Measure twice, cut once

Measure twice, cut once
Tags: Going Green
January 30, 2012 - Farah Ahmad

With my experience building a solar powered home for the Solar Decathlon 2011, I can't stress enough the importance of maintaining a clean building site. You will save yourself a migraine, and become more time, energy and cost efficient by following a few simple protocols.

Maintaining a regular schedule to pick up debris and separating the materials based on type are key. Trash builds up, as a result of machinery use or excessive supply of material. Moreover safe disposal of garbage is key because waste may be toxic and may contaminate the earth or water supply, and create air pollution. Any debris found in the actual home may also delay the construction schedule. For instance, painting or finishing a hard surface will require a clean, smooth surface.

Another key example: engineering systems plus debris are a bad combination. Pipes, wires, and all the other ins and outs of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems need immaculate spaces within which to function. No one wants to deal with dust filtering through such extensive equipment.

Appropriate storage of equipment and material also saves time, energy and money. Since supplies can easily become misplaced, it is important to allocate a storage location for them. Delaying the construction because that 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood was accidentally thrown out or stored elsewhere is not efficient.

Keeping the construction site clear of obstacles will eliminate work injuries on site. Tripping and falling are common accidents on the jobsite and keeping pathways clear around the site will alleviate such problems.

Moreover, equipment should be cleaned since leftover chemicals or residue could damage it, and it will be safer and ready for workers to handle the next day.

There's an old adage that we like to also associate in architecture school: "Measure twice, cut once." If you apply this same saying to the methods in which you clean your site, you won't have to utilize your energy trying to do what could have already been.