Construction & Demolition (C&D) is one of the messiest industries on the planet, especially when it comes to the waste left behind. Whether communities are being built up or torn down, the bricks, concrete, wood, and piping left over can create a serious burden on the local environment. According to the EPA, over 540 million tons of debris was created by American C&D companies in 2015—the same weight as over 100 Great Pyramids of Giza!

Here are some of the major benefits created by reducing, reusing, and recycling the waste left at C&D sites.

Construction Waste is an Economic Boost

Although it may be simpler to haul the piles of waste off to a landfill and forget about them, the materials left after a demolition project can be quite valuable. Wood products are the most versatile of construction waste, as companies can recycle them into furniture and sell them, a trend that is quite popular with young homeowners. Metal and wood products can also be reused by construction companies as a cheaper material, lowering the building cost of new properties and welcoming more buyers.

Salvaging and recycling construction waste is big business, with over 230,000 jobs being created in 2007 alone to handle all of the recycled material, and many more for investment and expansion.

Building a Better Environment

The US produces a staggering amount of construction waste every year, and that waste hurts the environment in different ways over the course of its life.

The creation of construction materials, specifically steel and concrete, is an intensive process with large amounts of resources used and CO2 expelled. By leaving them in a landfill, that damaging process has been wasted and will be repeated to create replacement items.

Recycling construction waste benefits the environment by cutting down the extraction of virgin resources, as it returns the usable materials to the construction industry and limits the demand for newer products.

Landfills are also an environmentally precarious area, with many of them set to close due to overfilling. By reusing construction materials that would normally be abandoned, the burden for landfills to breakdown their contents is lessened and long-term environmental healing is made possible.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

Between architects, engineers, and construction companies (AEC), the process of erecting a building is filled with opportunities for miscommunication, mismeasuring, and misfortune. Luckily for those in the field of construction, technology has now caught up to meet their needs with one incredibly useful tool: BIM.

What is BIM?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an exciting opportunity for AEC businesses across the globe that are planning new construction projects. The goal of BIM is to take data from architects and engineers and produce a thorough representation of the structure that will be referenced throughout the development process.

(https://www.autodesk.ca/en)

Benefits of BIM

While physical blueprints are always vulnerable to human error and miscommunication between architect and building crews, BIM provides a 3D model that provides an in-depth analysis of the structure’s functionality, as well as constant contact between all parties involved in its development. If any user changes the designs to better fit their needs, the changes are also applied to all views for all parties.

BIM isn’t just useful as a producer of structure models and project plans, it also delivers key information for ongoing maintenance of the building. Maintenance data displayed by BIM includes heatmaps for tracking energy distribution in buildings as well as areas of high pressure where future repairs may be needed.

BIM vs. CAD

Computer Aided Design (CAD) does work when drafting basic home structures, but is incredibly limited due to its lack of parameters. BIM possesses a vast catalogue of supplies and building materials, creating a true-to-life depiction of your project and presenting the practical effect of your choices and plans. Unlike CAD, BIM is also used for civil and road engineering as well as urban infrastructure design.

With the new developments taking place in South Los Angeles, there has never been a better time for AEC companies to join the construction revolution. Call us today at (877) 810-7473 or visit us online to find out how BIM technologies can work for you.

Did you know that cities can improve the efficiency of their energy, transportation, and utilities services; reduce consumption, waste, and other costs; and enhance the quality of life of their residents with one single premise?

It’s true.

US cities that incorporate information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve citizen well-being, enhance sustainability, and boost economic development can become designated smart cities.

Here are a few ways that smart cities will evolve in 2019:

Gamification

AT&T, one of the largest telcos in the US, is no stranger to smart technology and its President of IoT Solutions, Chris Penrose, is already predicting the changes ahead. He estimates that network technology will engage people like never before, encouraging them to become more responsible citizens. By paying their utility bills on time, making an effort to recycle, and using public transportation, individuals could earn ‘points’ to redeem for discounts or event passes. Through gamification, the entire city can benefit and improve the quality of life of all of its residents.

5G Implementation

Now that our lives are becoming increasingly connected, from our phones to our homes and soon our cars too, we have more data than ever. In order to share it, though, we need more bandwidth and the technology to make it happen. That’s where 5G comes in, according to Verizon. With it, cities will see improvements in public safety, transit, utilities, public Wi-Fi, and emergency preparedness. Who knew 5G could improve our morning commutes?

Energy Efficient Buildings

It’s no surprise that smart cities would host energy efficient buildings, and changes in technology and construction techniques are making it easier than ever to build them. Eco-friendly HVAC systems, efficient lighting, and improved insulation are all trends that are paving the way for smart cities in 2019.We can’t wait to see how smart cities help us reduce our carbon footprint and work towards net-zero energy buildings in 2019.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

Do you know the benefits of retrofitting buildings?

Retrofitting involves making a few modifications to commercial buildings that create significant benefits like improved energy efficiency and decreased energy demand. As you might be aware, renovations are costly and time-consuming, but they can be worthwhile in the long run. Here are three reasons why retrofitting buildings is a smart idea:

Increased Energy Performance

As the U.S. Department of Energy states, energy-efficiency retrofits can decrease energy demand and, consequently, lower your power bill. This is especially true for old buildings that are equipped with old HVAC systems because the newer ones are more cost-effective. Lighting fixtures, wall insulation, and roofing materials can also contribute to increasing your building’s energy efficiency.

Productivity Boost

It goes without saying that happier employees tend to be more productive. When you make renovations that reduce moisture, improve indoor air quality, and prevent mold growth, you’re contributing to a healthier lifestyle, which increases productivity. While retrofitting might sound like an unnecessary expense, it can actually help improve your cash flow.

Protect the Environment

If you care about sustainability—and you should—retrofitting a building is one of the best things your company could do for the environment. With buildings consuming around 40% of generated energy, they account for a large portion of the carbon emissions in the planet. Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint? Invest in retrofits to reduce your energy expenditure.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

According to the World Economic Forum, the construction industry is the largest global consumer of resources and raw materials. On the other hand, a significant portion of these materials are not used effectively. For example, in the United States, about 40% of solid waste comes from construction and demolition, which directly contradicts global efforts to create a sustainable world.

The good news is that circular construction is slowly reshaping the construction industry with sustainable practices that benefit the environment, improve people’s quality of life, and add a new stream of revenue for construction companies. Do you want to know how it works?

What is Circular Construction?

Before we talk about circular construction, we have to understand the concept of circular economies. The World Economic Forum defines a circular economy as “an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design”. In a nutshell, circular economies are very connected to the idea of sustainability and the 4 R’s: reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

Circular construction is committed to reducing waste and maximizing the value of materials used in each step of a project. There are countries already discussing strategies to avoid disposal of resources that still have some utility and value.

The European Union is debating a goal to recycle 70% of all municipal waste by 2030, and to make it illegal to send recyclable materials to landfills by 2025. Construction companies will have to adapt to these new laws if they pass.

Benefits of Circular Construction

While circular construction is a radical change for the industry, it comes with a few benefits. Besides protecting the environment by reducing waste, it can help construction companies make extra cash. For example, rock and brick can be used for gravel or erosion control, and hardwood can be recycled as long as it stays dry. If construction companies find a way to make circular construction viable, they’re not only helping the environment but also increasing their revenue.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

The world population’s growth, which leads to overconsumption, pollution, and deforestation, is depleting the planet’s natural resources. Unless we make a change, we’ll run into serious problems like water and oil shortage, affecting both developed and developing countries. When it comes to achieving a more sustainable world, natural resource depletion is a big issue.

What Causes Natural Resource Depletion?

Some people think that the Earth provides us with unlimited natural resources. Unfortunately, they couldn’t be more wrong.

Most natural resources are finite, and even the ones that are renewable can’t meet the ever-growing human demand. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, the demand for water is expected to rise by 50% over the next 30 years even though many African countries are already suffering from water shortages.

Urbanization and overdevelopment also play a role in depleting natural resources. As cities grow and expand, fields are sacrificed to leave space for buildings, reducing green areas and destroying the habitat for many species. 

If the planet can meet the needs of 7 billion people, what can we do to prevent a catastrophic future?

Earth Overshoot Day

The Earth Overshoot Day was an initiative created in 2006 to raise awareness about the risks of natural resource depletion. The date falls on a different day each year, and it marks the point when humanity consumes more natural resources than our planet can renew.

In 2018, the day fell on August 1st, which means that by November we had already used the equivalent natural resources of 1.7 Earths. In 2017, the Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 2nd, which was great progress in comparison to 2016, when the date fell on August 6th.

The really cool thing about the project is that it tries to move the date to create a sustainable future. The website lists a few steps to achieve the goal and provides a footprint calculator to help people change their habits.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

A net-zero building is designed to produce enough renewable energy to meet its energy consumption requirements. These buildings are revolutionizing the construction sector because they push the industry towards sustainable development. Why is this so important? Energy use in buildings accounts for roughly 40% of our carbon footprint, thus reducing it would be incredibly beneficial for the environment.

“Achieving zero energy is an ambitious yet increasingly achievable goal”, explains the U.S. Department of Energy. Although it’s not easy to create buildings that rely entirely on renewable energy generation, today’s new technology and construction techniques make it more achievable than it was a decade ago.

With almost 48% of the energy in the U.S. going to residential and commercial buildings, zero energy buildings can lower environmental impacts, reduce costs, and improve quality of life. Many states and local governments are already discussing target goals for net-zero buildings.

While integrated design and energy efficiency retrofits are all valid ways to reduce energy consumption, people still need to change their habits if they want to contribute to a sustainable world. Energy conservation programs can be used to incentivize reduced energy consumption.

Most net-zero buildings do more than just produce renewable energy: They store energy surplus, too. That’s how these buildings remain sustainable even during peak times, when residents tend to consume more energy than the building’s generation capacity. Isn’t that cool?

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

In the history of the planet, several species went extinct naturally. According to one study, it would cost $76 billion a year to preserve threatened land animals. So, why should we bother with habitat conservation and the preservation of endangered species?

Why Habitat Conservation Matters

Whether you find animals cute or not, there are many good reasons to protect them. “All living things are part of a complex, often delicately balanced network called the biosphere”, explains the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The extinction of a species could potentially set off a chain reaction that ends up affecting humans. Also, biodiversity is very beneficial for agriculture because some animals and insects can prey on crop pests. Even some tree species are fundamental for our well-being because they act as environmental quality indicators, helping scientists measure air pollution and the amount of contaminants present in the soil. 

The Endangered Species Act

The creation of the Endangered Species Act, in 1973, was one of the U.S. most significant steps to contribute to habitat preservation. Today, almost 50 years later, it is still one of our nation’s most important environmental laws to prevent the extinction of any species. There are over 1,600 species of animals and plants that are either endangered or threatened in the United States alone. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, many recovery plans have been created to protect these species and their habitat. For example, the recovery plan for the California Condor recommends the development of captive-breeding facilities and further research on suspected environmental contaminants.

Habitat Conservation Plan

According to the section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, everyone applying for an incidental take permit must present a habitat conservation plan (HCP). An incidental take permit is required for activities that could potentially harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any threatened or endangered species. For example, this type of permit is mandatory if your construction project will result in habitat modification that affects nesting or reproduction. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists HCPs that are either completed or under development, so you can use those as a reference. 

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

Many things have changed since Thomas Edison popularized the light bulb in the late 1800s. Whether for survival or comfort, our society relies heavily on electricity, and energy storage has become one of the most important technologies we have today. As we move toward a sustainable world, energy storage significantly contributes to set the foundation for cleaner and more renewable energy sources.

Helping the Environment

A few years ago, California set a goal to have 33 percent renewable energy by 2020. One of the strategies used to achieve that goal is through an increase in the use of energy storage technologies for solar power. The objective is to make the current grid system less harmful for the environment and more cost-effective. Because the grid system is oversized to serve demand peaks, part of the capacity is wasted during other moments of the day, but energy storage technologies can help fix this problem.

Economic Impact

Environmental awareness is not the only reason that energy storage is a hot topic now, though. Investing in this type of technology may open the possibility for restructuring power markets to make more efficient use of electricity while lowering costs related to peak energy demand. The decreasing cost of battery storage is considered one of the factors responsible for the growth of electric vehicles—and it should have a positive impact on other industries, too. Fortunately, it won’t take too long to see the benefits of all these energy storage trends. 

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

As world industries continue to grow and evolve, so too must the construction industry. In order to keep up with demand and global needs, new innovations and technologies are necessary. We’re seeing some important trends so far in 2018:

Hiring Initiatives

As the aging workforce continues to move into retirement, the construction industry is becoming desperate for workers. Construction work can make a rewarding career for the right individuals, so industry groups are trying to increase awareness and funding for trade school, high school, and middle school trade education programs to help create a construction industry labor pipeline for the future. These initiatives also involve combating the stigma that construction work isn’t a successful career path.

Technology

Technological advancements are making their mark on the construction industry. Wearable technology is rising in popularity for its ability to communicate instructions as well as track workers in the event of an accident. Drones are another recent addition to construction sites due to their time-saving and cost-effective abilities like site surveying. 3D printing is also becoming more popular; the technology still has some obstacles (cost and time) to overcome, but it has the potential to be extremely effective in the future. As these technological advancements continue, machines will be able to tackle jobs that are more dangerous for people, which should improve workplace safety and reduce injuries due to accidents and strain.

Smart Construction

Quality building materials last longer and are more efficient and environmentally-friendly than cheaper alternatives. In combination with streamlining the construction process to ensure efficient use of time and labor, green technologies like solar, wind, etc. become more accessible. Efforts to reach the Paris Climate Agreement have made zero and near-zero energy buildings a priority as well. We’re seeing more extreme weather patterns, including hurricanes, heat waves, flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, and more, so the construction industry is beginning to focus more on resiliency to accommodate for these hazards.

At Creed LA, our mission is to ensure that the construction industry in Los Angeles has a highly trained and professionalized workforce that supports projects that have positive impacts for the community. To learn more about us and our mission, contact us online or by calling 877-810-7473.