EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE Sustainability for a Better Future Sustainability is a buzzword mentioned often in general, but also specifically in the engineering/ construction community. It refers to using best practices to ensure that design and construction processes utilize energy and resources responsibly, so as not to compromise the environment for future generations. While there are often differing opinions on what drives this movement for being environmentally conscious and responsible, there is no doubt that we all have a responsibility to carefully consider our methods and how they impact our future. Industry Activity Government agencies, like the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), have established policies and programs to address the need for sustainable solutions for infrastructure, building and civil works projects. Other associations, such as ASCE and AGC, have made sustainability a key component of their initiatives. ASCE says in its Policy Statement 418 - The Role of the Civil Engineer in Sustainable Development that “engineers provide the bridge between science and society and must actively promote and participate in multi- disciplinary teams with other profes- sionals…to effectively address the issue and challenges of sustainable develop- ment.” AGC started its Contractors Environmental Conference in 2012 to educate i ts membership on the responsibility of the contractor to manage environmentally-sound building projects and the opportunities available to con- tractors who implement environmentally- focused best management practices and sustainability tools. In 2010, the Design- Build Institute of America (DBIA) began offering two courses that focus on sustainability in recognition of the fact that project owners require that new con- struction contribute to what is known as “the triple bottom line” — economic, ecological and social. The DBIA course, t i t l e d De s i g n - B u i l d a n d S u s t a i n a b i l i t y, p r o v i d e s information on how to integrate sustainability into the design- build delivery method. Sustainability Committee In 2008, DFI recognized this need and es tabl i shed the Sustainability Committee to provide information to its members and the industry on the use of sustainable foundation construction practices. One of the committee’s first projects was to produce a white paper defining the sustainable practices in deep foundation construc- tion, which noted the importance of reducing the use of materials and the production of waste. To achieve this goal, the paper noted the following needs: to increase ground inves- tigation to allow for the use of a lower factor of safety, to compare material volumes for different foundation options, to use foundations as part of a ground storage energy system, to reuse existing foundations, to use recycled materials such as steel and aggregates, to use biodiesel instead of regular fuel and to reduce travel. Since its inception, the committee has contributed to a joint project with the European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) to develop a tool to calculate the carbon emissions of foundation and geotechnical works. The Geotechnical Carbon Calculator (www.geotechnicalcarboncalculator.com) provides a standardized method to perform these calculations for a variety of deep foundation techniques. Although there is a political debate on whether carbon emissions produced by man are causing Theresa Engler Executive Director [email protected] “To me it says a lot that the deep foundations and general construction community is not ignoring the fact that our planet’s resources are limited and what we do may be affecting future generations.” global warming, and whether global warming even exists, the DFI-EFFC tool provides a way for companies to determine their “footprint,” and allows them to prepare for existing or future compliance mandates. Additionally, the commit- tee has a subgroup, the Energy Foundat ions Working Group, which is focusing on another aspect of the white paper — understanding and using deep foundation elements to provide geothermal heat transfer. The research is ongoing, some of which is being published in the final DFI Journal issue of 2014. To me, it says a lot that the deep foundations and general construction community is not ignoring the fact that our planet’s resources are limited and what we do may be affecting future generations. That we are looking for cost-effective, value engi- neering designs and innovative construc- tion methods to mitigate these potential consequences is a testament to the responsibility of the professionals in our field. The value of always looking for a better design or installation method, no matter what the driver, is positive for us all. These initiatives show teamwork at its best among all disciplines involved in the process. After all, sustainability is a cooperative effort of many parties, and can only be achieved if each party assumes its responsibilities for making it happen. Kudos to all for looking towards raising the bar on the work we do. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2014 • 9
