1. Envision is a guidance and rating system for sustainable infrastructure. It was developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) in partnership with the Zofnass Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
ISI was founded by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Each of the three founding organization was developing a sustainable infrastructure program and saw the need for a standardized framework for classification of sustainability practices. The organizations decided to work together to form ISI to produce and administer a sustainable infrastructure rating system.
The Envision rating system is a project assessment and guidance tool for sustainable infrastructure design. It is an objective framework of criteria and performance achievements that helps users identify ways in which sustainable approaches can be used to plan, design, construct, and operate infrastructure projects.
Envision timeline:
A draft produced by ISI came out for industry review and comment July 5, 2011
ISI and the Zofnass Program merged their two systems in the fall of 2011
Envision came out February 16, 2012 with professional credentialing starting in April 2012 and project verification beginning in September 2012
The first two project verifications were announced in 2013
March 2017

2. What Types of Infrastructure Will Envision Rate?
ENERGY
Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Nuclear
Coal
Natural Gas
Oil/Refinery
Wind
Solar
Biomass
WATER
Potable water distribution
Capture/Storage
Water Reuse
Storm Water Management
Flood Control
WASTE
Solid waste
Recycling
Hazardous
Waste
Collection &
Transfer
TRANSPORT
Airports
Roads
Highways
Bikes
Pedestrians
Railways
Public Transit
Ports
Waterways
LANDSCAPE
Public Realm
Parks
Ecosystem Services
Natural Infrastructure
INFORMATION
Telecom
Internet
Phones
Satellites
Data Centers
Sensors
Envision was designed as a holistic rating system to apply to ALL types and sizes of civil infrastructure. This includes the roads, bridges, pipelines, railways, airports, dams, levees, landfills, water treatment systems, and other components that make up our civil works.
Envision is not designed to evaluate buildings intended exclusively for human-occupation such as hospitals, schools, offices, or residences.
While initially developed for North America, Envision can be applied around the world.
First Point:
At the time of development of Envision, most available sustainability rating systems for infrastructure were sector specific or regionally based. For example, there were rating systems specific to buildings, roads, airports, etc. And there were rating systems in use by a city or state. There was no comprehensive U.S. system that covers all aspects of infrastructure.
Envision was designed to fill this need. Over 900 guides and rating systems were evaluated to identify gaps, develop goals, refine approach. There was collaboration with federal agencies, universities, consultants, professional societies, and municipalities. This tool was vetted by industry experts.
Envision is not intended to supplant existing, sector-specific infrastructure rating systems. It is intended to provide the essential context for their rating results. Envision measures outcomes, not intentions.
Second Point:
The rating system for buildings were gaining popularity, but these weren’t applicable or transferrable for infrastructure projects. Much of the focus of these systems is on the comfort and health of the building occupants, but most infrastructure does not have occupants.
Infrastructure has different challenges than buildings . Buildings are under the control of a single owner or entity. You can readily optimize building systems.
For infrastructure, there is no single responsible entity. There are multiple departments with different issues, agendas, schedules, budgets, customers and integration needed at the city/community and regional levels.

3. 60 Credits in 5 Categories QUALITY OF LIFE
Purpose, Community, Wellbeing
LEADERSHIP
Collaboration, Management, Planning
RESOURCE
ALLOCATION
Materials, Energy, Water
NATURAL
WORLD
The Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system is a comprehensive framework of 60 criteria that encompass the full range of environmental, social, and economic impacts that should be assessed in order to determine how a project has incorporated sustainability in its design, construction, and operation. These 60 sustainability criteria, called ‘credits’, are arranged in five categories.
Quality of Life specifically addresses a projects impact on communities from the health and wellbeing of individuals of the wellbeing of the larger social fabric as a whole.
Leadership is comprised of the tasks that demonstrate effective leadership and commitment by all parties involved in a project. The meaningful commitment from the owner, team leaders, & constructors.
Resource Allocation measures the use of renewable and non-renewable resources for the project. Benefits of managing resources needed will allow a longer life as we know it.
Natural World allows project teams to assesses the effect of the project on the preservation and renewal of ecosystem functions. This section addresses how to understand and minimize negative impacts while considering ways in which the infrastructure can interact with natural systems in a synergistic and positive way.
Climate And Risk looks at two main concepts: minimizing emissions that may contribute to increased short- and long-term risks and ensuring that infrastructure projects are resilient to short-term hazards or altered long-term future conditions.
Note to Speakers: You may want to provide the Credit List handout that shows all 60 credits.
Siting, Land and Water, Biodiversity
CLIMATE
AND RISK
Emission, Resilience

4. Levels of Achievement Non-linear Scale No Negative Impact
The amount of points earned in each credit depends on the Level of Achievement:
Improved: Performance that is above conventional.
Enhanced: Sustainable performance that is on the right track. Indications that superior performance is within reach.
Superior: Sustainable performance that is noteworthy.
Conserving: Performance that has achieved essentially zero impact.
Restorative: Performance that restores natural or social systems.
Note to Speakers: Click to add animation
Not all levels of achievement are available for all credits. The guidance manual gives specific definitions of each level for each credit.
Notice that the allocation of points is non-linear across the levels. This gives acknowledgement of initial efforts, but encourages higher levels of sustainability achievement.
Note to Speakers: background information on this credit:
QL1.1 IMPROVE COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE
INTENT: Improve the net quality of life of all communities affected by the project and mitigate negative impacts to communities.
METRIC: Measures taken to assess community needs and improve quality of life while minimizing negative impacts.
LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT
Improved: (2) Internal focus. Enhanced: (5) Community linkages. Superior: (10) Broad community alignment. Conserving: (20) Holistic assessment and collaboration. Restorative: (25) Community renaissance.
No Negative Impact

5. Envision Components Guidance Manual Pre-Assessment Checklist
Online Scoresheet
Verification & Award Program
Professional Credential
The Envision rating system includes
The guidance manual, which explains how to conduct an Envision assessment;
The pre-assessment checklist, a simplified series of yes/no questions to help projects identify if Envision criteria are being addressed.
The online scoresheet, a digital version of Envision for collaboratively conducting self-assessments and sharing results;
The verification and award program, a third–party verification and recognition of project achievement;
The Envision Sustainability Professional credential, a professional credential recognizing individuals specially trained to conduct Envision assessments.
The Envision system covers all phases of the project life cycle: planning and design, construction, operation and maintenance, and deconstruction, demolition and disposal.
The current guidance manual covers the use of the Envision from the perspective of the planning and design phase. The manual includes objectives and performance levels, references, and glossary to guide the user through a project assessment.

6. Online Scoresheet
The Envision rating system is web-based. You can evaluate as many projects as you like online.
The online scoresheet is available for anyone to use for a project self-assessment.
In the online scoresheet, you are able to address each of the credits.
First, you decide if the credit is applicable. Most credits will be applicable.
Next you select a level of achievement. It’s helpful to refer to the Envision guidance manual to determine the level of achievement.
You have the option to input notes regarding why you selected the level of achievement. You may also upload documentation to demonstrate achievement of the indicated level.
Users work through this spreadsheet for all 60 credits.
The rating system is intended to be a tool to guide decision making during the development of infrastructure, so it can be revisited and updated as many times as needed.

7. Scoring Summary
At any time, you can select the “Section Totals Summary” to see a table and graph of the points earned.
The table lists:
each of the five categories
the maximum possible score (which may vary from project to project based on the credits included or excluded)
the points earned (regular, innovation, and the sum of both)
The graph shows the points earned out of the maximum possible points.

8. Award Levels Minimum Percentage of Points Achieved: 20% 30% 40% 50%
The award levels are set at 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
Do not expect your project to achieve a score of 90% to 100% that is typically considered an “A” in academia. There are so many ways to be sustainable, no project could incorporate them all.
To qualify for awards, at least one person on the project team must be credentialed to use the Envision rating system. Online training and testing is available to credential the professionals on their knowledge of the rating system and rating process. Credentialed professionals are called Envision Sustainability Professionals or ENV SPs.
When the project team and the ENV SP have complete the project evaluation, they can submit the project to ISI for verification. ISI assigns a verifier to review and confirm the points achieved. The verifier will make a recommendation for award based on the points achieved.

9. Fee Schedule Registration Fee: $1,000 Verification Fee:
Project Size (M)
Non-Member Price
ISI Member Price
Up to $5M
$11,000
$9,000
$5-25M
$17,000
$14,000
$25-100M
$25,000
$21,000
$ M
$34,000
$28,000
$ M
$42,000
$35,000
Over $250M
Contact ISI for large or multi-phase projects
There is a two-part fee for submitting a project for verification and award. The first fee is a flat $1000 registration fee for each project. The second fee covers the cost of third-party verification and varies based on the size of the project.
If the project team wishes to appeal the verification of a credit, there is a process and fee for doing so.
Optional Appeals Fee: $500 per credit

10.
The best place to get more information about Envision is the ISI website.
You can find resources, such as
The Envision guidance manual
The Envision pre-assessment checklist
The online scoresheet for project self-assessments or third-party verifications
Project case studies
The training and the exam to earn the Envision Sustainability Professional credential. You can also find a list of credentialed ENV SPs.
Information on ISI membership
You can provide feedback on ISI and Envision and make suggestions for future resources.