Geography Reference
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such as through better weather-stripping on doors and windows, and adding energy-
efficient windows. Connections to district heating schemes replaced the individual
coal and oil-burning heating systems in buildings. In the 15 years prior to 1996
carbon emissions were more than halved to 35,000 t, while the heating consumption
in city buildings was reduced by over 50 %. This created annual energy savings of
$ 5.4 million from the $ 1 million annual investment in these various approaches
(Beatley 2000 , p. 264). Other municipalities have followed the same conservation
trends by reducing their energy outputs in street lighting systems, such as by chang-
ing light bulbs to focus lights down rather than wastefully spreading light upwards.
In the case of Calgary this led to the use of a new EnvironSmart lighting system by
installing 37 thousand new more energy efficient lights in 2005 which were also
designed to focus light on to roads downward, whereas previously as much light
reflected upwards. This policy has been estimated to save $ 1.6 million annually in
energy costs and to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 19,000 t a year. More gener-
ally, German cities such as Heidelburg created E.Teams (Energy Teams) to show
households and businesses how the consumption of energy can be reduced, as well
as encouraging schools and other institutions to follow the same practices. Many
municipalities and even businesses now have sustainability officers charged with
finding ways of increasing sustainable practices, while ranking schemes have been
developed to compare the sustainability of different organizations and buildings.
For example Yudelson and Meyer ( 2013 ) have rigorously evaluated the cost and
energy savings of the world's greenest buildings. Such comparisons are useful in
showing the extent to which the poor performances of buildings or areas need to
be improved, which often provide a stimulus for action to increase sustainability
levels.
6.3.4
New Building Industry Standards
Another important source of progress in the development of sustainable building
practice has come from the creation of non-profit groups developing and encour-
aging sustainable building standards and practices. Examples include Canada's
Sustainable Building Council (SBC 2013 ), and the development of new industry
practices and standards, such as the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmen-
tal Design) designation. Originally developed by the American Green Buildings
Council (USGBC 2011 ) in 1993, the LEED approach provides a rating system for
assessing buildings based on indicators from six different types of criteria: Sustain-
able Site Development; Water Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Materials Selection;
and Indoor Environmental Quality; Innovation in Design. Independent assessors
certified by the organization review buildings, seeking designation on the basis
of the various indicators. The total points score out of 100 assesses the degree of
sustainable practice in the building and its relation with surroundings, which either
lead to certification at four different levels of LEED attainment or rejection. For
example Platinum is the top category that needs over 80 points, followed by the
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