Understanding 'Green'

Welcome to the blog for Impact Construction and Consulting! As we were conceiving the purpose and importance of Impact’s website, we wanted to make sure that we provided a voice that described who we are, what we do, our thoughts, our strengths, and maybe most interestingly our evolution over time. For those who read, it provides an opportunity to learn about our company, our industry, and about the complexities and opportunities available to our clients to design, manage, and build a successful project that addresses sustainability to the fullest degree possible. A blog seemed to make sense- something that ‘demystifies’ the building process by providing an insider’s perspective about building ‘greener’.

As the green movement becomes trendier and more mainstream, we’re seeing a lot of companies riding on its coattails – some with good intentions and some with intentions to greenwash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing). In all fairness, without some knowledge and due diligence, it can be difficult to tell the difference.

An example: a question I’m often asked is, “How much more will I have to pay if I build green?” As much as I wish I had straightforward answer, I simply don’t. Unfortunately, the construction industry is extraordinarily fragmented; there is no single framework that speaks to all of the project stakeholders, and there are no common protocols, languages, or standards. On top of that, since building material costs are affected by such a large, unpredictable range of factors (commodity prices, regional price factors, wholesale discounts, etc.), it can be very difficult to give a reasonable, on-the-spot answer. In truth, the answer to that question will be determined by the project team – the architect, contractor, and ultimately the client. Hopefully, as a team, they are thoughtful enough to consider all costs - upfront, life cycle, and environmental, as they wade through the marketing hype of the many “eco-friendly” building products available today.

The building and building sciences industries are changing rapidly, and require greater thoughtfulness and planning. So, this green movement brings more choices, but also more complexity and confusion- this is why Impact exists. Our goal will be to provide thoughts and insights that contribute to successful projects in this evolving landscape.