Green buildings are generally assumed to be energy efficient and sustainable. However, such indefinite concepts need to be reduced to measurable criteria to be incorporated into construction documents, contracts and building codes. Although others are being developed, the most widely used green building benchmark is currently the LEED rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. To receive LEED certification, a project must meet a variety of prerequisites such as minimum energy performance and indoor air quality requirements, and then earn points for achieving specific goals or standards in seven categories. Based on total points earned, the building
Here’s a typical situation in the construction industry: Subcontractor submits a bid, contractor notifies subcontractor that its bid is accepted, contractor sends a subcontract for signature, subcontractor starts work on project but doesn’t sign or return written subcontract agreement.
Merrick & Co., Aurora, and North Dakota-based Ulteig Engineers have formed a strategic alliance to provide engineering services to oil and gas companies working in the Williston Basin. The teams kicked off their partnership at the North Dakota Petroleum Council annual meeting recently held in Medora, N.D. The Williston Basin covers 142,500 sq miles in eastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and into Saskatchewan. Oil was first discovered in the basin in the 1920s, and with current drilling technology, it is being actively explored once again.“We are delighted to combine our capabilities with Ulteig to serve this growth region of
The American Public Works Association, which just wrapped up its annual convention in Denver in mid-September, honored Aurora’s Prairie Waters project as one of its public works projects of the year nationwide for 2011. Courtesy of Aurora Water Prairie Waters is part of a $1.1-billion, 10-year capital improvement project to reinforce the reliability of Auroras water system. Prairie Waters is part of a $1.1-billion, 10-year capital improvement project to reinforce the reliability of Aurora’s water system. It adds 3.3 billion gal. (10,000 acre-ft) annually to the city’s water supply—a 20% increase. The project is designed to meet Aurora’s water needs
Construction firms are failing faster than in recent memory, and the majority of contractor failures result not just from market forces but also from decisions made by contractors themselves—internal decisions that deviate from sound business practices. These mistakes place additional strains on a company’s staff, systems and financial capacity. As deviations from sound business thinking grow, the resulting risks increase exponentially. Construction is always an extremely competitive business. That fact is not limited to territory or project type. With limited local opportunities available to some contractors, expanding beyond their territory or normal scope of work becomes tempting, but that injects additional risks into the equation. A new territory
A return-to-work program is a practical approach to returning injured employees to a safe and productive work environment. Although injured employees may be unable to perform their regular jobs, they can often do alternative, productive work while recovering fully from injuries. A return-to-work program can reduce the cost of lost time due to injuries and can keep an injured employee contributing to your organization. Injured employees who stay at work also receive support from co-workers and feel productive. Companies of any size can implement and benefit from an effective return-to-work program.Here are some tips for creating a successful program:• Establish a few return-to-work jobs before
On the heels of President Obama’s announcement of his new jobs proposal, largely centered around infrastructure investments, and still reeling from the impact of the recent debt ceiling battle, it’s time for Congress and the rest of America to brace themselves for another big battle. It’s one that is sure to incite the “no tax under any circumstances” sentiment that has swept the nation courtesy of the Tea Party and will have large implications for each of us. On September 30, the federal gas tax, currently at 18.4 cents per gallon, is scheduled to expire. And if it is not
Construction costs have increased to about the same levels they were in September 2007, according to a recent report from construction consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall. From the last year and a half of quarterly upticks in construction bid prices, RLB reports it is clear that construction costs have passed their low point and are heading upward. The concern is that bid prices are rising less quickly than the combined cost of labor and materials, says RLB President and Global Board Member Julian Anderson.“Our July 2011 figures show that bid prices are now in danger of actually falling below the
Construction employment showed little movement in August, dipping 5,000 below the July total but remaining 4,000 higher than a year ago, according to a recent analysis of new federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the numbers are consistent with a pattern of small gains followed by slight decreases, as demand for construction remains weak. “This report continues a long-running zigzag pattern of minimal up-and-down changes in construction employment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The free-fall has ended, but the seasonally adjusted employment total in August—5.5 million—has been virtually unchanged for a
The number of construction fatalities declined by nearly 10% between 2009 and 2010 and by almost 40% during the past five years, according to a recent analysis of new federal data prepared by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials pointed to an industry-wide commitment to improving workplace safety as a key reason for the safety improvements. “This industry has made safety a top priority in good times and bad, and the new data shows those efforts are helping save lives,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But even one fatality is too many, which is