The Sustainable Evaluation Framework
To build and design more sustainable infrastructure, the Port has adopted The Sustainable Evaluation Framework. The Sustainable Evaluation Framework (SEF) is an assessment process that advances the Century Agenda goal to be the greenest and most energy efficient port in North America and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The framework enables us to make more transparent and data driven decisions on how we integrate sustainability into how we build and operate Port facilities. Adopted in 2020, the SEF aims to:
- Increase analysis and adoption of sustainability and equity opportunities in Port capital projects and operational decisions.
- Align capital projects and operational decisions with Century Agenda goals.
- Align tenant leases with Century Agenda goals.
Opportunities are assessed in the following categories: Equity, Energy, Emissions, Water, Materials and Resources, Waste, Transportation, Climate Resiliency, and Habitat and Land Stewardship.
The SEF Process
Port staff assess sustainability and equity opportunities from project inception through the design phase. For large capital projects, the Port hosts Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaborative (SPARC) meetings to brainstorm opportunities and select sustainability and equity strategies. Stakeholders include sponsors, project managers, technical staff, and diversity, equity, and inclusion experts. Next, project teams analyze those strategies for their carbon emissions, energy use, other environmental impacts, and total costs over the lifetime of the project. Project teams present the results to the Commission’s Sustainability, Environment and Climate (SEAC) Committee. These briefings are typically when the project is around 30% design to allow project teams to incorporate Commissioner feedback into the project. Lastly, the Final Sustainability Design Strategy is presented to the full Commission during construction authorization.
Since 2019, the SEF has been applied to several large capital projects including:
