It seems everyone is going green these days. Car makers are touting their newest fuel-efficient vehicles, homeowners are turning down their thermostats in favor of sweaters and children are learning how important it is to reduce, reuse and recycle.In many ways, the construction industry is ahead of the curve. According to the Associated General Contractors, the construction industry as a whole recycles more than any other industry, and the equipment used in construction generates a scant 0.86 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions due to the combustion of fossil fuels.
The operation and use of built structures, however, accounts for a far greater percentage of energy use. According to the Earthwatch Institute, an international nonprofit organization that supports scientific field research, and the U.S. Green Building Council, U.S. commercial buildings are responsible for 65 percent of total energy consumption, 40 percent of total primary energy use and 30 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. They also account for 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste and seven tons of debris for every 14,000-square-foot building.
Because of this, the AGC has taken an active role in giving contractors the tools they need to make ecologically sound decisions. In addition to a monthly newsletter on environmental issues that affect construction, member bulletins on the latest environmental concerns, and brochures and flyers highlighting AGC environmental initiatives, the AGC is involved in developing a resource book on green construction for builders. The book, entitled “A Contractor's Guide to Green Building Construction,” will be released next year.
Building green in Alaska: There are a number of local designers that have LEED-certified professionals on staff, including ASCG Inc. (soon to become WHPacific), a member of AGC Alaska and the U.S. Green Building Council-Alaska chapter, which seeks to promote green building in Alaska. ASCG's buildings division currently has LEED-accredited personnel in every department, including architecture, mechanical, electrical and structural disciplines.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Other AGC Alaska/USGBC members include USKH Inc., Design Alaska Inc. and Bettisworth North. According to ASCG literature, LEED-certified projects reduce the environmental impact of construction, lower operational costs and increase returns on investment and asset values. In most cases, companies recoup the costs of going green in as little as four years. Green construction aims to include such design features as using recycled materials, energy-efficient heating and better insulation, among other design features.
Thinking green: The AGC Education Foundation is also funding environmental research through its William A. Klinger Research Award. Since the first grant was given in 1972, the foundation has awarded more than $400,000 in grant money. In 2006, the award was given to Michigan State University. The award was geared toward enabling construction contractors to successfully navigate the LEED compliance process. This year's grant was awarded to the Texas A&M University Research Foundation. Its purpose is to determine whether Building Information Modeling can facilitate various tasks, such as the identification of recycling materials for green construction, by general contractors.
According to Melinda Tomaino Flores, environmental program coordinator for the AGC, the green building movement started gaining momentum around 2002. “The interest in green building led us to provide sessions on green buildings during our major meetings,” Tomaino Flores said. “We started weaving it more into existing programs.” She said there has been a shift in the last year or so for a more involved approach.
In June, the AGC released “Talking Points on Green Construction.” The points essentially outline the
Source: AlaskaJournal.com