NRC Thoughts on the DOD and Sustainability – Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructure

(Source:  UMass Amherst)

“New recommendations by a National Research Council (NRC) expert panel on green and sustainable building performance could lead to a revolution in building science by creating the first large building performance database”  – Paul Fisette, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

NRC panel members were asked to consider whether nearly 500,000 structures owned by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) worldwide are being operated as sustainably and as efficiently as possible according to a number of green building standards, including Green Globes, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).   After a  nine-month assessment of energy efficiency, water use and many other sustainability factors at about 300,000 of the DOD facilities, one of their top recommendations is that the department should start metering such variables as energy and water use, to collect information on how different facilities perform in many different environments.

What is lacking in building science has been this consistent set of data, really large samples over time.

One of the things learned from this study is that the Defense Department is the perfect organization to be able to provide  ongoing data.   The DOD is  a “single” owner of a lot of property and they have control over how it’s operated, along with costs, uses and standards.

The DOD has the opportunity to continue to take a leadership role in improving the knowledge base about high-performance buildings, improving decision-support tools and improving building models by collecting data on measured energy, water and other resource use for its portfolio of buildings and by collaborating with others.

Central to any sustainability effort, however, is the ability to execute the numerous associated renovation, repair, and minor new construction projects.   Proven collaborative, transparent, and productive construction delivery methods such as Job Order Contracting, JOC, are an important component of success.

JOC ProcessVia:  http://www.4Clicks.com – Premier cost estimating and efficient project delivery software and service for JOC, SABER, IDIQ, SATOC, MATOC, MACC, POCA, BOA, BOS…, featuring an exclusively enhanced 400,000 RSMeans Cost Database with modifiers and full descriptions, and integrated visual estimating, QTO, contract management, project management, and document management… all in one application.

BIM, Value Management, Life-cycle Cost Management

Source:  International Journal of Facility Management, Vol 4, No 1 (2013), via http://www.4Clickscom – Premier cost estimating and efficient project delivery software for JOC, SABER, IDIQ, SATOC, MATOC, MACC POCA, BOA, BOA… including exclusively enhanced 400,000+ RSMeans line item cost database, contract/project/document management, and visual estimating/QTO.

BIM is the life-cycle management of the built environment supported by digital technology.  Unfortunately, too much emphasis has been placed upon 3-D visualization and other technology components vs. the process of life-cycle management.

Facility / Infrastructure Life Cycle Cost:   Costs associated with designing, acquiring, constructing, adapting, maintaining, repairing, and operating a built structure.

While Value Management is used as term in this paper, it is arguably interchangeable with Capital Planning and Management (CPMS).  The latter is a process involving the construction and management of physical and functional conditions of a built structure over time.

 

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF VALUE MANAGEMENT AND WHOLE LIFE COSTING ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Abdul Lateef A, Olanrewaju
Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS,
Bandar Seri Iskandar 31750 Tronoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan

Correspondence: abdullateef.olanrewaju@ymail.com

ABSTRACT

It is the aim of this paper, to present the complexity of the body of knowledge capturing the range of conflicting assumptions and understanding on the theories and practices of value management (VM) and life cycle-cost (LCC). Life cycle cost in facility construction projects is a management tool that is used to analyze the cost of constructed facilities in terms of cost of acquiring the facility and as well as maintaining and operating the facility. It makes a lot of sense to consider the capital costs of projects with their associated operation and maintenance costs. This is so that the project that is procured would economically viable through its entire life span. The recent increase in demand for sustainable or green buildings is further making the consideration of life cycle cost an issue.

However, life cycle of the project alone is not sufficient as source of creating value to the clients and end users. Consequently, the need for value management emerges. Based on extensive literature review this paper has shown that the life cycle costing techniques is a tool in the value management methodology an basic finding from the connection is that both VM and LCC can be embedded into the wider context of FM.

Keywords: life cycle cost; value management; reflexivity in research, facility management, best value; construction projects

I. INTRODUCTION

In this paper, our aim is to represent the complexity of the body of literature capturing the range of conflicting assumptions and understandings about the theories and practice of VM and LCC. Before proceeding however, it is important to acknowledge what although we attempt to offer a balanced portrait of opposing views, our opinions and biases will come through whether we want them to or not. Although we are more comfortable with usual impersonal academic writing style, we believe it will help readers to differentiate what we believe from what other believe if we are honest and explicit about where we stand on some of these issues under investigations. We do this here and again wherever we view it is necessary. This kind of discussion of the preference and opinions of an author is reflexivity paradigm, and it is particularly important in value management issues, in which so many divergent assumptions are often left unsaid or asserted as truth. While some could argue that some issues are better left unsaid, it is not at any one interest to continue to pretend as everything is right and thus failed to present our side of the case. At least, this could serve as impetus to some writers and commentators.

Published literature revealed a wide range of opinion which tends to polarize either towards life cycle costing or value management. In other words, there are misconceptions and misunderstandings as to which of the two techniques is more involving, proactive and can ultimately create and sustain best value for construction projects. However, the purpose of life cycle costing is to maximize the total cost of ownership of the projects over the project’s life span (Morton and Jaggar, 1995 and Arditi and Messiha, 1996). It is also defined as the total cash flow of the project from the conceptual stage to the disposal stage (Bennett, 2003). Life cycle analysis takes into account the capital costs of the project as well as costs of operation and maintenance. The fundamental issue in the LCC is the determination of the operation and maintenance costs of all possible alternatives which are then discounted to present worth of money (Pasquire and Swaffield, 2006) for analysis.

However, while selecting alternative proposals or elements, the criteria of selections are more than just the issues of total costs. Many criteria, in addition to the cost criterion must be analyzed and adequately considered if maximum value is to be delivered to the client (Ahuja and Walsh, 1983). VM takes into accounts all the criteria that the client / user desire in their project. Value management involves the identification of the required functions and the selection of alternative that maximize the achievement of the functions and performance at the lowest possible total cost (Best and De-Valennce, 2003). The value management approach reduces the risk of project failure, lower cost, shorten projects schedules, improve quality, functions, performance and ensure high reliability and safety. While, life cycle costing is useful when a “project” has been “selected or defined”, value management is introduced much earlier. Value management is introduced when a decision has not been made yet either to build or not. At this stage, the “project” is still soft; the client’s solution to the client’s problem might not even be constructed facilities. For instance, if a client wants higher return for investment, value management is introduced to determine the kind of project that will provide to the client the expected return on investment (Kelly and Male, 2001). Perhaps the project in this case may be for the client to invest in agricultural activities. So from the beginning, the clients and other stakeholders are explicitly aware of the kind of project in which to invest.

This paper used literature review to achieve its aim. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. It commences in II “epistemology of reflexivity, in this section, overview of reflexivity are presented. This section is preceded with the section on the “introduction”. Section III; dwell on the “principle of life cycle costing”. The section III reviews literature on the technique of life cycle costing. The purposes and methodology of the technique were provided and discussed. In section IV, the principle and methodology of value management were discussed. In this section, explicit references on the two important phases in the value management methodology where life cycle analysis is mainly used were outlined. Analytical comparisons of the two techniques are then presented in section V as discussion. However, before detail information on comparing the two techniques is provided, linkages between facilities management, value management and life cycle cost are provided. A basic finding from the connection is that both VM and LCC can be embedded into the wider context of FM. The paper is concluded in section VI by bringing together major themes of the paper in: “conclusion and observations”.

II. EPISTEMOLOGY OF REFLEXIVITY IN RESEARCH

Research could involve quantitative or qualitative data or both. The degree of influence the researcher has on a research depends on the type of data being collected. For instance data collected through interviews are more prone to bias as compared to survey questionnaire instrumentation. Being reflexive involves being conscious on how the researcher’s personal values, opinions, views, actions will not creep into the data collection, analysis, results and interpretations. For instance, bias could also creep into research because of how the researchers analyze and interpret previous related works-i.e. through literature review. However, bias could creep into research knowingly or unknowingly. According to Dainty, there is a “traditional of reflexivity in qualitative enquiry where researcher openly questioned the effectiveness of their research methods on the robustness of their results and debate the influence and effect that their enquiry has had on the phenomena that they have sought to observe” (Dainty, 2008). Cohen, et al., (2006) also outlined that reflection occur at every stage of action research. In that regards, in actual practice, biasness is difficult to eliminate in all type of research. However, being aware of it and the ability to control or minimize it is the most important element in research. In order to minimize biases, researchers should apply to themselves the same decisive criteria they set for other people works to pass through (Cohen, et al., 2006). However, we are consciously aware of the effects of the reflexivity on this study. In other words, we recognized the influence our sentiment, perceptions, values, feelings, thoughts and understandings may have on this study. For these reasons, we have made all possible efforts to be on the fence- yet to be decisive and analytical. In other words, as far as this issue is concerned, we have not taken a neutral position but a middle course position.

III. LIFE CYCLE COST TECHNIQUE IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

While information on the exact time, on the origin of LCC and the time it was first applied to the construction projects is not available, but it can be safely concluded that it preceded the VM techniques. Life cycle costing is also being referred to as whole life cost or cost-in-use. However, life cycle cost is preferred here as it is the most familiar time term even among the practitioners. Regardless of the nomenclature, the main purpose is to consider future costs in the determination of true cost of projects. In other words, LCC is a technique that is used to relate the initial cost with future based costs like running, operation, maintenance, replacement, alteration costs (Ahuja and Walsh, 1983; Morton and Jaggar, 1995; Bennett, 2003 and Kiyoyuki, et al., 2005). Elsewhere, it is defined as the total cost of project measured over a period of financial interest of the clients (Flanagan and Jewell, 2005). LCC enables a practical economic comparison of the alternatives, in terms of both the present and future costs. This is to allow in the final evaluation, to find out how much additional capital expenditure is warranted today in order to achieve future benefit over the entire life of the project. It is therefore the relationship of initial cost and other future based cost. Certainly, there is a need to relate capital cost with operation and maintenance costs in order to procure buildings that present value for money invested to the clients. This requirement is becoming more of a necessity with the increase in drive and subsequent demand for sustainable or green buildings. Since the 1960s, studies have shown there are the needs to balance capital costs against the subsequent maintenance costs of the buildings (Seeley, 1996).

Decision regarding the life cost of a project has to be ascertained right from the project’s conceptual stage as to whether to reduce the initial cost at the detriment of the maintenance and running costs. This depends on the client’s value system on the projects; however, effective balance must be strike to ensure meaningful selection. In addition to the initial construction costs which are foreseeable cost, other unforeseeable cost that should be considered are the operation cost, cost of energy usage, maintenance cost, disposal cost / salvage cost. Today clients are wiser, as they seem to prefer investing little more today for tomorrow savings. Clients are becoming knowledgeable about construction projects, as to what the future might likely portray regarding collateral costs. Issues of LCC are more important to the owner-occupier than to the developer who only builds to let or sell the construction projects on completion or over a certain period of time. In this case, end-users are left to bear the maintenance costs. The modern procurement system (i.e. design, building and operate) is possibly a good channel to consider building life cycle. In fact, the LCC is a tool that is often used by the management team to procure value for money invested

IV. VALUE MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Various terms – value engineering, value control, value analysis and value engineering- have been used to describe the principle of value engineering. However, in this paper all the terms are synonymous. The most common are value management and value engineering, though. The two terms are used interchangeably in this paper. VM was developed due to shortage of materials and components that faced the manufacturing industry in the North America during the WW11. VM is both problem solving and problem seeking processes. As a problem seeking system, it identified problems that might arise in future and develop or identified solution to the problem. Value management is a proactive, problems solving management system that maximizes the functional value of a project by managing its development from concept stage to operation stage of a projects through multidisciplinary value team (Kelly and Male, 2001). It make client value system explicitly clear at the project’s conceptual stage. It seeks to obtain the best functional balance between cost, quality, reliability, safety and aesthetic. The approach could be introduced at any stage in the projects’ life cycle, but it is more beneficial if it is introduced from the pre-construction phase of the projects; before any design is committed (Ahuja and Walsh, 1983).

The tools and techniques of VM push stakeholders to provide answers to questions that might not ordinarily be considered if other approaches were used (Olanrewaju and Khairuddin, 2006). Value engineering identifies items of unnecessary costs in a project and develops alternative ways of achieving the same functions at the lowest possible cost, without impairing on the quality, aesthetic, image, safety and functional performances of the building and at the same time improves the project schedules. VM programs commonly take the form of arranging a workshop in which the client, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, specialists and other stakeholders involved take part and put forward suggestions for discussions and investigations (Harry, 2000). This will make the consultants and designers understand what a client will accept as the benchmark to measure the outcome of their investment (Leung, Chu and Lu, 2003).

Consequently, the client will be provided with projects they can occupy, operate, maintain, at their preferred location, on schedule without compromising the require quality, function, aesthetic and images with acceptable comfort. If the client value system is not made explicit, consultants and designers merely focus on requirements that were not intended by a client. Thus, opportunity for maximizing concept, design, construction and maintenance might not be possible. However, the VM workshop or session is different from the normal project meeting as the objectives of each are distinct.

Value management is defined as an organized set of procedures and processes that are introduced, purposely to enhance the function of a designs, services, facilities or systems at the lowest possible total cost of effective ownership, taken cognizance of the client’s value system for quality, reliability, durability, conformance, durability, aesthetic, time, and cost (Olanrewaju and Khairuddin, 2007). The methodology is about being creative, innovative, and susceptible to changes, consensus, enhancing the use of resources, analytical, togetherness and good communication (Stevens, 1997). Value engineering program is commonly carried out in the systematic stages of; feasibility, concept design, design development, construction and operations and occupancy phase of the projects (Table 1). The work activities are strategically carried out in the job plan. The job plan is the frame works that guide the systematic maneuvering of ideas to ensure that alternatives are not unnecessarily omitted (Ahuja and Walsh, 1983).

Table 1.Value Management’s Job Plan

alt

The value management job plan is an organized framework that guides the processes of analyzing the project, products, services or components under study, to enable the development of numbers of viable economical and functional alternatives that meet clients’ requirements. The strict adherence to the framework ensures maximum benefits and offer greater chances for flexibility. It also ensures that no step or phase is over-sighted or omitted. The value management process can be broken down into various phases. Regardless of the number of phases in the process, the major activities still holds. In many cases, the phases are however broken down into five major phases. However, in this paper, it is broken onto nine major phases for easy understanding. Life cost of project of an item or element is mainly considered during two of the value management phases, namely, the evaluation phase and the development phase. Therefore, the next two sections will discuss in-depth the two main phase.

IV.1 The evaluation phase

This is the fifth phase in the value management methodologies. The evaluation phase is some time call the investigation phase. The evaluation phase is very important phase of the value management process. It is a strategic planning stage of the process (Stevens, 1997). The phase should be considered with the spirit of creative thinking that is associated with the analytical phase. The refined and modified results of the analytical phase are considered in detailed in evaluation phase, on one to one basis judging among themselves. Primarily, the basic activities of this phase is elimination, pruning, modifying and combining ideas in order to reduce the large quantity of ideas collected from the analytical stage to meaningful and workable ones. Generally, alternatives are evaluated in terms of its total cost, availability, technology, its merits, its constraints, ease of construction, effect on schedules of works, safety, ease of procurement, coordination (Bennett, 2003). The evaluation should not just be based on what similar design had cost before or currently cost, but the comparison should include physical appearance, similar properties, and methods of designs, technology and maintainability (Ahuj and Walsh, 1983).

In the course of pruning ideas, some ideas might appear to have potentials but perhaps due to the prevalent technological advancement, they might not be considered. Those ideas should be put aside for later discussions with interested manufacturers or vendors for productions or purchase (Dell’Isola, 1982) where possible. Overall, the project must be looked at from different dimensions. In order to avoid fall-out during the evaluating process, a benchmark should be set against which to establish and measure whether idea should be rejected, pruned, modified or combined. However, it is important to invite some if not all members of the designing team in order to listen to their opinion regarding the evaluated alternatives, particularly, those that were selected. This is important in case they might have considered inculcating some of the analyzed alternatives earlier on. And, if they had, a request should be made as to why they did not consider using these alternatives. Their ground of rejection might be important to the study team (Kelly and Male, 2001) in search for better alternatives.

IV.II: The development phase

Based on the outcome of the evaluation phase, some or the entire item will require further development so that best value proposal can be made more explicit. In other words, the purpose of this phase is to enable further development of the alternative proposals. The major activity that is performed in the development phase includes the preparation of alternative design and cost so that a justification can be made on the viability and feasibility of the new proposals (Dell’Isola, 1982; Ahuja & Walsh, 1983 and Ashworth, and Hogg, 2002). Further benchmarking is to be considered here aside the one in the preceding phase such as; if the idea will work and meet the client’s requirements considering the prevalent advancement of technology. In addition, the interests of the clients who will approve the recommendations require systematic consideration to avoid unnecessary objections. All the relevant information regarding the development of a project must be documented, as this will later be presented to the clients as evidence. The associated risk inherent in the alternative proposals are determined, documented and solutions proffer in advance (James, 1994).

V. DISCUSSION

This section discusses the crossing point between value management and life cycle cost. But before proceeding, a brief discussion on how the two strategies relate with facility management is provided. The question can be asked, whether LCC or VM fit with facility management? Facilities include all fixed properties of an organization such as buildings, plants and equipments. Assets entail both fixed and non-fixed properties of an organisation. Facilities contribute significantly to the enhancement in productivities, profit-abilities and service quality of an organization. Facility management (FM) involves the management of all the services that support core business of an organization (Amaratunga, et al., 2000). FM focuses on meeting organization’s performance in terms of relationship between operational facilities and business outcome. Although, both VM or/ LCC are applicable to all classes of facilities (management), the focus of the classes of the facilities that this paper is concerned with are the constructed facilities and the building projects in particular. Building in this context involve the building’s fabrics, structure and engineering services. The value of a building is determined in relation to its current ability to provide user functional requirements, the current market value and the building condition and performance rating in comparison to that of a new building (Kyle, 2001). The roles are consistent with functions of professional including value managers, asset managers, facility managers and the real estate managers.

One of the major functions of facility management is to ensure that building projects receive adequate maintenance in order to continue to function efficiently and effectively to support the organisation’s corporate objectives. Maintenance process is a fundamental stage in the building life cycle. Maintenance has to be initiated if the building is still functionally sound and cost-efficient to do so against procuring new building or embarking on activities including refurbishment, conversion and alteration. In order to ensure high building performance, maintenance must be considered from the initiation of the buildings. From the foregoing, the opening question is pertinent, because LCC is a technique that is used by the facility management organisation or team to procure value for money invested (Flanagan and Jewell, 2005). In other words, LCC enables facility managers to make informed decisions on how much to invest today for future economic benefits. While the needs for space requirements in an organisation can be triggered by organisation’s asset / facility management unit, the strategic nature of VM allows it to be explicitly clear whether the proposed facility is require and what nature and form it should takes. Generally, the primary functions of the facility managers concern the coordination of the needs of properties users, equipments and plants and operational activities taken place within the space (IREM, 2006). This role is different from that of the value managers. The feedback from the post occupancy evaluation, which forms part of the FM directive, can also serve as feedback to the VM workshop in order to provide best values to the stakeholders. In general, VM can be integrated into the largest context of FM (Green and Moss, 1998) as FM provides a wider platform for decision making throughout the building life cycle. Therefore, FM focuses on space planning. Thus, the combination of VM and FM would produce good outputs. Having provided connections between facility management, life cycle costing and value management, in the remaining paragraphs the discussion emphasises LCC and VM.

Issues relating to LCC of facility have received wider acceptance, because what appears to be cheaper might in actual fact be expensive taking into account future-based costs. Therefore, when selecting a design solution capable of achieving the client value system, alternative that has the lowest cost, will in most cases be the first to be selected, if other performance criteria are satisfied. However, criteria like aesthetic (inspiring and harmonious), images (reputable and progressive), fitness for purpose, sustainability, buildablity, maintainability, technology, quality, safety, convenience, comfort, reliability must be included if best value is to be achieved. Construction clients are becoming more demanding, complex, sophisticated and in fact wiser compare to how they use to be in the past. Today’s clients want to see and in fact have projects that will perform the required functions; that costs less, be sustainable, completed within shortest possible time and also meet other basic requirements (Fong, 1999). Whereas, life cycle costing concentrate on the cost criteria (capital, operation and maintenance cost though), value management takes account all of the criteria within the client value system. Indeed, today clients are taking into account various set of complex algorithm that defined value to them (Halil, and Celik, 1999). The benefits and satisfactions they are getting from other industries like the automobile, aircraft industries are all fascinating experience. These are also making them to be more aggressive with the construction industry. The LCC techniques might be capable of providing best price, but best price does not in any way connote best value.

LCC is introduced after it has been decided that the best alternative proposals that will meet the client’s corporate objective is construction project, whereas VM examine the client’s business case to establish what type of “projects” a client required. Project in this stage is not necessarily a construction projects, but any alternatives that would provide the best return for the client’s investment in terms of money, time and other criteria of their value system.

VM precedes other strategies in that it is introduced before the design even commences (Kelly and Male, 2001; (Qipping, and Liu, 2004 and Shen, 2004). It is also unique in that it makes explicitly the client value system and goes ahead to determine weather the projects is desirable, viable and feasible before any commitment is made to whether to build or not. In that regards, it entail getting it right from the concept. It is only when the correct problem is identified that the correct solution can be developed. Regardless of the sophistication of the instrument used, if the client’s needs and wants are not known, it is either the projects is abandoned, completed but unoccupied or very expensive to operate and maintain. While LCC is tactical; VM is both strategic and systemic. While the LCC could be described as a strategy that provides answer to the question “how do we do it efficiently”, VM ask and provide answer to the question “why do we do it-why do we need the projects”. This is achieved using the functional analytical procedure of the VM. VM is certainly not a replacement alternative to the previous cost saving approach but it is certainly a viable alternative for achieving client value system (Ahuja and Walsh, 1983).

In the value management of construction projects, techniques like the supply chain, risk management, procurement, system engineering, concurrent engineering, safety management and partnering are applied during the development stage of the VM workshop; when developing alternative proposals, elements, components, equipments, items, materials and construction methods that provide value for money to the client. Therefore, these techniques are tools in the kits of the value management process. Apart from the LCC technique, VM makes used of other tools and techniques including, functional analysis, decision matrix, criteria scoring, brainstorming and functional cost model, SWOT analysis, supply chain analysis, risk analysis and checklists. To underscore the holistic and uniqueness of value management, various writers including Male, et al., (1998) and Fong (2004) have found that value management is more involving and unique than many methods / systems including total quality management, supply chain management, risk management, time management, cost management and lean construction.

VI: CONCLUSION AND OBSERVATIONS

The study has been able to investigate the relationship between value management and life cycle costing through literature review. This is done by bringing the theory behind each of the concept into context through literature survey. The paper has revisited the debate on VM and LCC which began sometime ago perhaps unnoticed. While the exact time cannot be traced the debate probably began on the arrival of the VM into the construction scene around 1960. This paper should be regarded as reflective contributions of the authors to the debate about the two concepts and tools. Life cycle costing technique is specific to particular stages and it is useful when it has been established that a “project” will satisfied the client requirements. The techniques and tools used in VM are not new per se, however the methodologies, consistent, systematic and holistic ways they are applied in VM is prominent. While value management has reached certain level of popularity and maturity, the LCC is yet to gain similar recognition even in the construction.

In conclusion, hopefully, we have been able to provide intermediate interpretations of the two concepts because we do not intend to provide extreme viewpoints. This paper does not claim that total cost of building is not important, but what it claimed is that, the value of projects does not ends with the consideration of the cost alone. Many “soft or qualitative” issues in actual fact are more important to the “hard or engineering” issues in majority or all of the cases. Perhaps, we should also add that considerations of the quality and completion time of project are also engineering or hard issues. Our aim is to provide a broad overview over a significant, yet complex issue and the emphasis has been to demonstrate the connection between the two concepts. Since we are aware of the bias that might creep into research like, attempts were made consciously to bring them to the barest level even though it is very difficult to eliminate it altogether. The conclusions of this paper are based on literature review In future primary data through survey or case studies will be collected from those that are consider to have adequate knowledge on the two techniques to see how our opinions differ from that of others’. On a final note, VM is about getting the initial concept right from the word “go”!

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Stevens, D. (1997), Strategic thinking: success secrets of big business projects. Australia: McGraw-Hill Companies

Green, S. D. and G.W. Moss, (1998), Value management and post-occupancy evaluation: closing the loop, Facilities, Vol. 16 Iss: 1/2, pp.34 – 39

Zavadskas, E. K and Vilutiene, T. (2006), A multiple evaluation of multi-family apartment block’s maintenance contractors: I Model for maintenance contractor evaluation and the determination of its selection criteria. Building and Environment 41 (2006), p621 -632

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Energy-Efficiency Standards and Green Building Certification Systems Used by the Department of Defense for Military Construction and Major Renovations -2103

Efficient project delivery methods such as JOC, Job Order Contracting, and SABER are an important element in the renovation, repair and sustainability of facilities.

The incremental costs to design and construct high-performance or green buildings typically range from zero to eight percent higher (0 to 8%) than the costs to design and construct conventional buildings.

The additional incremental costs to design and construct high-performance or green buildings are relatively small when compared to total life-cycle costs.

Effective operation of high-performance buildings requires well-trained facilities managers.

 

Finding 1: The committee did not identify any research studies that conducted a traditional benefit-cost analysis to determine the long-term net present value savings, return on investment, or long-term payback related to the use of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010, ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2011, and the LEED or Green Globes green building certification systems.

 

Finding 2: There is some limited evidence to indicate that provisions within ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2011 may need to be selectively adopted if use of this standard is to be cost effective in the DOD operating environment.

 

Finding 3. Research studies indicate that the incremental costs to design and construct high-performance or green buildings typically range from 0 to 8 percent higher than the costs to design and construct conventional buildings, depending on the methodology used in the study and the type of building analyzed. The additional incremental costs to design and construct high-performance or green buildings are relatively small when compared to total life-cycle costs.

 

Finding 5: The evidence from the literature search indicates that high-performance or green buildings can result in significant reductions in energy use and water use. The cost savings associated with the reductions in energy and water use will vary by geographic region, by climate zone, and by building type.

 

Finding 6: Not every individual high-performance or green building achieved energy or water savings when compared to similar conventional buildings.

 

Finding 9. Effective operation of high-performance buildings requires well-trained facilities managers.

 

Recommended Approach 1. Continue to require that new buildings or major renovations be designed to achieve a LEED-Silver or equivalent rating in order to meet the multiple objectives embedded in laws and mandates related to high-performance buildings.

 

Recommended Approach 3. Put policies and resources in place to measure the actual performance of the Department of Defense’s high-performance, green, and conventional buildings to meet multiple objectives.

Source: Energy-Efficiency Standards and Green Building Certification Systems Used by the Department of Defense for Military Construction and Major Renovations, NRC

via ww.4Clicks.com – Premier technology for cost estimating and efficient project delivery – JOC, Job Order Contracting, SABER, IDIQ, SATOC, MATOC, MACC, BOCA, BOA, BOS… featuring and exclusively enhanced 400,000+ line item RSMeans Cost Data electronic database.

BIM Evolution

In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
– Charles Darwin

BIM, the life-cycle management of the built environment supported by digital technology, requires a fundamental change in how the construction (Architects, Contractors, Engineers) and facility management (Owners, Service Providers, Building Product Manufactures, Oversight Groups, Building Users) sectors operate on a day-to-day basis.  

BIM, combined and  Cloud Computing are game changers.  They are disruptive technologies with integral business processes/practices that demand collaboration, transparency, and accurate/current information displayed via common terminology.

The traditional ad-hoc and adversarial business practices commonly associated with Construction and Facility Management are changing as we speak.    Design-bid-build and even Design-Build will rapidly go by the wayside in favor of the far more efficient processes of Integrated Project Delivery – IPD, and Job Order Contracting – JOC, and similar collaborative programs.  (JOC is a form of integrated project delivery specifically targeting facility renovation, repair, sustainability, and minor new construction).

There is no escaping the change.   Standardized data architectures (Ominclass, COBie, Uniformat, Masterformat) and cost databases (i.e. RSMeans), accesses an localized via cloud computing are even now beginning to be available.   While historically, the construction and facility management sectors have lagged their counterparts (automotive, aerospace, medical, …)  relative to technology and LEAN business practices, environmental and economic market drivers and government mandates are closing the gap.

The construction and life-cycle management of the built environment requires the integration off several knowledge domains, business “best-practices”, and technologies as portrayed below.   The efficient use of this BIG DATA is enabled by the BIM, Cloud Computing, and Integrated Project Delivery methods.

Image

The greatest challenges to these positive changes are  the CULTURE of the Construction and the Facility Management Sectors.  Also, an embedded first-cost vs. life-cycle or total cost of ownership perspective.  An the unfortunate marketing spotlight upon the technology of 3D visualization vs. BIM.   Emphasis MUST be place upon the methods of how we work on a daily basis…locally and globally  − strategic planning, capitial reinvestment planning, designing collaborating, procuring, constructing, managing and operating.  All of these business processes have different impacts upon the “facility” infrastructure and  construction supply chain, building Owners, Stakeholders, etc., yet communication terms, definitions, must be transparent and consistently applied in order to gain  greater efficiencies.

Some facility life-cycle management are already in place for the federal government facility portfolio and its only a matter of time before these are expanded and extended into all other sectors.

BIM, not 3D visualization, but true BIM or Big BIM,  and Cloud Computing will connect information from every discipline together.  It will not necessarily be a single combined model.  In fact the latter has significant drawbacks.    Each knowledge domain has independent areas of expertise and requisite process that would be diluted and marginalized if managed within one model.   That said, appropriate “roll-up” information will be available to a higher level model.   (The issue of capability and productivity marginalization can be proven by looking a ERP and IWMS systems.  Integration of best-in-class technology and business practices is always support to systems that attempt to do everything, yet do not single thing well.)

Fundamental Changes to Project Delivery for Repair, Renovation, Sustainability, and New Construction Projects MUST include:

  • Qualifications Based or Best Value Selection
  • Some form of pricing transparency and standardization
  • Early and ongoing information-sharing among project stakeholders
  • Appropriate distribution of risk
  • Some form of financial incentive to drive performance / performance-based relationships

Global Energy Report – 2012 – Global Climate Change

Today the world of energy has many of the features established in the 20th century:
– Energy consumption grows on average at 2% per year, most of it (80%) originates in fossil fuels
– Energy growth is driven by population growth and economic growth, now predominantly in developing countries
and high levels of consumption in the developed countries
– 3 billion people don’t have access to basic energy services and have to cook with solid fuels

However, the present path of uninterrupted reliance on fossil fuels poses four challenges to sustainability:
– Soaring greenhouse gas emissions
– Decreasing energy security
– Air pollution at the local and regional levels with resulting health problems
– Lack of universal access to energy services

Most reviews of the energy system needed for the 21st century start with “business as usual” futures and then analyze the effectiveness of specific corrections of course. For many the preferred options are technological fixes such as such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), nuclear energy and even geo-engineering schemes. However, to achieve sustainable development all the needed attributes of energy services, that is availability, affordability, access, security, health, climate and environmental protection, must be met concurrently.

– Stabilizing global climate change to 2°C above pre-industrial levels to be achieved in the 21st century
– Enhanced energy security by diversification and resilience of energy supply (particularly the dependence on imported oil),
– Eliminating household and ambient air pollution, andEssential technology-related requirements for radical energy transformation:
• significantly larger investment in energy efficiency improvements especially end-use across all sectors, with a focus on new investments as well as major retrofits;
• rapid escalation of investments in renewable energies: hydropower, wind, solar energy, modern bioenergy, and
geothermal, as well as the smart grids that enable more effective utilization of renewable energies;
• reaching universal access to modern forms of energy and cleaner cooking through micro-financing and subsidies;
• use of fossil fuels and bioenergy at the same facilities for the efficient co-production of multiple energy carriers and
chemicals with full-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage; and
• on one extreme nuclear energy could make a significant contribution to global electricity generation, but on the
other extreme, it could be phased out.

The world is undergoing severe and rapid change involving significant challenges. Although this situation poses a threat, it also offers a unique opportunity – a window of time in which to create a new, more sustainable,
more equitable world, provided that the challenges can be
addressed promptly and adequately. Energy is a pivotal area for actions to help address the challenges.
The interrelated world brought about by growth and globalization has increased the linkages among the major challenges of the 21st century.
We do not have the luxury of being able to rank them in order of priority.
As they are closely linked and interdependent, the task of addressing them simultaneously is imperative.

 

NIBS – Building Innovation 2012 – January 7th-11th, 2012, Washington, D.C.

14 Reasons to Register: Building Innovation 2013  

NIBS Building Innovation 2013
Visit Booth #5 – 4Clicks Introduces CEASAL

1:  Building Innovation 2013 is delivered by the National Institute of Building Sciences – an authoritative source of innovative solutions for the built environment. For nearly 40 years, the Institute, a non-profit, non-government organization, has served as an interface between government and the private sector, with the primary purpose of bringing together representatives of the entire building community to review advancements in science and technology and develop solutions for our built environment.
2:  Building Innovation 2013 is focused on Improving Resiliency through High Performance and will present the latest advancements in a wide-range of building industry areas that offer genuine solutions for improving security, disaster preparedness, performance, sustainability, information resources and technologies for our nation’s buildings and infrastructure. Within four tracks, Conference attendees will experience the Institute in action as a leader and advocate for the industry and discover how the Institute’s programs and activities work to develop innovative solutions for a number of building-related challenges.
3:  Building Innovation 2013 is the only place you’ll find the authentic event on federal construction: FEDCon® — The Annual Market Outlook on Federal Construction — where attendees will hear the most authoritative, up-to-date information on federal agency building and infrastructure budgets, construction forecasts and regulatory updates. The Institute initiated FEDCon®, now in its 20th year, to give private-sector architects, engineers, general and specialty contractors, and manufacturers insight into what they need to know to deliver services and products to the U.S. Federal Government — the world’s largest facility owner and procurer of design and construction services.
4:  Building Innovation 2013 is where the popular and informative buildingSMART alliance Conference is on the schedule. It’s the only place where the very experts who make the critical decisions on building information modeling (BIM) standards come together to share their knowledge on the various aspects of implementing BIM.  This Conference, focused on Integrating BIM: Moving the Industry Forward, will deliver an understanding of how BIM can better integrate the design, construction, fabrication and operation processes, and also provide you with the latest metrics available to assess industry progress.
5:  Building Innovation 2013 is the only Conference that gives you Innovative Technology Demonstrations directly from the developers who initiated the cutting-edge tools. Don’t settle for second-hand information on the Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBie) Calculator and Specifiers Properties information exchange (SPie) Catalog. Find out first-hand all about these IE standards, as well as the new information exchanges for Building Programming (BPie), HVAC (HVACie), Electrical Systems (SPARKie), Building Automation Modeling (BAMie) and Water Systems (WSie). Attend these demonstrations, along with the buildingSMART Challenge at Building Innovation 2013, and gain insights straight from the source.
6: Building Innovation 2013 is home to the popular Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council (BETEC) Symposium, where the field’s leading experts in building enclosure research, design and practice unite to tackle the latest issues. For 30 years, BETEC has delivered quality symposia and continues its commitment with this Symposium titled, Fenestration: A World of Change, which will examine the most current data available on fenestration performance and technology.
7: Building Innovation 2013 kicks off the inaugural Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) Symposium, designed to guide hazard mitigation policies for the next decade. At this Symposium, focused on Large-Scale Mitigation Planning and Strategies, industry experts will participate in interactive sessions to tackle long-standing multihazard mitigation problems in the United States and then present their conclusions to a panel of high-level policy makers, with the goal of setting long-term solutions.
8:  Building Innovation 2013 highlights the revolutionary tools developed through the Institute’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD) for use in evaluating buildings against the threat of multiple hazards. The Integrated Resilient Design Symposium: Evaluating Risk, Improving Performance, introduces attendees to these invaluable tools and demonstrates how they are being used to assess potential risks to buildings from blast, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) threats, and natural hazards, while incorporating high-performance attributes into building design.
9:  Building Innovation 2013 offers the only Symposium specifically addressing the needs of persons with low vision. The Low Vision Design Committee Symposium: Creating Supportive Environments for Persons with Low Vision, presents the latest state-of-the art theory and practices for designing for people with low vision from the designers, users, clients and low vision medical specialists that focus on this growing segment of the population – which is expected to be more than 50 million people by the year 2020. Find out how designing for persons with low vision can create environments that are more universally user-friendly for everyone.
10:  Building Innovation 2013 provides the chance to explore what social, economic and environmental sustainability means to various segments of the building industry and how an effective, holistic approach can move the industry Beyond Green™. The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Symposium: Fostering Innovation to Go Beyond Green™, is the only event where you’ll meet the winners of the 2012 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Award and see their real-world examples of sustainability first-hand.
11:  Building Innovation 2013 is the place where academic professionals will gather to work on establishing a common educational strategy for BIM education. During the BIM Academic Education Symposium: Setting the Course for a BIM Educational Strategy, representatives from more than 25 colleges and universities will focus on certification, accreditation and credentialing. Coordinated by the buildingSMART alliance for the 4th year, this event will be held in collaboration with the AGC BIM Forum.
12:  Building Innovation 2013 allows you the opportunity to meet the industry’s leaders as they are recognized for making exceptional contributions to the nation and the building community. The Institute’s Reception and Annual Awards Banquet will highlight the State of the Institute and honor individuals and organizations that are moving the industry forward.
13: Building Innovation 2013 gives you a full week to make quality one-on-one connections with industry experts and innovators; collaborate with colleagues; learn from the best; and share your expertise and experiences. From the varied Symposia and Educational Sessions to the Exhibitor Reception and Keynote Lunches, there are many excellent reasons to attend.

14. Visit 4Clicks and see CEASAL, the ONLY CLOUD-BASED, Collaborative  COST ESTIMATING and EFFICIENT PROJECT DELIVERY system with 400,000+ detailed RSMeans Line Items, ability to leverage your custom cost data, and incorporate IPD – Integrated Project Delivery, JOC – Job Order Contracting, IDIQ, SATOC, MATOC, POCA, BOA and more!    (multiple Patents Pending).  Exhibit Space #5.

http://www.4Clicks.com – Premier cost estimating and efficient project delivery software.
If these 14 reasons aren’t enough, visit us at http://www.4clicks.com

BIM ( Building Information Modeling ), Cloud-computing, Changement Management, and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction – III

Cloud-computing will have a much more significant impact upon how the built environment is managed than 3D visualization.   Information drives  cost savings and higher efficiency.  How and when we access information will forever alter day-to-day and strategic business practices for Owners, AEs, Contractors, SubContractors, Business Product Manufacturers, Building Users, Oversight Groups, and the Community.

BIM is the life-cycle management of the built environment support by digital technology.

Currently, the efficient life-cycle management of the built environment is being retarded by several factors:

  • Existence of data silos;
  • Organizational/professional cultures;
  • Reliance archaic construction delivery methods (design-build-build, vs. IPD, JOC), and
  • Poor life-cycle management knowledge transfer.

Most disconcerting is that,  in most cases, methods for gathering and working on significantly enhanced tactical and strategic facility life-cycle management practices are readily available.   Primary failures and relative lack of progress relative to BIM occur due to lack of  applying information to resolve planning, resource allocation, and execution in a timely, collaborative manner.  Cloud computing uniquely addresses all of these important issues.

Data silos evolved from improper higher education and professional training practices, inefficient and adversarial construction delivery methods, as well as piecemeal  IT procurement policies.

Traditional data processing systems and application specific software solutions were confined by the high cost of memory and storage.  Memory, storage, and processing power are now relatively inexpensive, to the extent that they are mathematically approaching zero.  As a result Internet massive scale storage, search, and processing paradigms are rapidly becoming commonplace.  That said, Excel and similar spreadsheet-centric programs, and even  relational database technology are not up to the task of accessing and working upon data fast enough.

Cloud computing however enables the searching and use of massive data sets in milliseconds.  Additionally real-time, multi-point collaborative access is securely enabled by cloud computing.   In short, cloud computing eliminates the need for data silos.

Moving the currently disparate knowledge domain AECOO (Architecture Engineering, Construction, Owner, Operations) practices into a collaborative process, and shifting information access to an earlier point within the construction project planning process are also enabled by cloud computing and associated “newer” construction delivery methods (Integrated Project Delivery – IPD, and Job Order Contracting – JOC).      Former  time-line and silo restricted aspects of present day-to-day AECOO business practices stand to be vaporized by the precision search and analytic capabilities of modern  cloud computing.    Cloud computing is a highly standardized and virtualized commodity infrastructure, when combined with with standardized terms, cost data architectures, and similar generalized information hierarchies  enables real-time continuous processing of open digital document/ information flow.

Fear that cloud computing will reduce the importance of Architects, Cost Estimators, Construction Managers, and other related profession is unfounded.  Certainly inter-relationships and roles will evolve, however for those that are receptive, capabilities and potential within each profession will be expanded.

Building Information Modeling Framework

The Evolution of AECOO Technology

BIM and Change Management – Sustainability and Life-cycle Management of the Built Environment

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is the life-cycle management of the built environment supported by digital technology.    3D visualization vendors have marketed BIM poorly.  Their focus has generally been upon 3D modeling and associated visual objects vs.  the collection and use of valuable and enabling INFORMATION.  Sure 3D visualization is a great tool, and a useful component of BIM, however, it’s not even the most important aspect.

Many, if not most organizations will  require significant “change management” in order to successfully implement life-cycle management / BIM. Owners, AEs, Contractors, Oversight Groups, Business Product Manufacturers,  and Software Vendors  will need to adopt a better understanding of several, currently disparate knowledge domains / competencies and technologies and work towards efficient, transparent information sharing and collaboration among all area, professionals, and stakeholders.

Cloud computing / social media, BIM, and other ‘disruptive technologies’ combined with market demands driven but altered environmental and economic global landscapes will likely help to drive change, however, timing is uncertain.

There is a serious hole in the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Owner Sectors’ level of understanding of building performance and legacy beliefs and process simply don’t work.   – adaptation of work by Melanie Thompson of Get Sust!

Roadmap

We must  initiate a wider discussion on what constitutes an appropriate, progressive life-cycle management of the built environment.

“We are moving from the era of ‘talking about deployment’ to the era of ‘deployment’ – over the next few decades there will be billions spent on energy-efficiency retrofit projects and it is crucial for policies to be underpinned by reliable technical data and strong evidence of the benefits that can be achieved.” – Bob Lowe, Deputy Director of University College London’s Energy Institute

The effectiveness and efficiency of this deployment will  be dependent upon people asking the right questions.    Efficient project delivery methods such as Job Order Contracting – JOC, a form of Integrated Project Development – IPD, that specifically targets renovation, repair, sustainability and minor new construction will be integral to successful BIM or life-cycle management based solutions.   Collaboration and longer term relationships are primary components of JOC and equally central to BIM processes.

IPD – Integrated Project Delivery and JOC – Job Order Contracting

“… We are in a war-like situation and therefore have to accept a two-stage process: do the best we can with what we’ve got, plus keep on researching.” – Jim Skea, Chair – Sustainable Energy, Imperial College of London

Behaviors across all AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner) professions, building users, and oversight groups must change.  Ad-hoc, inefficient, and adversarial construction delivery methods such as Design-Bid-Build represent a serious impediment to efficient use of resources.  Additionally,  life-cycle management must be addressed on portfolio and local levels within the context specific buildings (or structures), inclusive of type, activity, and utilization. For this we need a fundamental shift in approach, applying the proven as well as yet to be developed methodologies and tools developed.

The impacts of social media and social sciences will expand exponentially.    ” Conventional building researchers are ‘positivistic’ (measuring and monitoring objects and systems) while the social scientists, who inhabit a world of case studies and qualitative data, are ‘interpretivist’.  Interpretivist research include studies of:

  • occupants and their engagement with technologies;
  • technologies and policy mechanisms in-use (implementation); and
  • changes in business models, supply chains, the distribution of risk and responsibility, professional identities, the division of labor and so on.

BIM Strategy FRAMEWORK

Job Order Contracting Process

September 2012 -  via http://www.4Clicks.com – Premier cost estimating and efficient project delivery software for JOC, Job Order Contracting, SABER, IDIQ, MATOC, SATOC, POCA, BOC, MACC ….  featuring exclusively enhanced 400,000 line item RSMeans Cost Data with modifiers and full descriptions.

GSA, LEED, USGBC, and Politics

LEED Certification, and LEED in general has been a GREAT marketing tool.  That said, should LEED be a requirement? Is LEED cost effective?  Should LEED be modified?
The below letter clearly states that cost will INCREASE should the GSA move away from LEED?  How can that be?  What costs would increase?  Is there no better way for GSA to meet sustainability requirement than via LEED?

Take a look at the letter and please post you comments.

July 25, 2012

Acting Administrator Daniel Tangherlini
U.S. General Services Administration
One Constitution Square
1275 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20417

Dear Acting Administrator Tangherlini,

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is to be commended for its leadership in improving energy and environmental performance across its federal building portfolio. The recently released sustainability and energy “scorecard” by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) demonstrates just how successful GSA has been at reducing costs, improving efficiency and eliminating waste.

GSA earned the highest rating in all categories in the 2011 sustainability scorecard released from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

GSA reduced emissions from federal buildings more than 20 percent compared with 2008. That incredible reduction led all federal agencies.
GSA is ahead of schedule in reducing its potable water and electricity use.

These efforts are paying off in real terms. According to the OMB, investments in efficiency over the last four years are expected to save $18 billion in energy costs over the life of the projects.

In an effort to continue this success, GSA is evaluating the building rating tools at its disposal, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. LEED is the most widely used high‐performance building rating system in the United States. The private sector uses LEED to both verify and communicate the quality of high performance buildings. If GSA, as the “landlord of the federal government,” were to require or use something else, it would add cost to the building and leasing process across the building industry. We are not in favor of adding cost.

Again, we commend your agency for its success in reducing the operating cost and impact of the federal building stock. We support your continuation of the rating tool evaluation process and focus on the usability, market acceptance, and effectiveness of rating tools rather than distractions focused on a single issue.

Thank you for your consideration of our views.

106 Greenway
2 B Green Profitably
2M Design Consultants, Inc.
32BJ SEIU
360 Architecture
3Degrees
4240 architecture
7group, LLC
Above and Beyond Energy
Abruña & Musgrave, Architects
Ackerstein Sustainability LLC
Acme Paper and Supply Co, Inc.
ActiveWest Builders
ADDS, SRL.
Adomatis Appraisal Service
Advanced Comfort Solutions, Inc.
Advanced Furniture Services
Advanced Home Energy Solutions
Aedify
Aedis Ince
Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
AGR Consulting
AHA Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Ahold USA Retail
Airco Commercial Services, inc.
Airfresh Inc.
Alabama Green Building Solutions & SLS Construction
Alaska Thermal Imaging LLC
Albertin Vernon Architecture LLC
Albuquerque Old School
Alfandre Architecture, PC
Alicia Ravetto Architect PA
All Home & Energy Services LLC
Allcare Maintenance Services
Alliance Corporation
Alliance Environmental & Natural Systems Utilities, LLC
Alliance for Environmental Sustainability
Allied Construction Services LLC
Alpar Architectural Products
Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects
Alterna Corp.
Alternative Energy Systems
Alternative Solutions
AlturaSolutions Communications
Alvin E. Benike, Inc.
Alvin Holm AIA Architects
Balfour Beatty Construction
Banister Homes, Inc.
Bank of America
Barbara A. Campagna/Architecture + Planning PLLC
Barras Architects
Bath Engineering Corporation
Bay City Supply
Benefect Corp
Benefield Richters Company
Benson Woodworking Company, Inc.
Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC
Bernards
Berner International Corp.
Better World Group
Big Ass Fans
Big-D Construction Corp
Big-D Signature
Biositu, LLC
Bird & Kamback Architects
Bird Group
BKM Construction LLC
Black United Fund of Illinois
Blackmon Rogers Architects LLC
Blue Camas Consulting Ltd.
Blue Marble LLC
Blue Moon Enterprises
Blue Sea Development Company, LLC
Blue Water Studio
Bluegill Energy
BlueGreen Alliance
Bluestone Building, LLC
BMI Mechanical, Inc.
BNP Media
Boone Gardiner Garden Center
Boreas Arquitectos
Bork Architectural Design, Inc.
Boston Global Investors
Boston Properties
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.
Brandywine Realty Trust
BRAZEN Architecture INC
BRC Acoustics & Audiovisual Design
Breedlove Land Planning, Inc.
Brewer Ingram Fuller Architects Inc.
Brewery Vivant
Cascadia Green Building Council
Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate Services
Catalyst Partners
Catherine Hall Designs, LLC
CBRE Commercial Real Estate Services
CCI Mechanical, Inc.
Celilogardens
Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems
Center for Sustainable Building Research
Cerama-Tech of Southern Nevada
Certified Building Analysis LLC
Chambersburg Waste Paper Co
Chapman Construction / Design
Chartier Redevelopment Group
Chatham County Commission
CHB Industries, Inc.
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
Chidester Engineering, PLLC
Choate Construction Company
Christie Development Services
Christine Ervin/Company
Chula Ross Sanchez
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
City of Atlanta, Office of Sustainability
City of Chicago
City of Cincinnati
City of Grand Rapids
City of Philadelphia
City of San Antonio, Office of Environmental Policy
City of San Francisco, Department of the Environment
City of Santa Barbara, Office of the County Architect
City of Santa Monica Green Building Program
City of Tempe
City of Winston-Salem, Office of Sustainability
Clark Nexsen, Architecture and Engineering
Clayco, Inc.
Clean Age, LLC
Clean Energy Coalition
Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority
Cleaning First Impressions
Clivus Multrum, Inc.
Clothing Matters
CMA Architects & Engineers LLP
Coastal Building Maintenance
Coastal Therapy
Coldwell Banker/Schneidmiller Realty
Dale Corporation
Dale Partners Architects P.A.
Davis Davis Architects
Davis Energy Group
dbdesign
DCP Marketing Services LLC
DECOLights, Inc
DeFeo Associates
Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Delphi Corporation
DERBIGUM Americas, Inc.
Desert Moon Productions, Inc.
Design AVEnues LLC
designis
Development Center for Appropriate Technology
Development Management Associates, LLC
Devine Brothers Inc
Dewberry Architects Inc.
Diversified Design Group LLC
Diversified Energy Services
DJ Construction Co. Inc.
DNV Business Assurance
Dominican Republic Green Building Council
Donia & Associates, Inc.
Donnelley Energy Solutions
Doo Consulting, llc
Dore Property Ventures LLC
Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning
DPR Construction
Drawing Conclusions LLC
Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects
Drysdale Energy
Dunlap & Partners Engineers
Dunlop Development, Inc.
DVA Home Improvement, LLC
DVL Automation
DwellSmart
E.W. Dunn
e2 Homes, Inc.
e3 Bank
E3 Building Sciences
E3 INNOVATE, LLC
E3 Regenesis Solutions, Inc.
e4, Inc.
EA Buildings
Early New England Home Designs
Energy Inspectors Corporation
Energy IQ
Energy Master & Environmental Solutions
Energy Matters
Energy Opportunities, Inc.
Energy Upgrade Services, Inc.
Energy Wise Solutions Inc
EnergyLogic Inc.
Enermodal Engineering
Engineered Representation, Inc.
Engineered Tax Services
Engineering Services
Ennead Architects, LLP
Enovative Group, Inc.
Enterprise Green Communities
Environamics, Inc.
Environmental Concepts Company
Environmental Dynamics, Inc.
Environmental Planning Associates
Envision Design
EnVision Realty Services
ES2, Inc
ETC Group
Ethos Sustainable Finishes
Everblue
Everest Properties
Everyday Green
Evolution Partners Real Estate Advisors
EwingCole
Exact Solar
Excel Dryer Inc.
Exoterra | Architects+Consultants
Exp U.S. Services, Inc.
Facilities Design Group
Farr Associates
Faulhaber Engineering & Sustainability
FBG Service Corp.
Fenestar
Fergus Garber Young Architects
Ferrand ACS
FiberAmerica
FILARSKI/architecture+planning+research
Filmop USA
Final Air Balance Co., Inc.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
First Community Housing, Inc.
Golangco Global
Goodwyn Mills Cawood
GR Planning
Gray Construction
Green Advantage, Inc.
Green and Profitable
Green Building Certification Institute
Green Building Consulting
Green Building Education and Services, LLC
Green Building Education Services
Green Building Pages
Green Building Services Inc.
Green Capital Advisers
Green Chapps, LLC
Green Dinosaur, Inc.
Green Earth PR Network
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Green Education Inc.
Green Energy Solutions
Green Hive Foundation
Green Ideas, Inc.
Green Innovative Design
Green Insight, LLC
Green Property Funds LLC
Green Schools Inc.
Green Seal, Inc.
Green Stone Consulting
Green Street Development Group
Green Street Properties
Green Works Corp.
Greenbank Associates
GreenBeams
GreenCE, Inc.
GreenDream Enterprises
Greeneconome
Greener Country
Greenform
Greenformation
Greenhut Construction Company
Greenpeace
GreenShape LLC
GreenWizard
Group 70
Group Mackenzie Inc.
Group14 Engineering
Grundfos Pumps
HOK
Holder Construction Company
HOLOS Collaborative
Homage Design
Home Energy Group, LLC
HomeGreen
Horizon Residential Energy Services Maine, LLC
HSB Architects & Engineers
Humann Building Solutions
Hunzinger Construction
Hutton Architecture Studio
HW Davis Construction, Inc.
Hyland Fisher – Architect
IBS Advisors, LLC
IceStone, LLC
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA
iLiv
Imery & Co, LLC
Impact Infrastructure, LLC
In Balance Green Consulting
Incite Directives
Indoor Environmental Testing
Indra USA
Ingenuity LLC
Ingersoll Rand
Inner Space Consultants
Innovative Associates LLC
Innovative Design
Innovative Green Strategies, LLC
Innovink, LLC
InSites PLC
Inspirit-llc
Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)
Institute for Supply Management
Institute for the Built Environment
Integral Group
Integrated Environmental Solutions LLC
InterDesign
Interface
Interior Directions
InteriorDesign-ED
Interiors for Business, Inc.
Interiorscapes, Inc.
International Commissioning Engineers West, Inc.
Intex Solutions Inc.
Iowa-Des Moines Supply
Koch Hazard Architects
Kohler Co.
Komorous-Towey Architects
KONE Inc.
Krafft Cleaning Service, Inc.
Kramer+Marks Architects
Kristina Hahn Atelier
Kruger Bensen Ziemer Architects
Kruger Sustainability Group
Kulka KLC
Kupcha Marketing Services
kW Engineering
KYA Design Group
Lake Affect Design Studio
Lakemary Center
Landis Construction
Lane Transit District
Lapointe Architects
Larsen & Associates
Larson Binkley, Inc.
Larson Darby Group
Law Office of Paul Kaplan
Lawrence Environmental Group
LCA Arquitecta
LDa Architects LLP
LEAP, Inc. (Local Energy Alliance Program)
Leonardo Academy Inc.
Leopardo Companies
Lewis Alan Office Furniture, Inc.
LINAK U.S. Inc.
Little Consulting
Living Machine Systems, L3C
LivingHomes
LoraxPro Software
LORD Green Real Estate Strategies, Inc.
LTLB Envirotecture
Lucas Tax + Energy
Lucile Glessner Design
Lunchbox Consulting Inc.
Luper Neidenthal & Logan
LWPB Architecture
M&E Engineers, Inc.
M. Landman Communications and Consulting
M.E. GROUP, Inc.
M3 Engineering Group PC
Macnet Global, Inc
Mobile Janitorial & Paper Co.
mode associates
Modus Architecture Collaborative
MODUS DEVELOPMENT
Moody Nolan
MOORE Consulting Engineers
Moore Nordell Kroeger Architects, Inc.
Morse & Cleaver Architects
Moseley Architects
Moshier Studio
Multiflow
Multivista IA
Musson General Contracting
N. Barton and Associates
Naomi Mermin Consulting
Nassau County
National Education Association
National Education Association,
Health Information Network
National Facility Solutions, LLC
National Life Group
National Organization of Minority Architects
National School Supply and Equipment Association
National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Wildlife Federation
Native Geothermal LLC
Navarro Lowrey Inc.
NBC Solutions
Neighborhood Energy Connection
NELSON
Neumann/Smith Architecture
Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners
New Axiom, LLC
New Horizons Group
New Leaf Systems, Inc.
New Story Solar
NewCom Real Estate Services, LLC
Newman Consulting Group, LLC
New-Tex Mechanical Reps, Inc.
Nexant, Inc.
Nichols
Nisenson Consulting
NJ Carpenters Apprentice Training and
Educational Fund
North Shore LIJ Health System
Northbay Energy Services, Inc
PGAL
Philip Rosenau Co., Inc.
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
Phillips & Bacon
Pieper Properties, Inc.
Pieri Architects
Pierson Land Works LLC
Pino Diaz Design Partnership
Pirtle Construction Company
PIVOT Architecture
PlanetReuse Marketplace powered by InvenQuery
Planning Resources Inc.
Plant Solutions, Inc.
Platinum Earth
Plumb architecture
Plumbers Local 1 Trade Education Fund
PNC Financial Services Group
Poole Fire Protection
Populus, LLC
PorterWorks, Inc
Post+Beam
Posty Cards
Powers Home Design
PozziDesign
Prairie State General contractors
Praxis, Building Solutions, LLC
Prendergast Laurel Architects
Primary Integration
Primera Engineers, Ltd.
Principal Real Estate Investors
Processes Unlimited International, Inc.
Professional Janitorial Services
Progressive AE
Project Coordinating Services, LLC
Project Resource Group, LLC
Prometric
Prosser Architects
ProTeam
Protect Environmental
PURETI Inc.
Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels
R&R JANITORIAL SERVICE INC
R/R Briggs Inc.
Raimi + Associates
Rand Construction Corporation
Re: Vision Architecture
Seabold Architectural Studio
Sears Gerbo Architecture
Seasonal Energy
Sebesta Blomberg & Associates
Sellen Construction
SEQUIL Systems, Inc.
SERA Architects
Service Employees International Union
ServiceMaster by Kleidosty
ServiceMax Cleaning Systems
Servicon Systems Inc.
SHARETTE
Shaw Consulting Service
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
Sheridan Associates
Sherwin Williams Co.
Shive-Hattery, Inc.
Shorenstein Realty Services
Sieben Energy
Siemens Industry, Inc., Building Technologies Division
Sierra Club
Signature Systems of Florida
Simon & Associates, Inc.
Simply Sustainable LLC
Site Based Energy
Site Source, llc.
Site Story
Skanska
Skipping Stone
SKS Investments
Sky Air llc.
SKYed, LLC
Sloan
SMACNA of Southern Nevada
Smart Growth America
SMART Management Consulting, LLC
SMARTBIM LLC
Smith Consulting Architects
SmithGroupJJR
Smithlogic, Inc
Sol Developments
SOL VISTA
Solamente Clay Walls, LLC
Solar Design Studio
SolarCity
Solaris LLC
Sustainable Energy Analytics
Sustainable Engineering Group LLC
Sustainable Furnishings Council
Sustainable Learning Systems LLC
Sustainable Options, LLC
Sustainable Performance Solutions LLC
Sustainable Solutions Corporation
Sustainable Solutions LLC
Sustainable Town Concepts
Sustainable Transitions US
Sustainably Built
Sustainably Verdant
Swanke Hayden Connell Architects
Symbioscity
Synergy Green Building Group, Inc.
Syntax Land Design, LLC
SystemWorks LLC
Taitem Engineering, PC
Talcott & Associates
Tax Analytics Group
TBD+ Architects
TBG Architects + Planners
TDC Pacific Properties
Team Plan, Inc.
Technical Group Services, Inc
Telemark, Inc.
Tellabs, Inc.
Tempo Partners
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Terrapin / Bright Green, LLC
TerraScapes Environmental
Terrastructure Engineering Corporation
Terrazia PC
Teter, LLP
TexEnergy Solutions, Inc
The Agora Group
The Ashkin Group
The Boudreaux Group
The Brickman Group, Ltd.
The Community College of Baltimore County
The Dinerstein Companies
The EcoLogic Studio
The Energy Doctor
The Energy Studio Inc.
The Epsten Group, Inc.
UA Plumbers Local One Trade Education Fund
Unabridged Architecture
Uncommon LLC
Unico Systems
United States Gypsum
United Supply Group of Companies
University of California, Merced
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Louisiana, Lafayette School of Architecture & Design
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern Maine
Urban Engineers, Inc.
Urban Fabrick Design
Urban Green Council
Urban Green, LLC
UrbanBiology LLC
USG Corporation
USGBC Alabama Chapter
USGBC Arizona Chapter
USGBC Arkansas Chapter
USGBC California Central Coast Chapter
USGBC Caribbean Chapter
USGBC Central California Chapter
USGBC Central Florida Chapter
USGBC Central Ohio Chapter
USGBC Central Pennsylvania Chapter
USGBC Central Plains Chapter
USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter
USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter
USGBC Chihuahuan Desert Chapter
USGBC Cincinnati Regional Chapter
USGBC Colorado Chapter
USGBC Detroit Chapter
USGBC East Tennessee Chapter
USGBC Florida Capital Region Chapter
USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter
USGBC Georgia Chapter
USGBC Hawaii Chapter
USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter
USGBC Idaho Chapter
USGBC Illinois Chapter
USGBC Indiana Chapter
USGBC Inland Empire Chapter
USGBC Iowa Chapter
Veliz Construction
Venue Solutions Group
Verdant HFC Sustainability Consulting
verde@ParkerProperties
Verdi Workshop
Verdifica
Verdigris Group
Vermont Green Building Network
Vermont Heating & Ventilating Company Inc
Vertegy, an Alberici Enterprise
VERTEX Companies
Vetrazzo, LLC
Vidas Architecture, LLC
Village Builders VT
Vireo Design
Virgin Islands Energy Office
Virginia Beach City Public School
Viridian
Visual Cue Thermal Imaging
Vital SPEC inc
Vornado Realty TrustW.S. Cumby, Inc.
Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC
WARM Training Center
Waste Management
Watchman Consulting
Watershed
Watkins Architect LTD
WAXIE Sanitary Supply
WCIT Architecture
Weber Thompson
Well Fed Savannah

Always Peachy Clean, Cleaning Services
Ambient Energy
American Architectural Foundation
American Federation of Teachers
American Ground Water Trust
American Lung Association
American Maintenance
American Paper and Supply Company
American Standard Brands
American Sustainable Business Council
Ames + Gough
Ampajen Solutions, LLC
Amvic Inc
AndersonPacific, LLC
Andersson Architecture + Design
Annadel Building Solutions LLC
Antony Stefan Architect, PLLC
Applied Aesthetics Painting Studio
Applied Green Consulting
Applied Solar Energy / SOLEX
Applied Solutions
Arcadia Studio
Architects Hawaii Ltd
Architects, Hanna Gabriel Wells
Architectural Fusion, LLC
Architectural Resources
Arcus Design Group
Armstrong Commercial Ceilings
Arrowstreet
ArtHaus, LLC
Arup
ASERusa
ASP Enterprises, Inc.
Assa Abloy Door Security Solutions
Association of American Geographers
Atelier Ten USA LLC
Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
Atlantic Energy Concepts
Atlantic Irrigation
Atlas Project Support
Autodesk, Inc.
Axiom Sustainable Consulting, LLC
Aye Partners LLC
Aztec Products, Inc.
B Lab
Bachmann Construction
Bridging The Gap
Bright Green Strategies, Inc.
BrightKey Inc.
BrightLine Construction, Inc.
Brightworks Sustainability Advisors
Brion Jeannette Architecture
BriteSol
Brodie & Associates PLLC
Brownstone’s Green Services, Inc.
Brumbaugh & Associates
Brummitt Energy Associates, Inc.
Bruner/Cott & Associates
Building Green Generations
Building Ideas, LLC
Building Knowledge Inc.
BuildingGreen, Inc.
BuildingWise, LLC
BuildingWrx
Bullock Tice Associates, Inc.
Bunker Hill Community College
Bureau Veritas
Burgess Green Facililities Service
Burns & McDonnell Engineering
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers
Association (BIFMA)
BWZ Architects
Byrne Electrical Specialists
C.T. Haydock, Landscape Architecture, P.C.
C.W. Brown Inc.
Cadmus Group
Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Cagle Design, Inc.
CalAg LLC
Caldwell Constructors, Inc.
California Polytechnic State University
CALMAC Manufacturing Company
Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning
Campaign for Environmental Literacy
Campbell Coyle Holdings, LLC
Cannon Design
Caragreen
Carbon-Key LLC
Care Design Group, LLC
Career and Technology Education Centers
Carlson Studio Architecture
Carroll Construction
Collaborative Project Consulting
Colliers International
Columbia Forest Products
Columbus Property Management & Development, Inc
Commercial Flooring Distributors
Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc
Commissioning WorCx
Community Design + Architecture
Community Environmental Council
Complete Resources Building & Repair Inc
Composite Wall Systems, LLC
Concept 22 Inc.
Connecticut Green Building Council
ConservAction
Conservation Services Group
Consilience LLC
Construction Specialties, Inc.
Contects LLC
Control Service Company, Inc
Control Technologies, Inc.
Controlled Air Inc
Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons
Cope Architecture Inc.
Corcoran Expositions, Inc.
Cornerstone Design
Corporate Floors Inc
Corporate Image Maintenance
Corporate Sustainability Communications
Corvarys Group
Costa and Rihl Mechanical Contractors
Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI)
County Line Nurseries, Inc
Courchesne and Associates inc.
Covertech
Craig Kneeland Consulting
Creative Contractors Inc.
Critical Energy Solutions
CrossOver Recruiting
Crossville Incorporated
Crozier Architecture
Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc,
Cushman & Wakefield
Cx Associates, LLC
Cypress Creek Design Inc.
D. Gordon Consulting, Inc.
D.R. Wastchak, LLC
Earth Advantage, Inc
Earth Day New York, Inc.
Earth Design
Earth Ethics, Inc
EarthCraft
EarthSTEPS, LLC
Eastern Air Balance Corporation
Eastham & Associates
Easy to be Green
EBS Consultants
Eco Fundraisers
Eco Interiors
eco7
EcoEnergy Consulting and Supply Corp.
EcoLogic Life
EcoPotential
Ecos Materials and Services
Ecosmith Architecture + Consulting, LLC
Ecosouth Green Building Services
EcoStudio
EcoTech International
EcoUrban Construction
Ecoworks Studio
EDC magazine
Edifice Rx
Edmar
EEA Consulting Engineers
Efficient Energy Advisors, LLC
EHDD Architecture
Ekistics
Elevate
elg Design
Elite Solar Services
Elizabeth Eason Architecture, LLC
Ellen S. Light, AIA
Emerald Cities Collaborative
EMerge Alliance
emersion DESIGN, LLC
Emmer Management Corp
Empower Design Studio
Encore Recycled Granite LLC
Energy & Environmental Solutions
Energy and Sustainable Design Consultants, Inc.
Energy Center of Wisconsin
Energy Coordinating Agency
Energy Efficient Services
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc
Fisher Town Design, Inc.
Fitzmartin Consulting Company
Fletcher-Thompson, Inc.
Flintco, LLC
Fluor
FM Solutions Inc.
Focal Point Communications, Inc
Foliage Design Systems
Forbo Flooring Systems
Forest Stewardship Council US
ForestEthics
Forum Architects, LLC
Forward Thinking Consultants, LLC
Foundation Communities
Frederic H. Dean Architect
Frederick Ward Associates
Freedman Engineering Group
Freeman French Freeman, Inc
Fremont County BOCES
Freshwater Farms, LLC
Frontline Copy
Full Spectrum of New York LLC
Future Engineering & Management, P.C.
FXFOWLE
G2 Gordon + Gordon Architecture LLC
Gaia Development LLC
Garner Development Services
Garrett Smith Ltd
Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC
Gavo Communications
GBRI
Generation 3 Development Company, Inc.
Gensler
GHA/Geoffrey Holton and Associates
GHD
Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner, & Senet LLP
Gibson Landscape Services, LLC
Global Green USA
Global Platinum Sustainability Consultants, LLC
GMK Associates
Go Germ Free
Go Green Investments
Goby LLC
Goetz Printing Company
GoGreen Buildings
GSD Contracting LLC
Guaranteed Watt Saver Systems, Inc.
Guidon Design
Gulf Geoexchange & Consulting Services, Inc.
GWB Consulting, LLC
H Design Group
H2 Ecodesign
Habitat for Humanity of Ohio
Habitat for Humanity of Sacramento
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area
Habitat Studio Architecture
Habitat Studios
Halcom Consulting LLC
Hampton Roads Green Building Council
Hannon Armstrong
Harley Ellis Deveraeux
Harvard University
HAStudio
Haworth, Inc.
Hawtin Jorgensen Architects
HD Supply Inc.
HDR
Healthy Building Network
Healthy Buildings Solutions, LLC
Healthy Schools Campaign
Heapy Engineering
Heffernan Holland Morgan Architecture, P.A.
Heinze Energy and Environmental Management
Helix Architecture + Design
Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects, L.L.C.
Hempfully Green
Henderson Engineers
Hepper Olson Architects
Herman Miller
HGA
HGBC
Higgins Horticultural Services, LLC C
High Plains Architects
Hines
Historic Green
HITT Contracting Inc
HJKessler Associates
HKS Architects
HNTB Architecture
Hoboken Quality of Life Coaltion, Inc.
ISSA
Ithaca College
J M Smith Corp
J T Turner Construction
J W Crouse, Inc.
Jackson Architecture & Consultancy Firm
JAG Engineering Services Inc.
James River Green Building Council
JB Architecture Group
JDM/Structural Engineering, PSC
JE Dunn Construction
Jean Terwilliger, AIA Architect
JEST Properties LLC
JHWDesign
JLG Architects
JMPE Electrical Engineering
Joan Stigliano Interior Planning
Joe Janitor University
Joel Ann Todd Consulting
John D. Kelley, AIA Architect
John Hueber Homes
Johnson Controls Inc.
Jonathan Rose Companies
Jose Morla and Associates
Joslin Construction Consulting
K. Norman Berry Associates Architects
Kahler Slater Inc.
Kariher Daughtry Architects
Karpman Consulting
Kath Williams + Associates
KB Home
KD3 Design Studio, Inc
Keller Williams Realty/Boise
Keller Williams Realty/David Kelman
Kelley Green Consulting
Kelly Green Energy Raters, LLC
Kenerson Associates, Inc.
Kenneth Hahn Architects, Inc.
Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Kidder Mathews
Kirksey Architecture
KJWW Engineering Consultants
Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt
Knoll
KnollTextiles
Knoxville Corrugated Box Company
Madison Environmental Group, LLC
MaGrann Associates
Mahogany Enterprises
Majora Carter Group
Manning Architects
Marion Construction Inc
Marsden Bldg Maintenance, LLC
Martin Riley
Mary Davidge Associates, Inc.
Mary Nolte Designs
Mascaro Construction Co LP
Masland Contract
Masters Building Solutions Inc.
Mathew Davis Landscape Architect, LLC
Maxxon Corporation
MBA Waste Enterprises LLC
MBD Community Housing Crop.
McCool Carlson Green Architects
McCownGordon Construction, LLC
McDonald Building Company, LLC
McKenney’s, Inc.
McKenzie Engineering Co., Inc.
McKinley & Associates
McLelland Architecture
MCM Corp.
McWane, Inc.
Meadowlark Builders
Mechanical Contractors Inc
Mechanical Engineering Consultants
MEI Hotels Incorporated
Mercedes Corbell Design + Architecture
Mercovery Int llc
Meta Brunzema Architect PC
Meta-WEB LLC
Metropolitan Energy Center
Michael E Fowler Consulting Services
Micma Group LLC
Microgrid Energy
Miller Consulting Group, LLC
Miller Sellers Heroux Architects, Inc.
Mindswing Consulting
MinuteBids, Inc.
Miron Construction Co., Inc.
Mithun
MJ Realty Service, PLLC
MMM Design Group.com
Northeast Collaborative Architects
Northeast Green Building Consulting LLC
Norwich University
Norwood Marble & Granite
Nuestra Tierra Realty/Vida Verde y Sustentable
O,R&L Inc.
Oasis Brands Inc
Oberlin College
O’Brien & Company
Office Furniture Dealers Alliance (OFDA)
Ohio Environmental Council
Okapi Architecture
Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City
OLIN
On Earth Energy Group LLC dba
On Point LLC
ONSITE Design LLC
Optima Engineering
organicARCHITECT
Orlando Science Center
OT9design,LLC
Oystertree Consulting
P2S Engineering
Pace Law School, Land Use Law Center
PacifiCAD
PageSoutherlandPage
Pais Architects, Plc
Palo Santo Designs LLC
Pando Alliance
Pardee Construction, LLC
Pare Corporation
PARSONS
Pathfinder Engineers & Architects LLP
Paul Poirier + Associates Architects
Paul Wermer Sustainability Consulting
PDG Architects
PE INTERNATIONAL Inc.
Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee, PA
PEG
Penn Lighting
Pennsylvania Paper
Perfect Building Maintenance
Perkins+Will
Perspective Designs
Peter Caradonna Architects
Pfau Long Architecture
REAL Building Consultants, LLC
Real Green Solutions, LLC
Realty Appreciation, LTD
Red Bridge Homes Corp.
Red Eagle Development
Red Feather development Group
Reese Design Studio, LLC
Related Companies
Relocation Management Solutions, Inc.
Renewable Choice Energy
RESNET
Resonate LLC
Resource Dynamics
Reusch Design Services, LLC
Revolution Recovery, LLC
Reynolds Construction Management
RGA Landscape Architects Inc.
Richard Matsunaga & Associates
Riesterer Law & Consulting, Ltd.
Rivas Consultants
RJC Architects, Inc.
RLF Architects
RLS Design Group
RLTurner Corporation
RM Green Environmental
RMA Architects, PSC
Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA
Robert Dye, LLC
Robert Prud’homme Design, LLC
Rose Garden Arena/Portland Trail Blazers
Rowe Fenestration
Rudolph and Sletten
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
S & L Development, S. E.
SAGE Electrochromics
Sage Energy
Samba Energy
Samsel Architects, P.A.
Savannah Tree Foundation
Schaefer Construction Company, Inc.
Schilling Supply Company
Schmidt Associates Inc.
Schneider-Electric
SCIenergy
SCNZ Architects LLC
Scoles Floorshine Industries
Somfy Systems
Sonoma Mountain Village
Sonoran
Sota Construction Services, Inc.
South Coast Solar, LLC
Southface Energy Institute
Southwest Green Building Center
Space Coast Energy Consortium
SparkleTeam
Specialized Engineering Solutions
Specifications Consultants
Sphere E LLC
Spillman Farmer Architects
Square Care
SRI Quality System Registrar
SRP Sales Corporation
SSA Landscape Architects, Inc.
SSM Industries
SSOE Group
SSRCx
Staengl Engineering
STAR Communities
States Industries LLC
Sterling Planet
Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Stewart Engineering Consultants
Stewart Perry Company
Stockton and Shirk Interior Designs
StopWaste of Alameda County
Stramit USA
StrategicGreen, LLC
Structure Tone, Inc.
Stuart D. Kaplow, P.A.
STUDIO dnk
Studio E
Studio Southwest Architects, Inc.
Suncoast Community Capital
Superior Mechanical Services, Inc.
Superior Site Work Inc.
Supply Management International, LLC
sustain ABLE, Ltd.
Sustainability Dashboard Tools
Sustainable Building Partners
Sustainable Building Solutions
Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC
Sustainable Documentation LLC
The FWA Group
The Green Engineer, LLP
The Hoboken Brownstone Company
The Home Inspector General Inc
The Jordan institute
The Kobet Collaborative
The Lathrop Company
The Levy Company, APC
The Living Wall Company, LLC
The Marano Group, Inc
The Oak Hill Fund
The Ross Group
The Spinnaker Group
The Sustainable Design Group, LLC
The Walsh Company
The Weidt Group
ThermaCote, Inc.
ThinkStreet
Tholen Sustainability Group
Thompson Building Energy Solutions, LLC
Thompson Naylor Architects
Thornton Tomasetti
Threefold Studio
Tishman Speyer
Titan America, LLC
TJH Energy Consulting
TLC Engineering for Architecture
TMC, PC Architects & Planners
TOMe LLC
Toto USA
Tower Tech, Inc
Townsend Poole Design Group
TR Edwards Construction, LLC
Transwestern
Trinity Real Estate
Trinity University, Engineering and Science Department
Triple Green Building Group, LLC
TriStar Commissioning, Inc.
TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design
TTS Environmental Consulting
Turner Foundation
Turner Real Estate
Turning Leaf Construction
tvsdesign
Two Trails, Inc.
U.S. Eco Logic
USGBC Kentucky Chapter
USGBC Long Island Chapter
USGBC Los Angeles Chapter
USGBC Louisiana Chapter
USGBC Maine Chapter
USGBC Maryland Chapter
USGBC Massachusetts Chapter
USGBC Memphis Regional Chapter
USGBC Middle Tennessee Chapter
USGBC Minnesota Chapter
USGBC Mississippi Chapter
USGBC Missouri Gateway Chapter
USGBC Montana Chapter
USGBC National Capital Region Chapter
USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter
USGBC Nevada Chapter
USGBC New Hampshire Chapter
USGBC New Jersey Chapter
USGBC New Mexico Chapter
USGBC New York Upstate Chapter
USGBC North Carolina Triangle Chapter
USGBC North Dakota Provisional Chapter
USGBC North Florida Chapter
USGBC North Texas Chapter
USGBC Northeast Ohio Chapter
USGBC Northern California Chapter
USGBC Northern Gulf Coast Chapter
USGBC Northwest Ohio Chapter
USGBC Oklahoma Chapter
USGBC Orange County Chapter
USGBC Piedmont Triad NC Chapter
USGBC Redwood Empire Chapter
USGBC Rhode Island Chapter
USGBC San Diego Chapter
USGBC South Carolina Chapter
USGBC South Dakota Chapter
USGBC South Florida Chapter
USGBC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter
USGBC Utah Chapter
USGBC West Michigan Chapter
USGBC West Virginia Chapter
USGBC Wyoming Chapter
UTC Climate, Controls & Security
VandeMusser Design, PLLC
Vanderbilt Financial Group
Vegas PBS
Western Michigan University
WGK Architect
Wharton Smith, Inc
White + GreenSpec
Whited planning + design
Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners, DC LLP
Wight & Company
William R. White, Architect
William S. Lyons AIA Architect
Wilmot, Inc.
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance
WNC Green Building Council
Woodbury Green Building Consultation
Woolpert Inc.
World Wildlife Fund
Wright Builders, Inc
WSV Architects
WV GreenWorks
Wylie Consulting Engineers
Yager-Consulting
Yoredale Consulting
YouthBuild USA
YR&G
YZNRG
Zar Group, Inc.
ZeroNet Energy Solutions
Zoetic Design LLC
Zyscovich Architects

via http://www.4Clicks.com – Premier cost estimating and project management software for efficient construction project delivery – JOC – Job Order Contracting, SABER, IDIQ, IPD, SATOC, MATOC, MACC, POCA, BOA.

Yet Another Sustainability Group! American High-Performance and Buildings Coalition

We need action, and the implementation of robust facility life-cycle management practices… NOT more groups!

Yet another new coalition has been formed to guide green building standards and support performance-based building codes, standards and rating systems developed in conformance with the American National Standards Institute.

In the meantime, the GSA ( US General Service Administration ) is currently reviewing the use of green building standards by the federal government, and the US Green Building Council (USGBC) is revising its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – LEED – green building rating system.

Members of the latest group include the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Supply Association, the Vinyl Institute, the Centre for Environmental Innovation in Roofing and others, the new coalition is said to “enjoy broad based support.”

46453858-Asset-Lifecyle-Model[1]

Facility Life-cycle Management Framework