Hello, and welcome to my blog.  Over the course of this semester, I will discuss topics involving green building. 

Green construction is growing at a rapid pace and many owners are requesting at least some level of green certification.  Many construction companies are embracing green construction with open arms, but many contractors and subcontractors are not as willing to accept the extra effort that is required to certify a project.

Last summer I had a wonderful opportunity to work with a large commercial general contractor that specialized in large tilt-up warehouses.  The majority of their projects were required to be LEED certified, and I compiled all of the information required to achieve LEED certification for one of the projects nearing completion. 

The USGBC has done a great job creating LEEDonline, which allows contractors to submit all of the documentation required to achieve LEED certification digitally.  The contractor can log on to this website, enter the required information for each LEED credit, and upload any cut sheets or backup documentation.  After this is submitted, it is reviewed by the USGBC and either approved or denied, which can also be seen online.  Although this process is somewhat simple and straightforward, it can be very time consuming, especially for a small construction firm.  The main issue I encountered was actually gathering the information needed from the subcontractors.  For many subcontractors, sending the information required for LEED is ranked very low on their list of priorities.

Receiving LEED accreditation has become very common for prime contractors, but it is important to urge subcontractors to obtain training as well.  It would be wonderful if all subcontractors held a LEED AP certification, but that may be unrealistic.  However, a small amount of training would be beneficial to bring prime contractors and subcontractors closer together on understanding the importance, procedures, and requirements of green building.  Some workshops are already available for subcontractors to teach them the basics of LEED and the areas that they must participate in. (LINK) 

The description for a workshop in Massachusetts states, “LEED for Subcontractors is an opportunity to develop complementary skills that produce quality projects for today’s demanding green building clients.  The workshop aims to focus on particular areas where subcontractors must participate in the LEED process, namely providing documentation about materials and following policies and procedures for indoor air quality.  This workshop will explore in detail the on-the-job requirements affecting various trades.  There will be hands-on practice with material information sheets.  Small groups will provide an opportunity for discussion, questions, and feedback among subcontractors, designers, and general contractors.

Educating subcontractors about their role in LEED certification can be very beneficial to both the prime contractor and the subcontractors.  Having more subcontractors receive LEED training will be a gradual process, but could be accelerated by including in their contract that they must attend a “LEED for Subcontractors” workshop.  Most small construction firms do not have the time or resources to walk each subcontractor on a project through the requirements step-by-step.  With a greater understanding of the LEED requirements through training, the subcontractors can make this process much easier for everyone involved.