- Green Advantage Announces Change in Policy for Training
- Meet The Trainer: Craig Miller, University of Florida
- Spotlight On: DOERRE Construction Interior Upfit
- Spotlight On: Shelco, Inc.
- The Growth of Green
- Stimulating the Economy through Green Building Investments
- Green Advantage in the News
- Green Tip from Bob Margulis of Seattle, Washington
- We Want to Hear from You!
Spotlight On: Shelco, Inc.
Shelco, Inc., a general contractor out of Charlotte, North Carolina, has made strong commitments to green building. Even amid the current economic downturn, Joe Obusek, Jr., vice president of project management with Shelco, notes that green building is becoming the standard in the industry. Shelco carries out this commitment in several ways, including having 38 of its employees, in its four regional offices, achieve Green Advantage certification.
In Joe's words, “The value of Green Advantage is the benefit across the board. Not only does Green Advantage allow us to bring a LEED point to a project, it leads to a marketing advantage for jobs.” Shelco is even seeking Green Advantage certification for subcontractors.
As a general contractor, Obusek pursued Green Advantage certification. The company's architect is LEED-AP certified but Shelco need to focus its tradesmen and build their knowledge and skill with green building.
Wilson Community College provided Shelco's first Green Advantage training. Now Shelco is even building in-house capacity for Green Advantage training by sending a staff member with both LEED-AP and GA certifications through the train-the-trainer program.
Shelco has worked on several LEED projects, including most recently the Independence Corporate Park Building 7, an 85,000-square foot Class A office building. The Independence Park building, located in Greenville, South Carolina, has earned LEED Silver Certification.
Joe sees a number of green building practices becoming standard in the industry. From a general contractor’s perspective, he cites the trash and waste management practices. By separating job waste into bins, a general contractor can reduce disposal costs. Joe also points to indoor air quality techniques such as protection of ductwork during construction. With green building becoming the new standard, Joe acknowledges, “we might as well learn them now.”
Green Advantage offers another way to partner with subcontractors. When subcontractors are also certified it provides more synergy across the project team. Together they share the end goal as well as simple things, such as when low-VOC caulk is to be used, everyone knows why.
Joe Obusek underscores the importance of incorporating “green” features into a job from the beginning. “But for clients that want to include green at the last minute they can still add low-flow, water-saving features and other elements. The drought in the Southeast has certainly helped people focus more on the need to conserve.” The Green Advantage training helped identify how to respond to green requests, whether early or late in construction, and to determine what can be easily integrated.
Joe Obusek, Jr. is Vice President of Project Management with Shelco, Inc. Strategically located in four locations in the Southeast, Shelco provides pre-construction, scheduling, project administration and related support services to clients in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.
Learn more about Shelco at www.shelcoinc.com or contact Joe at jobusek@ShelcoInc.com or 919-877-2611.