Comments on: Green Building, Litigation and Risk

By: Gary R. Collins, AIA

Gary R. Collins, AIA — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:58:03 +0000

My concern is primarily from consequences of codifying a prescriptive Green Building Code, in particular since so much has yet to be learned about effective sustainability options. That event is just around the corner, and I fear will serve mainly to open up another can of worms, additional work for designers over and above existing codes and regulations and additional liability exposure. My own understanding of affairs leads me to believe reforming the way we build and rebuild cities, gross anatomy and physiology re: density and infrastructure, will positively influence sustainablility more than all the photovoltaics, low-voc, and high-performance A/C sytems it may be feasible to install – important as each of these may be. Once energy efficiency as a regulatory issue escapes the confines of state law, as with Californias Title 24, the genie will be fully out of the bottle, construction claims will increase exponentially, and attorneys will also have found yet another market niche along with all the LEED followers and commercial greenwashing. As usual, we are grasping for solutions via the high-tech magic rather than getting down to the gritty and very difficult sociopolitical realities surrounding habitat, city building, and sundry interests invested in the suburban status quo.

By: One More Reason for Contractors to “Think Green” | Construction Law Musings- Richmond, VA

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:42:48 +0000

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By: Is the Sky Actually Falling (on Green Building? | Construction Law Musings- Richmond, VA)

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:22:10 +0000

[...]I have spoken on many occasions here at Construction Law Musings and elsewhere about the risks and rewards for contractors found in sustainable construction. The rewards were fairly [...]

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Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:40:49 +0000

[...] area of technology or building, the rush to sustainability (while a wonderful one) does not come without risks. Luckily, many of my legal cohorts are busy sounding the preemptive alarm in a way that hopefully [...]

By: Green Building, Litigation and Risk – the impact of engineering

Green Building, Litigation and Risk – the impact of engineering — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:35:56 +0000

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Most Tweeted Articles by Construction Experts — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:10:58 +0000

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