It’s clear that the energy efficiency industry is undergoing an unprecedented boom, spurred by state and federal support and movement toward a smarter grid. But for those in the industry, where exactly can the new business – and the jobs – be found?
Two new reports by Colorado-based Pike Research shed some light.
After years of focusing on bringing efficiency to manufacturing, policymakers are turning attention to deep retrofits for the home. Tax credits, low-cost financing, and other incentives make it easier for homeowners to install efficient heating systems, replace windows and insulate attics.
Thus, if you are a home energy auditor – or thinking of becoming one – you are in luck. The report forecasts that the energy auditing market will triple from $8.1 billion in 2009 to $23.4 billion by 2014. And from those audits will come recommendations that spur home improvements. Pike Research predicts a $50.2 billion market in the installation of new electrical systems, appliances and major equipment, HVAC systems, roofing, windows and doors and other efficiency improvements by 2014, up from $39.3 billion.
The more efficient homes need more efficient appliances, so the Energy Star appliance market also may see revenue growth. Under a business-as-usual scenario the industry is expected to generate $21.9 billion by 2014. But the market could see the addition of another $11.3 billion under a high-penetration efficiency scenario, says the study.
“Energy efficiency is stepping into the light after a long period of obscurity,” says Clint Wheelock, Pike Research managing director. “A number of factors are converging to make energy efficient residential products and services a hot sector over the next several years. These drivers include increased environmental awareness among consumers, government incentives, utility energy efficiency programs, and new offerings and rebates from product manufacturers.”
Meanwhile, the US also is realizing that a smart grid must be a safe grid. Increased attention is being placed on cyber security, measures to protect the electrical grid from attacks by terrorists and hackers, natural disasters, equipment failures and human error.
Companies that offer services and equipment to secure the grid are seeing a rapid increase in demand for their wares. Pike Research forecasts that from 2010 to 2015 about $21 billion will be invested globally in cyber security for the smart grid.
“No utility wants to be the weak link in the chain,” Wheelock says “The concern over grid vulnerability is driving utility technologists to work closely with systems integrators, infrastructure suppliers, and standards bodies to develop a robust framework for smart grid cyber security across multiple domains.”
The report finds that equipment protection and configuration management will experience greatest demand. Among smart grid applications, the firm expects that the greatest investments will go into cyber security for distribution automation (DA) and transmission upgrades, followed by security measures for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meters.
Remember the old center-of-the-ceiling light fixture? You entered a room, hit the wall switch, and a couple of light bulbs behind a semi-transparent plate shed general, flat light over the whole room. All features of the room, good and bad, got the same emphasis. There was enough light to avoid tripping over the dog, but not enough light to read by.
Things have changed. Lighting is now a sophisticated design element of the modern home, whether that home is traditional or contemporary in style. Every aspect of lighting — placement, function, control, style, energy-efficiency — has evolved to offer exactly what is needed in each room.
The thoughtful placement of lighting fixtures with specific function can make a dramatic change in a room. For example, instead of a big overhead fluorescent panel, new kitchens now feature task-specific fixtures such as recessed spot lights over the sink and other work stations, strip lights under wall cabinets, or dropped fixtures over work islands or eating areas. Other examples of task lighting include automatic bulbs in cabinets and pantries, up- and down-lights that showcase landscaping or artwork, and fixtures positioned to throw light on stair treads.
Lighting controls have also come a long way from the simple wall-mounted switch. Homeowners can program or manipulate lighting schemes to create custom ambiance for a casual dinner party or an intimate evening at home. Timers, remote controls, dimmer switches, and motion sensors enhance the flexibility, beauty and convenience of a lighting design using both wired and wireless technologies.
Besides increasing the technical sophistication of their products, lighting manufacturers have had to keep up with current styles and fashions. Pendants, wall sconces, chandeliers, and domed fixtures are available in an almost endless array of styles and finishes. In addition, lighting suppliers have developed a greater range of compatible fixtures to achieve a coordinated look for all lighting products in the house.
Security lighting has also grown in popularity in recent years. Inside the home, high tech wired and wireless timers can be programmed to create the illusion of activity while the owners are away. Outside, motion-activated lighting is a basic feature, especially at entries. Outdoor fixtures can highlight house numbers to assist emergency services. Lights in the garage and house can flash on and off as part of a security system that alerts neighbors or police of an unauthorized intrusion.
Outdoor light fixtures are increasingly powered by solar energy and light sensors to save even more electricity. Small photovoltaic cells are built right into path and landscape products to power them only at night. These systems require no wiring or current from another source, making them safe and easy to replace as needed. Homeowners enjoy the added convenience and beauty of outdoor lighting, whether or not they remember to turn them on or off.
Professional builders incorporate modern lighting design and products in their new homes, adding long-lasting value while enhancing style, convenience, comfort, security, and efficiency.
A new home today is built to consume less energy than those of just a decade ago. Such a home is nearly airtight with controlled fresh-air ventilation for energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
To heat and cool a home built for high performance, a professional builder can select top-quality heating and cooling equipment to ensure year-round comfort and energy savings. However, if the owners want that equipment to perform as designed, they must maintain it.
Fortunately, the proper maintenance of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (commonly referred to as “HVAC”) does not require homeowners to be mechanical contractors. A few easy steps for preventive care, conducted on schedule, are usually all it takes to keep those systems humming at peak performance.
The vast majority of residential HVAC systems are “forced air” configurations. The system consists of a centrally located condenser along with a furnace and blower units that push heated or cooled air through a network of large pipes (or ducts) into the rooms of the house through vent registers.
A forced air system relies on other ducts to suck in and return air to the system from registers near the ceiling. “Return” air is either recycled through the system or exhausted to the outside, keeping the inside air fresh and comfortable.
Maintaining this system starts at the blower, which circulates a high volume of air. The blower contains a removable filter to prevent small particles and allergens from contaminating the indoor air. For most HVAC systems, the filter should be replaced every three months. Some newer, high-performance systems may have filters that only need to be replaced semi-annually or even just once a year. Consult your owner’s manual for frequency of replacement as well as size of filter. Filters of all sizes are available at most home improvement and hardware stores and are easy to remove and reinsert into the blower.
The next component to maintain is the ductwork. It’s a good idea, even in a new house, to have the ducts cleaned out at least every two years. In fact, most professional builders will offer or simply conduct a thorough duct cleaning before the owners of a new house take occupancy. Responsible builders do not want their buyers to be greeted with a puff of construction dust the first time the HVAC system is used! Two years later, the owners should contact a local duct-cleaning service or ask their builder for a recommendation.
On the same every-other-year schedule, the entire HVAC system should be checked by a professional mechanical contractor. Again, your builder can recommend a reputable service, ideally the company that installed the system. This check-up will ensure that the system is operating properly; bringing enough fresh air into the house, providing adequate ventilation and maximizing energy efficiency. Homeowners can do random spot checks by inspecting the outside of the equipment for any leaks, cracks, or other abnormalities and reporting those to their builder or HVAC service contractor.
This type of simple and inexpensive maintenance program will help to keep the HVAC system running at optimum performance for many years.
Not once, but twice President Obama mentioned the importance of energy efficiency in his state of the union address January 27. His support for the resource is no surprise; his administration has channeled $20 billion toward energy savings programs. Obama made clear that going into his second year his support will not waver.
“I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But here’s the thing — even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy-efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future -– because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation,” he said.
For many years, efficiency was the poor sister of the energy world. So continued support from the highest office comes as extraordinarily good news to the range of businesses that provide energy savings services and products – from appliance manufacturers to energy efficiency service companies to the new entrants — smart grid and information technology companies.
But when an industry receives this much incentive money, it inevitably comes under increased scrutiny. Is the taxpayer and the ratepayer getting bang for the buck?
Fortunately, a lot of work is underway to bring to buildings the kind of miles per gallon measure we now have in the auto industry. How many people know how well or poorly their homes and businesses use energy?
To find out, innovations are being developed in use of data loggers and other devices that measure actual energy output of equipment and other parameters. Another interesting approach is use of benchmarking and disclosure mandates to determine building performance.
The goal of such programs is give consumers and businesses information about building performance to trigger “market-based competition to own, operate, lease, finance, design and build the most energy-efficient buildings,” says the Institute for Market Transformation.
The Washington, D.C.-based efficiency group describes on its website several cities and states already using benchmarking and disclosure:
The New York City Council requires building energy rating and disclosure, periodic energy audits and retro-commissioning. It also mandates building-wide lighting upgrades and the installation of submeters and compliance with a new city energy code.
Washington, D.C. mandates annual energy performance rating and disclosure for commercial buildings. The district publishes building energy performance data on a public online database.
Utilities in California must provide data for use in ENERGY STAR benchmarking. Commercial building owners must disclose ENERGY STAR benchmark data to prospective tenants, buyers and lenders.
Austin, Texas requires commercial building energy rating and disclosure, mandatory energy audits for homes and mandatory audits plus retrofits (in some cases) for apartment buildings.
Washington state has a building energy rating and disclosure mandate similar to California’s. The city of Seattle has its own benchmarking requirement.
On the federal level, the House and Senate climate bills would create a national building label. In addition, the Department of Energy has a new National Building Rating Program to create a label for homes.
Stay tuned for increased city, state and federal activity in measuring and monitoring energy efficiency as activity expands. More details are available at: http://www.imt.org/
If you have a leak on a new to mid life flat roof and have been told that a new roof is needed, then call us first. We may be able to save you a substantial amount of money. Thermal imaging can be used to detect the precise location of the leak and mark the affected area so that repairs can be made to the leaking area. Obviously, if the roof is older then you should forgo the thermal imaging and invest in the needed new roof.
If your flat roof is under Warranty; that is the best time to get it inspected. Most problems are related to human error and can be minor and easy to repair when caught early on. Since it is still under Warranty; the roofer should fix these problems with no extra cost to you.
More than 50% of flat roofs leak with in the first year alone. Depending on the construction type of your roof; you will not even notice water leaking from the roof. You will notice when the water corrodes or rots the roof and at that point you will have some major problems. That is why we recommend surveying your flat roof once a year, so that if a leak occurs it is detected before it can do a maximum amount of damage.
Even if the roof already has major problems Thermal Imaging can still be a benefit to you. We can identify the problem areas and instead of having to get a whole new roof, which is what the roofers will almost always recommend of course, we can isolate the specific areas that need repair.
Understand the theory of IR roof inspections
Normally there is little or no water within a flat roof assembly. When a leak develops, water enters the assemble and depending on the type of insulation system is either absorbed by the insulation or runs to the cracks between the nonabsorbent insulation. When water enters the roof assembly it is there for a long time. Accelerated testing has proved that once wet, a flat roof will not dry out during the life of the roof, even if there is never another leak.
Thermal capacitance is the physical property of a material’s ability to store heat. The materials in a roof assembly have relatively low thermal capacitance, especially when compared to water. Water requires a lot of energy to raise its temperature and likewise must release a lot of energy to cool down.
This is the basis of thermal roof inspections: dry roof insulation will heat up quickly when heated by the sun, while wet roof insulation will heat up slowly. Later in the day, after the sun has gone down, the roof starts to cool off. The dry insulation cools down quickly while the wet insulation cools off slowly. When the dry insulation reaches a temperature cooler than the wet insulation, the thermographer can see the wet areas as warmer.
Today, simple respect and responsiveness seems to be more the exception than the rule … especially after the sale. How a homebuilder manages after-sale service, also called warranty service or call-backs, is a key indicator of the company’s overall professionalism and ability to meet (and ideally exceed) a homebuyer’s expectations.
The goal of the professional builder is to quickly and completely respond to and resolve issues that come up during the time a home is under warranty. As a critical part of providing great housing value and achieving customer satisfaction, professional builders encourage questions from homebuyers and respond to their concerns in a timely and respectful manner.
Typically, a builder’s warranty addresses specific issues with a home related to its structural components (such as the foundation and frame), basic electrical and other mechanical systems, and the quality of workmanship for a set time period. How a builder responds to warranty service inquiries varies depending on the policy offered and sold with the house: some are defined and managed entirely by the builder, while others are defined, at least in part, by independent agencies (such as an insurance company) and administered by the builder.
Specific warranty language and procedures benefit both the builder and the homeowner. Simply, a well-defined and properly communicated warranty service policy helps eliminate confusion about who is responsible for issues, concerns, and other call-back items that may occur in the first year or so of occupancy.
While there are specific differences among builders, a superior warranty service program includes:
Documentation. A documented process for responding to call-backs and customer service inquiries creates a “paper trail” that ensures that questions and concerns are properly communicated, managed, and resolved. A professional builder will document the details of the warranty policy and keep track of inquiries, response time, and specific types of service calls from the first call to follow-up to ensure the homeowner’s ultimate satisfaction.
Response time. Responding to a service call is more an issue of timing than time; the key is to understand which calls will be addressed immediately, and which may require or allow more time. No one likes to wonder if or when a call or email will be answered; if homeowners can depend on getting a reply from their builder within a reasonable (or better still, stated) time frame, chances are better that they’ll be satisfied with how the issue is resolved.
Collective calls. Even if a builder responds to a warranty service call within a day or so, making a visit to the house to resolve a non-emergency situation may be timed to coincide with other scheduled work at the house. This “collective call” minimizes the number of times an owner needs to be at home to make the house available to the builder’s warranty service team. Of course, emergency calls demand immediate attention, but collective calls can be a more convenient and reliable way to address a variety of concerns or maintenance issues at the same time.
Scheduled visits. Professional builders are becoming more proactive in how they address scheduled service and other routine maintenance work while a house is still under warranty. In many cases, a builder will schedule a visit and “walk through” (or tour) a new home within a month after occupancy. These visits are opportunities for homeowners to ask questions and for the builder to document or schedule service work covered by the warranty. Such visits also help builders refine their warranty service processes based on a homeowner’s feedback.
No builder follows exactly the same policies and procedures for warranty service, inquiries and incidents. Our goal as building professionals is to provide each client with the best new home buying and living experience possible. How builders refine and improve their after the sale process goes a long way toward delivering superior customer service and buyer satisfaction.
Lawson Has Answers For Your Questions
Q: Why do builders sometimes send another company on a service call?
A: Increasingly, new-home builders rely on a variety of trade (or specialty) contractors, such as electricians, plumbers, and heating and cooling experts, to help build your new house. Part of their contract is servicing their work; who better than the person who installed your faucet to fix a leak? While the builder is ultimately responsible for making sure warranty work is documented and performed, he will rely on trade contractors to make warranty service call on his behalf, to his standards, and to your satisfaction.
If you are in need of a job tested and homeowner approved tradesman for home maintanance please do not hesitate to call us for a experienced based referal. We have a list of tradesmen and handy men who need work and have a record of reliability that has been proven over the years. I want to do all that I can to keep them in business and welcome your call. Regardless the size of the job we probably have someone who can do it professionally and make you happy. My cell phone (770-231-4003) is the best way to catch me these days. Give me a ring.
One of the things that I value is privacy. This is getting tougher and tougher with the ever increasing ways one can invade and/or disclose one’s personal privacy.
I recall reading an interview or two or ten where the author/speaker says “anyone without a website will not be in business by the end of the decade.” Well we are ending a decade and you would be surprised at the number of business that still do not have web pages and those with web pages but no business anymore.
How significant a web page was in driving business is something I would like very much to see numbers on. For years business people were told without a presence in the Yellow Pages you would lose significant business. Again numbers like that would have to be measured and analyzed and most small businesses rarely do that type of cost benefit analysis.
I actually do ask every client how they found me. You would be surprised how few actually recall but most found me through a flyer, brochure or some actual physical contact with my information. I get some who found me from googling a yellow page ad which still lists my construction business but NONE who ever found me via googling “green consultant” and then going to my website reading the information and in turn contacting me that way. Few actually read my website and what is interesting is that they are sure I am still a contractor despite the information to the contrary.
Now admittedly I do perform a unique service and most people think all contractors and speciality contractors (roofers, etc) are fully educated and informed about current building science, green build, etc and in turn will inform they, the customer, about all those options. As you read in a previous blog we know that it is not the case and its why I thought education or coaching would be a beneficial niche. However being unique doesn’t mean you are the only one. There are many in my field and many who do different things under the same “green” umbrella.
It is extremely challenging to be a small provider in business and spend the money getting new training, education and also supporting, marketing and running a business. So you get what we have in the field – those who have vested entirely in green build and those who are struggling to find the balance. The have and have-nots I call them. Like banks it appears that small single shingle businesses will dissolve in the wake of bigger better financed companies/builders who can ride this out by taking on remodeling while in turn driving out their competitors. Its going to get a lot worse on the construction front in the years ahead as they fight over the “cash for caulkers” program that Obama is proposing.
So how do you market your business in ways that is affordable and reaches a number of heads that will actually utilize your services?
1. Advertising. Through both conventional print, television and radio. Well I have done varying print options and I can assure you NONE of them brought me any business. I tried transit advertising and it did bring me one call for something so out there I can’t even say what to say about it but it did get a call. But almost ALL of the calls were other advertising and marketing firms looking to further their business.
2. Networking. From joining varying groups – BNI, LeTip, Chamber of Commerce. Well those are fine if that is what you are looking for expensive organizations that are almost pyramid schemes to keep them in business. I have participated in the free meet and greets and frankly have NEVER gotten any business from them in anyway but hits from them to get their members business.
3. Google Ads. I have no idea if these work at all. Again what clients say is they don’t recall exactly how they found me; I am thinking they probably don’t want to admit that this is the way the found me. I spend very little on this and my belief is that it is not really the most successful way of advertising but it is a great way of building brand/name recognition. But as I don’t “click that link” I think most consumers are like me and would prefer to research it further thinking of course that those not paying for advertising are not trying as hard and in turn are ones who business I support. If anything it is almost a reverse logic or at least inherent skepticism.
But again I try to think like my customers and my market and this is Seattle a notoriously “thrifty” city that prides itself on being green so they also don’t think they need my services as much as they think. And in this economy people are not realizing how much they actually need me so going for word of mouth is not something I can rely on when there are few mouths.
4. Trade Shows. These are great again at building a brand. Ironically I got more out of state clients from a local trade show than local ones. Why? Because where they live they don’t have this kind of service, I am affordable and accommodating.
In those cases I did much of the work via Skype and E-mail and sent them what they need in an easy report with samples and product specs. In that case they if they are seeking LEED or other certs, I will find out if these qualify for points and in turn they can find someone at “home” who will sign off at that time when they ultimately make the final decision.
Trade shows are great at finding partners for that endeavor, however, who share your these are extremely expensive and I will not do them again unless I can find a co-operative venture or small neighborhood/community ones that are affordable and on single weekend days or in summer months.
5. Guerrilla Marketing. These are the flyer’s, brochures, etc that you literally spread throughout your community. This is small business but it builds your business in your area. You will have to do this alone or with help but this was and still is my larges and most affordable marketing tool.
6. Social Media. This is the MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, etc. I have a business Facebook page and a LinkedIn profile and guess what NOT a call or customer. Why that doesn’t shock me. Again my odd niche of what I do attracts numerous “greenies” wanting to connect with me but mostly they are time consuming and distracting. My LinkedIn profile is so generic and vague with details and specifics that I get few inquires or “links.”
I do not have a personal Facebook nor do I Twitter. I was highly reticent about blogging as there are so many enthusiastic bloggers about green building and the like I frankly did not want mine to become GBA or Jetson Green as that is not who I am nor have plans to be.
In real life I have no need to Facebook anyone. I can call them or email them and speak to them directly. I text only when I need to and do not use that as a substitute to actually pick up a phone and call. And guess what I have personal stationery and still send thank you cards and mail when I can. I think there is something meaningful about a personalized note. I do not need people from 20 years ago getting in touch with me because we went to grade/high school together. I am sorry but its not 1977 anymore and if we were such great friends then why weren’t we still friends now and well its not 1977 anymore so I am not sure I care to relieve the time period thanks. I never looked good in clingy palazzo pants.
I read that you will have to have a Facebook to survive and Twitter if you want your business to succeed. What.Ever. I think like many millions of small business people the mundane details of our daily lives and business is not something for the masses. Do I think a Facebook page with my photos and personal information will find my business or a job that has meaning? I have no idea because given what I know about people and the marketplace I don’t think so. I think its largely a fad and a way to not be alone. To find people like you and to distract you from yourself or your poor work. I don’t think real business people are using the site to find like business minds, employees or business (and I don’t and I don’t think I am all that unique either) I think they are using it to check up on employees or prospective employees and what they are up to. I don’t think its a good thing.
I also don’t think its a good thing to put up too much personal information. With hackers and identity theft on the rise do you really need anyone and everyone to know when and where you went to school, your past employment history and your personal details to the nth degree? What are you thinking. I have had two very odd encounters from online information and now no longer even use Craigslist to buy or sell anything. Think about it recall the power of Ebay? We stick with nothing long enough anymore to really measure its true meaning or longevity. Its only a matter of time before Craigslist is replaced. Too many frauds, scams and killers have destroyed its usefulness.
I received a call from someone who said he saw my profile on LinkedIn and was my classmate at the UW. I knew immediately he was lying because the dates I listed are current ones not actual ones but he said he wanted to talk about what I do. So I met him at a Starbucks far from my home in the midday. Sure enough a suburban dad arrived sat down said “you aren’t who I think you are” and left immediately. That is another reason why my photo is obama-ized. You have to be careful regardless.
I was listening to Howard Stern this morning and he said this is further proof that we are de-evolving and are infantalizing ourselves. We have Apps (I am sure that will be the next MUST for business) that basically do everything now so we don’t have to ever be home and when we are out its like being at home so its not so lonely. Next time you are in a coffee shop, bar or restaurant watch how many people are texting, surfing, listening to anything but the people around them. Its stranger danger but without the strangers or the danger right?
If you really believe your business thrives and your resume is attracting legitimate offers than I commend you. I just find that well businesses grew way before the Internet and they are the ones oddly still here. They understand the need for flexibility but one cannot underestimate the power of the past and what experience it brings to the table.
I am not set in my ways I just have divisions of what is personal and what is business. I respect my privacy and more importantly why I advocate transparency in business I don’t feel the same way about that in person.
If The Graduate were written today, Mr. McGuire’s career tip to Benjamin probably would have been “green,” rather than “plastics.” But it’s likely Benjamin would have responded in the same quizzical way: “Just how do you mean that, sir?”
It was difficult to envision the vast number of new products, businesses and careers that would emerge from the plastics industry following World War II. The same is true for the green energy industry today. A report issued December 16 by PricewaterhouseCoopers sheds some light. http://www.pwc.com/us/cleantechrevolution
To know where the business opportunities will be, watch the unusual alliances forming among industries, according to “Cleantech Revolution: Building Smart Infrastructures.” We see hints already as automakers, utilities, battery makers and communications providers ally in preparation for an expected $165 billion smart grid build-out. The report cites several examples, among them:
· Nissan’s partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric to build electric vehicle charging stations
· Echelon and T-Mobile’s deal to create wireless networks connecting utilities to smart meters
· Cisco assisting Duke Energy in building a smart grid
“As the build-out gains traction, it has the potential to support a proliferation of new businesses across sectors, much like the evolution of both the semiconductor industry and the Internet,” says Tim Carey, PWC U.S. clean technology leader.
Don’t be surprised, says the report, to see a national retail store chain partner with an electric battery maker to install charging stations nationwide for plug-in electric vehicles. A new wave of corporate mergers and acquisitions also could be in the cards. The opportunities are vast, especially when you consider the size of the smart grid. The US has 160 million households awaiting installation of smart meters. These new devices will require changes in the way we operate our electrical infrastructure, which encompasses 3,100 utilities, 10,000 power plants, 5,600 distributed energy facilities and 157,000 miles of high voltage transmission wires, says the report. How many better mousetraps can a system of this size support? More than we can imagine.
I recently had coffee with an Insurance Agent discussing risks and issues surrounding Green Building and LEED.
While I have no problems with either I have said I choose not be to be a LEED AP or do any third party verifications for any organization or group offering such credentials to a building.
My reasons were liability, redundancy between programs (how do you know which is best), unnecessary I believe in residential housing as it offers no tax breaks only additional costs and more importantly if you are building correctly and with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind you don’t need the silly plaque on the wall.. just do it. And finally I am not an employee or associate of the USGBC, NAHB, MBA, EEBA, the Lung Association, Energy Star etc so unless they want to hire me to promote their programs and share the indemnity associated with certifications I choose to not PAY them for the privilege.. I will however pay for your resources, education and training and share that with my clients as needed.
I found this article today in Goddard Construction Magazine and it explains the risks that anyone looking to build and certify green what you need to consider prior to taking that project on. I don’t want to discourage anyone from building green but I would prefer building SMART over any acronym any day.
Home Environment & Compliance Risk Mitigation In Green Building
Risk Mitigation In Green Building
Written by Franz Wagner, P.E. and Jeff Myung, LEED AP
They say it’s always greener on the other side, but Green-built and LEED-certified projects can have you seeing red if owners and contractors do not take precautions to mitigate risk. While many executives in the construction industry initially perceived green building as a fad just a few short years ago, it is undeniably here for good.
Green building offers project stakeholders the allure of increased profitability, but to achieve optimum return on their investment, building owners and contractors need to mitigate the inherent risks associated with sustainable building. The first step to mitigating your risk is to understand how the risks emanating from Green building differ from those emanating from traditional building.
Risk Management in Site Selection
To obtain maximum Site Sustainability LEED credits, project owners often seek out locations that have been declared brownfield sites (abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for reuse) and also sites in close proximity to mass transportation, population density and accommodations for electric vehicles and bicyclists.
The development of brownfields may be complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The land is often contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous compounds such as lead, PCBs, mercury, hydrocarbons and asbestos. Additionally, such sites often pose unique pollution exposures created by working near subways, railroads and waterways. Because site selection is a key component in LEED certification, owners and developers need to evaluate the numerous insurance products available in the current marketplace to address environmental liabilities arising from these projects constructed on remediated properties. Various forms of coverage can be pursued to insure against existing and unknown pollution conditions as well as pollution conditions arising out of the construction work being performed. Each of these insurance products deserves consideration depending on the specifics of the work and the selected project site.
Loss Control Considerations
The stringent LEED credit system offers designers and contractors the guidance they need to produce a sustainable facility, but with those credits also come safety concerns that must be addressed in order to avoid costly insurance claims. The following outlines three loss control considerations that you should discuss with your insurance broker and safety consultant. By informing them of the green design elements planned for your project, your safety consultant can provide adequate training and equipment, and your broker can enhance your policies with the necessary coverage.
1. Material Reuse
LEED credits are offered for reuse of building materials, which often require some of the materials to be abated of lead paint in the case of reusing steel beams or exposed wooden beams, or stripped of hazardous compounds such as mercury in the case of reused electrical devices. At The Graham Company, our safety consultants advise site managers and contractors on best practices and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standards for protecting employees during this phase of construction.
2. Vegetative Roofing
Vegetative roofs are an ideal way to maximize LEED credits for reducing heat island effects, using maximum green space and capturing and reusing rain water. However, vegetative roofs also present a unique condition for worker-fall protection during construction. The lack of exposed concrete and steel on a rooftop creates new challenges in providing construction workers with fall-arrest anchor points, as well as falling-object protection for those below.
3. Indoor Air Quality Control
During the final phases of construction and just prior to occupancy, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) place minimum expectations for continuous air exchanges. This challenge creates new demands of ventilation during final construction activities, such as painting, drywall and plastering, floor and carpet installation and waterproofing. While such activities may not have posed concern under traditional building conditions, the progressive LEED requirements for ventilation may now present you with a new series of occupational health concerns.
4. Update Your Insurance Program
Brokers who understand the risks associated with LEED construction are better equipped to structure the insurance coverages for these projects. For example, Builders Risk Policies do not automatically cover some of the unique aspects of a LEED project, such as the loss of earnings from an inability to achieve energy credits or sell off surplus energy due to a loss, or the additional soft costs associated with rebuilding to LEED standards. Keeping your broker informed on the extent of these projects will result in a more comprehensive insurance program to address these LEED-specific exposures.
It wasn’t long ago that the most you could expect for your new house was a white slab of concrete approaching your garage and your front door. Maybe another slab on the other side as a small patio. That was the only option offered by most new home builders.
Thankfully, those days are past. Now the best builders recognize that such “hardscape” areas are essential to the curb appeal of their new homes. What was formerly a neutral — or detrimental — feature now delivers distinctive style and a boost to the overall value of the house.
Builders and homebuyers have several options available to vary their hardscape areas and bring a little zing to this neglected element of a home’s style. Here are a few to consider:
Stamped concrete. Just as it sounds, the masonry or concrete contractor places textured panels of various sizes over an area of newly poured concrete and applies a slight bit of pressure to make an impression. Once the concrete sets, the panels are removed to reveal a permanent pattern.
Stamped concrete is an excellent and cost-effective way to add the three-dimensional look of a custom-etched or troweled concrete surface, hand-laid bricks or stone pavers. Several patterns, from uniform bricks to more abstract textures, enable builders and homebuyers to satisfy their personal tastes and to compliment the style of the new home. Stamped concrete can be used to highlight the walkway to the front door or create a consistent, dimensional look for all of the home’s hardscape areas.
Colored concrete. When colored concrete is desired, a pigment is added as the concrete is being mixed (called an “integral” coloring process). This means that the color is mixed through the depth of the hardscape area, not just painted on the surface. Colored concrete is often used to highlight a hardscape feature, such as a walkway. Used in conjunction with stamped concrete technique, the integral coloring process can enhance the authenticity of a pattern, such as red bricks or dark stone pavers.
Aggregate. Another option that adds dimension to a standard concrete surface is exposed aggregate. Small rounded stones are added to the concrete mix. Then the concrete surface is brushed before the concrete sets, exposing the texture and slight color variations of the authentic pebbles. Exposed aggregate can add interest to an otherwise featureless expanse for a relatively low cost.
Bricks and pavers. There’s no substitute for the “real thing” if it fits the budget. Laying individual bricks or stones — available in various sizes, shapes, and colors — is a labor-intensive (and thus more costly) endeavor. The preparation for a brick or stone path, patio, or driveway is much the same as that for a poured concrete hardscape. However, laying each brick (and sometimes cutting it to fit), maintaining a pattern and straight lines, and securing the pieces in place with either mortar or sand takes much more time and skill.
One practical advantage of this option: replace individual damaged pieces as necessary. For this reason, we recommend ordering about 5% more material than the job requires so that a consistent appearance can be maintained as pieces are replaced over time. Of course, the greatest advantage to hand-laid bricks and pavers is aesthetic. The natural materials show slight undulations and variations in color and texture that are unmistakable.
Thin (or veneer) bricks and stones can help lower the cost of the hand-laid approach, but these are most suitable as accents, such as lining a concrete driveway or walk. They are less suited to high-traffic areas that must carry greater weight.
Used in creative combinations, the options available for hardscapes offer builders and homeowners unlimited ways to achieve unique surfaces. Effective hardscapes will enhance a new home’s architectural style, increase its value and bring long-term satisfaction to the owner.
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