Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Top 50 Green Construction Companies Revealed

New List by Construction Digital Reveals the Top Green Firms


Construction Digital reveals the top 50 green construction companies.

Who are the top 50 global green construction companies? It is revealed in a list of the 50 leaders in green and profile the top five.


1. SKANSKA
Skanska wrote the book on green—literally. The company published Green Thinking, which outlines its green initiative, provides global case studies, delves into the concept of a ‘Green Society’ and provides ways to conserve energy and water and reduce carbon emissions. The Swedish company’s green initiative focuses on three points: 1. Technology is currently available to pursue green construction, 2. It’s the right thing to do and is good for business, and 3. It’s possible to save money by building green. The company provides an interactive view of a Green City, while providing specific case studies of how certain green technologies—from construction materials recycling to green roofs—were incorporated to each project. To improve the overall sustainability of the projects, managers work with local stakeholders and decision makers from concept to completion. With offices in the United States, Europe and South America, Skanska is positioned as the global leader in green construction.

2. BALFOUR BEATTY
Based in the United Kingdom, Balfour Beatty has created a global presence in the construction industry and infrastructure sector over the last century. The company has devised a 2020 Vision to implement its sustainability strategy throughout its global operations by 2020. According to the 2020 Vision, “We believe that profitable markets, healthy communities and environmental limits are not competing interests; they are shared outcomes that closely align with one another. In order to be a successful and profitable company, we need to realise that alignment.” Balfour Beatty sees green building and sustainability as a value-added service to its stakeholders. It has devised a plan to work together with customers, investors and local project stakeholders to ensure that its sustainability vision becomes a reality.

3. TURNER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
The largest green builder in America, Turner is has a long-standing commitment to the environment and sustainability. The company has over 1100 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff and has completed well over $3.1 billion in projects that have been LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Additionally, Turner uses an online Construction Waste Recycling Reporting System that not only creates a paperless reporting environment, but has also diverted over 250,000 tons of construction waste from jobsites since 2005.

4. THE HASKELL COMPANY
One of the first members of the United States Green Building Council at its inception in 2000, Haskell has become a leader in the green building industry in all sectors of the business. The company has completed projects at every level of LEED, from base certification to Platinum and employs over 160 LEED Accredited Professionals (APs). Haskell has maintained the top spot as a green industrial and manufacturing design firm and contractor on several lists for multiple consecutive years.

5. THIESS
As Australia’s leading construction services contractor, Thiess takes sustainability and the triple bottom line—people, planet, profit—to heart. With a commitment to energy efficiency, the company signed onto the Australian Greenhouse Challenge Plus program. Though Thiess faces a unique challenge as a construction and mining contractor, it remains committed to reducing its footprint while maintaining its role as an environmental steward, carefully monitoring energy, water, waste, noise and air quality.

6. McCarthy Building Companies
7. VINCI
8. Taisei Corporation
9. The Yates Companies
10. Gilbane Building Co
11. Bechtel Corporation
12. Odebrecht
13. Hunt Construction Group
14. Tutor Perini Corp
15. Webcor Builders
16. Hochtief Construction
17. Mortenson Construction
18. Austin Industries
19. Suffolk construction
20. Kraus-Anderson Construction Co
21. DPR Construction
22. Bovis Lend Lease
23. JE Dunn Construction Group
24. Laing O'Rourke (BMC)
25. Holder Construction Co
26. Structure Tone
27. Swinerton Incorporated
28. Walbridge
29. Manhattan Construction Group
30. The Walsh Group
31. Forrester construction Company
32. McGough Construction
33. Clark Group
34. Hensel Phelps Construction
35. Whiting-Turner Contracting
36. PCL Construction Enterprises
37. HITT Contracting Inc.
38. Hathaway Dinwiddie
39. BAM Construct UK
40. Willmot Dixon Group
41. Carillion PLC
42. Broad Construction Services
43. Hoffman Construction Company
44. Harper Construction
45. Walton Construction
46. WDS Construction, Inc.
47. Mascaro Construction
48. Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.
49. Nabholz Construction Corp
50. Linbeck Group LLC

Monday, November 08, 2010

Proposed LEED Update Open For Public Comment

Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) opened up the proposed update to the LEED green building rating system for its first public comment. The public comment period, which will close on December 31, 2010, is the next step in the continuous improvement process and the on-going development cycle of the LEED program.
“Continuous improvement of LEED is in the DNA of USGBC and its regular evolution is necessary to continue to move market transformation forward.” said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEED, USGBC. “As green building expertise advances and practice evolves, so does LEED, providing innovative solutions to the challenges and opportunities in the building industry. LEED continues to be the catalyst for immediate and measureable improvement.”
The proposed update builds on the foundation of LEED 2009, including the alignment and weighting of credits and further advances the “bookshelf” framework where credits are applied to specific building types. In addition to the continued evolution of ideas, many of which were first captured even as LEED 2009 was being finalized, the draft of LEED that is opening for public comment places increased emphasis on integrated process and building performance.
“Additionally USGBC is enhancing the process we use to collect and respond to stakeholder feedback on the ideas presented in the public comment drafts of LEED,” added Horst.
Besides the usual public comment web pages at www.usgbc.org, USGBC will also take feedback from projects testing pilot credits, use input from the from a moderated forum dedicated to discussing evolution of LEED, and comments from various webinars that will be held with key stakeholders. USGBC intends for this public comment process to be much more generative in nature, and expects a wide-ranging dialog throughout the process.
USGBC will be holding a webcast for media to learn more on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, at 3 p.m. EST.
To participate:
1. Go to
https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/j.php?ED=126900487&UID=1092117517&PW=NMmNmMTI2MzQz&RT=
MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. If requested, enter your name and e-mail address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Building10
4. Click "Join".
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To join the audio conference only
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Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-469-3239; Access code: 757 604 841
U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.
With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 16,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system has transformed commercial and residential building practices by providing the leading tool to create buildings that are environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous. Over 36,000 commercial projects are currently participating in LEED rating systems for the design, construction and operation of green buildings, comprising over 7.1 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. In addition, some 8,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 30,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.


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