Category Archives: tips

In the Weeds of Green Building (Tue Tip)

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"Into the weeds" green building lecture

If you are in the Raleigh-Durham area, make plans to attend a discussion on green design called “In the Weeds of Green Building,” sponsored by the Triangle USGBC and the Green Home Builders of the Triangle.   

The talk will feature discussion about the first LEED-for-Homes and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green certified home located “inside the beltline.” 

The designer, Michael Chandler (with partner Beth Williams) of Chandler Design Build will be on hand to discuss decisions, costs, and replicable techniques and methods. 

Lecture Details:

Friday May 13th 2011
4:30-6:30pm
2825 Barmettler Street, Raleigh, NC 27607
$15 (Triangle USGBC or GHBT Member) / $25 nonmembers.
Register here 
 
Green Homes Tour

The lecture is the kick-off for the Triangle Green Homes Tour, which is a self-guided tour of local green homes that takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, May 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 2011.

Do you have experience with LEED-for-Homes or NAHB green certification?  In your opinion, what are the most important principles to keep in mind when designing for a “green” home?  Let me know in the comment section, below.
 
 Photo (c) YogurtLand.com via Creative Commons license.

It’s a Dirty Job, but Someone had to do it!

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Ever watch the TV show Dirty Jobs?  If so, then you know Mike Rowe, the real-life guinea pig who has test-driven over 300 “dirty” jobs. Now, Mike has launched Mike Rowe’s Trades Hub, a site that gathers together blogs relating to safety, equipment, contracting, legal issues, labor issues, marketing, insurance, as well as blogs covering specific trades such as architecture,  HVAC, excavation, and plumbing.  Consider it “one stop shopping” for your business.

This blog was chosen to be featured on the legal pages of the Trades Hub.  Stop on by and check it out.  There is a wealth of information on the Trades Hub  that may be helpful to your A/E/C business.

 

Comments or questions?  Just really like Mike and want to say “hi”?  Comment below!mike rowe

Spend Less Time with Your Lawyer with these Tips (Tue Tip)

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 “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The next best time is now.”  ~Chinese Proverb

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If you haven’t yet acted to streamline your contracts and your new client procedures, do so now.  Unless, that is, you like spending time with your lawyer.  Lawsuits take time and money.  Avoid them (and your lawyer) through good risk avoidance practices.  

Last year I wrote a post on 6 Ways to Limit Risk through effective use of contracts on your Projects.   Included in that list were such tips as:

  • Always, always, always use a contract for each new project.  (Verbal agreements are very hard to prove in Court).   Without a written contract, you are trusting yourself to laws you may not agree with or giving up valuable protections.   
  • Get your contract reviewed by your insurance carrier.  Insurance check-ups through your agent or broker are usually free.  Why risk it? 
  • Have your contract reviewed by your attorney.  ( I happen to know someone who does this regularly for her clients.)
  • Establish a new client protocol.  Make sure all new clients sign proposal or engagement letters.  Document now; worry less later.

These are all extremely important ways to minimize your risk.  Of course, if you are reading this blog, I recognize that I am probably preaching to the choir.  But it is worth repeating.  Just do it.

Do you have procedures that minimize your company’s risk?  Tell me in the comment section, below, what has worked for you.

If you need help creating or revising your contracts or client protocols, drop me an email at [email protected].  

Photo: (c) Freephoto.com via Creative Commons License.

One Stop Shopping: the Green Building Directory (Tue Tip)

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design of green lighthouse in France

A green lighthouse. Literally! 

 Wouldn’t it be nice to have a handy resource of “green” builders, tradesmen, and material suppliers when you are designing your next project or writing your next set of specifications?  Check out the Western North Carolina Green Building Directory, where you’ll find all this and more.

Know of a resource for design professionals?  Drop me a line and I’ll feature it in an upcoming “Tuesday Tip.”  And, sign up for email delivery of all blog posts to your inbox (through the subscription box at the top of the page) so you’ll never miss out on practice tips!

Photo:  (c) Olivier French via Creative Commons license.   Post updated 3/9/2017.

Upcoming Events for Engineers & Architects (Tue Tip)

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two smiley face cupcakes

Two is better than One

From time to time I get notices of conferences, webinars, and teleseminars that relate to construction professionals.  I try to pass as many of the worthwhile ones along as I can, so you know what events are available.  Today, I have a “two-fer”:  a telephone marketing training aimed at Engineers, and a green building program aimed at Architects.

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Up first, who doesn’t like FREE?  On April 16th and April 26th, at 8pm ET, Anthony Fasano, P.E., LEED AP, ACC, author of Engineer Your Own Success,  is hosting a Teleconference.  The program is called “7 Steps to Building LinkedIn Relationships that Will Help You Advance Your Career“, and it is aimed at helping Engineers build their career through LinkedIn.  While the program is free, you must pre-register.  If you pre-register and cannot attend live, the recording will be available for 48 hours after the call in time.

Next, the Greenbulidingfocus Conference & Expo 2011 will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.   This “green building” event is held at the Charlotte Convention Center on April 20th and 21st.  All tracks carry CEUs.   FREE PASSES are available for out of work architects– contact AIA Charlotte for details.

Sign up now for email delivery of my blog posts so you never miss out on any of these opportunities.  And, if you know of a conference, webinar, or event that readers of this blog might find useful, drop me an email. 

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Photo: (c) Blog Blond via Creative Commons License.