“We’re Mark, an architect and project designer with Crux Studio, offers an example of the need to stay looking at using plastic lumber on a building, and it’s presenting some problems with the city, because it’s a new product and there are not yet the right report number to prove that it’s viable. But that information, those comments can come from the subcontractor [who gets the information]. We try to find if there’s a local manufacturer of that product [to educate us].
We’re always at the forefront of the research on the innovative products or things we find. And then sometimes a sub will back us up and will say, ‘yeah, but I’ve used this,’ and then we’ll go in that direction.” He says it’s extremely helpful when subcontractors are knowledgeable about green products and how they are used, but unfortunately many times they are reluctant to try new things. “We’re in bid process right now on a job, where we have specified the use of plastic lumber. We get feedback [from the subcontractors] like, ‘geez, how do we nail this plastic lumber? It’s not wood. What do we do?’ I tell them to find out, call the manufacturer, and talk to them. The plastic lumber nails and cuts the same way as wood, and it’s recyclable.
“There’s a learning curve for everybody. We’re using cork flooring in a project. Cork has been around forever, but a lot of installers haven’t installed cork, so there are concerns. We’re using some resin plastic fencing material that’s a little out of the norm,” he says, “and anything out of the norm will ruffle feathers. The architect has to warm everyone up a little bit to the idea. And the general contractor has to too.” The mindset clearly has to change, says his, “Because green building has become almost the norm. It’s becoming so prevalent that these guys that were unwilling to change are not going to get the work.”
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