Tapping Into Green Construction
A growing number of private and
corporate clients are insisting that contractors construct their buildings
using a combination of recycled and environmentally-friendly new materials.
Savvy professionals need to find ways to incorporate sustainable building
practices and products into their business models. A good first step is to
understand how and why certain materials and products are certified “green.”
“Green” Certification
Construction-related products and materials are certified as environmentally-friendly in three ways:
First-party certification involves manufacturers certifying that their products meet certain environmental criteria.
Second-party certification means that a trade association or other organization certifies products as meeting “green” standards.
Third-party certification entails unbiased, independent laboratory testing of products or a detailed analysis of manufacturers’ claims that cannot be verified through testing to ensure the products are objectively considered to be environmentally-friendly.
Contractors should focus on
third-party certification when selecting products and materials to use in
their projects. It is considered the most thorough and rigorous of the three
certification methods. Most contractors are already familiar with
ENERGY STAR--a joint program between the EPA and
the U.S. Department of Energy--which certifies as energy efficient a range
of products and materials. However, contractors should also familiarize
themselves with other third-party certifiers, such as the
Forest Stewardship
Council, which certifies wood products as being harvested from sustainably
managed forests. In addition,
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) offers
rigorous evaluation and certification services to numerous manufacturers.
SCS certifies a wide range of construction materials for recycled content
and their impact on indoor air quality.
Become LEED Certified
Contractors that incorporate certifiably “green” products and materials in
their projects can earn credits toward being approved by the
U.S. Green
Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). An
increasing number of property owners and developers are requiring this
certification from their construction contractors.
LEED certification is granted to contractors for meeting standards in one or
more of six different categories: innovation in design, sustainable sites,
water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality and
materials and resources.
Work-In-Process is provided by
Somerset for our clients and other interested persons upon request.
Since technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no
final conclusion on these topics should be made without further review.
For additional information on the issues discussed, please contact
Ken
Hedlund,
Jay Feller,
Steve George,
Chris
Mayfield or
Rebecca Ogle
of our
Construction & A/E Team.
This document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used,
for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
www.IndianaConstructionCPAs.com