Construction Cost Management

It's been a while coming, but now Green Building is all the rage. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification system in 1998. Now, just over ten years later, this is the accepted standard for green and sustainable building, at least for commercial construction.

Buildings account for at least 35% of the energy used in the US. As utility and energy costs rise it is going to be increasingly important to make buildings more efficient. Energy supplies, especially oil, are dwindling while global demand is rising, and the USA's share of the world economy is almost certainly going to decline. Alternative energy sources are being, and will increasingly be, developed. But they are more expensive and we have a long long way to go to make up all the oil and gas that is imported. So scarcity and high cost of energy sources for heating and cooling our buildings are looming. Add to that the concern over global warming, and we have impelling reasons for making our buildings Greener.

Healthy interior environments - free from noxious offgassing chemicals and from mold, and with adequate fresh air - are becoming more important.

At CCM we understand the implications of Green Building and keep up with the latest trends and requirements. We understand how to assess the cost and payback of Green strategies, especially those that form the basis of LEED "points". We understand too the implications for the contractor and what to look out for.

We are LEED AP - Accredited Professional - with experience in both commercial systems and LEED for Homes. We are also Green Advantage certified, to assist contractors in following strategies for green construction, and to educate workers in specific trade practices.

A greater level of technical knowledge and technical analysis is required with Green Building, to explore and validate design decisions which will lead to sustainable buildings. As a former professor teaching architectural science and theory, and as a researcher into natural climate control for buildings, I have the background to understadn the technical issues and assist in their exploration.