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An investigation into the use of linoleum and hemp in the new SUB : a triple bottom line assessment Bergen, Kevin; Moe, Keenan; Lets, Lekuku; Li, Lucy
Abstract
As the campaign for sustainable housing increases globally and across UBC, the demand for rapidly renewable resources rises. There is a swift increase in the number of new buildings, including the new Student Union Building’s Platinum+ goal, that are aiming to achieve various Canada Green Building Council’s LEED certifications(Canadian Green Building Council). The purpose of this study is to conduct a triple-‐bottom line analysis on linoleum and hemp, with specific focus on hempcrete, to determine whether these constituents are viable rapidly renewable building materials suitable for use in the new SUB. This paper includes extensive journal research, primary data collection in the forms of surveys and interviews, and secondary data compilation such as government videos, blogs, and various other sources. From an environmental perspective, both linoleum and hemp can be harvested with relative ease, and are greenhouse gas emissions neutral and negative, respectively. There are minimal usage of pesticides and toxic chemicals during the production and maintenance phase. Each material is biodegradable so waste sent to landfills does not negatively impact the environment. Moreover, from an economic standpoint, linoleum is one of the cheapest rapidly renewable materials available, while hemp despite its initial high production price is highly subsidized, thereby driving the domestic prices down. The low operation and maintenance cost of each material makes them great economic solutions for extended lifetimes. Lastly, the social impacts of choosing linoleum and hempcrete are notable. Not only do linoleum and hemp encourage the growth of local producers, leading to a rise in local employment, but they also create a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for the occupants. Linoleum and hemp are both very durable and therefore, resistant to demanding conditions over a long time period. This radically reduces the required maintenance work, and lends these materials to be very effective in high traffic locations. Based on the findings from the triple-‐bottom line analysis, it is determined that linoleum and hemp are both exceptional materials that exceed the LEED’s rapidly renewable material requirement. However, because neither material can be obtained locally within the 500 mile radius, the local criteria cannot be met. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”
Item Metadata
Title |
An investigation into the use of linoleum and hemp in the new SUB : a triple bottom line assessment
|
Creator | |
Contributor | |
Date Issued |
2011
|
Description |
As
the
campaign
for
sustainable
housing
increases
globally
and
across
UBC,
the
demand
for
rapidly
renewable
resources
rises.
There
is
a
swift
increase
in
the
number
of
new
buildings,
including
the
new
Student
Union
Building’s
Platinum+
goal,
that
are
aiming
to
achieve
various
Canada
Green
Building
Council’s
LEED
certifications(Canadian
Green
Building
Council).
The
purpose
of
this
study
is
to
conduct
a
triple-‐bottom
line
analysis
on
linoleum
and
hemp,
with
specific
focus
on
hempcrete,
to
determine
whether
these
constituents
are
viable
rapidly
renewable
building
materials
suitable
for
use
in
the
new
SUB.
This
paper
includes
extensive
journal
research,
primary
data
collection
in
the
forms
of
surveys
and
interviews,
and
secondary
data
compilation
such
as
government
videos,
blogs,
and
various
other
sources.
From
an
environmental
perspective,
both
linoleum
and
hemp
can
be
harvested
with
relative
ease,
and
are
greenhouse
gas
emissions
neutral
and
negative,
respectively.
There
are
minimal
usage
of
pesticides
and
toxic
chemicals
during
the
production
and
maintenance
phase.
Each
material
is
biodegradable
so
waste
sent
to
landfills
does
not
negatively
impact
the
environment.
Moreover,
from
an
economic
standpoint,
linoleum
is
one
of
the
cheapest
rapidly
renewable
materials
available,
while
hemp
despite
its
initial
high
production
price
is
highly
subsidized,
thereby
driving
the
domestic
prices
down.
The
low
operation
and
maintenance
cost
of
each
material
makes
them
great
economic
solutions
for
extended
lifetimes.
Lastly,
the
social
impacts
of
choosing
linoleum
and
hempcrete
are
notable.
Not
only
do
linoleum
and
hemp
encourage
the
growth
of
local
producers,
leading
to
a
rise
in
local
employment,
but
they
also
create
a
comfortable
and
aesthetically
pleasing
environment
for
the
occupants.
Linoleum
and
hemp
are
both
very
durable
and
therefore,
resistant
to
demanding
conditions
over
a
long
time
period.
This
radically
reduces
the
required
maintenance
work,
and
lends
these
materials
to
be
very
effective
in
high
traffic
locations.
Based
on
the
findings
from
the
triple-‐bottom
line
analysis,
it
is
determined
that
linoleum
and
hemp
are
both
exceptional
materials
that
exceed
the
LEED’s
rapidly
renewable
material
requirement.
However,
because
neither
material
can
be
obtained
locally
within
the
500
mile
radius,
the
local
criteria
cannot
be met. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”
|
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
|
Series | |
Date Available |
2012-07-03
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0108326
|
URI | |
Affiliation | |
Campus | |
Peer Review Status |
Unreviewed
|
Scholarly Level |
Undergraduate
|
Rights URI | |
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International