Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System

In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the country's infrastructure a barely passing grade of "D+", citing serious deficiencies and the need to invest $3.6 trillion by 2020 to strengthen the economy and improve our quality of life. Taking a cue from the U.S. Green Buildings Council's LEED rating system, the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), in collaboration with Harvard's Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure, created the Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system to evaluate, grade and give recognition to deserving infrastructure projects. According to the Envision manual, the purpose of Envision is to "foster a necessary improvement in the performance and resiliency of our infrastructure." To measure improvement, Envision categorizes elements of a project into five interrelated categories: quality of life, leadership, resource allocation, natural world, and climate and risk. Higher levels of achievement in each of these categories are awarded correspondingly higher credits. By following a checklist, a certified Envision Sustainable Professional, known as an ENV SP, will be able to evaluate the environmental benefits of a project, thoughtfully invest scarce resources, design a project that will consider community priorities, and objectively ascertain a project's contribution to the nation's future infrastructure needs. The ISI explains that "the Envision Checklist is an educational tool that helps users become familiar with the sustainability aspects of infrastructure project design. It can be used as a stand-alone assessment to quickly compare project alternatives or to prepare for a more detailed assessment." In particular, Envision prompts project developers and designers to answer two questions: "Are you doing the project right?" and "Are you doing the right project?" Answering the first question ensures that the best civil engineering practices and good project management are being applied. The second question examines how the project will affect the community and its future needs. Sample checklist items are whether the project will improve community quality of life, develop local skills and capabilities, foster collaboration and teamwork, and provide for stakeholder involvement. One great value of Envision is its applicability to many kinds of projects. If your project involves utilities, roads, pipelines, water supplies, power lines, telecommunication towers, and public spaces, then you should think about incorporating Envision into your plans. Although Envision is voluntary, like LEED is, you can use the rating system as a self-audit to check whether your project will be viewed more favorably by local permitting agencies and community stakeholders. Envision also has the institutional backing and momentum to make it an influential benchmark design in the real estate industry. Whether you hire an Envision Sustainable Professional to evaluate the benefits of your next project or whether you apply for Envision certification, using the Envision Rating System as a checklist makes good sense for the success of your project. The Envision Checklist will help you identify positive or negative implications as you design and carry out infrastructure projects—and help you do the right project right. Richard Steiner, PE, ENV SP, LEED AP, is director of site/civil engineering for VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C., New York, NY.