Construction companies are quick to embrace new technologies, although the paper work order stuck around in the industry a lot longer than many anticipated. Thankfully with the rise of work order software, firms of all sizes are embracing the digital revolution and enjoying improved efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness as a result. If you are not familiar with work order software, this guide will bring you in on the ground floor and demonstrate why it has been so transformative in construction in particular. What is work order software? As the name suggests, platforms like Fiix work order software are designed to replace physical work order systems, providing the same basic functionality but making use of digital documents instead. While work orders are more genetically intended to allow duties to be assigned in a range of commercial contexts, for construction companies this means that customers can clearly define the jobs they want done, and details of things like costs, materials required and timelines for completion can all be included. Digitizing this process means that work orders can be issued with greater ease, stored and accessed in the cloud, reviewed in an instant from any location and tracked to keep up to date with project progress. Similarly if work orders are issued for maintenance tasks, this allows managers to ensure that routines are adhered to and best practices for safety followed, all within the bounds of a predetermined schedule. So downtime due to equipment issues or construction machinery failures can be minimized with the help of work order software. The advantages of automation Aside from the aforementioned conveniences that software-based work order management brings to the table, the other key perk is afforded by automation. Rather than having to manually issue work orders for a given project, or in line with the desired schedule for a specific day’s work, software can automatically send out work orders to the right people, apprising them of their responsibilities and synchronizing large teams so that they are pulling in the same direction. For construction companies and their customers, this is a boon whether it applies internally within a single organization, or also includes third party contractors. The unifying power of the software, coupled with its automation potential, irons out all sorts of kinks that used to be an accepted part of the industry. The implications of integration Like all good software solutions, digital work order platforms do not operate in a vacuum, but can be integrated with other services to expand upon their basic functions. For example, they might be needed to operate as part of a broader enterprise asset management package, or combine with project management software to allow top-level decision-makers to oversee vast, complex construction projects without being bogged down by paperwork. At a time when material costs are high and set to remain so, these small but tangible efficiencies can have major implications for construction firms and their customers. The wonders of the workflow Another point to make about the revolutionary quality of work order software in construction is that it forms part of a wider workflow, and more importantly means that completed strands can be neatly concluded, rather than the results being open-ended and uncertainties plaguing a project. Work orders that are issued digitally can also be closed digitally, so you can say with confidence that a task has been done on-site, and use this to dictate subsequent orders and planning. In short, modern work order software is responsible for the ongoing digitization and streamlining of the construction industry, and this technology is available to small and large operators alike.

One of the amazing aspects of the green revolution is the wave of new technologies that it has inspired. From industrial facilities reabsorbing their carbon emissions to reengineering the infrastructure of entire cities to run on clean energy, our communities will start seeing major benefits from a much-needed shift towards a renewable future. Frontier technologies in green construction, green building, and smart buildings are at the forefront of this innovation trend. Green Development LLC, a leading provider of large-scale solar and wind projects in Rhode Island, introduces us to how these technologies are shaping our future. Green Building Green building is the process of using environmentally responsible and resource-efficient materials and methods throughout a building’s entire lifecycle. All phases of a building—including siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction—are taken into account to reduce the impacts of the built environment on human health and the natural environment and to be consistent with the principles of a circular economy. Green Construction According to Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), traditional construction contributes an estimated 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of its greenhouse gases, 50% of all water pollution, 48% of all solid wastes, and 50% of all Chlorofluorocarbon CFCs to the environment. Green construction utilizes sustainable, low-impact materials that take into account resource efficiency, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation, and affordability. Materials typically have one or more of the following attributes: recycled, natural or renewable, locally available, reusable or recyclable, salvaged, refurbished, remanufactured, locally available, or durable. Developers select these products after thorough research, evaluation, and selection. Smart Buildings Green buildings are all about resource efficiency and building performance. Smart buildings are also built with efficiency as a central guiding principle, but in this case, the focus is on construction and operational efficiency—minimizing energy use and demand on the grid. In recent years, the term “GEB” (grid-interactive efficient building) has become synonymous with the term “smart building.” GEBs achieve operational efficiency by connecting the various operational components of buildings—lighting, security, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—with the grid, distributed energy resources, and the occupants in an integrated, dynamic, and functional way. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recently awarded $61 million, via the Grid-interactive Efficient Building (GEB) Initiative, to ten projects focused on developing smart buildings and accelerating renewable energy adoption. Some key characteristics of GEBs include: Efficiency: Maintaining a low level of energy usage in order to minimize demand on the grid is a primary goal of a GEB. Connectivity: Ongoing two-way communication is facilitated between the building and its occupants and the building and the grid. Intelligence: Smart, AI-enabled software collects information via sensors and other controls, generates ongoing analytics, and adjusts energy use to match occupancy patterns and preferences. Flexibility: Energy loads for the building can be shifted across energy sources or stored, as needed throughout the day, to reduce energy costs. Energy sources could include behind-the-meter renewable energy sources, stored energy, or EVs, in addition to the grid. The recent attention on GEBs has the potential to help countries reduce their carbon footprints and electricity costs, thanks to their ability to interact with the grid, adjust energy loads dynamically, and tap into distributed energy resources, as needed. Certifications Two important certifications are available for green buildings: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Building Standards and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The latter is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. In addition, Smart Building Certification also exists for certifying smart buildings. On the consumer’s end, certifications from reliable sources ensure a high degree of standard and, therefore, trust. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) claims that LEED-certified buildings have lease-up rates up to 20% above average and vacancy rates about 4% lower than non-green properties. USGBC also emphasizes that 61% of corporate leaders believe that sustainability leads to better financial performance and market differentiation. EPA Green Building Standards The EPA provides a table of Green Building Standards, two mandatory and four voluntary standards. International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1) are the mandatory standards for all residential multi-family buildings with more than three stories, in addition to buildings designated for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use purposes. The standards include subject areas such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials, and resource use, indoor environmental quality, emissions, and sustainable sites. LEED Certification LEED offers different certifications for building design and construction, interior design and construction, building operations and maintenance, neighborhood development, homes, cities and communities, and more. The LEED v4 for BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovation Project Checklist, for example, can be used to evaluate criteria such as location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority. Smart Building Certification Smart Building Certification offers several levels of certifications: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The certification process reviews how well the system integrates with the building and its components, how the building affects user behavior and collaboration, health and safety standards, the physical environment of the building, the building’s performance, and how people use the building. Each smart building project is assessed with three independent reviewers in a peer review model to ensure the maximum integrity of the evaluation. About Green Development LLC Green Development LLC is the leading developer of large-scale renewable energy projects in Rhode Island, specializing in wind, solar, and battery storage. The company delivers significant energy savings to municipalities, quasi-public entities, nonprofits, and other qualified entities through the virtual net metering program while providing long-term lease payments to landowners and farmers. Since 2009, Green Development has been instrumental in transforming the energy mix in Rhode Island to clean, reliable energy. The company has developed more than 70 MW in solar and wind capacity, with plans to add 75 MW in 2021. Green Development is devoted to preserving farmland, reducing water and air pollution, increasing energy security, and creating

Creative consultancy and design studio, NewTerritory, presents a new, human-centric approach to smart technology in the home with the release of “Empathic Technology”: a collection of product concepts that explores how technological objects can be embedded within the domestic space in unconventional, yet meaningful ways. The series of future-focused home and wellbeing devices and architectural fixings is a response to the ever-evolving notion of “home”, which has become increasingly multifunctional, whilst remaining a private temple for our physical and mental health. Split between three different categories, namely Connect, Sense, and Enhance, the concepts sensitively combine emerging technologies with sophisticated design to unveil innovative forms to help us connect, sense our needs and enhance our living environment. NewTerritory’s three Empathic Technology concepts are:  Connect – Connect features a central connective router tray with dispersible elements, (i.e. omnidirectional speaker and wifi booster) migrating throughout the home to provide network connection, power & sound, allowing users to more easily communicate with one another, empowering the new realities of domestic experience.  Sense – Sense is a set of monitoring devices that integrate into the home to generate data and build a richer picture of our physical and mental needs. It includes a switch, a pendant, and a surface that monitor people and place through sonics, atmospherics, visual references, touch and sound.  Enhance – Enhance is a class of devices that act on sensed data, transforming and enhancing our living environments discretely and in line with deep observation and analysis of our human needs. It revolves around an architecturally integrated smart window frame that has sensors and active filtering technologies embedded within it to filter particulates and pollutants and actively cancel disruptive noise and light. NewTerritory suggests that all objects could be connected to one another and controlled via a digital platform, helping users see real time visualisations of their private data and the enhancements that connected products are making to the home and their personal wellbeing. The thoughtfulness element of the concepts is translated in the material philosophy proposed by NewTerritory, expressed in three principles of empathic technology, Living Cycle, Aesthetic of Purpose, and Humane Touch. Living Cycle – Acknowledges, respects and utilises natural cycles of growth, use and decay, to inform a palette of natural or reclaimed materials. Aesthetic of Purpose – Celebrates the inherent surface qualities of materials which use a reclaimed feedstock.  Humane Touch – A humane palette with a nuance of character and haptic qualities, satisfying our need for surfaces with integrity. With this concept, NewTerritory hopes to push a new agenda around the look and feel of future intuitive technology, considering how houses can be further enabled by different implications of devices and materials.

Vogue (UK), the UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and heating products is delighted to introduce a new EE005 Remote Control Element, for use across its range of electric and dual fuel towel warmers to make each model in the collection 100% Eco Design compliant. The new EE005 control element has been designed so homeowners can enjoy the full benefits of remote temperature control while ensuring the utmost energy efficiency is being achieved in their bathroom. Featuring NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) technology and a built-in window/door recognition that effortlessly monitors fluctuations in air temperature so that heat output is adjusted according to the environment. For example, if the bathroom is between 18°C to 32°C in room temperature, you can remotely control the surface temperature of your Vogue towel warmer from 30°C to 70°C for optimum functionality. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK), says, “As energy prices rise, so too does market demand for heating solutions that can give the homeowner all the advantages of warmth and style, whilst being kind to the pocket and environment.” “A towel warmer is an essential component in the modern bathroom, cutting down on extra laundry whilst adding luxury and style, so we are very pleased to offer the new EE005 remote control element as an option for all of our electric and dual-fuel towel warmers with elements of 300, 600 and 900 watts. This element can also be retro-fitted to existing electric or dual fuel multi-rail towel warmers meaning everyone can benefit from our 7 day programmable element with remote temperature control whenever they wish” adds Steve. Comfort and convenience are vital in the bathroom so the new EE005 gives homeowners the freedom to set their heating at one fixed temperature regardless of seasonal changes or sudden cold snaps. In fact, it includes automatic frost protection for added peace of mind as well as eco, 2 and 4 boost functions, safety lock features and manual override for the ultimate in flexibility. As market-leaders in heating design and manufacturing, the EE005 has passed industry tests with flying colours, as well as meeting the high quality standards set by Vogue (UK). Supplied with a dedicated push-button remote control device, the EE005 is IPX4-rated so that it is resistant to water splashes from any direction and suitable for bathroom zones 1 & 2.

Gira, one of the world’s leading full-range suppliers for intelligent building design and management, make it easy for you to buy their products with an enhanced search facility on its lifestyle website. Alongside full, in-depth details of Gira products and elegant lifestyle shots so you can see them in situ, you can also be inspired by the latest trends so you’ll always be on point with your technology as well getting the best advice on key smart home topics like ‘how to create lighting schemes for every mood’ and ‘how to save energy while keeping an ideal temperature’. Most importantly, the website can to put you in touch with the Gira team nationwide, so you can book an appointment at the London showroom www.gira.com/uk-showroom or make contact with a Gira specialist near you so you’re one step closer to having a connected home. “We are very pleased that our flagship Gira by INTALITE showroom is open five days a week from Monday to Friday in Wimbledon, South West London so that more people can get to know Gira. I think that viewing, touching and trying out products is a great way to explore the options available, and we find that homeowners, interior designers and architects alike relish the opportunity to experience the full functionality of the Gira range, in person,” said Jacob Muijnck, Managing Director at Gira. “With the option to choose between a wireless system which operates in a smaller family home or apartment using Bluetooth connections or a wired-in system (known as KNX) which is built-in to the walls of your property, you can quickly reap the benefits of connected living, saving time, money and power. As we move into the winter months, rest assured that Gira has an extensive home security, exterior lighting and temperature control products which will ensure your family feels safe and comfortable as the seasons change.” If you already have some ideas about how you would like to enhance your home and some further advice about Gira products, it’s simple to take the next step with your project by using the easy-to-use Installer Locator, which is a online search facility available via their website. Simply key in your postcode or location and hit search to find details of your nearest Gira approved installers so you can click straight through to their websites, give them a call or get in touch via email. “Interest in smart home products and services for the home is growing year on year, so we are very keen to help you set your project up for success, by connecting you with local specialists who know all about the latest building technology and systems,” says Jacob.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur specializing in residential homes or you want to build a family home, having good design software is indispensable. Every architect understands that designing an impressive house isn’t an easy task. The design of a house takes a lot of imagination and reimagination. However, the help of outstanding residential design software can simplify your work. Furthermore, you may not need construction design software to design a house from the foundation up. Maybe what you need is to remodel your floor and give it a new look. Suppose you’re planning to sell your house. In that case, you may need to import plans for remodeling your floor from design software. Having a new floor in your house may help upsell or improve leads conversion when you stage it online. If you’re new in the construction career or you’re a student who’s wondering how to go about getting a suitable construction design software, here are essential tips for you:  1. Choose Between An Online Software Or One Installed On Your Computer  If you’re an individual who’s always on the move, online software might be the best bet for you. Besides, you can access this software from any computer. What you need is stable internet and a laptop. If you need to visit one of your clients from their office, you may go ahead and use your laptop from their office. Some benefits of online design software include:  The software is updated from a central place. Therefore, there’s no need to download and install regular updates to have the latest version.   Additionally, online construction design software can be used with any operating system, whether Windows or Mac. As a result, when you change your computer, you can log in to your account and continue with your work without starting from scratch. You can work from anywhere using multiple computers. You only need to log into your account with your password and access your already saved work. You can save on the expenses of powerful electronic devices. In essence, you don’t need a computer with the latest graphic card and a significant memory for running the construction design software. Moreover, such computers need regular upgrading to match the latest design of the program. Thus, online software might be an excellent money-saving plan for you. 2. Confirm Whether You Have Photorealistic 3D Renderings The photorealistic 3D rendering of the exterior and interior of a house is a feature that can excite your clients. It shows them how the building project will look like even before it’s built. It’s possible to convince and win them with this fantastic feature. As a result, you can go for software with more advanced features that help manage light to cast excellent shadows and textures. With these features, your home design looks like a real photo. Here are other advantages of photorealistic 3D rendering: It helps your clients visualize their living space and give you feedback on what they’d prefer to be added or removed. More sophisticated software helps you save your viewpoints. Viewpoints are essential when you want to change your materials, layout, and furniture. 3. Get An Easy To Use Software You need a software that’s easy to learn so you can accomplish tasks quickly. Therefore, you can choose to get software that’s tailor-made for home designs only. Such software will have features that are exclusively for drawing house plans.  Easy software to use will take you a few days to learn. On the other hand, software with a difficult learning curve might not be a good option for you.  An easy to learn software may come with the following features:  Available Person To Person Support Before acquiring a specific software, you can check whether they have a support team readily available for a chat or call. Sometimes, when working on projects, you may get stuck and need the help of someone. Here’s where a support agent comes in handy. This helps avoid searching for solutions in online community forums. Access To Tutorials An excellent software will have links to online videos that can help you learn how to use some features fast. Sometimes, it’s easy to learn when watching a video than when reading text. Videos explaining how to design a floor or draw a porch can help you accomplish your work faster. Therefore, check your software to ensure it has a tutorial. Onboarding Call The competition for customers within the construction design software companies is very high. Thus, some companies offer a training call to help you learn design basics with their software to be on your feet fast. An introductory call to the software can save you a big deal of figuring out how to go about the software or reading lengthy procedures. 4. Check For Intuitive Drawing Features  Great software is designed with powerful features for your conceptual design stage. Such features are time-saving as you can design a residential house in a few hours and engage your clients in other matters such as the implementation of the design. Therefore, with construction design software having intuitive features, you can design plans, including doors, windows, and the roof, to generate a house as quickly as possible. Additionally, it should have a capacity for furnishes and a materials section which may come later in the design process for customizing your design. Here are more benefits of embedded intuitive features:  If the house design is highly complex, the system allows adding the roof automatically.   Reuse, duplicate, and resize previous objects.   The 3D plans for the entire house and the floors help your clients see the complete rendering of the actual building. You can customize the colors and measurements of your doors and windows. Wrapping Up With the many construction design software in the market, it can be challenging to choose a suitable one. Hence, this article outlines essential aspects you should look for before buying construction design software. Choose a software tailored for a residential house design that can generate 2D and 3D