Deliberate Words

What A Week! Streamline the Green: Sustainability Specs

David Stutzman and Steve Gantner Season 1 Episode 16

This episode tackles a common problem: a LEED consultant trying to insert the same generic sustainability language into every spec section. Elias explains why this is bad practice—specs should say things once and in the right place, with global requirements in Division 1 and technical details in the individual sections.

The team walks through:

  • Why duplicating language across sections creates confusion and conflicts
  • How outdated LEED practices still influence consultants
  • When sustainability requirements should live in Division 1 vs. the technical specs
  • Ensuring VOC limits, EPDs, and HPDs are accurate, achievable, and coordinated
  • The importance of upfront research so the specs are actually biddable

Consensus: The LEED consultant should write the sustainability section, but the specifier shapes it so it's clear, modern, and correctly located. Good coordination leads to cleaner documents and fewer RFIs.