Florida Could Loosen Up LEED Reliance–Does it Matter?

“A pair of Florida lawmakers is attempting to broaden green building compliance by loosening up reliance on LEED. If the bills are successful, state buildings could rely on lesser-known green certification programs such as Green Globes. Most people are unaware that there is more than one certification program. But LEED is more than racking up certification points. To make buildings truly perform, collaboration is key, and we have a system to make that happen.”

Asbestos Awareness Week 2013–Free Download

“United States Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin is urging Americans to learn about the dangers of asbestos exposure during Asbestos Awareness Week 2013 (April 1-7). For us, every week is asbestos awareness week. Linda Reinstein, president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), says  the United States continues to endanger public health by importing asbestos, a known carcinogen.”

For over 25 years, Wynn L. White Consulting Engineers offers services and capabilities to lower owners’ risks through effective management of environmental, health, and safety exposures. Our main objective is to provide professional services which will allow our customers to concentrate on their core business functions. Contact us for a free 30 minute consultation to see how we can help you make your projects more efficient and more effective.

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Linda Reinstein, president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), says  the United States continues to endanger public health by importing asbestos, a known carcinogen. Reinstein says, “I am especially concerned about workers exposed to asbestos during renovations, construction, and natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy.” She added that since 2003, asbestos-related diseases have claimed more than 100,000 lives in the U.S.

Believe it or not, there is not an outright ban on asbestos in the U.S., and the ADAO is working with Congress to outlaw its use entirely, although it is rarely found in new building materials, and its use is mostly limited to industrial applications.

As long as asbestos is handled safely, we can minimize risk.

Here are some basics on asbestos:

>Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in rock and soil. Because of the strength of its fiber and heat resistance, it has been traditionally used in a variety of building construction materials as insulation and a fire retardant

>Asbestos in buildings can be disturbed by renovations, demolition, or general construction activities, and wear and tear on materials.

>When asbestos is disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers can enter the air and be inhaled causing major health effects. They include lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer found in the thin lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and heart), and asbestosis, which is a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.

>Anyone who disturbs asbestos can be at risk. However it is of special concern from construction, insulation, and demolition workers, pipefitters, boilermakers and others who might disturb asbestos found in older buildings or equipment as part of their work. Construction workers are 11 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than other workers.

>According to the World Health Organization, 107,000 workers around the world die each year of an asbestos-related disease. That works out to 300 deaths per day.

If you have questions about asbestos compliance, how to work safely with asbestos, or how to safely remove asbestos, feel free to contact me, and I’ll be happy to give you a free 30 minute consultation.

You can download our Asbestos Management Checklist by filling out the form below.

[contact-form-7]

Stay aware, my friends.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the most interesting engineer in the world. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

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More than one particular certification standard can result in saving energy and saving money.

Most people are unaware that there is more than one certification program. The United States Green Building Council, which came up with LEED and issues points for certification is not the only player in the game. You can think of LEED and other programs like Green Globes kind of like Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Dell, and Apple. Some companies offer more than others, but they all do basically the same thing in one way or another. It boils down to individual preference, and it seems like Florida (and other states and the Federal Government) might be best served letting architects, engineers, and Owners decide on the type of certification.

There does seem to be some self-interest in Florida on the part of the foresters there, but I commend lawmakers for attempting to use their own state’s resources for building projects. One opponent of the bill, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, says the forestry industry should move toward LEED because “there is a market for it.” Well, there isn’t necessarily a market for LEED but rather energy efficiency and sustainability through smart building practices. Without that desire, LEED simply wouldn’t exist.

While the USGBC is non-profit, it manages to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars annually mostly in certification revenue. So, you can see why it might be advantageous for them to maintain a perceived monopoly on the green building certification industry. And don’t get me wrong. I like LEED. After all, I’m a LEED AP. But there is more to LEED than just going online and racking up points for building materials and certain types of equipment. The building has to be designed and built collaboratively between a team of architects, engineers, contractors, and Owners. Otherwise, you can wind up with the most brilliant design, energy modeling that looks fantastic, but a building that fails to perform as the owner intended .

I often talk about collaboration. When is the last time you heard of a team of architects and engineers going to the job site to have frequent meetings with the contractor and subcontractors? It’s rare, and that needs to change.

So, we are going to change it.

Our approach isn’t original, new, or earth shattering, but it will bring about change. Simply put, we (our firm) recommend Architects, Engineers, Contractors, and Owners verify the work by whatever means necessary – call it Commissioning, whatever you like. Test, measure, check, inspect, train the equipment/system operators to make sure each critical project component works as it should.

From design to delivery of the building, collaboration is key to successful performance.

And own it–Architects and Engineers shouldn’t sit back and quote the plans and specifications as if the Contract Documents alone are the gospel (it kind of hurts to say that). Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying the Contract Documents have no weight, but the reality is that the constructed project (good or bad) sometimes doesn’t exactly match what’s in the plans and specifications. I know that’s not a shock, but design professionals have to get out of the hard copy/virtual project world. Talk to the Contractors and their Subcontractors during the job – find what’s working and what’s not. RFI’s, ASI’s, Work Change Directives, and Change Orders can be a pain, but take on some work now and fix a problem while you can still get to that open wall assembly. Or would you rather wait and have to spend $20,000 on exploratory demolition after the Owner’s occupied the space?

Contractors– you and your subs have to own it too. Don’t use the plans and specs (or lack of information therein) as a weapon to bludgeon the design team (even though it may be a lot of fun). If there’s a missing detail, or if something’s unclear, work with the design team to solve the problem. Don’t just fire off an RFI without a proposed solution. A good design professional can take objective criticism and will be open to a well reasoned approach to problem solving. Or would you rather wait and have to spend $20,000 on exploratory demolition after the Owner’s occupied the space? See a recurring theme here?

Owners–you need to make sure you’ve communicated what your project requirements are to the Design Team and to the Contractor. And that doesn’t just mean by hiring the Design Team to prepare plans and specifications and by hiring a Contractor. Who will operate your building/systems? What training will they need? What tools will they need to operate and maintain the building after the warranty period has expired?

Technology is great–I love it. I love these project specific websites where all the interested parties can go to view documents, collaborate–all of that. But we have to communicate more effectively. It seems that our effectiveness in communicating is inversely proportional to our available technology. As buildings and systems increase in complexity, we MUST improve how we convey our meaning – whether we’re discussing how to install windows, HVAC, lighting, and other critical components.

Assembling your design team and keeping it in tact will reduce costs.

You may not want to hear what we have to say, but I promise this–we’ll give you our best recommendation, best solution and advice based on what we know. And if we don’t know, we’ll work to find the answer – and we’re not afraid to ask questions and dig to find the problem’s solution. We’ll use our insights from projects that have failed as well as the successful insights from the entire project team to provide ease of access for maintenance, reducing utility/structural conflicts before issuing the working drawings, analyzing capital costs versus life cycle ownership costs (who wants an inexpensively built LEED building that costs ten times as much to own?).

What are the benefits?

Fewer requests for information (RFIs)—that equates to less time and cost for the architects and engineers; fewer construction defects—that equates to less time and cost for everyone; fewer equipment operational problems after substantial completion—that equates to fewer service calls (gee, less cost and time) for everyone; improved occupant comfort; reduced energy consumption; reduced stress; and reduced legal costs. A win-win situation for the entire project team.

Want help coordinating your team to design and construct buildings that perform to their full potential? Send me an email, and I’ll be happy to give you a 30 minute consultation.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the most interesting engineer in the world. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

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The country of Cameroon. Photo: Wikipedia

So why is it being manufactured and sold in a foreign country by a U.S. company? According to one scholar, profit.

David Rosner is co-director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia University and says, “That is more or less the way we do things. We end up exporting our poisons and try to make every last bit of profit we can.”

Another example of this type of practice is asbestos. According to the United States Geological Survey, the U.S. exported about $27 million worth of asbestos products. While it is true I can go to Home Depot and purchase a product with asbestos (mastic), or I can go to Autozone and find some brakepads with asbestos in them, we long ago abandoned using the product extensively in living and work environment.

We all know these products are harmful and don’t use them domestically, so why are we exporting asbestos and manufacturing lead paint for foreign consumption? Is that ethical?

These products are being used in schools and day care centers in addition to homes. As we saw here in the U.S., the negative effects probably won’t be fully realized until 30 or 40 years down the road or beyond.

So is it ethical? No, it is not, and this doesn’t require a philosophical debate. While I believe every country has the right to regulate its own consumer goods as it sees fit, why should U.S. companies profit from products they know can be incredibly harmful (possibly fatal) to people’s health? Should we place our bottom lines over safety and moral responsibility? That answer to that question is very clear to me.

What do you think? Should these companies stop manufacturing and exporting materials that are known to be harmful? Leave a comment below.

Stay ethical, my friends.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the most interesting engineer in the world. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

Huffington Post–Lead Paint, Other Toxic Products Banned in U.S. Still Exported to Unsuspecting Customers Abroad

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Father of LEED: There are Good Buildings and Bad Buildings

“Well, this is somewhat surprising and somewhat not. I’ve always said that just because a building claims to be green, or even has a LEED plaque on the front of it for that matter, doesn’t mean it’s saving energy or money.”

U.S. Senator Seeks to Amend Lead (Pb) Exposure Rule

“Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has re-introduced S.484, the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2013, to amend the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting Rule (LRRP), which was developed to prevent lead exposure for workers and the general public.”

For over 25 years, Wynn L. White Consulting Engineers offers services and capabilities to lower owners’ risks through effective management of environmental, health, and safety exposures. Our main objective is to provide professional services which will allow our customers to concentrate on their core business functions. Contact us for a free 30 minute consultation to see how we can help you make your projects more efficient and more effective.

The post Blog Roundup: ‘Green’ Buildings, Proposed Changes to Lead (Pb) Regs, and The Checklist Manifesto appeared first on Wynn L. White Consulting Engineers.

Interesting…Father of #LEED not a fan of #green buildings. ow.ly/iX5eZ

— Green Building News (@GreenBuildNews) March 15, 2013

I agree that maybe it’s time to eliminate “green” as a modifier when it comes to buildings.

Mr. Watson puts it best: “Hopefully we’re on our way to eliminating ‘green’ as a modifier,” he said. “There are good buildings, and there are bad buildings.” Good buildings save energy, water, time and effort, he explained — but perhaps most importantly to their occupants, they save money. “This is not a fad,” Watson added. “The bottom line of green is black.”

Is you building saving you money and keeping your occupants healthy?

If you want some tips on how to make that happen, contact me for a 30 minute consultation. I can help you with energy modeling, building enclosure design, HVAC improvements, and LEED commissioning.

Stay efficient, my friends.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the Most Interesting Engineer in the World. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

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MacMillan USA

We use a lot of checklists in our office and in the field. New York Times Bestseller The Checklist Manifesto provides a commonsense approach to getting things done. It’s written by MacArthur Fellow and general and endocrine surgeon Atul Gawande.

With so much information being thrown at us, smartphones buzzing in our pockets and distractions caused by information overload can easily turn a simple task into a complete disaster. Simplifying work in the office or in the field with checklists can keep you on task and provide you with not only a sense of accomplishment, but also the peace of mind that the job was done safely and correctly.

Checklists save lives in operating rooms across the globe every day. A checklist served me, my youngest son, and my mother-in-law at about 2,500 feet in the air. I’m a pilot.

One weekend we had flown up to see my oldest son Chris perform in the band at a Northwestern State University football game. We had a great time, but shortly after takeoff, as we climbed through 2,500 feet, I (and my son) noticed a gentle vibration. It started to get worse and worse, more and more pronounced. I eventually had to kill the engine and figure out how I was going to get the plane back on the ground in one piece. Do you know what the first thing you do when you have engine problems? FLY THE PLANE. Secondly, find your checklist and go through it.

For example:

• Check airspeed.

• FLY THE AIRPLANE!

• Fuel Shutoff Valve–ON (IN)

• Fuel Selector–BOTH

• Auxiliary Fuel Pump–ON

• Mixture–RICH

• Ignition Switch–BOTH

The engine was shot, but going through the checklist verified that. So I then had the task of finding a place to land. As luck would have it, we had enough altitude to glide the plane back to  the runway. Mission accomplished.

Believe it or not, it happened again when I was flying up to Indianapolis to see the Indy 500. We were close to Memphis, Tenn., and I forgot to switch fuel tanks from right to left after climbing to altitude. Guess what? Engines don’t run very well without a steady stream of fuel. So what did I do? Got out the checklist. Shortly after going through it, I realized what was wrong and got the plane running again. We went ahead and landed in Memphis just to be safe, but the point is, we all make mistakes, and checklists can help prevent and/or identify problems (guess what I added to my departure checklist? Yes, now I switch fuel tanks after I’ve reached altitude).

Have checklists come in handy for you? Leave a comment below and let me know how. I look forward to hearing from you.

Wynn L. White, P.E. has been solving problems for clients for over 40 years. Have a question? Contact him here.

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Contractors and trade groups have complained that the LRRP increases costs and unnecessarily applies to groups that are not as susceptible to the effects of lead exposure, such as children and pregnant women, although the consequences of lead exposure in adults have been well-documented.

Lead paint was used extensively prior to 1978 but has been proven harmful if ingested.

S.484 also includes the following changes to the EPA’s LRRP rule:

• Homeowners without small children or pregnant women could opt-out of the rule.

• Prohibit EPA from expanding the LRRP rule to commercial and public buildings until EPA conducts a study demonstrating the need for such an action.

• Providing exemption for first-time paperwork violations and provides for an exemption for renovations after a natural disaster.

• Eliminate the requirement that re-certification must be hands-on, preventing remodelers having to travel to training facilities outside of their region.

Efforts continue to work with the EPA to assist in educating the public on the importance of hiring an EPA-certified remodeler to work on their pre-1978 home. The agency is also being pushed by trade groups for tougher enforcement to crack down on the underground economy created by non-certified remodelers who are not only violating the rules but also putting children and pregnant women at risk by not using lead-safe work practices.

What do you think about lead safety? Do you think the rule should be amended? Leave a comment below.

Stay unleaded, my friends.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the Most Interesting Engineer in the World. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

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Mold Problems after Sandy (Audio)

“Michael Reilly, Director of the Division of Planning and Response at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and Assistant Professor of Clinical Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University’sMailman School of Public, talks about the threat of mold in buildings after Hurricane Sandy, and what it could mean for public health during the ongoing recovery.”

10 Tips and 3 Tricks to Kill Mold

“Mold might not be the end all bad stuff that some folks make it out to be. But if you or someone else notices it-it must be an aggravation at the very least-and it is causing pain of some sort, so let’s stop it, clean it up, and keep it from coming back. Just taking the time to talk about mold is hurting your productivity, and there are known health affects of mold.”

For over 25 years, Wynn L. White Consulting Engineers offers services and capabilities to lower owners’ risks through effective management of environmental, health, and safety exposures. Our main objective is to provide professional services which will allow our customers to concentrate on their core business functions. Contact us for a free 30 minute consultation to see how we can help you make your projects more efficient and more effective.

The post Blog Roundup: Mold after Sandy and How to Kill It appeared first on Wynn L. White Consulting Engineers.

Michael Reilly, Director of the Division of Planning and Response at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and Assistant Professor of Clinical Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public, talks about the threat of mold in buildings after Hurricane Sandy, and what it could mean for public health during the ongoing recovery.

Listen below:

Do you have questions about mold, moisture, and how to solve the problem safely and effectively? Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation.

Chris White, P.E., LEED AP has been helping clients solve problems for 20 years. He is the Most Interesting Engineer in the World. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisWhitePE.

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