We work with architects and contractors to prepare their LEED documentation and our projects require a separate LEED submittal process from Contractor to AOR. On the contractor side, we are struggling to educate our subcontractors to provide the information we're looking for so we're spending undue time finding EPDs and all the supporting documentation for the BPDOs. On the design side, we're having a hard time guiding contractors to submit information clearly for a review process. Has anyone figured out a good working system to package submittals for construction review? We've tried developing multiple in-house forms and the amount of information we're trying to collect is daunting. We're considering turning to a service like Green badger but the pricetag is a little daunting. Thanks!
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Kai Starn
Senior Sustainability ConsultantSteven Winter Associates
13 thumbs up
December 11, 2019 - 5:39 pm
Hi Chyanne, I can share what I've done and share open-source documents that may help.
1) include sustainability specifications with section-specific language and require a Contractor Action Plan. 2) include product information reporting form. 3) review specifications for products that will comply with the credits and focus on that list in the contractor training. 4) on the contractor side, review submittals concurrent (separate is ok) with the AoR and flag issues regularly. 5) share the submittal log regularly with the GC and focus on the products that have the most impact.
Here are open-source specs, a combined Product Data Submittal Reporting form, and process guidelines courtesy of the Green Engineer and others: https://www.greenengineer.com/resources
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
452 thumbs up
December 12, 2019 - 10:27 am
We've used Green Badger to help with the whole process, including identification and the data management. We found the price tag to be a drop in the bucket in the context of a whole project. It's also cheaper to pay for several months at a time rather than month-to-month. The GB team was also able to provide a solid cover sheet for use with submittals that made things much simpler for the contractors. The whole process, at least for product identification, should get much easier with Better Materials up and running. Even then, you still have the tracking side to manage.
I agree with the suggested steps above, too, and it's what I do on all my projects with sustainability requirements, whether certifying or not.
Chyanne Husar
PrincipalhusARchitecture
3 thumbs up
December 12, 2019 - 10:36 am
Thanks for the review of Greenbadger Emily - we are definitely exploring it as an option. It seems like just a database though from a materials standpoint. Have you had any issues with material accuracy?
Kai - you describe our process very succinctly. What programs or filing tools are you using to manage your process and find your materials?
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
452 thumbs up
December 12, 2019 - 11:11 am
I think the first time we used it several years ago there may have been 2 products out of the whole that had some minor issue. Most of the comments that came back were things the reviewers just missed (which happens on almost every one of my reviews, especially lately).
GB's database is nice, but the other attributes of the whole team being able to see everything live rather than having it live offline as a single file, and especially that you never have to touch the material tracking forms other than to upload them at the end of the project is probably the nicest part. I've had clients thrilled about not having to deal with the tracker and happily signed up just for that aspect, having had to manually track on a previous project and understood the pain.
Chyanne Husar
PrincipalhusARchitecture
3 thumbs up
December 12, 2019 - 12:21 pm
You make a fair point on the whole team being able to see things live, I bet that in and of itself would save me a number of hours printing and formatting everything.
At what phase of the project are you starting the greenbadger subscription and how long do you typically maintain the subscription?
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
452 thumbs up
December 12, 2019 - 1:43 pm
Start time varies by project. Usually whenever the designers actually start identifying items for the specs is when I prefer to start the GB subscription. That way, there's way less confusion when the contractor comes on board as to exactly what product is desired and which ones have what attributes. It gets a little fuzzier when projects can't sole source. Sometimes we try starting with the designers and they input the preferred product, or they only input more generic ones like steel, concrete, gypsum, and then the contractors really do the identifying.
We keep the subscription through the end of certification. Sometimes the client pays for it the whole time, sometimes the design PM pays...most often so far, the design team pays through the end of design, then the construction team takes over payment through the end of certification.