SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY

Leadin’ with RAFN

RAFN Company, a construction firm based in Bellevue, WA, is a pioneer in sustainable construction. They began greening their business by recycling construction waste for extra pizza money, then went on to develop practices that were incorporated into the LEED program. With about 100 people on payroll, 17 members of their supervisory staff – project managers, superintendents, and project engineers – are certified by Green Advantage.

The GAzette editor recently spoke with Heather Bunn, GACA, the firm’s Vice President of Business Development, and Project Manager, Ryan Meno, GACA.

Heather Bunn, GACA, VP of Business Development
Ryan Meno, GACA, Project Manager

 

GA: How did RAFN Company become involved in sustainability?                 

Heather: We’ve been green since before green was popular. For us, sustainability was about practical solutions to construction problems. We started by recycling construction “debris” for extra pizza money, and went on to develop many of the systems that were used in the development of the LEED program.

Ryan: Green has become part of our culture, with our employees making suggestions that become new best practices. Some of our clients are aiming for a particular certification for their building. But regardless, we try to implement the same approach to sustainability in all of our work.
Heather: It’s not just on the job site. For example, we recycle old plans and specs by giving them to schools for kids to draw on; we also recycle batteries and have an extensive office recycling program. We purchase green power and fair-trade coffee, use green cleaning products and recycled paper products. We also provide our employees with bus passes to cut down on private vehicles and encourage mass transit.

 

GA: How does public transit work when trades people have to carry their tools and supplies?

Ryan: We try to keep the same workers on one job site for extended periods of time so they don’t have to carry their tools around. We work with vendors to coordinate deliveries so our people don’t have to stop for supplies on their way home. Our employees become more invested in projects and have pride of ownership when they stay with a project. If they do the waterproofing one day, they are still on the job site the next day to make sure it’s not damaged.

 

GA: How does your green approach extend to subcontractors?Architectural firm Weber Thompson selected RAFN as contractor for its LEED Platinum offices.

Heather: While it’s less of an issue today than 10 years ago, we try to educate subs to our sustainability practices. All of our job sites recycle, and the subs we work with repeatedly are attuned to it. They know that in the lunch area, for example, scrap food goes in one container and recyclables in another.

GA: How did you approach training to prepare for the Green Advantage Certification exam?

Heather:  We interviewed several training professionals before picking one to work with. While they already knew a lot about green construction, they became GA Certified and developed training materials in preparation for the GA Exam. Now that that’s behind them, it will be easier for them to train others, and we have recommended them to our subs.

Ryan: Everybody learns differently – some by memorizing and some by discussion – so they gave us many options including flash cards, online training, individual coaching, and group study sessions in our conference room.

GA: How has the Green Advantage training and certification affected your project management?Sustainability depends on paying attention to details, like sealing the sprinkler penetrations in the air and water barrier, maintaining the chain of custody for sustainably produced wood, and wearing the proper personal safety equipment.

Ryan: We focus on pre-construction activities. Our Green Advantage training and certification helps us to work with architects, owners and developers to identify sustainable practices that make sense. Then, our project managers stays with their jobs from estimating through warranty to make sure the customers get the most bang for their buck.

Heather: We also take a life-cycle approach that reflects operations as well as construction costs  This makes hand-off a critical component in sustainability. Green Advantage training and certification makes it easier for us to work with the facility managers and building operations people so they get optimum benefit from their facilities. When we installed energy-saving LED lighting on a recent project, we bought replacement lamps in bulk so they would have them on hand for maintenance. It is one of the ways we partner with our clients.

GA: What else should people know about Green Advantage Certification?

Ryan: Questions about training and certification come up whenever we get requests for proposals. We highlight that our supervisory staff is trained and explain the benefits our customers get from the Green Advantage training and certification.

Heather: A big selling point for the Green Advantage program is that it is affordable for us to train and certify our staff. It’s a great value for our investment.

Michael Chusid, RA, FCSI, CCS, GACP
Editor