Assignment 9 - Testing the Hypothesis Pt. 2

Further conclusions on the aforementioned hypothesis of building a database to assist in the documentation process for LEED or other sutainable certifications based on 5 additional interviews with from my fellow coworkers:

  • Who - Though LEED is continually growing to become more and more predominant in commercial construction, there are still many contractors that simply do not have a need for a software to assist in the LEED documentation because many work on smaller renovation or buildout projects that do not include any requirements for sustainability.  Another reason contractors may not use LEED would be residential contractors, which fall out of the encompassment of LEED.
  • What - The need to control documents for LEED or other sustainability certifications can differ from several other needs such as controlling documentation for other processes within the scope of a general contractor/architect/engineer/owner's job.  Many of these people may choose to pursue sustainable building practices and elements without actually going through the process of achieving these certifications, though that is more of a rarity.
  • Why - The underlying cause of those that fall outside of the boundary of this development is the fact that some just do not stress the importance of sustainability.  Although the practices are becoming more commonplace and society has moved to where it is the ethical route to take, many often shy away from LEED certification or other sustainable certifications because there is a stigma that there is a multitude of added costs.  This is a common myth because energy savings and lowered life cycle costs often actually cause large savings for projects and buildings both immediately and over time.
The below demonstrates the difference between those inside and outside of the boundary:

Inside the Boundary
  1. Who - Owners, Architects, Engineers, and Contractors that actively pursue LEED certification or other sustainability certifications during construction.
  2. What - The need is to achieve a sustainable certification or meet a sustainable standard and implement a building model that lowers energy and life cycle costs while increasing the longevity of the building overall.
  3. Why - The need is stressed both on a moral and ethical basis to use green methods and protect the environment while also saving money over time with lowered life cycle costs.
Outside the Boundary
  1. Who - those who are focused on short term costs and are not focused on life cycle costs or sustainability
  2. What - The need is not to achieve a sustainable building or to reduce costs over a long period of time. 
  3. Why - The need may not be there because often, construction may be on renovations to a small section of an existing building, or the up-front costs are not available to allow sustainable options to be made.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Assignment 6 - Economic Opportunities & Regulatory Trends

Economic Opportunities As the Coronavirus continues to spread in China, the need for methods of detecting the virus in people climbs across the world. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51386575 This information shows the economic crises that are being spurred by the coronavirus across a wide range of sectors in and out of China, such as Ikea & Starbucks.  As more sectors of the world's economy (i.e. Flights, Hotels, etc.) continue to see this virus impact their sales, the need to detect the virus globally becomes more vital. The prototypical customer to this opportunity for further medical research would be governmental agencies such as Customs as well as public and private sector organizations such as airlines and hotels across the board. The opportunity is difficult to exploit, as methods to tracing the virus go beyond a blood sample, but defining recent historical travel and exposure in relative areas to individuals. I see the opportunity in the realization that the...
Read more

Assignment 8 - Solving the Problem

The Opportunity The opportunity lies within creating a database software that compiles information on materials and designs in ONE place that can be provided for companies moving forward. The Product The product would be a simple database software that compiles products and information on systems and provides EXACTLY what is looked for to achieve specific credits for LEED certification.  This could be a subscription-based website that could include an integrative system where manufacturers and consumers alike can go into the database and enter information on specific products.   For instance, 3M, one of the largest manufacturer of materials and goods (several used in construction) in the world, would be able to sign into the software and upload documentation and information for all of their products.  Each product uploaded would have its own page which specifies EVERYTHING, from pre-consumer & post-consumer recycled content, to location of manufacturer ...
Read more

Assignment 16 - What's Your Secret Sauce?

 Describe five ways in which you think you have Human Capital that is truly unique. I feel as though I have the willingness and drive to accomplish whatever I set my goals on.  I work a 40-hour per week job while taking a full class load and am completing my Capstone project for my program, which has already taken well over 100 hours worth of work outside of class and my job. My unique charisma sets me apart.  I am a goofy person, but I am also pretty analytical and wise in a sense for where I am in life.  I feel as though my exterior facade of being goofy, relaxed, joyfulness, and strong sense of humor often gives people a surprise when they come to see how diligently I work, how smart I am, and how well I do my job. I think I am confident in who I am, but one thing that I have developed recently is to put aside my pride and arrogance at times while also staying true to myself and my faith. I have a knack for connecting with others by finding a medium ground ...
Read more