Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

CHAPTER 20Local Gove r n m e n tI n f o r m a t i o n :The Construction Pro c e s sI M P L E M E N TATION ISSUES.When local governments adopt green policies for the building or renovation of their facilities,they must address a number of issues. First, they will need to educate all partiesinvolved in a green construction project. Next, they will need to ensure that appropriateinternal mechanisms—ordinances, procurement practices, building codes, and permittingprocesses—are in place. Finally, they will need to pay attention to external factors, suchas access to environmentally sound materials and an infrastructure for recycling constructionand demolition debris, that help to ensure successful results.AuthorMichael MyersLocal government environmental professionals should educate policymakers about thelife-cycle benefits versus initial costs of a green building project to minimize the potentialfor later misunderstandings. Elected officials and city or county managers will oftenunderstand and support the complexities and benefits of such a project better if theyreceive an early explanation of its innovative policies and practices.Building-code offices, procurement offices, and permitting departments, in turn, need informationabout the nature and scope of a green building project and about alternative buildingmaterials and practices in order to facilitate the construction and inspection processes.These government agencies can examine codes and permits to identify any barriers to sustainableconstruction strategies and, if necessary, assist in securing waivers or devising alternativeplans. Their review of local ordinances may reveal that existing policies can addressand enforce such factors as watershed protection and native-plant preservation during theconstruction process, or that updated ordinances need to be put in place.A jurisdiction’s construction manager should be part of the design team that is assembledto develop and implement a green approach. Education of the building contractor by theconstruction manager and the design team is also necessary if the jurisdiction is to successfullytranslate its design plans into reality. One approach to this education effort isthe use of specifications that clearly delineate environmental practices to be followed duringconstruction (see Chapter 17, “Specifications”).In addition, if the contractor is not familiar with green building techniques or materials,it may not adhere to the desired sustainable practices. If the contractor cannot locategreen products in a timely fashion, for example, the construction timetable is likely to