental Hazards and Mitigation Measures When Utilizing Recycled Concrete Aggregate in the Field
- This paper evaluates current State Department of Transportation testing of the pH of runoff from recycled concrete aggregates and discusses measures for mitigation. DOWNLOAD
- April, 2008: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ecologic Designs (GRI Reporting Organization), Symbiotic Engineering (AA1000AS - 2008 Assurance Provider), and Valparaiso University (academic overview).
- DOWNLOAD
International Sustainability
Symbiotic Engineering has experienced staff to review, or design and implement, sustainable water, sanitation, alternative energy, and structural projects in developing world communities. We also provide engineering for sustainable master-planning in developing countries. We have experience with organizing participatory meetings in countries such as Mali, Rwanda, India, and Sri Lanka and with providing comprehensive looks at the culture, history, current institutional framework, natural resources and the ecological environment of the countries.
Symbiotic Engineering supports and contributes our time and experience to the efforts of Birambye International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that designs and implements projects that are conceived and crafted by communities in-need.
Birambye's mission is to assist the community in reaching their goals of economic self-sufficiency without sacrificing cultural norms or the ecology. Each project will be as unique in character as the hosting community. As such, Birambye International networks with other non-profits to identify volunteers with the needed expertise. For all projects, a contract will be drafted with the community to ensure their full ownership and understanding of the responsibilities and funds generated from the project.
Contact Symbiotic Engineering to develop a custom educational seminar to meet the needs of your organization: info@symbiotic-engineering.com