Although there are many rating systems that score buildings projects on their environmental sustainability, very few currently address the needs for infrastructure projects as a whole. Envision, a framework developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), uses 60 sustainability criteria and performance objectives to help project teams identify sustainable approaches during planning, design, construction and operation of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, pipelines, railways, airports, dams, levees, landfills and water treatment systems. Similar to the US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, the program is third-party verified and has various levels of achievement.

 

The concrete industry benefits from projects that consider using the Envision rating system because the performance criteria emphasize Reduced Operational Energy Consumption (RA2.1), Stormwater Management (NW2.2), Establishing Resilience Goals and Strategies (RR2.3), Maximizing Durability (RR2.5) and Lifecycle Economic Evaluation (RR2.5). Last year, the Los Angeles City Board of Supervisors directed the director of public works to expand and adopt the use of Envision for city infrastructure projects. On June 6, 2017, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution adopting Envision and "directing the County Mayor to incorporate Envision into the planning, design, construction, and operation of County-funded Infrastructure Projects." 

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) is currently seeking feedback on its latest version of the Envision infrastructure framework, known as Envision v3. You may download the draft Envision v3 credits and access the online survey during this public review and comment period which opened September 6  and will close November 1. Concrete industry professionals are invited to participate in this process.