Balfour Beatty Construction among first to achieve Certified Green Contractor status
Leading our industry's efforts toward sustainability is about more than building green projects -- it's also about holding ourselves accountable for sustainable practices in the buildings in which we work every day.
Recently, the team in Washington brought recognition for Balfour Beatty as a green industry leader by becoming one of the first members of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) to achieve the new Green Contractor Certification by ABC’s National Green Building Committee.
“The ABC Green Contractor Certification program demonstrates that our members are leaders in the construction community, establishing sustainable workplace environments – both on and off the jobsite,” said W. Brewster Earle, chairman of the ABC National Green Building Committee and senior vice president of Energy Services at Comfort Systems USA, in Hartford, Conn. “Balfour Beatty Construction represents ABC’s commitment to responsible building and has set an example for the industry by promoting green practices within the company.”
The Green Contractor Certification recognizes construction companies that implement green practices and principals at their workplace environments – including their headquarters, branch offices and jobsite offices. It is currently only available to those within the Washington, D.C. area through a pilot program, but ABC expects to roll it out nationwide later this year.
To achieve Green Contractor Certification under the pilot program, Balfour Beatty Construction submitted documentation to support its green efforts; underwent a third-party onsite assessment; and was certified by ABC’s National Green Building Committee.
Contractors applying for the certification must first meet 12 prerequisites, which range from distributing documents electronically to establishing an aggressive recycling program. They are then required to fulfill an additional 12 of 36 elective items that include areas such as conducting a professional energy audit, water conservation efforts, and providing incentives for carpooling or using public transportation.
In addition, each company must achieve four education and training benchmarks, such as instructing employees on sustainable issues and requiring at least 50 percent of managers to receive green building awareness education.