As an increasing number of contractors seek LEED and other third-party green building certifications, the complex set of documents used to manage construction projects must adapt to reflect the challenges and risks inherent in green building. Risks include the use of new materials and design techniques, uncertainty around the performance of the building upon completion and the ability to actually achieve a third-party certification. Both the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of General Contractors publish form contracts to demonstrate how to draft contracts that adequately address these risks.

In the webinar “Building a Balanced Sustainable Brand Strategy”, Peter Salmon talks about a platform that helps companies make the transition to more environmentally sustainable and efficient practices.

Sustainable Life Media is accepting speaker proposals for the 2010 Sustainable Brands Conference, which is an international event discussing the rapid rise of sustainability as a driver for revenue growth and brand equity in the 21st Century. This year’s theme is “The Power of AND”, which is “a tribute to the breakthrough innovation that comes from growing beyond an either/or mindset to adopt the possibility of ‘both/and’.

Sustainable Life Media launched their first online Sustainable Brands Boot Camp on Friday. Leading the first webinar, “Introduction to Opportunities in Sustainable Innovation”, was Gil Friend, President/CEO of Natural Logic and author of The Truth About Green Business. Friend spoke on sustainability focused design innovation and how companies can remain competitive in the midst of today’s environmental challenges. Friend provided valuable and practical recommendations on how companies can incorporate sustainability within their innovation process.

I’ve noticed that most people tend to have a narrow view of green jobs, usually based on what industries or occupations they’re most familiar with. Few people have an inclusive view of green jobs. It reminds me of the story about the blind men who each feel a part of an elephant and then come to believe that they know what an elephant is. But, of course, their interpretations are all limited by not being able to see or feel all the parts of the elephant. Our interpretations and definitions of green jobs seem to have those same limitations.

Colleges and universities are responding to a surging interest in green careers by offering more opportunities for degrees in sustainability. “The past few years, society as a whole has become increasingly interested in sustainability,” said Julian Dautremont-Smith of the Association for Sustainability in Higher Education, who was quoted in USA Today. “Higher education has been swept up as well.”

This, the third and final article in our three part series on green parking lots continues the discussion by looking at how landscaping can contribute to helping prevent and control runoff as well as provide shade helping to keep the parking lot much cooler than a bare asphalt lot would get. Specifically it examines a type of landscaping known as bioretention that is designed to collect and treat stormwater.

GreenBiz.com has partnered with Net Impact and Steelcase to create the Steelcase Sustainable Design Scholarships — four full scholarships to the 2009 Greener by Design conference. The four lucky winners will receive full conference registration, as well as travel and lodging at the event, scheduled to take place May 19-20, in San Francisco, Calif.