All You Need to Know About Sustainable Construction

What is Sustainable Construction?

Sustainable construction refers to the process of constructing a structure that is environmentally sound and resource-efficient throughout the building’s life. Sustainable construction incorporates a recyclable aspect throughout the entirety of the building’s lifecycle, meaning the project will be deemed efficient (in terms of resources used and the impact it poses on the environment) from design to construction and subsequent operation, maintenance, renovation and finally its demolition.

The introduction of innovations and new technologies have enables the construction of new buildings to meet environmental and resource standards. These new technologies, which are consistently being developed, complement current construction efforts to create greener structures. The common objective of sustainable construction is to reduce the overall impact and coordinating negative externalities that a construction project poses on human health and the natural environment.

How does Sustainable Construction work?

To accomplish the aforementioned goals, a sustainable construction project will efficiently use its available resources and combine this practice with recyclable or innovative technologies. A sustainable construction project will efficiently use energy, water and other natural resources to build the structure. In addition, a sustainable construction project will protect occupant health and improve employee productivity through the issuance of a highly-regulated and organized protocol. Lastly, a sustainable construction project will reduce by products, through the reduction of waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency:

A green building will typically utilize energy in a highly efficient manner. To increase the efficiency of energy, the construction team may use high-efficiency windows and innovative insulation systems in the structure’s walls, floors and ceilings.

A sustainable construction project may also incorporate other innovative technologies, such as a passive solar building design. This strategy will implement orient windows and walls to shade the structure during the summer while maximizing light in the winter months.

A sustainable construction project will also implement renewable energy sources throughout the construction process. Solar power, hydro power, wind power or biomass can all reduce the environmental impact of the building.

Sustainable Construction and Water Efficiency:

Protecting water quality and reducing water consumption are fundamental objectives during the sustainable construction process. The conservation and protection of water throughout a building’s life cycle may be accomplished by designing dual plumbing systems. These systems will efficiently recycle water when a toilet flushes. In addition, water may be conserved during the lifecycle, by installing low-flush toilets or low-flow shower heads.

Point of use water treatment and heating systems also improve both the water quality and the efficiency of energy by reducing the amount of total water in circulation.

Sustainable Construction and Waste Reduction:

A sustainable construction project will seek to reduce waste or byproducts; the materials and water used during the construction of a sustainable structure will be preserved as much as possible. During the building phase, a sustainable construction project will limit the amount of material that is transferred to land-fills. An efficiently-designed building will also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants by providing various on-site solutions, such as compost bins.

Find Out What Meeting of the Minds Means

One of the essential tenets of contract law is that in order for a legal and valid contract to be formed in the eyes of the courts, there must be a “meeting of the minds” between the parties forming the contract. The parties to the contract can be individuals, or a legal entity can be entered into a contract by an official in a position of power in the legal entity.

However, establishing the existence of a meeting of the minds is very difficult for the courts to determine. If there is any dispute about the terms of a contract before a meeting of the minds develops, the courts will show a preference to interpret the terms of the contract in a way which does the least harm or damage to all the parties involved.

A meeting of the minds may also be found to not exist if the contract fails a “reasonable man” test. The reasonable man test is that a normal person with the range of knowledge that a person of a similar background to the person disputing some or all of the terms of the contract, would have reasonably interpreted the contract in a particular manner. The reasonable man test can be influenced by the specific individuals who are involved in the contract at issue.

Contractor Explained

What is a Contractor?

A contractor is an individual or company who is responsible for the day-to-day operations and oversight of a construction site. In addition to these functions a contractor will also manage the transactions involved in the site, primarily trades and deals with vendors.

A contractor is also responsible for keeping touch with the general contractor and the involved parties involved throughout the course of the project.

Price Evaluation Process:

Before starting a construction project, a contractor must visit and assess the construction site. Upon evaluating the piece of property, the contractor will formulate a price, referred to as an estimate. The contractors will then evaluate the cost of all materials, equipment, as well as the cost of labor. After analyzing the expected cost of the project, the contractor will provide the owner of the building with an approximate price for the construction process.

Following the delivery of the expected price for the project, the contractor will draw up contracts. These contracts will elaborate on the budget and the conditions revolving around the plans and specifications of the project. The contractor will utilize a design professional, such as an architect, to better evaluate the necessities of the project. That being said, in the majority of construction sites, the contractor will also act as the project engineer or the project manager.

What is a Contractor Responsible for?

A contractor is responsible for providing the construction companies and the individual workers with all material, including labor, equipment and those services necessary for the construction of the project. In order to accomplish these tasks, the contractor will incorporate specialized subcontractors to perform specialized tasks or portions of the construction process.

The responsibilities of the contractor will vary depending on the size and complexity of the construction project. In general; however, a contractor will be responsible for providing or accomplishing the following tasks: filing for building permits, securing the property, managing the workers on site, providing temporary materials and utilities on site, providing engineering functions and surveying for the site, disposing of wastes left over by the construction process, monitoring the schedules of workers, balancing the costs of the project and maintain accurate records regarding the finances and the construction process as a whole.

Example of a Contractor’s work:

An owner of a building or a real estate developer will develop a program based on their needs and subsequently choose a site. An architect will then assemble a design team of engineers and other experts to design the building and pinpoint specifications needed for construction. During this phase, the contractor will frequently participate in the design efforts by providing services where they will aid in providing price estimations and information revolving around scheduling.

The owner, contractor and architect will then work closely together to meet the deadline and budget of the project. The contractor will work with subcontractors to ensure that all quality standards have been met, in addition to the budget and timeline.

Find Out All You Need to Know About Construction Worker

What is a Construction Worker?

A construction worker is an individual employed in the construction industry; a construction worker will perform various physical roles on construction sites. The term “construction worker” is somewhat broad and will incorporate general construction workers, such as members of specialist trades such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians. As a result of this incorporation, a construction worker will encompass a number of laborers who are engaged in physical work or the construction of a tangible building or site.

Types of Construction Workers:

Within the field of construction includes specific roles that will incorporate a specialty aligned with the construction of a building. For example, when building a house, apartment or factory, numerous aspects of the creation must be accounted for. To properly build the structure, a construction company will utilize the following types of construction workers:

A tradesman or a bricklayer is a fundamental type of construction worker; these individuals lay brick and construct brickwork. The term also incorporates those individuals who use blocks to construct walls and other forms of masonry.

A construction worker can also be a carpenter, who is a skilled craftsman who performs a wide range of woodworking that includes constructing furniture, constructing buildings and other objects that are made of wood. This field of work will involve significant manual labor and outdoor work.

A carpet layer is another type of construction worker; these individuals specialize in laying flooring and carpets.

A concrete finisher is a type of tradesmen who works with concrete. This role includes placing, fishing, repairing concrete in construction projects and protecting the structure.

A heavy equipment operator is a fundamental type of construction worker who drives and operates heavy equipment on the site. A heavy equipment operator will use various capital and heavy equipment to construct and engineer various projects.

A heating and cooling specialist is also required during the construction of a project. Healing and cooling specialists are types of tradesmen that specialize in water pumps and furnaces.

An electrician is another type of construction worker; these tradesmen specialize in electrical wiring of buildings and other related equipment. An electrician may be employed in the construction of new buildings or the maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Laborers are types of tradesmen who are proficient with hand tools, small heavy equipment, air tools and assisting other trades.

Plumbers are also incorporated with construction projects; a plumber is a type of tradesman who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for heating, drainage, plumbing, potable water or small-sized industrial process plant piping.

A pipefitter is someone who assembles, lays out, fabricates, maintains and repairs large-sized piping systems for industrial projects—these pipes are typically under high pressure and require various metals, such as stainless steel, carbon steel and other alloys.

The last type of basic construction worker is a steel erector; these individuals are tradesman will install structural steel frames of building and engineering projects. This type of work is executed in small teams; each individual will use powered and hand tools to bolt the steelwork together.

Easy Guide to Contract Law

What is a Contract Law?

Contract Law is the legal field that undertakes the regulation, establishment, and oversight of legislation pertinent to contracts; contracts are defined as legally binding agreements whose expressed legality upon construction is required in order to substantiate the authenticity of the contract itself. A contract will typically include at least 2 entities who must agree to participate within the expressed stipulations and terms illustrated within the text of the contract. A legal contract will typically include 4 primary components:

An ‘Offer’ is the initial provision of the terms expressed within the contract

‘Acceptance’ is the agreement enacted by both parties with regard to participate in the contract

A ‘Counteroffer’ is an acknowledgement of the terms expressed within the contract – a counteroffer is not synonymous with the endorsement of a contact

The ‘Consideration’ is the identification of valued items that may be used as collateral in the event of a breached – or broken – contract

What is an Illegal Contract?

The precepts within Contract Law define an illegal contract as a contractual agreement deemed to be absent of the required satisfaction of legal statutes necessary for the contract to be viewed as legal. Within contract law, contracts may be deemed as illegal due for the following reasons:

The inclusion of a minor as a party to the endorsement or creation of a contract is considered to be illegal; as a result of their legal rights and liberties – in accordance with their respective age(s) – a minor is considered to be ineligible to endorse a contract

Contract Law states that the forced endorsement of a contract, which is defined as the participation in either the construction or signing of a contract under duress or threats imposed renders the contract to be illegal

Contract Law states that contracts or agreements including the implementation or involvement of products, services, or activities considered to be illegal within the jurisdiction in which the contract was constructed or endorsed is rendered as an illegal contract

Contract vs. Agreement

Although the definitions of the two terms tend to become blurred both through misuse, as well as varying terminology, the precepts of contract law express that a contract and an agreement are not synonymous. While a contract may include a variety of agreements within its content, the primary difference between a contract and an agreement lies in the fact that the failure of one – or both parties – to adhere to the terms expressed within an agreement will typically be unable to result in legal action or punitive recourse. Conversely, the violation of the terms of a contract – upon that substantiation of that contract’s legality – may be subject to legal action or punitive recourse.

Contract Law Trials and Hearings

With regard to the legal review of contracts, Contract Law will oftentimes integrate the statutes expressed within tort law; a tort is derived from the French word meaning ‘wrong’ with regard to a wrong suffered by or upon an individual in conjunction to the involvement of another individual or entity:

Upon review of a broken – or breached – contract, the precepts of contract Law implements the legal procedure in which individual responsibility and action is classified and weighed without the mention or facilitation of a binding and legal contract

The analysis of any or all respective liability and participation is evaluated through litigation, case review, and witness testimony with regard to a broken or breached contract

Act for the Prevention of Frauds

The Act for the Prevention of
Frauds and Perjuries was an English law established in 1677 in order to prevent
perjuries in regards to legal contracts and agreements. It is from the Act for
the Prevention of Frauds and Perjuries that the Statute of Frauds was taken.

The Statute of Frauds is a
legal policy that requires certain contracts to be created in written form.
Unlike many agreements, these specified contracts are not legally binding
unless a written contract is created to regulate and govern these agreements.

Many agreements are covered
under the Statute of Frauds, including contracts related to marriages and real
estate transactions. This policy, which was initially detailed in the Act for
the Prevention of Frauds and Perjuries, continues to be used in many locations
today. In the United States, certain agreements cannot be considered legally
binding unless they are accompanied by a written contract.

Deed Poll

A deed poll is a type of legal document that only involves a single person or party, and which states a particular intention that such a person is bound to by the document itself. A deed poll itself is not a contract due to the fact that only one party is affected by such a legal document and it states only an intention, rather than a guarantee or promise. This kind of document is oftentimes referred to as a deed poll name change because it is very commonly used in order to enact a name change for an individual.

Change name by deed poll is most commonly used in Europe, particularly in England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Other nations such as Hong Kong and New Zealand also use the deed poll name change.

Typically speaking, to change name by deed poll will require that a person complete a form, which must be signed by a witness. The form is then filed with the appropriate court. In many jurisdictions, deed poll name change may be considered as a legal name change, though change name by deed poll may not necessarily change a person’s name on the birth certificate.

Therefore, in the case that a passport is to be obtained, for instance, both the birth certificate and the change name by deed poll document will need to be furnished in order to complete the passport requirements.

What Can A Contract Software Do For You

Contract software can provide
free contract templates for individuals to use when, in the course of their
business or personal dealings, they encounter the need to form contracts. In
addition to purchasing contract software for the express purpose of creating
contracts, in many cases companies are able to obtain free contract templates
online in order to accomplish their contract creation needs. The contract software
that is used may be customized for use by a company, or the contract software
may simply be used as they are originally obtained.

Free contract templates may be
used to create a standard form contract, which are also known as a boilerplate
contract or an adhesion contract. Whether paid or free, contract templates can
save an individual or enterprise substantial amounts of time, cost, and effort
that would otherwise be associated with the creation of a contract.

Contract software can be
drafted using free contract templates to help facilitate the use of contracts
and services. Contract software which an individual or enterprise obtains can
make use of free contract templates in order to allow the party that is
drafting the contract and then offering the contract to the other party, a
resource which can help them to make the contract more likely to stand up to
scrutiny in a court of law, as well as making sure that the free contract
templates which they use will provide for their particular needs.

Offers Explained

According to U.S. legal theory, advertisements are not generally considered offers in the sense of being legally binding and applicable toward the establishment of contractual agreements. As such, offers which do possess legal force under the theory and practice of contract law must include, among other things, an individual whom is specifically targeted and can accordingly be identified as an “offeree”.

Additionally, advertisements are excluded from the legal definition of offers due to their absence of another component: legally binding terms included in the offers. Advertisements, to this end, may be identified under legal terminology not as

offers but, rather, as invitations.

Advertisements are thus not offers in their most basic form, but may possibly be designated as such if additional terms are added to the advertisement, such as offering special incentives for people to take advantage of a service. Otherwise, advertisements cannot be litigated in the same way as offers.

Contract vs. Agreement

The essential differences between a contract and an agreement are minor. In essence, a contract’s outline is more formal and more rigidly presented than the terms outlined in an agreement.

A contract is a legally binding agreement reached between two parties, the terms of which the courts have the authority and obligation to enforce. An agreement is a less formal creation of an obligation between the two parties.

An agreement usually lacks one or more of the essential elements that are required to be present in order to form a valid contract that will be considered legally enforceable by a court of law.

Contracts outline the terms of the relationship that should be formed between the two parties to the contract. An agreement also outlines the terms of the relationship between the two. However, the difference is that the contract’s outline is far more rigid than that of a contract.

The essential difference between an agreement and a contract is that typically an agreement will only modify a contract that is already in place but does not place an obligation on either one of the parties to provide consideration to the other party, which a contract requires. A contract can involve the exchange of promises between the parties to the contract, while an agreement may simply involve one party accepting the offer from another party.

Contract Law

Read This Before Filing A Petition of Revocation

Contractor Explained

All You Need to Know About Sustainable Construction

Find Out What Meeting of the Minds Means

Contractor Explained

Find Out All You Need to Know About Construction Worker

Easy Guide to Contract Law

Act for the Prevention of Frauds

Deed Poll

What Can A Contract Software Do For You

Offers Explained

Contract vs. Agreement

Easy Guide to Contract Law