{"id":806,"date":"2013-02-04T05:59:01","date_gmt":"2013-02-04T12:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.constructonomics.com\/blog\/?p=806"},"modified":"2019-07-04T22:28:34","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T05:28:34","slug":"adding-efficient-construction-management-and-leed-certification-to-lower-operating-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/04\/adding-efficient-construction-management-and-leed-certification-to-lower-operating-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Adding Efficient Construction Management and LEED Certification to Lower Operating Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Noelle Hirsch is a regular contributing researcher and writer for the online construction management site, http:\/\/www.constructionmanagement.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s post, she delves into the timely topic of integrating efficient construction management and LEED certifications into building practices to lower operating costs and reduce energy use.<\/p>\n

Despite the potential savings and reduced environmental footprint that Noelle lists, many businesses and homeowners are hesitant to move toward sustainability due to the initial costs, as pointed out by The Energy Fix\u2019s post in 2011. Despite an increased understanding of global energy shortages and the need to conserve resources, a staggering number of U.S. homes and offices remain inefficient. The vast majority of these inefficiencies are unintentional, and most are even undetected by building owners. High bills have become something of an accepted norm. Recent construction innovations are changing this, however. Creating more energy-efficient buildings is often a complex endeavor, but even small changes make a significant difference: a water saving faucet here and an improved air filtration there can go a long way in reducing overall consumption. As sustainable building becomes more popular, the coming years are likely to see a surge in eco-conscious construction and renovations, which will in turn reduce energy costs for homeowners and businesses.<\/p>\n

The United States Green Building Council, a national non-profit organization, is credited by many for paving the way toward more responsible construction. The Council\u2019s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program, has gained international popularity as a benchmark from which to measure efficiency and conservation. The main goal of LEED is to streamline efficient construction management, making it both desirable and achievable. \u201cLEED is a perfect example of an energy\/environmental standard that did not come from the government down, but from society up, as society has come to value more sustainable workplaces,\u201d New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman said in his book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution\u2014and How it Can Renew America. \u201cThe standard has spread virally, so far, so fast, and so compellingly that studies now show that occupancy, rental rates, and sale prices are higher in LEED-certified buildings than in conventional ones,\u201d Friedman wrote.<\/p>\n

According to this great article from OnQFinancial.com on USDA home loans<\/a>, we know that it costs more to build with sustainability in mind, and it can be hard to rationalize replacing appliances and fixtures that otherwise work with newer, more expensive models that promise efficiency. The upfront costs are almost always worth it, though, on both an economic and environmental level. Environmentally, of course, resources saved mean resources that are not depleted or wasted. Even people who are not terribly concerned with their carbon footprints can recognize the benefits of a slashed bottom line. A 2012 study conducted by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and CNT Energy found that residential buildings alone could save over $3.4 billion each year in energy bills if they switched to high efficiency and energy-saving appliances like washing machines, light bulbs and lighting systems, and HVAC systems from HVAC Direct<\/a>. The study did not look at any other green innovations, like improved insulation or energy recycling.<\/p>\n

Achieving these savings is not difficult. It usually involves some strategy, though, and a lot of planning. Many renovation experts and project managers seek out construction and architectural experts with LEED credentials in order to make the most of their savings. The USGBC credentials green building professionals in three categories: Green Associate, Accredited Professionals, and Fellows. Earning these titles requires both passage of an exam, and demonstrable experience working in the green building sector. Credentialed professionals are usually assets to design teams because they know the ins and outs of what it takes for a building to earn LEED certification, and can quickly identify how to best implement efficient changes and tools. A building can still be energy efficient and save money without being LEED certified, but certification often opens the door to even more benefits. LEED projects can be eligible for federal and local grants, which can greatly offset the initial expenses. Sustainable projects often also enjoy preferred financing from banks and other lenders. Particularly in the home sector, this is essential, as it can make securing a favorable mortgage much simpler. If potential buyers can easily get financing, there is a much greater likelihood that the homes will sell. I happen to be a realtor myself, and when We Buy Houses in San Antonio<\/a> and sell them, the profits themselves tell how lucrative of a business this is, and how easily they sell.<\/p>\n

Tax credits are perhaps the biggest financial reason to consider LEED-quality energy efficiency upgrades. The government offers federal tax incentives for green building at rates that vary based on the type of construction and overall costs involved. The Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and a number of private foundations also offer grants and tax-offset incentives to encourage certain types of efficient building. The decision to retrofit and become LEED certified is becoming more and more popular. What once was simply a good idea is now something of a serious consideration, even an expectation in some sectors. Though it comes at a cost, the long-term payout is worth it on multiple fronts.<\/p>\n

However, LEED certification is the not the only tech savvy method of lowering operating costs. Punch list software<\/a> development is helping keep construction projects efficient to save time and money. Punch list software in conjunction with LEED certification and other progressive management methods will help construction projects run more efficiently while buildings operate more efficiently as well.<\/p>\n

Read this great article from OnQFinancial.com on USDA home loans<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Noelle Hirsch is a regular contributing researcher and writer for the online construction management site, http:\/\/www.constructionmanagement.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s post, she delves into the timely topic of integrating efficient construction management and LEED certifications into building practices to lower operating costs and reduce energy use.<\/p>\n

Despite the potential savings and reduced environmental footprint that Noelle lists, many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=806"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1809,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806\/revisions\/1809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/constructonomics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}