The Spec Shaman

The Spec Shaman - Getting Specified

Building product manufacturers who want to get specified by architects can find strategies and suggestions in our weekly blog posts. Building product specification is crucial for manufacturers and our team offers the best resources available. Blog post topics include: 3 part CSI guide specifications, AIA continuing education, and building product rep training. Building product manufacturers who want to get their products specified can check our platform every week for valuable information about the AEC industry. Guest bloggers are always welcome. Please contact us for submission information and requirements.

On: Mar 5, 2020 By: GreenCE, Inc.
Product Specification
The relationship between the building product representative and architects, designers, engineers, interior designers, and consultants who write specifications for projects is clearly evolving.  As those who can specify your building product face increasing pressure to deliver more for less on tighter deadlines, it becomes even more imperative to take the right long-term actions to build relationships and trust, and to become a go-to source for information. 
On: Jan 31, 2020 By: Veer Mudambi
As green building activity continues to increase steadily across the world, it is a promising time for building product manufacturers (BPMs). According to a report by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Fifty seven percent of building owners are planning to make the majority of their projects green by 2021.
On: Jan 20, 2020 By: Brad Blank
Circular Economy
How do we create a circular economy? How can LEED v4.1 help support the reduction of waste streams in manufacturing? These are critical issues as we seek to maximize the triple bottom approach. The risks of not doing anything are severe and the rewards of integrating these strategies could help redefine what sustainable manufacturing is.
On: Jan 8, 2020 By: Brad Blank
AIA Course Tips
It’s the dawn of 2020 and an exciting time for building product manufacturers to get their products specified. The industry is advancing via BIM, drones, robotics, and other exciting technological enhancements. Yet, many manufacturers are using AIA courses that look like they were created in the Stone Age. Avoid losing face and take the plunge to revise your antediluvian AIA course.
On: Jan 1, 2020 By: Brad Blank
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. For many people on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodiversity is a concept and social movement that advocates for viewing autism as a variation of human wiring, rather than a disease.
On: Dec 10, 2019 By: Brad Blank
The USGBC has released new tools for LEED v4.1 in LEED Online. The new resources will support the precertification and initial LEED certification of projects using LEED BD+C and LEED ID+C. The new resources include web-based forms instead of PDFs, Excel based calculators, sample forms, and a regional priority check-up tool. LEED v4.1 Certification Resources
On: Dec 6, 2019 By: Brad Blank
Money
Construction renovation projects have contributed to over $100 billion annually in spending for the past several years. Many of the largest AEC firms have reported earnings from this sector and some firms earned at least half their income from renovation projects. How can this $100 billion bonanza help building product manufacturers?
On: Nov 7, 2019 By: Brad Blank
get specified
Design professionals are inundated by product advertisements, education courses, brochures, emails, and other promotional materials from building product manufacturers. Project deadlines are getting shorter, fees are shrinking, and technology is constantly changing. How can building product manufacturers break through the noise to reach the decision makers? Manufacturer Mistakes
On: Oct 30, 2019 By: Brad Blank
LEED v4.1 Architect
LEED v4.1 is quickly gaining traction within the industry as more projects are certified under the LEED v4.1 beta version. LEED v4.1 integrates performance outcomes supported by new methodologies and data-driven paths to measure performance. The latest project to be certified under LEED v4.1 is the Alliance Center in Colorado.
On: Oct 16, 2019 By: Brad Blank
Product Specifications
Was your product the leader in your industry several years ago but now competitors have stolen your crown? Did you occupy more market share and specifications than other companies? We will explore why once dominant building product manufacturers fall in specification rankings and how they can regain that mojo. Perception Affects Product Specifications

Pages

GreenCE offers AIA HSW online continuing education, LEED online courses, ADA online courses, and LEED Exam Prep. GreenCE helps design professionals obtain their AIA HSW hours, LEED-specific hours, barrier-free hours, and IDCEC CE hours. The website delivers LEED Exam Prep for the LEED Green Associate exam, LEED BD+C exam, and LEED O+M exam. The online LEED certification courses educate architects, engineers, interior designers, contractors, and students.

GreenCE is a USGBC Education Partner that offers the only free LEED exam prep in the country. The LEED certification course includes a free LEED exam study guide, free LEED practice questions, and LEED certification tips and strategies. In addition, GreenCE offers free courses for LEED APs to obtain their LEED BD+C hours, LEED ID+C hours, and LEED O+M hours. Most GBCI courses are free and in video format.

GreenCE is an AIA Education Provider and offers free AIA online courses. The free AIA courses are sponsored by building product manufacturers. In addition, the platform offers barrier-free ADA courses for Texas and California architects. Texas barrier-free online courses and California Accessibility courses meet state requirements. TX ADA courses and CA ADA courses are created by the top ADA experts in the country.

Building product manufacturers can get specified by using GreenCE services. GreenCE develops AIA and LEED courses for product manufacturers to educate architects. The online architect courses help build brand awareness about building products. In addition, GreenCE hosts manufacturer webinars for 200-300 architects at a time. The AIA webinars and LEED webinars are free for architects who can learn about various products.

Finally, GreenCE helps manufacturers develop Health Product Declarations (HPDs), LEED v4 product documentation, mindful MATERIALS documentation, Google Portico documentation, and Declare Labels. We value our relationships with design professionals and building product manufacturers. They are crucial to our success.