ConstructionAdvisorToday

Dependence on Energy Efficiency Skyrockets

A combination of several factors has led to an increased reliance on energy efficiency among building owners and operators, according to new research findings from Johnson Controls (JC). The multinational Fortune 500 company believes that a heightened awareness of energy efficiency’s financial payback, a proliferation of government incentives for going green, and the increasingly appealing prospect of bolstering property values and positive publicity all have contributed to the following startling result from a recently conducted JC survey: 85 percent of building owners and operators globally depend on energy management to drive operational efficiency, a 34 percent increase in the last two years.

76 New Numbers/Titles Added to MasterFormat

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) have added 76 new numbers/titles to MasterFormat, a master list of numbers and titles classified by work results or construction practices that is used to organize project manuals, detail cost information, and relate drawing notations to specifications. In addition, the organizations have changed 18 existing numbers/titles and deleted three that duplicated other existing numbers titles.

Can’t We All Get Together to Resolve This Matter?

Construction projects typically involve numerous participants, each with its own role. When there is a claim or dispute, it is not necessarily limited to two of those parties. The performance of many parties may be called into question. In order to arrive at a resolution which is fair, consistent and comprehensive, it is crucial to get all parties into a single forum. This is not always easy to accomplish.

4 Techniques for Mitigating Risks in Green Building Projects Outlined During WPL Publishing Webinar

There are four key ways to mitigate risks that may arise in green building projects, Christopher Nutter, an associate director in Navigant Consulting Inc.’s Global Construction Practice, told a group of construction professionals attending a WPL Publishing webinar, entitled “Emerging Risk in Green Design and Construction,” earlier this month. The strategies “really are the same types of risk-mitigation techniques that would be used for any design or construction project.” Such risks can be mitigated through the following actions, he said:

Mixed Legislative Blessings for Design-Build Advocates

There is good news and bad news to report for construction professionals who favor legislation promoting design-build project delivery, with several key developments recently taking place at both the state and federal levels.

Recovery of Attorney Fees: Appropriate Deterrent or Welfare for Lawyers?

The Bid Protest Regulations of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) contain a powerful incentive for procuring agencies to obey the statutes and regulations. If a bidder successfully protests an agency action, the GAO may instruct the agency to reimburse the protester for the attorney fees incurred in the protest.

How Long Will it Take for Widespread Adoption of the International Green Construction Code to Occur?

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has unveiled a guide to help architects implement the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) in their practices, but how long will it take for widespread adoption of the code across the United States to occur? Although the organization announced that it has “taken a leadership role” in promoting the code to policymakers, most architects apparently will have plenty of time to prepare for the IgCC.

Experts Offer Advice on Defending Against ‘Schedule Gamesmanship’ During WPL Publishing Webinar

There are several means and methods available to defend against ‘schedule gamesmanship’ in construction projects, Navigant Construction Forum Executive Director James Zack told a target audience of contractors, public and private owners, subcontractors, construction managers, owners’ representatives, architects, and others during a webinar series that WPL Publishing held last month. During the three-part series, Zack and others from Navigant Consulting Inc. identified more than 15 scheduling games and provided more than 45 suggested defenses. Here are some of the games that they identified and their suggested defenses to those games:

Should All Claimed Costs Be Actual and Documented?

Project owners have started imposing contract language requiring documentation of actual costs in support of claims. These costs alone will be grounds for a price adjustment. Courts are enforcing this language. It is a challenge to some long-used techniques for quantifying construction claims.

Could New Advances in Photovoltaics Make the Technology More Appealing to Construction Professionals?

Could a pair of new developments in the photovoltaics (PV) industry make owners, architects, and others in the construction community more receptive of the technology when it comes time to plan their building projects?