The following is a viewpoint written by John Hyde, chief sustainability officer of Chapman Construction/Design, based in Newton, Mass., and Jayce Barone, a project manager at Chapman Construction/Design
Sustainability, in all its forms, is an asset to modern construction projects. From the early days of LEED certification to the thousands of plaques now installed in buildings across the country, the industry has steadily progressed. But the next opportunity isn’t just about certifications, it’s about how we choose to build every day.
The Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Construction Practices provides this framework. Recognize that being a “green contractor” goes beyond checking boxes or building only to blueprints. It asks contractors to address the factors most directly under our control: carbon, water, materials, waste and worker welfare. The goal is simple: minimize the environmental impact of contractor and subcontractor operations while fostering a culture that supports healthier and happier people.
For customers, the benefits go far beyond waste reduction and a smaller carbon footprint. The Contractor’s Commitment opens the door to healthier material selection, stronger protections for workers and better environments for the end users who will occupy these spaces.
Healthcare facilities are particularly well suited to this approach. At Element Care’s Nevins Campus in Methuen, Massachusetts, Chapman Construction/Design applied contractor engagement during a major renovation. In addition to providing a durable and comfortable facility for Element Care, we elevated the construction experience by extending the same principles of health and comfort to the workers who build the space. The project set new benchmarks, gave employees a voice to create healthier work environments, and provided a model that other healthcare providers can follow.
Achieving worker wellness in Methuen
The Contractor’s Commitment calls on signatories to integrate sustainable practices into every project, regardless of the client’s needs. Being a signatory means that a company is truly a green contractor, not one that just worked on a “green” job. It’s about closing the gap between design and construction and improving the day-to-day working environment in the workplace.
In the Element Care project, Chapman implemented practices that improved sustainability throughout the process, not just at the end. Examples include:
- Carbon reduction: The team tracked both fuel use and the embodied carbon of building materials. An anti-idling plan was implemented for Chapman staff and subcontractors, while fuel usage between the office and the job site was also recorded. To reduce the impact of travel, Chapman provided hybrid and electric cars for our project manager’s transportation and also worked with subcontractors to encourage car sharing to help limit the number of vehicles driving to and from the site each day.
- Employee welfare: An indoor air quality (IAQ) plan was developed and actively measured during construction. Employees had daily access to fresh fruit and drinking water. Dedicated tables were installed to provide workers with a place to sit and eat comfortably. Living plants and artwork were placed in the interior spaces, creating a more attractive and healthy work environment.
- Waste and water management: The team limited unnecessary water use on site and installed dedicated bins to maximize recycling and waste diversion. A detailed monitoring plan was implemented to monitor both water consumption and waste flows throughout the project.
- Materials management: Chapman worked with Element Care to evaluate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) to guide material selection. Whenever possible, healthier alternatives such as low VOC products were recommended. If a safer, more sustainable option existed, Chapman presented it to the client for consideration.
A new way to build sustainably
What sets the Contractor’s Commitment apart is that it is not a certification; it’s a promise It is a Chapman commitment to integrate sustainable practices into our daily construction operations. We make decisions that influence what products are bought, how they are used on site and how we manage air, water, soil, waste and worker well-being.
At Element Care, this approach meant more than delivering a high-performance project. It meant minimizing our environmental impact and improving the health of our workforce, outcomes that align directly with Element Care’s mission as a healthcare provider.
For Chapman, success isn’t just measured by budget, schedule and building performance. It also includes the welfare of workers, the health of future occupants and the ecological impact of construction. This is why we are signatories to the Contractor’s Commitment: because we believe that our work must have a positive impact on people and the planet. It is the responsible way to build.
John Hyde is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Chapman Construction/Design. He has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, initially focusing on project management. In 2022, he transitioned to his current role, leading Chapman’s reinvigorated sustainability initiatives and its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality without offsets by 2030. In this capacity, he manages the company’s sustainability strategies and programs, including the Contractor Commitment. An active member of several organizations, John is involved with NESEA, BSA COTE, PHIUS and the Sustainable Construction Leaders Network. John also serves on the Energy and Sustainability Committee in his hometown of Sherborn, Mass.
Jayce Barone is a Project Manager at Chapman Construction/Design and a Phius Certified Passive House Builder. He is passionate about sustainable construction, building reuse and working with non-profit clients. His interest in revitalizing existing buildings began in college, where he worked with the Appalachia Service Project, performing construction repairs to combat substandard housing. Now she applies her sustainability knowledge to her work, helping clients create spaces that are better for the planet and healthier for their people. Jayce is a member of Built Environment Plus (BE+) and Chapman’s internal sustainability, training and Procore groups.
