5 Ways to Make Your Next Construction Project Lean and Green

Sustainable construction is an emergent trend that has begun to make real inroads in projects across the market spectrum. But while many owners are interested in the long-term economic and environmental aspect of green building, they are often scared away by the perceived upfront costs. However, a recent study conducted by the Urban Green Council in one of the most expensive cities in the world found that while it may have been the case in the past, the fundamental perception that it costs more to go green is simply no longer the case.

In the Urban Green Council report in 2008, data was gathered on 107 projects throughout the five boroughs of New York, 63 of which were either pursuing or had achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Surveys were conducted for buildings with and without sustainability goals. Data points included construction costs, design fees, LEED design fees, LEED additional fees, and commissioning fees. The average square-foot construction cost for a high-rise residential building without LEED certification was $436 while the average cost with certification was $440. [1]

The best way to realize these savings is by using an integrated, collaborative process from the beginning. Lean and green only works when it is an integral part of the process, and not something viewed as an add on or supplement to the project.

1. Pre-Construction Planning and BIM

Relying on comprehensive pre-construction services is the best way to ensure a smooth and predictable construction process and a high-quality project that opens on schedule and within budget. Beginning with this kind of collaborative design process helps you to develop a roadmap that accurately depicts the project requirements and improves your ability to put real numbers to the design. It is at this point where you can also effectively examine cost-saving alternatives.

Areas to consider and analyze include:

• Creating opportunities to save money and build efficient, green facilities
• Drawing reviews to reduce errors and omissions
• Collaborating with in-house estimators on pricing and procurement strategies
• Estimating and comparing the life-cycle costs of systems
• Pre-purchasing equipment to expedite delivery
• Verifying system requirements
• Incorporating sustainable building practices
• Instituting cost controls

An exciting way to supplement this kind of collaboration is through the use of advanced technologies, like Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is a 3D, electronic modeling method that all users can utilize to compare drawings and elements early on in the planning and pre-construction. BIM also affords the ability to examine things like time, cost, and supply chain - to assist in delivering project data in an efficient and actionable manner. This gives owners, architects, construction managers, and subcontractors the ability to avert problems and make project planning and scheduling decisions that save time, money and materials.

2. Schedule Management

Through promoting efficiency in the design-build process, it is possible to simultaneously maximize quality, performance, sustainability and ultimately the overall value of your project. Reducing waste also means eliminating time-wasting activities and keeping your project on time and on budget. Time is money, especially in construction, but time also has a cost in its expenditure of energy and resources. Streamlining each phase of the design-build process helps make the best use of the time, money and resources allocated for your project. In order to accomplish this, it is essential to work with a construction firm that has a solid record of scheduling dependability and keeping all involved parties on a tight and firm schedule. Utilizing a Master Project Schedule which notes and highlights pre-construction milestones for key deliverables and other critical path activities is vital.

Categories typically in a Master Project Schedule include:

• Design deliverables
• Estimating deliverables
• Pre-construction decision dates
• Building permits and approvals
• Procurement and early release design packages
• Critical path construction activities
• Start-up and commissioning actions
• Owner move-in activities

The project schedule is updated and refined throughout pre-construction to reflect the latest decisions and information. During construction, your project superintendent should supplement this schedule with Three-Week Look-Ahead Schedules, which can be sent to your project team, as well as the design team, key subcontractors, and other consultants on a weekly basis. These specialized schedules provide a more detailed picture of the work to be performed over the coming weeks and ensure all trades understand their weekly deadlines and the interrelationship between scope of work and other trades.

Another way to keep a project lean and operating at peak efficiency is though the use of just-in-time construction principals. Using this method, materials are sourced and delivered on a tight and exacting schedule, both reducing overhead and storage costs and maximizing efficiency. The end result is a construction plan that is useful during every stage of building and which requires less space on site for materials - making for a greener job site with lower overhead costs and reduced waste.

3. Material Selection and Sourcing

While in the past owners and architects had to make choices between adhering to brand standards and using sustainable materials, as green building grows in popularity and demand, more and more materials are being produced that meet both aesthetic and sustainability standards.

Consider working with a construction firm with national experience and local contacts that help them to procure locally-sourced supplies and materials wherever possible. But not all materials can be sourced locally. Sometimes it is necessary to use materials from other regions our countries, and working with a national firm makes this a painless process as well. Our experience in sourcing supplies from national and international providers affords us the unique ability to get the exact materials your project requires, while still meeting all scheduling and budgetary goals, and usually in as efficient and eco-friendly way possible.

4. A Comprehensive Plan For Reducing Waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 130 million tons of debris from construction sites is dumped in U.S. landfills annually- more than half coming from commercial construction and renovation. Not only is this wasteful and environmentally unsustainable but it is an expensive problem for all parties involved. [2]

While job-site disposal may not currently be on top of your list of budget items, it is an item that needs serious consideration. More state and federal regulations are on the horizon which will restrict the use of landfills and impose tariffs for those who do. This makes the subject of reducing and recycling job-site waste a mission critical part of any building project plan. Accounting for the disposal and recycling of waste early in the process will save time, money, and help to make your project more resource-efficient.

Here are three simple actions to consider:

• Track Your Trash - From the standpoint of efficiency and liability, taking a look at what and how much material ends up in your job-site dumpster can tell you a lot about your crews and your trade contractors. Having a team that routinely tracks your job-site waste stream is a great way to evaluate efficient use of materials.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - While many discussions begin with recycling, the best way to consider the process of construction waste is reduce, reuse, recycle - in that order. The largest waste components on most job sites: cardboard, wood, and drywall make up 75% of all job-site waste, yet they are fully recyclable. Other ways to reduce and save money include salvaging existing materials which can be resold or donated resulting in less waste and tax savings. In many cities, non-profit building materials resource centers have been established to receive and then redistribute this scrapped material.

• Local Resources are Vital - Builders represent just one group that needs to be involved in construction waste reduction. Others include waste haulers, recyclers, local building product manufacturers, and landfill operators. Using local companies not only helps area trades and reduces your carbon footprint, it also allows you to get the best information on local and regional rules and regulations from people that know them inside and out.

5. Safe Jobs Save Money

Maintaining a safe job site is not only essential to reducing waste and the overall environmental impact of your project, but is vital in helping to protect your business and your bottom line. Strong safety programs prevent injuries, save lives, reduce liability and the risk of litigation. Establishing guidelines, training programs, and a corporate culture around safety is essential and every person involved in your project from field personnel, to office staff, to executive leadership need to be on board and committed to creating safe and injury-free environments and going above and beyond industry standards in all aspects of safety. Ensuring that every person returns home safely should be your number one goal, every day, on every job.

A comprehensive safety program should include:

• Conducting safety training for all employees and subcontractors
• Creating job specific safety plans taking into account unique aspects of project
• Working only with subcontractors with exceptional safety ratings
• Having onsite superintendents that are OSHA trained and CPR and first aid certified
• Performing regular spot safety inspections on all jobsites
• Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe practices
• Strict adherence to receiving insurance certificates and signed contracts for every vendor and subcontractor on site

[1] Epoch Times
[2] EPA Study

About Shawmut Design and Construction
Shawmut Design and Construction is a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, Providence, Las Vegas, and New Haven. Shawmut is a leading ENR top 100-ranked national construction management firm providing client-oriented services in the following markets: Academic, Commercial, Corporate Interiors, Cultural and Historic Preservation, Gaming, Healthcare and Science, Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Spas and Health Clubs. http://www.shawmut.com/

Green Manufacturing Brings Health Benefits

Poverty and environmental pollutants have a lot in common. Both contribute to adverse living conditions and ill health. The cure may be a prescription for green manufacturing jobs. There are no factories producing complete wind and solar systems in the USA. Major components for solar panels and wind turbines are assembled domestically but are manufactured oversees. In the wake of a job shortage and miles of rusting factories it seems logical for a national initiative to revive the domestic production of goods.

This requires a massive retooling project combined with powerful incentives for industry to come home to Uncle Sam. Our dear uncle seems to be on an oversees cruise at the moment. Ipods are produced in Malaysia, iPhones in China, many LCD TVs from Korea, and the list continues. The former technologies were pioneered in the USA and are manufactured overseas for domestic distribution. We've even lost our last Levi's jeans factory. Apple computer and Levi's jeans are about as apple pie as it gets! Yet, these companies cannot compete if they utilize domestic production. So, with a burgeoning industry of solar and wind energy production - why not push to have production at home?

Tax breaks and cheap loans are step number one. Current federal incentives often require mountains of bureaucratic paperwork for small and medium sized businesses to obtain loans. This is an important area that needs to be streamlined.

Tax breaks are not enough. The government needs to work with industry to immediately build enterprise zones filled with factories to produce solar panels and wind turbine components. This, coupled with a program to put a solar panel on every sunny roof and wind farms in every state, creates the demand for these products. Current subsidies bring the cost of installing solar in the home down 50% in many areas. Nonetheless, most people will have a hard time coming up with the net cost of approximately $15,000 for a solar system. The federal government and state governments need to bring this price into the $5,000 range to make solar a realistic investment for home owners.

This is an investment and not an entitlement. Rebuilding the domestic manufacturing base creates wealth. If we plant a seed and grow corn we have created wealth. The government can incentivize industry to plant those seeds in domestic energy production to create wealth in our society. US steel and carbon fiber combined with American ingenuity can be tapped to create a wealth of green products needed to revive this economy, fight poverty, and provide for a healthier and self-sufficient society. The return on investment includes a reduction in healthcare costs associated with poverty and environmental pollutants. Another advantage to encouraging local solar energy production is solar's independence from our aging national grid of power lines.

The power grid issue prevents wind farms from reaching their full potential. Many wind farms are hampered in their ability to transmit power because they will overload the power grid if they activate 100% of their wind turbines. Additionally, the fragility of the grid weakens our national defense by putting local, state, and federal agencies at risk and destabilizes the ability of our communities to function after disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and tornadoes. The power grid needs shovels in the ground now. It seems that the government has an opportunity for job creation that will yield quick dividends.

Domestic manufacturing seems impossible in the face of cheap oversees wages in many factories without restraint from human rights protections and environmental & safety standards. Conversely, some countries provide healthcare coverage for workers unlike US industry which is bootstrapped to health insurance costs. It is reasonable to only allow imports from factories meeting the same standards as the demands placed on their US competitors.

The concept of federally mandating insurance coverage to employers is a well-intentioned yet unfunded mandate that has the potential to hurt the US production of goods. The disconnect with this approach is that jobs are tied to healthcare coverage. Healthcare costs often contribute to an industry moving oversees thereby reducing domestic jobs. Why do we want to burden the manufacturing base with healthcare costs if this may push jobs offshore? No jobs? This leads to poverty, malnutrition, and poor health.

Extending Medicare coverage to all US citizens is one fix. Industry will be freed from healthcare costs. If big government seems too scary with the fears of outrageous tax hikes associated with national healthcare coverage then perhaps the addition of competition may help bring down the costs associated with healthcare. This requires the federal government to repeal anti-trust protections from insurance companies and to provide a public option with competitive pricing. Looking to Congress for a streamlined and efficient healthcare package? On this one, the lobbyists have scored the first touchdown. Right, left, center, whatever the political solution may be... until we, as a nation, pull together and provide some kind of comprehensive healthcare coverage to all US citizens without forcing the burden onto the manufacturing base - we will not see the type of job creation needed to move this economy forward.

Green manufacturing is a great way to test our economic fortitude. The US must combine the knowledge base of US industry and universities with efficient financial structures to support the rebuilding of domestic factories for this to work. Are we to replace foreign oil with foreign wind turbines and solar panels? A sound domestic energy policy is one wherein the US can provide for its own power. Job creation, a cleaner environment, and a healthier populace are the rewards for this effort.

Adam White, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. is an Acupuncture Continuing Education provider with the Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMI). To learn more about medical news and medical continuing education visit http://www.healthcmi.com.

Green With Envy - The Colour of Your Car

When you look out onto the road; do you spot any cars in clad in garish neon, or are they mostly conservative colours and shades? Generally, as a nation, we are pretty hesitant about picking bright colours for our cars; the most popular seem to be blue, black, grey, and silver. But this doesn't mean that all cars follow this trend. What does the colour of your car say about you? Remember to find the best car insurance for your car - whether black on neon green - before setting out on the road!

Silver

You are among the majority if you drive a silver car. In fact, silver cars were ranked the most popular colour in the first part of 2009, taking up to 25 per cent of sales. It is a common sight for executive cars to be produced in silver shades, as well as other expensive looking cars. The great thing about silver is that it is a safe shade; it doesn't show the dirt that white does, and it doesn't stand out too much from the crowd.

Blue

Blue is currently the second most popular colour when it comes to cars, but according to statistics, blue used to be the most popular choice. So even though it has lost out to silver, it seems as though people still enjoy a refined burst of colour on their cars. Luckily for the masses, blue can range from dark to light, and can be presented in everything from matte to metallic.

Black

You could say that black cars are related to silver ones. Just like silver, black is seen on executive cars, but also features on many a limousine. You might also associate black cars with a high price tag, as it tends gives a sleek appearance to vehicles like the notorious Range Rover. Due to demand, black cars (in good condition) should be easy enough to sell on.

Red

Did you know that red is the fifth most popular colour of choice for cars? While red can be perfectly suited to some cars, it does not work so well on others. Ferraris for example, are often known for their appealing bright red appearances; on the other hand, could you imagine top celebrities trying to blend in while in a red Bentley? The main reason red suits some cars is because the designer may have had a particular colour in mind when the car was in its design stage.

Bright colours

Research shows that 1 per cent of men, and 3 per cent of women, believe colour is important when choosing a new model of car; so apparently colour isn't one of the most essential decisions when acquiring a new car.

However, the chances are this percentage would change if these people were offered a purple BMW or lime green Audi A5! Despite this, some bright colours are suited to sports cars and those with outgoing personalities. If you are about to invest in a bright pink Corsa, you might want to keep in mind that you may get a few raised eyebrows as you drive past...

[1] The AA. (2010). Which colour? http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-buyers-guide/cbg_colour.html

Hannah Warder writes for MediaVest Manchester on a number of insurance related topics, including car insurance.

Can Green Jobs Save the US Economy?

Save is a big word. Let's talk about it.

Have you got a better idea? Of course everyone does...usually somewhat tied to their own needs or situation of course.

As "Solar People", to answer affirmative in this space on the surface would be no different. But lets see if we can't line up a few reason that make sense. If they do, you can then use the list to compare to your solution(s) right?

1. Bought any gas lately? - Now I am not saying that putting solar on your roof or in your parking or on your farm is going to lower the price for gas at the pump. But the price at the pump ought to be getting your attention and making you think about the broader implications. It's an energy issue.

Especially in the United States where distribution for most products we depend on are delivered over a vast but energy inefficient network of highways and gas guzzling trucking network....it affects everything. But it takes some time to filter through. First the initial buyers of these delivered products fight price increases and to remain competitive, distribution companies will try to absorb these increases in the hopes that it will be a short term spike. Once it extends beyond a couple of months large increases in transportation costs cannot be absorbed and end up being extended upstream until it reaches the retail (your pocket), level. If this is true, based on recent prices, you can expect to see almost everything you buy start to go up all at once. This on top of you increased fuel bill.

The facts are, we use more energy at all levels than we produce which leaves us open to market and political forces we cannot control. We believe sound economic, political and security policies are greatly enhanced the more the US can move towards energy independence. I mean who can argue with that?

The last time we experienced circumstances similar to this was in the 1980's. Remember the gas lines? Remember the inflation - home mortgages at 17% and more? Are we at the beginning of that right now? I believe we are.

2. Extremely High Unemployment - will installing solar on your home and/or business help combat unemployment? Well of course it will. Before we speak to that, I hope you know that the numbers you hear about unemployment rates in the US on your evening news are no way near accurate. Over time, the government and others in the financial arena, (Federal Reserve?), have stripped out whole groups of people. If you have been unemployed over a year, or you are over a certain age...and a whole bunch of other exceptions, you aren't being counted anymore. Every honest number I have seen has real unemployment between 20% to 25%...NOT the 9% or 10% we hear all the time. The height of unemployment during the Great Depression was about 25%. Just do a quick check of who you know in your life...

In all solar installations, solar design expertise is required which is attainable only after considerable study and effort. The education arena to support these new fields adds jobs. Many of the components used in American installations are American made in newer manufacturing companies around the US. The actual installation of these systems leverage similar skill sets readily available with the commercial and residential construction "collapse" which started in 2007 and spun out of control in 2008...and has not even made an honest dent in trying to come back. Much of the final effort in these installations are only finished by licensed electricians bringing similar work to them as well.

The implementation of these new "distributed energy" systems opened up opportunities in new IT technology in both software and hardware to integrate the energy and it's information back into the "grid" and the fabric of our lives. Which leads to....

3. Large Scale, National Energy Infrastructure Problems - we are right at the edge of serious issues with fluent, uninterrupted energy delivery. In densely populated areas like the Northeast and Southwest, brown outs and other energy interruptions have become all to regular of an occurrence. EVERY single bit of information confirms that this is just the beginning.

For a few years, I traveled to India on business. Even in the more modern areas, energy disruption was an accepted fact. If you were running a business that needed reliable power - you ALWAYS had huge automatic back up generators - (usually loud smelly diesel machines). Power was on and off in brand new sparkling office buildings. They have much less of that today - we are headed where they have been - and they where we have been...how are we supposed to compete with that?

Steve Peters brings over 24 years of business, financial markets and renewable energies - environmental services experience together to help solve problems that plague the US today. As a former Marine and President of two renewable energy companies, I want to say - "lets get it going". Time to step up folks. Go here to learn more: http://www.solarsolutionscenter.com

Renewable Energy Delivery: http://www.lifecyclebuildinggroup.com

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Has a Shift to Green Energy Produced More Jobs?

An evening's research on green energy, government spending, and the job market led me to a solid conclusion: I don't know.

Obviously, renewable green energy would be good for the planet, and money is being spent on it with what some term "abandon." One green energy program at the Department of Energy grew from a budget of $1.7 billion in 2008 to a budget of $18 billion in 2009.

But has it created new jobs?

The wind industry, with about 85,000 people employed in some capacity, seems to have held steady, with jobs merely being shifted from one area to another. In 2009 the construction sector employed an additional 500 workers due to increased installation of new wind turbines. It also employed another 1,000 in operations and management positions. But... 1,500 manufacturing jobs were lost in 2009 due to the credit crisis and the number of turbines produced in 2008.

Since 2007 there have been 100 new, announced or expanded manufacturing facilities that could supply more than 19,000 new wind manufacturing jobs - when the facilities come on line. However, even if all the announced facilities actually do come on line, that isn't going to happen until 2012.

All 50 states do provide some jobs in the wind industry. They range from turbine and turbine component manufacturing to construction, installation and maintenance of wind turbines, legal and marketing services, transportation, and logistics.

Texas leads the nation in total wind capacity and in largest wind farms installed, while Iowa leads in terms of the percentage of electricity from wind power. Iowa gets 14% of its power from the wind. Thirty-four additional states have utility-scale wind projects.

Worldwide, approximately 500,000 people are employed in the wind industry - with only 17% of those jobs being in the U.S.

What about that stimulus money that's supposed to be creating jobs?

The Treasury Department anticipated the distribution of about $3 billion in renewable energy grants by the end of 2010, and that figure was surpassed by April.

Research didn't actually reveal where the bulk of it is going, but I did learn something interesting. While small businesses (those with 500 or fewer employees) have created 64% of the new jobs over the past 15 years, small business received only 23% of the dollars expended toward renewable energy projects. No wonder we aren't seeing an increase in jobs.

We do know that some of it is going to major chemical corporations such as Dow Chemical. There it is being used for research, development, and manufacture of items such as solar shingles and an advanced auto battery built to use clean energy technology. I found no mention of new or additional jobs created to facilitate these projects.

Mistie Fairchild is a staff writer for Pantex Energy. Pantex Energy provides Texas Electricity Service for the entire deregulated area of the State of Texas. Contact us for the lowest commercial electricity rate in Texas.