Page 56 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2021 Issue

SMART CITIES

Decarbonizing urban density with innovation.

CREDIT: ISTOCK/VM
A Green Building
Your project’s

success starts with
knowing all the rules.

TEAM APPROACH

BY TERRY BEAUBOIS assumptions about what can be done on by the regulatory agency that oversees
Whether you are an architect, engineer, a specific parcel, only to discover that you your project. These impending new rules
contractor, or homeowner/building cannot do something that you planned. may affect your project — and not always
owner, knowing what is allowed and not The project must be re-designed, and in a good way — by the time you submit
allowed on a specific lot, in the specific this can result in a significant time delay, for review. This can be a surprise worth
community in which a project is being possible cost increases, and even a final avoiding.
built, is of paramount importance. product that doesn’t reflect what was
At the beginning of any project, it originally wanted. Whose responsibility is it?
may not always be clear what building REASON 2: Conversely, discovering too
rules and requirements will be applied late that you could have done something The team approach.
— what will be allowed or restricted. that others deemed impossible is equally With these reasons for clarity in mind,
You may be working in a lsess-familiar frustrating. This is a compelling reason many homeowners and building owners
location. There are three very good for fully understanding any regulations approach their projects in need of
reasons to know clearly what the rules that will be applied to a project before guidance. Offering clients that guidance
and regulations will be, when your beginning. requires an early analysis to identify the
project will be reviewed. REASON 3: Another factor is understand- appropriate responsibilities for every
REASON 1: Nothing is worse than being ing what rules and regulations might be project’s team.
involved in a project and making certain “in the pipeline,” or under consideration This responsibility can fall, by default,

54 GREEN BUILDER November/December 2021 www.greenbuildermedia.com/internet-of-things-smart-cities