We sat down with our Senior Project Manager, Jack Bruce, to talk about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and green building in the construction industry. Jack became involved with LEED in 2006 when it was just gaining popularity, and has been involved in many LEED projects. Although he has not maintained his certification status, he still utilizes his knowledge on a daily basis. Since its introduction in 2000, the LEED certificate has become more commonplace on construction projects and used as standard practice. Some projects may not be LEED certified, but they still use LEED standards, guidelines, and aspects without seeking LEED certification. These procedures are an important part of a good design and construction practice regardless if the owner wants the certification and should be considered when value engineering is used to provide the occupants with the most comfortable experience.
The assumption is that green buildings can be more costly, but there is a balance between the cost of construction and operation and the return on investment for the client or the building owner. There may be some components of the work that seem as though the upfront cost to construct a green space may be higher. However, in the long term, the productivity and satisfaction of the occupants in the space will improve and ultimately increase the quality of work and performance. This causes tasks to be completed more efficiently and with better outcomes, all of which the provider and the consumer of the services will benefit.
As for the future of green building, Jack believes it is always evolving and improving. We need to remember that what we construct has a direct impact on where and how we live. Maintaining and restoring the buildings we currently use will be one aspect of a more sustainable future. Jack's Bio>>>
