The Next Generation of LEED Tracking

BIM + Project Management Software: The Next Generation of LEED Credit Tracking

Today, software solutions are being designed specifically to help construction firms track their LEED credits. These LEED-specific solutions can drive efficiencies in the accreditation process.

"We typically see a 25-30% average in time saved when using Greengrade’s LEED Management Software, but often experience an even greater savings when working on larger projects." – Ryan Ennis, LP Consulting Engineers

According to Mike Stuart, President of Greengrade, a 12 million dollar LEED project takes (on average) 400 hours of consulting work and LEED management services are typically billed at $100 per hour. So, with a 25 percent average time savings, a customer can shave $10,000 (100 hours saved x $100/hour) off an average project.

In addition to tracking and managing LEED credits, some construction firms are also using Building Information Modeling (BIM) to plan LEED credits. BIM is a building development tool that can create a multi-dimensional design of a facility that incorporates the quantity, location and type of materials (among other things) for a building design.

By using a combination of BIM and LEED project management software, construction firms can more accurately plan for LEED credits and document project progress. Here are five ways these technologies make it easier to achieve LEED certification.

 

BIM Helps Plan for LEED Credits

Although BIM is not a new technology, it’s becoming more relevant to LEED projects. BIM is useful during the design phase of a LEED project because it allows architects to add several layers of information to a 3-D model. For instance, a BIM model of a facility can show what percentage of building materials come from recycled content, and where materials were made. This is important to know because LEED credits (e.g., MR Credit 4.1) are awarded for using recycled and local materials.

"The real work in LEED is during the design phase, not the construction phase. Construction is the easy part, it’s just about execution." – Phil Williams, Vice President of Webcor

According to Williams, BIM models allow Webcor to predict which LEED credits each project will quality for. Williams says that this kind of predictive modeling was an important factor in helping 98 percent of Webcor’s projects achieve LEED status.

 

Manage LEED Projects from a Workbench

LEED credit submittals require a laundry list of documentation, such as drawings, photos, receipts, and product spec sheets. Amid all this documentation, it’s easy to lose sight of how close the project is to LEED certification. To help LEED project managers stay on track, vendors provide visual project overviews.

 Source: Greengrade

 In the screenshot above, users can monitor the number (and type) of credits planned for a particular project. Green indicates that the project team plans to obtain this credit while red indicates that the team will not. Yellow and orange indicate a “maybe”–yellow means “probably” and orange means “probably not.” This lets team members know where to focus their energy–and where they might be able to snag a few extra credits.

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(Excerpt of article by Software Advice. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)  

Incorporating Lamboo (LVB) Laminated Veneer Bamboo into projects can earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification under the following:

• MR Credit 6 - Rapidly renewable materials
• IEQ Credit 4.4 - Low-emitting materials
• ID Credit 1 - Innovation in Design
  (Environmentally Preferable Material)
• ID Credit 2 - Innovation in Design
  (Life Cycle Assessment / Environmental Impact)
• FSC Certification - Available Upon Request

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our website
at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999
…
“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison