NREL Adopts Olympic-Inspired Construction Approach for Efficient and Collaborative Project Delivery
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has adopted a project delivery method inspired by the success of the Olympic Games. Using lessons from the Games, NREL aims to enhance project delivery efficiency and collaboration in renewable energy.
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NREL Adopts Olympic-Inspired Construction Approach
Brittany Decker, the director of procurement services at NREL, stated that the organization's contracting professionals recognized similarities between the complexity of the Olympic project and its objectives for partnership, sustainability, and safety. Following the presentation of the concept to officials from the DOE, the laboratory personnel collaborated with them to devise a method by which they might put the model into action, which is called Cooperative Construction Contracting Approach, or CCCA.
The first contract NREL issued under the strategy was given to a design-build team consisting of JE Dunn Construction Co. and SmithGroup, which was awarded last month. According to Bret Cummock, who oversees the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's capital investment program, the delivery technique is based on a prior performance-based design-build strategy that the organization had piloted and developed over time. By implementing this new strategy, the organization intends to expand contracts to cover many projects, speed up the timing of those projects, and use the information that the contractor acquires throughout the endeavor.
Cummock asserts that NREL research facility initiatives frequently necessitate electrical or mechanical equipment that carries extended lead times, occasionally spanning one to three years. Moreover, the agency reportedly intends to retain contractors working on other task orders, reduce demobilization and remobilization expenses, and expedite the delivery of multiple projects by forming a portfolio partnership with a single contractor.
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Adopting Renewable Energy in the Construction Industry
As a result of focusing more on energy efficiency, the construction sector has undergone a transformation that has never been seen before in recent years. As a result of the building industry's enormous contribution to climate change, pollution, and energy shortages, there is an urgent need for a transition to construction approaches that are more environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, there is a shift in perspective as companies come to acknowledge the critical nature of mitigating climate change and reducing the sector's carbon emissions.
Implementing major green building standards is one of the factors that has contributed to the spike in energy efficiency in the construction industry. GRIHA, which stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is one of the organizations that has established standards for environmentally responsible building practices, which has pushed the construction sector towards higher energy efficiency. Accordingly, using environmentally friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and renewable energy sources to conform to these criteria is becoming increasingly common among builders.
Thus, the rapid advancement of technology is a significant factor contributing to the growing popularity of energy efficiency in the construction industry. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart building systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also included in building initiatives to reduce the energy consumed. It transforms the construction industry with innovative building management systems that monitor and regulate energy consumption and intelligent HVAC systems that adapt to occupancy. On the other hand, a significant portion of the emerging technology that is just on its way will not significantly impact the jobs available in the construction industry. The decrease of carbon dioxide emissions through the use of some of the different methods is the primary goal, rather than the replacement of human beings.
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