The implementation of "green" building practices promises to become an increasingly important initiative among construction business owners in the coming years as public concern for the environment rises and environmental legislation expands.
Not only can green building practices serve to differentiate construction companies from the crowd and help them gain a competitive edge in the market, they can also generate community support and improve brand identity by establishing them as responsible, dependable members of the community.
Furthermore, customers will warm to the tax breaks, energy savings and added market value that green buildings provide, particularly during times of economic uncertainty. And as the rush toward eco-friendly building continues, companies may find themselves more and more in a position to ride the green wave or be swept away.
Once a company makes the decision to incorporate green building practices into its operations, the next step is to implement an employee training system. In order to lift the enterprise off of the ground, workers must be properly informed about new company products and procedures and able to transmit that knowledge to the customer clearly and confidently. At NV Roofing, we attribute much of our accomplishment in the green roofing industry to the expertise and dedication of our workforce. We believe that education is an important part of our success. By providing continuous and comprehensive training opportunities, we are able to effectively educate our employees and ensure that they operate at the top of their game.
There are many preconceived notions about green roofing and about sustainability as a whole. Therefore, we begin our training with an effort to dispel any false assumptions before discussing the true definition of "green." In our business, many people believe that vegetation is what qualifies a roof as green, when this is not necessarily the case; in fact, there are two kinds of green roof-clean green and vegetative green.
Both green roof systems are constructed with approved processes using environmentally-friendly materials. These ecologically sustainable materials promote greater energy efficiency and are compliant with International Building Code (IBC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Every green roofing system consists of a waterproofing membrane and insulation, but there are two different types of ballast. The vegetative green roof consists of vegetation and engineered soil on top of a growing medium, filter fabric and drainage cups. The clean green roof does not have vegetation, but it utilizes pavers, which may be Energy Star rated, placed over the insulation.
Once a clear definition of "green" has been established, it is much easier for employees to understand the various benefits and savings associated with green roofing and to appreciate their composition and design. In order to make a clear-cut case for the customer to go green, the beneficial aspects of green roofing must become part of the sales pitch and a cost versus benefit analysis must be presented. Employees will need to inform potential customers about available tax incentives, grants and guaranteed energy savings in order in order to present the purchase of green options as a smart business investment. Unless customers understand that sustainable buildings can protect the environment and their bottom line, companies will face an uphill battle in the world of sustainable design.
When it comes to training construction crews, we have found that a thorough knowledge of green products will inspire confidence not only in company employees, but ultimately, in customers. In our training sessions, we emphasize two aspects of green roofing that potential clients are most interested in learning about: how the green roof will benefit the environment, and how it will benefit their bottom line. The environmental benefits are wide ranging, and include reducing storm-water loads by assimilating large amounts of rainwater, developing living ecosystems, absorbing airborne particulates and carbon from the air and filtering pollutants and heavy metals from rainwater.
We also ensure that every one of our employees understands the array of benefits that
