Green Construction Expands Its Reach
Posted February 6th, 2013
While eco-friendly ideas such as solar power have been around for centuries, the true roots of green construction can be traced to the energy crisis of the 1970s. Despite good intentions, however, early adoption of green methods was limited in scale and high in cost. Fast forward 40 years, and things are very different today. In fact, according to Edward B. Gentilcore, chair of the construction services group Sherrard, German & Kelly P.C, “What once was an initiative promoted largely by nonprofit entities such as the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Building Initiative, assisted in part by incentives provided at the local, state and federal levels, green and sustainable building is enmeshed in the basic fabric of design and construction of many public and private buildings.”
Broadened Scope
Early green building efforts, driven by the aforementioned energy crisis, focused mainly on reducing fossil fuel use. Main concerns included more efficient heating and cooling, along with insulation. Today’s green construction encompasses much, much more.
Things now begin in the pre construction phase, with site development. David Mogavero, of Mogavero Notestine Associates, says that the new rule is, “Where you build is immensely more important than what you build.” Developers are ensuring that more existing landscape is being preserved during the construction process, and that additional landscaping utilizes native and drought-tolerant plants. Construction equipment is being retooled to run on rough terrain and use alternative fuel.
More care is also being given to the building materials themselves. Issues such as pollution, deforestation, global warming, and habitat loss have caused builders to rethink the materials they use and where they come from. Synthetic materials must be manufactured with minimal energy and waste, while natural materials must be harvested in a sustainable way. According to the Ecopreneurist, “options that feature entirely wood-free framing (instead using substitutes like insulated concrete forms, for example) and recycled materials (including wood, stone, metal, etc.) are just some of the current eco-friendly choices.” And when it comes to energy, dwellings are being powered by an increasingly diverse slate of clean energy options, from solar panels to wind turbines.
Increased Opportunities
Green construction is not only more comprehensive these days, but it’s also far more widespread. Once the province of a few hippie outliers, it has been embraced by homeowners as well as corporations looking to build new offices. With costs going down, demand is going up and so is the number of green jobs available. In fact, seven of the top ten green technology jobs for 2013 are construction-related, including construction managers, building inspectors, environmental engineers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians.
If you have green construction expertise, or are looking for employees who do, it’s time to contact the specialized staffing experts at Bayside Solutions. Whether it’s architectural, engineering, or construction management needs, our recruiting professionals take care of employment issues so that you can focus on what you do best – building!
