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March 31st, 2009

UKGBC releases report, “Biodiversity and the Built Environment”

Thomas Friedman preaches in his recent book, Flat Hot and Crowded, that right now America is having a green party, not a green revolution. And it’s true – Europe is leaps ahead of the US when it comes to green building practices. So how do we get to where we need to be?

Taking a cue from the report UK Green Building Council released today, “Biodiversity and the Built Environment,” a greater shift in the way we think about building is the first step.

As stated in an article from the UK’s foremost construction magazine, Building:

Paul King, chief executive of UKGBC, said that thinking about the environment and building should be inverted: “All too often our mindset is simply to reduce the negative impacts from construction and development. But it’s important to think about how we can actually increase positive impacts - for people, wildlife and the economy.”

Complements of MetaEfficient

So how can builders make the change?

According to the report:

Improving staff training and communication
Recommendations to improve green building codes and standards to better incorporate assessment of biodiversity
Advice for industry, and for local and central government, on how to improve the consistency of biodiversity measurement and reporting

Green building products like green roofs, living walls, as well as building practices like landscape architecture, parks and urban gardens can all help make a positive impact.

In America, education is number one – Manufacturers and associations in the building industry have an opportunity to develop more powerful awareness campaigns around the benefits of incorporating natural environments into deign build practices. Now take that as a challenge.

Read UK’s Building magazine’s full article.

Tags: Biodiversity, Building Magazine, Green Roofs, Hot Flat and Crowded, MetaEfficient, Thomas Friedman, UKGBC
Posted in Green
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March 27th, 2009

Weekly Intel: Top Links of the Week

Weekly Intel

A Midwestern urban sandbox is a winner

Big holes in your city skyline

New power partnership to promote carbon neutral buildings

Remodelers certify their future

Book Review – Green School Primer: Lessons in Sustainability

Tags: AIA, Best in American Living Awards, Chicago Spire, GBI, Green Building Initiative, Green Certified Professional, Green School Primer: Lessons in Sustainability, NARI Certified Remodeler, National Association of Homebuilders, sustainable architecture, sustainable architecture principals, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, world's tallest buildings
Posted in Weekly Intel
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March 27th, 2009

Finally: A White Paper that Sets Green Product Certifications Straight

Building product manufacturers know that one of the biggest unknowns in the green building industry is just which product certification is legit. In an ideal world, certified green products would serve as a roadmap to how to build a better building. They would also help manufacturers dedicated to green market their products and rise above the clutter.

Instead, a new product certification seems to pop up every month (recently Underwriters Laboratory, NAHB Green Approved and ICC-ES Save Program have all been talk of the industry, though sure to change as soon as the next label comes onto the scene) and it’s becoming harder and harder to tell straight talk from greenwash.

Complements of All Things Jui

Air Quality Sciences, however, is finally making everyone honest with it’s newly published white paper, Primary Green Product Standards and Certifications Programs: A Comparison.

The report is available for free download and worth a read, as it clearly defines the different types of certifications available and which certifications are eligible for the ANSI standard and the LEED-CI and LEED-NC certifications.

First lesson for manufacturers to take away:

Third Party: “A product, process or service that meets specified, industry-independent criteria or standards according to the verification and review by an impartial,
industry-independent agent.”

Examples: Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, GREENGUARD Certification Program and Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)

Second Party: “An industry-based association, to which an individual or organization belongs, that provides the standard, label, or set of criteria for certification toward which a product, process or service may aspire.”

Examples: ENERGY STAR, WaterSense, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

First Party: “An individual or organization that offers a product, process or service that provides some type of verification of assurance, label or certification to a standard or set
of criteria. This is self-declaration.”

Example: GreenSpec Directory

So now that your appetite is wet, download the full report here and finally understand what is what in the world of green product standards.

Tags: Green, green products, Greenwash, NAHB
Posted in Green, Marketing
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March 26th, 2009

Who’s in Control of Your House?

Dean Kaufman, courtesy of Dwell

It’s time that building materials companies take a step back and look at who their target audiences truly are. It’s no longer the custom builder who brings all spec suggestions to the table when planning new custom homes. Homebuyers/Homeowners, especially women, are coming prepared for the meeting with everything but the kitchen sink - they have a strong conviction about what brand and style they want.

Let’s be serious, guys, the ladies own many major or all consumer-purchasing decisions. They’re also the only ones making money right now. The shift has happened, it’s easier if you just accept it. According to a recent survey from Marketing to Women (M2W), women are making the decision to purchase new homes 91% of the time.

In general, regardless of gender, homebuyers today are savvier than ever before. They know what they want, how much they will spend and when they want the job completed. Custom builders aren’t discounting this either - making it much easier for potential customers to take a first stab at designing their very own dream homes.

Certain custom builders are even specializing in marketing specifically to women. Yes, home builders are now going as far as being trained on how to effectively reach new female customers with programs like Woman-Centric Matters. These programs concentrate on categories within the home that women care most about - entertaining, de-stressing, organizing and flexible living.

So builders and manufacturers prepare – the cabinets, crown molding, doors & windows, kitchens, closet organizers and bathrooms are going to be perfect!

Now that women largely control the checkbook, marketers need to examine whom they are reaching out to and how they are approaching this audience. If women are telling you the categories within a new house that are most important to them, you need to listen and convince them why your product is superior because they aren’t just taking explanations at face value.

Tags: building materials, custom builder, custom home, home builders, homebuyers, Marketing to Women
Posted in Residential, Trends
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March 25th, 2009

The AIA’s Architectural Billings Index Rises Slightly

The Architectural Billings Index (ABI) rose two points to 35.3 after dipping to an all-time low of 33.3 in January. The index is one of the professions’ leading economic indicators and reflects a 9 – 12 month lag time between architectural billings and construction spending.

February ABI

According to AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA, the country is likely to see a light demand of new construction projects throughout the year. He also said there is hope the stimulus bill will result in more project activity.

So what does the report mean?

Commercial/Industrial had the lowest score in February – 32.0 – down from 33.8 in January
Institutional scores dropped to 36.8 from 37.1 in January
Multi-family residential increased to 33.3 from 29.5
Credit availability remains a large concern for construction projects

As Baker stated, we should see a gradual improvement in construction, especially in the education sector. Provisions of the stimulus plan include $8.8 billion for school construction and modernization. (Check out our post about the modernization of the school system.)

npr.org

California may be a prime example of the stimulus at work. With the warming of spring comes more construction jobs, according to the California Job Journal. And according to Baker, the rise in the ABI will “provide hope that some stalled projects will resurface in the near future.”

Tags: ABI, AIA, Architectural Billings Index, construction, economic indicator, school construction, stimulus bill
Posted in Architecture, Commercial, Residential
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March 24th, 2009

While Some Media is Dying, Green is Growing Up

Hanley Wood’s one year-young green building publication, EcoHome, announced today that it was honored Jesse H. Neal Award’s Best Start-Up Publication. The prestigious American Business Media Association award has been called the “Pulitzer Prize of business media.” With a print circulation of 30,000 AEC professionals and a digital following of 270,000 industry professionals, the publication is growing up instead of shrinking.

If you have followed the ever-expanding twitter feed, The Media is Dying, you have to wonder at EcoHome’s success. Advertising sales are unquestionably down, but there is a cultural shift going on as well – where content relevancy and the way in which it is disseminated needs to change or get out.

Taking a cue from EcoHome, which has approached things differently:

It’s invested in it’s Web site – and in return is a news generating machine (and also brought home Best New B2B Web site)

It’s adopted Twitter and Facebook and has done it well – by not only pushing out news, but interacting with it’s followers

It’s content is robust and relevant – the amount of innovative, the forward-looking information EcoHome editors generate daily is a testimony to green becoming everyday, not every once in a while (and to remodelers and contractors adopting sustainable practices to grow their business)

While, media that cocoons behind closed doors is going by the wayside, EcoHome is a believer of the Two-Way Conversation – from online polls to webinars to blogs to industry events

So congratulations to this year’s Best Start-Up Publication and cheers to the hope that sooner than later every home built will be an “eco-home”.

Tags: advertising sales, AEC professionals, EcoHome, Facebook, followers, green building, Hanley Wood, Twitter
Posted in Green
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March 24th, 2009

Builders Remodel Their Identity

Waiting out the economic downturn, builders are transforming before our eyes. With the housing market in the gutter, builders are turning their focus to remodeling, energy conservation, sustainability and smaller homes. Builders and construction companies are doing whatever it takes to make a dollar – and today they are increasingly taking on remodeling projects.

Charleston Regional Business Journal

Remodeling activity is down, but at least it’s active. According to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, homeowners “are more likely to make improvements primarily to maintain the structural integrity and efficient functioning of their homes, as well as to generate cost savings.” Many of those who are remodeling would have sold their home in a better market, made a profit and traded up, but because of the circumstances, consumers are more focused on staying put and improving what they have.

Profiled in a recent article from the Charleston Business Journal, Charleston, South Carolina custom builder Dolphin Architects and Builders is doing more home renovations these days. President Wally Seinsheimer said two years ago home renovations may have been 10 percent of the company’s business. Today, that numbers triples to 30 percent.

What are some keys to revamping their identity?

More builders are doing the work themselves. It’s cheaper than hiring subcontractors.
Another bonus of doing the work themselves is the forging of solid relationships with their customers
The builder’s work is perceived as higher quality
Accessibility and availability has never been greater

Loyalty and great customer service are going to make those builders who are still around even more successful. It’s also important for the builders/remodelers to offer the most up-to-date products on the market today. Some builders are even going back to school to earn other certifications, particularly in green construction.

Like other professions before them, builders are recognizing the importance of adapting to their environment. The reinvention of the builder is great for the industry. The competition amongst them provides the best value for the customer and only the best companies will survive.

Tags: builders, certifications, construction, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, home renovations, Remodeling
Posted in Remodeling, Residential, Trends
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March 23rd, 2009

Americans Taking Advantage of the Reinvestment (Act)

Buffalo Real Estate News

It comes as no surprise that existing home sales rose 5% in February considering the median price went down 15.5% from last year. The most encouraging news is that first-time homebuyers accounted for half of the purchases last month. So should we chalk one up for the Obama administration? One thing is for certain, there is no shortage of resources online that explain the tax credit, including NAR and NAHB.

But these days it seems that with every piece of good news comes some bad. Here’s the rub - the total number of existing homes on the market at the end of February rose 5.2% to 3.80 million units. At the current sales pace, it would take an estimated 9.7 months to sell down that inventory of properties.

What are you doing to help stimulate the market?

Tags: first-time homebuyers, home sales, homes, NAHB, NAR, Obama
Posted in Residential
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March 19th, 2009

Housing Market Collects a Rebound

Housing starts rose in February, but analysts warned that it’s likely short lived. The catalyst was multifamily construction - 82% increase. Clearly an early recovery is not possible with new home sales continuing to decline and the large inventory hangover still haunting everyone, even though some regions, including here in Maryland, are seeing signs of life.

housingeconomics.com

But if multifamily is driving housing, what does this mean for the American Dream? People who once left the city for the chance to own their own, single family, detached home can no longer afford them. According to a new study from MetLife, 50% of Americans say they are only one month – or only two paychecks – or less away from not being able to meet their financial obligations if they were to lose their job, and more than half of these, a startling 28% of the total respondents, couldn’t survive financially for more than two weeks.

The Dream is now being reevaluated. People want economic stability and a better place for their family to live. Environmentally responsible rules! And having a conscious is cool. Sustainable, multifamily communities that are well thought out are not a dream, but a reality. That means less impact on the environment (driving), more savings (utilities and expenses), and healthier living (proximity to public services).

We strongly recommend you read Michelle Kaufmann’s White Paper: Embracing Thoughtful, Walkable Neighborhoods. (Scroll down to right sidebar)

Tags: American Dream, home sales, housing, Michelle Kaufmann, multifamily
Posted in Green, Residential
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March 19th, 2009

Interview with an Architect: Blueprint for the Future

Searching for a way out of the recession, consumers and professionals alike are finding ways to adapt and change to the economic climate. Architects are no different. The Architectural Record makes note of that in its current issue with a special report – Recession & Recovery.

We had the chance to catch up with Glenn W. Birx, FAIA, Vice President/Principal of Ayers/Saint/Gross, an architectural firm with offices in Baltimore, Tempe and Washington, D.C.

What are some current challenges you are seeing in the building industry?
We are facing the biggest challenges in my 30 years of practice. The slowdown in the building industry is unprecedented and has affected everyone from architects and engineers to developers and building owners to construction managers and subcontractors. Layoffs are rampant and there simply is not enough work to go around. The bad credit market has postponed or stopped many projects that were once underway.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth based on the challenges you addressed?
Due to the Stimulus Package passed by Congress, there are new opportunities for many infrastructure projects. This will help civil and structural engineers first, then filter down to the contractors. There are opportunities for planning expertise, as many owners are now planning for the future. However, they still do not have the funds to support current building projects. There are opportunities for renovation and deferred maintenance projects, as many owners are opting for repair and renovation, which may require less funds than new building projects.

What are the advantages of hiring an architect? What are some benefits in the current economic climate?
When money is tight like in this market, an architect is the professional who can optimize building funds and get the most “bang for the buck.” They are also skilled at developing creative ideas for all building problems, creating adaptive re-use projects and managing tight budgets.

How is your business adapting to the economic challenges?
My practice is expanding to overseas markets. We are also offering experienced renovation and planning expertise to our clients. We are also following the many projects that will eventually come from the Stimulus Package.

Patience is the name of the game as there is light at the end of the tunnel. To endure the current climate, industry executives are realizing change is good and adapting is key. The Stimulus Package has instilled a lot of hope in Americans like Glenn. See how the construction and infrastructure money from the Stimulus is divvied up, courtesy of the law firm Patton Boggs LLP.

Tags: architects, Architectural Record, building industry, engineers, planning, Stimulus Package
Posted in Architecture, Interviews, Residential
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