Why Transparency Is One Ingredient In The Formula of Creating Safe Buildings
As more and more architects and building designers look to achieve the top levels of LEED Green Building certification, many are looking at the materials and resources going into the construction of the building.
That can be a barrier, with manufacturers not always wanting to share information about their products, whether it be for fear of a competitor gaining proprietary information or for other reasons.
Eden Brukman, Senior Green Building Coordinator, San Francisco Department of the Environment, is a pioneer in the space after her work with the Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Brukman said it’s important to remember the manufacturer of the product certainly knows more about what the product does and what it’s made up of than regulators or advocates do; however, if they’re willing (or required through a declare certification) to share some information, it gives everyone a strong starting point.
“Transparency really is that first step. It’s not the be-all, end-all for the reformulation of the product necessarily but at least it provides some information and some indication of where we are,” Brukman said. “Whether that is for that first-tier supplier or for that manufacturer or the consumer, it provides information. Once you have that information you have a place to go from there, a way to determine where are our priorities? Where can we make changes? What is most critical for us for change?
“At the end of the day, the goal isn’t necessarily transparency. It’s a product that is safe.”
Because of work from people like Brukman, there are more weapons in the arsenal of architects as they look to gather the necessary information and for manufacturers who can point to certifications they’ve achieved. Yet, that still isn’t the final step of the process but rather one element that can help things along.
“Keep in mind, these are tools. They’re not end-points,” she said. “They’re ways to help communicate a message, a need, an understanding, a mutual communication path. I feel like often times these tools can get misunderstood or misused.”
Listen To Previous Episodes of Build for Impact Right Here!
Latest
Building a Strong Team Culture
In any business, the importance of building a strong culture within a team cannot be overstated. A strong team culture can have a direct impact on employee engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. For B2B companies, where teams are often responsible for managing complex client relationships, building a strong team culture can be especially important. Team […]
How the United Nation’s Global Compact Will Guide Volta’s ESG Stance
On today’s episode of the Volta Knowledge podcast, host Tyler Kern chats with Gursaran Singh, the VP of Energy Alliances with Volta Energy, about the upcoming UN global compact and how their decisions will impact and inform Volta’s ESG stance. The global temperature is rising at an unprecedented rate. As such, discussions on the issue of climate change are held […]
Investing for Success: Expert Advice on Business Management and Wealth Building
Starting a business from scratch can be a challenging but rewarding experience. To manage your business successfully, it’s essential to begin by developing a comprehensive business management plan. This plan should include your goals, target audience, products or services, marketing and sales strategies, and financial projections. It should serve as a roadmap for your […]
