Green Building in a Climate-challenged World

In today’s world, there’s much buzz around sustainable or “green” building design and construction, a method where resources are wisely used to create high-quality, more energy efficient, and healthier homes and commercial buildings.

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Green design strikes a balance between high-quality building and low environmental impact. A lighter footprint translates to a longer-lasting planet, which rewards both business and the environment.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, more popularly known as LEED, is at the forefront of green building. It is a voluntary national certification process that assists industry experts in developing high-performance and sustainable residential and commercial projects. Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES), meanwhile, is an automated approach to measuring a building product’s life-cycle assessment, as well as environmental and economic impact.

Green construction technology is a wide-ranging category, covering everything from appliances to geothermal heating. It includes solar power, cool roofs, biodegradable materials, and storm water management, to name a few. The so-called zero energy home, for instance, is built to successfully operate independently of the normal electric grid– it provides its own power through renewable sources.

Green building goes beyond its many parts and materials and embraces processes and impacts that benefit the environment at large. In a planet facing changing climate, increasing temperatures, and related environmental issues, building green becomes more than just a trend, but a potential necessity.

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Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager from Perth, Western Australia, who lived in different parts of the world as an expat. She is also an MBA graduate and is currently pursuing an LL.M. in International Commercial Law. Read more about the construction industry by visiting this blog.

Solving Construction Productivity Problems

Construction sites are dynamic and loud. Workers are constantly on the move. Their work requires them to be physically and mentally strong. But it’s not at all times that sites are active and productive. Contractors and workers may be taking steps that hinder their productivity without them knowing.

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Make use of newly available technologies. This may help in the planning process. There are software applications that are for project management, onsite productivity, and building information modeling that can shorten the time for waiting and rework.

Longer work days can be inefficient as the long hours can take a toll on tired bodies and worn-out minds. Overtime may decrease productivity as some may not be working their best. Poor mental attitude may get in the way of developments as well. Properly communicate what has to be done during the day to keep each one reminded of their duties for the time given. Instruct workers well to prevent inaccuracy in work. Bear in mind that their mental fitness is as important as their physical fitness by providing breaks from time to time for them to have refreshed bodies and minds.

Safety training is a must for every construction project. Accidents can result in project delays. Improving safety in the sites can prevent accidents as it educates employees how to do procedures safely. This may also encourage them to adopt new safety methodologies.

Having too many men working at the same time may cause delay. But hiring the right number of employees who are highly-skilled can increase productivity. With the employees’ welfare in mind, better scheduling should be planned and implemented. Safety of workers and proper communication among clients, contractors, and employees can keep a project’s development rolling at a steady pace.

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Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager from Perth, Western Australia. For almost two decades, she has overseen large-scale constructions across different industries, including those for high-capacity subways and stations, highways, and roads. For similar articles, click here.