Sustainable design is not a solo endeavor. It requires collaboration and coordination with other green building professionals who share your vision and values. But how do you work with them effectively and efficiently? In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices for working with other green building pros, from architects and engineers to contractors and consultants.
The first step to working with other green building pros is to choose the right partners for your project. You want to work with people who have the same goals, standards, and ethics as you, and who understand the benefits and challenges of sustainable design. You also want to work with people who have the relevant skills, experience, and certifications for your project, and who can communicate clearly and respectfully. To find compatible partners, you can use online platforms, networks, and directories that showcase green building professionals, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), or the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
A compatible partner could be someone who compliments you or your firms skill set, or it could be someone who’s skill set is completely different. In my experience the best way to find sustainable design partners is through networking, locally and nationally.
During selection, distinctions should be made as to a consulting team's depth of capabilities and delivery process. Depth of capabilities are that team's ability to internally handle technical and non-technical parts of the green building project. A fully capable team includes project managers, architects, and engineers. Even if the particular scope of work is limited, it pays to have cross-disciplinary knowledge available in-house. Delivery process is how that team will execute the work. Ask the question: you may be surprised to find some consultants only advise you what to do, and leave you to do the leg work, while other teams will handle the whole administrative process.
I think it is also useful to pick partners who are challenging. Who challenge you to think outside the box, to challenge you to use new ways of working, to challenge you to use materials in a new or different way-or to reuse what you have already, to challenge the norm! We all have to move forward and not sit on our backsides doing things because we are comfortable or because"things" have worked before.
In addition to certified and recognized experts we should acknowledge and take advantage of the popular knowledge that comes from experienced workers and professionals (certified or not) that live sustainability related activities everyday
When looking for compatible partners, I would suggest expanding the research to always include green building professionals experienced in the work context. Climate and supply chain are very local specific. Although competent international experts are no doubt able to understand and respond to local context, it will necessarily require them to do a good level of research to do it at the same level as a local expert. Often, a combination of international and local expertise can become an adequate response.
Once you have chosen your partners, you need to define the roles and responsibilities of each team member. This will help you avoid confusion, duplication, or gaps in the design and construction process. You should also establish the scope, budget, and timeline of the project, and agree on the green building standards and tools that you will use, such as LEED, Living Building Challenge, or Energy Star. You should document these details in a contract or a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the expectations and deliverables of each party.
You should clarify green building standards and roles and responsibilities *before* you complete the selection process. Some teams are going to be better equipped than others to handle particular requirements. You do not want to hire a consultant because they seem good only to find that they are not qualified or experienced with the targeted requirements. We have had project work where the decision maker hired a consultant on the basis of a referral or best price only to find that the team did not have the depth of capabilities, qualifications, or experience to execute the requirements.
Sure you should define roles and responsibilities but having a team working collaboratively means that the whole team feels they can contribute and be listened to.... so that the best ideas win. Sometimes people can get stuck in their professional echo chambers and breaking out of those can lead to innovative ways of working. A team working collaboratively and in a truly integrated way will get to the best solutions quicker.
Defining roles and responsibilities post-partner selection is like setting the blueprint for collaboration. It ensures everyone understands their tasks, eliminating confusion and redundancies while guaranteeing no critical steps are overlooked. Establishing project scope, budget, timeline, and adherence to green building standards like LEED or Living Building Challenge creates a shared vision. Documenting these commitments in a contract or MOU crystallizes expectations and holds all parties accountable, promoting a cohesive, efficient, and sustainable project execution. Clarity in roles and shared goals drive successful outcomes in the complex landscape of green construction.
Communication is key to working with other green building pros. You should communicate frequently and openly with your partners, using various methods and channels, such as email, phone, video conference, or online collaboration tools. You should also communicate with other stakeholders, such as clients, users, regulators, or funders, to keep them informed and engaged in the project. Communication should be transparent, honest, and constructive, and should address any issues, feedback, or changes that may arise during the project.
Best to define precise mutual expectations for communications during the selection process as to the number and frequency of remote meetings, if any site visits are required and how many, and the regularity and content of progress reports.
In green building collaborations, robust and transparent communication is the cornerstone of success. It's not just about the quantity but the quality of communication. Regular updates and open channels facilitate seamless coordination among partners, fostering trust and alignment. Engaging with stakeholders outside the core team, including clients and regulators, ensures a holistic approach and builds support. Transparent, honest, and constructive communication serves as the bridge to address challenges, incorporate feedback, and adapt to changes swiftly. It's the linchpin that keeps green building projects on track, from inception to completion.
Working with other green building pros is also an opportunity to share knowledge and resources that can enhance your project and your professional development. You can learn from each other's expertise, experience, and best practices, and share useful information, data, or tools that can help you achieve your sustainability goals. You can also leverage each other's networks, contacts, or referrals to find new opportunities or collaborations. Sharing knowledge and resources can also foster trust, respect, and mutual support among your partners.
Let your consultant know your engagement preference. Sometimes the project team wants the consulting process to be a learning process, and other times the expectation is that the green building requirements will be handled in the background.
Although Vincent’s note is entirely correct, and sometimes the project team would prefer the green consultancy to run in the background, I would argue that it is paramount that the engagement and communication aim to seamlessly integrate the green consultant and the design consultant. This is often the critical factor that distinguishes certification from sustainable design. Often, the decisions that inform a building's shape also drastically impact its performance. Thus, sustainable expertise should be embedded in the process as early and seamlessly as possible
Collaboration in green building is a two-way exchange of expertise and resources. It's an enriching process where professionals can continuously learn and grow together. Sharing insights, best practices, and data enhances project quality and sustainability. Leveraging networks and referrals opens doors to new possibilities and synergies. Moreover, this mutual sharing cultivates trust and respect among partners, creating a fertile ground for innovative solutions and lasting professional bonds. In the dynamic field of green building, the more we share, the further we advance sustainability goals collectively.
The final step to working with other green building pros is to evaluate and improve your performance and outcomes. You should collect and analyze feedback from your partners, clients, users, and other stakeholders, and measure the impact of your project on the environment, society, and economy. You should also reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for improvement or learning. You should celebrate your achievements and recognize your partners' contributions, and seek ways to maintain or enhance your relationships for future projects.
Most projects are pass/fail with green building requirements, but it does help to express additional feedback if anything could have been made clearer or smoother during the process.
Continuous evaluation and improvement are the compasses guiding sustainable progress in green building collaborations. Feedback from diverse stakeholders is a valuable resource for refining project outcomes and ensuring alignment with environmental, societal, and economic goals. Self-reflection, acknowledging strengths and weaknesses, fuels personal and professional growth. Celebrating successes and recognizing partners' contributions fosters a culture of appreciation and teamwork. These practices not only elevate the current project but also pave the way for enduring relationships and the evolution of future endeavours. In the ever-evolving landscape of green construction, adaptation and enhancement are key to lasting impact.
In my experience of collaborating with green building experts , I've learned that diving into this field offers endless opportunities for innovation and continuous growth. Despite the abundance of green building certifications and standards , there's no one-size-fits-all answer. What truly matters is keeping an open mind, appreciating the diversity within our profession, respecting the team members unique strengths and, above all, shifting our attention towards customer-centric innovation. This approach allows us to raise the bar in our industry standards.
Understanding owners/clients (or appointing parties if we use iso19650 nomenclature) organisational structure and how to navigate it can be crucial to sustainable design success It is not uncommon (I would say it is common) that real estate/construction and sustainability and FM/operations are different departments within the same organisation This can lead to each managing a different budget to the same construction project, with interest and decision timelines that are not always necessarily aligned several cases, designs that can achieve considerable savings to the operational cost, can't be implemented because the additional funds to achieve the savings are not accessible by the construction departmentent