ZPH Workshop: Towards Establishing “The Business Case for Planning Sustainable Infrastructure: Insights from Infrastructure Cases”
Date and time
Location
Harvard University
GSD Gund Hall(Wednesday) HBS Cumnock Hall, Room 102 (Thursday) Cambridge, MA 02138Description
At the Zofnass Program at Harvard, ongoing research on “the Business Case for Planning Sustainable infrastructure” indicates that sustainability pays off. Sustainability contributes to savings and to avoiding costs and reducing the risks. The April 2019 Zofnass Workshop is dedicated to discussing insights through case studies, where sustainability is a central part of the project’s strategy.
The April ZPH Workshop will serve as a platform to further understand trends, fundamental partnerships, innovative schemes, and the value that sustainable projects bring for people, profitability and the environment. Panelists and attendees will further explore how sustainable infrastructure contributes to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Paris accord.
The panels are structured according to either (1) case studies, which we have already studied or (2) projects that have the potential to develop into case studies to fill gaps in our research spectrum. The panels focus on sustainable project portfolio management, sustainability-linked financing, sustainability in developing countries, zero emissions vehicles, autonomous vehicles improving efficiencies, solar hybrid microgrids in emergency power operations, natural capital approach to water infrastructure, digital models improving project delivery and asset performance, among others. The ZPH Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Board members, key partners in case study development, will have an active role in the presentation and moderation of the panels.
Event website and reading material: https://research.gsd.harvard.edu/zofnass/menu/events/forthcoming/
FAQs
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
Public transportation is recommended, as well as other mobility options such as taxi, Uber, Lyft.
However, if you wish to obtain a parking permit you may do so by going to the following website: https://onedaypermit.vpcs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/permit/purchase.pl
(Instructions: Click visitor. Click to register. Create an account. For department list the Graduate School of Design. For the code list 1001).
Are there accomodation suggestions?
Please find accomodation suggestions at link.
Organized by
The mission of the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure is to develop and promote methods, processes, and tools that quantify sustainability for infrastructure. Its goal is to facilitate the adoption of sustainable solutions for infrastructure projects and systems, and expand the body of knowledge for sustainable infrastructure.
The Zofnass Program was founded in 2008 by a generous donation by siblings Paul and Joan Zofnass, and is housed at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. The Zofnass Program extends its activities throughout Harvard including the School of Public Health, the Kennedy School of Government, the Business School and the Center for the Environment. The Zofnass Program is supported by the industry through an Industry Advisory Board and by research foundations.
The Zofnass Program prides itself on the collaborative nature of its research efforts. In addition to providing the generous on-going gift that founded and supports the program, Paul and Joan Zofnass have been advising the program’s research direction. The research team includes a core group of faculty from across Harvard and student research associates from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The strong support provided by the industry through the Advisory Board makes the Zofnass Program unique and relevant: the collaboration of academic experts and industry specialists has led to the development of the Zofnass Rating System, that has been integrated into the Envision™ system of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.
The program seeks to provide a series of resources and tools, and host events to facilitate sustainable project planning and design, as well as rate the sustainability of infrastructure projects. The Zofnass Program aims to serve as a clearing house for information collected from projects, both in its pilot phase and after the system is launched and utilized.
We will continue to improve the system and resources with our on-going research.