SPARK

Discoveries, innovations, and insights that illuminate the future of the built environment

Connecting sustainable spaces with healthy places

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Did you know that the average American spends 85 percent of their time within a building?

Sarah Spencer-Workman, a Technical Services Senior Manager based in McKinstry’s Golden, Colo. office.

As a result, building industry professionals and owners have started to realize that the built environment has direct and indirect effects on human wellness and productivity—even if occupants are often unaware.

Specifically, industry health and building experts from leading institutions are making it a priority to investigate the link between indoor environmental quality, cognitive function and decision-making performance.

One particular study, known as COGfx, placed 24 participants over the course of six full work days in an environmentally-controlled office space of fluctuating ventilation conditions—ranging from conventional office buildings to green buildings and green buildings with enhanced ventilation. Subsequently, the study yielded noteworthy results demonstrating:

  • 101 percent higher cognitive performance scores in green buildings with enhanced ventilation
  • An eight percent increase in employee decision-making performance equates to approximately $6,500 improved productivity each year
  • A productivity increase that was 150 times greater than the resulting energy costs

With higher employee satisfaction, a substantial increase in productivity and minimal cost to the employer, the COGfx study has provided peer-reviewed evidence for the connection between sustainable building and occupant health.

Further, in an Urban Land Institute survey, 92 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that health and wellness features in a real estate property can impact its market success and economic value.

Connecting studies to real-world results

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Celebrating Earth Day every day

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For Michael Frank, McKinstry’s VP of Engineering & Design, Earth Day is a reminder of personal and professional passion for sustainability.

Every year, Earth Day mobilizes millions of Americans to serve our planet. I’m fortunate to work for a company that celebrates Earth Day each day through the work we do to make every building we touch more efficient. I joined the company more than 19 years ago because my personal passions aligned so well with the company’s values, and I’ve never looked back. To put that statement into context, when I was interviewing, I was wrapping up a thesis design project for a heat recovery system at the Staten Island Ferry System in Manhattan to use the Hudson River as a heat source/sink. Fast forward to today and I’m still designing alternative solutions for energy use such as an eco-district to serve our first zero-energy building, Catalyst, and others on the South Landing campus in Spokane.

I care deeply about our planet, and I’ve been told that sometimes my passion for the environment may come across as extreme. I’ll take that as compliment! So maybe it’s true that I take an air quality monitor on vacation. And maybe I build bee houses every spring with my daughters for one of our native pollinators, the mason bee. Would you be surprised to know, or should I be embarrassed to say that I make sure misplaced recycling finds its way into the appropriate bins at home?

My “extreme” passion for our environment carries over into my work every day where I have the opportunity to innovate with teams to make better decisions that meet current building needs while advocating for the next generation.

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Amanda Provenzano is all about taking energy action

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Environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility has been the focus of Amanda Provenzano’s college experience and career. After graduating from Dominican University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and earning a Master of Environmental Pollution Control at The Pennsylvania State University, she held various sustainability roles for LUSH, ALDI and JELD-WEN prior to joining McKinstry in February 2018 in the newly created position of sustainability coordinator.

Q: What types of projects do you work on in a typical day?
A: One of the things I love about my job is that there’s never a typical day because I work with so many people, groups and organizations. I’m currently working on several exciting programs that employees will be hearing about soon, such as an alternative commute program and resource conservation program companywide. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to help employees work more comfortably and productively through our ergonomics program.

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Passion and creativity collide at Carson City School District

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Two hundred students, parents, teachers and school administrators from Carson City School District (CCSD) gathered at the Nevada Governor’s Mansion on May 24 to celebrate students taking part in McKinstry’s powerED program and Project ReCharge, a STEM-focused energy and sustainability curriculum program led by Envirolution.

CCSD hired McKinstry in May 2016 to conduct a comprehensive facility audit in search of energy savings. Dozens of potential improvements were identified, kicking off a $6.1 million contract spanning LED lighting retrofits, water conservation measures, heat pump replacements, improved HVAC systems and more.

McKinstry introduced powerED to CCSD students in October 2017. The program augments the district’s sustainability and STEM education initiatives by engaging students, staff and faculty in energy, water and waste conservation efforts. Ten CCSD schools are participating.

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