Staying Safe

Construction in Focus last spoke with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2019 to learn about the organization’s mission to transform buildings and communities through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and other important initiatives. We caught back up with USGBC this month to learn about current efforts to help architects, building owners, and developers meet their sustainability goals.

After thirty-five years in the industry, Frankel Design Build stands for timeless quality and sublime good taste among Houstonians in the know.

You hear a lot about sustainable building these days, but few companies embrace the concept as completely as Clark Construction Inc.

Talking about the emerging energy-efficient technologies available back in the 1980s and ‘90s, Michael Fischette, P.E., says that at the time, it was “a new frontier”.

Real estate developer Dakota Partners Inc. specializes in affordable housing and sustainable building practices. From its base in Massachusetts, the company serves clients across the east side of the country. It was founded in 2006 by Chief Executive Officer Marc Daigle and President Roberto Arista.

Large buildings usually have large utility usage. But Livonia, Michigan-based Performance Engineering Group is out to correct the massive waste caused by oversized equipment in buildings across North America through visionary, precision engineering, and its mission is catching on fast. With a focus on preventing water waste, this company also offers radiant floor heating, snow-melting technology, and a range of conversion options for buildings that use hydronic or steam heating.

With housing prices still out of reach for many prospective buyers, it’s heartening to know Regan Development, an Ardsley, New York-based, family-run business with more than 30 years of experience, has created residential, commercial, and affordable housing real estate projects worth over $750 million, enhancing thousands of people’s lives in the process.

Coming through three years of a pandemic has made us all more sensitive to things we would otherwise take for granted. One of the biggest of these is the air that we breathe—especially in our buildings. When you consider that we spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors and make water quality a necessity, why not air quality as well?

When it comes to sustainability and the future of the planet, David Sands wears his heart on his sleeve. Passionate about the environment and believing there are better ways to build, the long-time architect has devoted his life and career to making the world a greener place.