| Sustainable construction is an emergent trend that | | | | consultants on a weekly basis. These specialized |
| has begun to make real inroads in projects across | | | | schedules provide a more detailed picture of the |
| the market spectrum. But while many owners are | | | | work to be performed over the coming weeks and |
| interested in the long-term economic and | | | | ensure all trades understand their weekly deadlines |
| environmental aspect of green building, they are | | | | and the interrelationship between scope of work and |
| often scared away by the perceived upfront costs. | | | | other trades. |
| However, a recent study conducted by the Urban | | | | Another way to keep a project lean and operating at |
| Green Council in one of the most expensive cities in | | | | peak efficiency is though the use of just-in-time |
| the world found that while it may have been the | | | | construction principals. Using this method, materials |
| case in the past, the fundamental perception that it | | | | are sourced and delivered on a tight and exacting |
| costs more to go green is simply no longer the case. | | | | schedule, both reducing overhead and storage costs |
| In the Urban Green Council report in 2008, data was | | | | and maximizing efficiency. The end result is a |
| gathered on 107 projects throughout the five | | | | construction plan that is useful during every stage of |
| boroughs of New York, 63 of which were either | | | | building and which requires less space on site for |
| pursuing or had achieved Leadership in Energy and | | | | materials - making for a greener job site with lower |
| Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Surveys | | | | overhead costs and reduced waste. |
| were conducted for buildings with and without | | | | 3. Material Selection and Sourcing |
| sustainability goals. Data points included construction | | | | While in the past owners and architects had to make |
| costs, design fees, LEED design fees, LEED additional | | | | choices between adhering to brand standards and |
| fees, and commissioning fees. The average | | | | using sustainable materials, as green building grows in |
| square-foot construction cost for a high-rise | | | | popularity and demand, more and more materials are |
| residential building without LEED certification was | | | | being produced that meet both aesthetic and |
| $436 while the average cost with certification was | | | | sustainability standards. |
| $440. [1] | | | | Consider working with a construction firm with |
| The best way to realize these savings is by using an | | | | national experience and local contacts that help them |
| integrated, collaborative process from the beginning. | | | | to procure locally-sourced supplies and materials |
| Lean and green only works when it is an integral part | | | | wherever possible. But not all materials can be |
| of the process, and not something viewed as an add | | | | sourced locally. Sometimes it is necessary to use |
| on or supplement to the project. | | | | materials from other regions our countries, and |
| 1. Pre-Construction Planning and BIM | | | | working with a national firm makes this a painless |
| Relying on comprehensive pre-construction services is | | | | process as well. Our experience in sourcing supplies |
| the best way to ensure a smooth and predictable | | | | from national and international providers affords us |
| construction process and a high-quality project that | | | | the unique ability to get the exact materials your |
| opens on schedule and within budget. Beginning with | | | | project requires, while still meeting all scheduling and |
| this kind of collaborative design process helps you to | | | | budgetary goals, and usually in as efficient and |
| develop a roadmap that accurately depicts the | | | | eco-friendly way possible. |
| project requirements and improves your ability to put | | | | 4. A Comprehensive Plan For Reducing Waste |
| real numbers to the design. It is at this point where | | | | According to the U.S. Environmental Protection |
| you can also effectively examine cost-saving | | | | Agency, more than 130 million tons of debris from |
| alternatives. | | | | construction sites is dumped in U.S. landfills annually- |
| Areas to consider and analyze include: | | | | more than half coming from commercial construction |
| • Creating opportunities to save money and build | | | | and renovation. Not only is this wasteful and |
| efficient, green facilities | | | | environmentally unsustainable but it is an expensive |
| • Drawing reviews to reduce errors and | | | | problem for all parties involved. [2] |
| omissions | | | | While job-site disposal may not currently be on top |
| • Collaborating with in-house estimators on pricing | | | | of your list of budget items, it is an item that needs |
| and procurement strategies | | | | serious consideration. More state and federal |
| • Estimating and comparing the life-cycle costs of | | | | regulations are on the horizon which will restrict the |
| systems | | | | use of landfills and impose tariffs for those who do. |
| • Pre-purchasing equipment to expedite delivery | | | | This makes the subject of reducing and recycling |
| • Verifying system requirements | | | | job-site waste a mission critical part of any building |
| • Incorporating sustainable building practices | | | | project plan. Accounting for the disposal and recycling |
| • Instituting cost controls | | | | of waste early in the process will save time, money, |
| An exciting way to supplement this kind of | | | | and help to make your project more |
| collaboration is through the use of advanced | | | | resource-efficient. |
| technologies, like Building Information Modeling (BIM). | | | | Here are three simple actions to consider: |
| BIM is a 3D, electronic modeling method that all users | | | | • Track Your Trash - From the standpoint of |
| can utilize to compare drawings and elements early | | | | efficiency and liability, taking a look at what and how |
| on in the planning and pre-construction. BIM also | | | | much material ends up in your job-site dumpster can |
| affords the ability to examine things like time, cost, | | | | tell you a lot about your crews and your trade |
| and supply chain - to assist in delivering project data | | | | contractors. Having a team that routinely tracks your |
| in an efficient and actionable manner. This gives | | | | job-site waste stream is a great way to evaluate |
| owners, architects, construction managers, and | | | | efficient use of materials. |
| subcontractors the ability to avert problems and | | | | • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - While many |
| make project planning and scheduling decisions that | | | | discussions begin with recycling, the best way to |
| save time, money and materials. | | | | consider the process of construction waste is reduce, |
| 2. Schedule Management | | | | reuse, recycle - in that order. The largest waste |
| Through promoting efficiency in the design-build | | | | components on most job sites: cardboard, wood, and |
| process, it is possible to simultaneously maximize | | | | drywall make up 75% of all job-site waste, yet they |
| quality, performance, sustainability and ultimately the | | | | are fully recyclable. Other ways to reduce and save |
| overall value of your project. Reducing waste also | | | | money include salvaging existing materials which can |
| means eliminating time-wasting activities and keeping | | | | be resold or donated resulting in less waste and tax |
| your project on time and on budget. Time is money, | | | | savings. In many cities, non-profit building materials |
| especially in construction, but time also has a cost in | | | | resource centers have been established to receive |
| its expenditure of energy and resources. Streamlining | | | | and then redistribute this scrapped material. |
| each phase of the design-build process helps make | | | | • Local Resources are Vital - Builders represent |
| the best use of the time, money and resources | | | | just one group that needs to be involved in |
| allocated for your project. In order to accomplish this, | | | | construction waste reduction. Others include waste |
| it is essential to work with a construction firm that | | | | haulers, recyclers, local building product |
| has a solid record of scheduling dependability and | | | | manufacturers, and landfill operators. Using local |
| keeping all involved parties on a tight and firm | | | | companies not only helps area trades and reduces |
| schedule. Utilizing a Master Project Schedule which | | | | your carbon footprint, it also allows you to get the |
| notes and highlights pre-construction milestones for | | | | best information on local and regional rules and |
| key deliverables and other critical path activities is | | | | regulations from people that know them inside and |
| vital. | | | | out. |
| Categories typically in a Master Project Schedule | | | | 5. Safe Jobs Save Money |
| include: | | | | Maintaining a safe job site is not only essential to |
| • Design deliverables | | | | reducing waste and the overall environmental impact |
| • Estimating deliverables | | | | of your project, but is vital in helping to protect your |
| • Pre-construction decision dates | | | | business and your bottom line. Strong safety |
| • Building permits and approvals | | | | programs prevent injuries, save lives, reduce liability |
| • Procurement and early release design packages | | | | and the risk of litigation. Establishing guidelines, training |
| • Critical path construction activities | | | | programs, and a corporate culture around safety is |
| • Start-up and commissioning actions | | | | essential and every person involved in your project |
| • Owner move-in activities | | | | from field personnel, to office staff, to executive |
| The project schedule is updated and refined | | | | leadership need to be on board and committed to |
| throughout pre-construction to reflect the latest | | | | creating safe and injury-free environments and going |
| decisions and information. During construction, your | | | | above and beyond industry standards in all aspects |
| project superintendent should supplement this | | | | of safety. Ensuring that every person returns home |
| schedule with Three-Week Look-Ahead Schedules, | | | | safely should be your number one goal, every day, |
| which can be sent to your project team, as well as | | | | on every job. |
| the design team, key subcontractors, and other | | | | |