BuildingEase is the first official Tech Partner to mindful MATERIALS (mM) and our platform was designed from day 1 based on the structure of the Common Materials Framework (CMF).
As the CMF evolves, based on input from the mM member community and working groups, BE will integrate any updates and additions.
We make the CMF actionable in a few unique ways. In addition to searching the catalog using CMF Filters (which many tech platforms do, to varying degrees of success), BE offers unique and innovative CMF “Easy Buttons”:
1. DIGITIZED Q+A: (aka “death to spreadsheets”!) Manufacturers waste hundreds of hours responding to sustainability questionnaires from designers that ask the same questions, but all in different formats! Designers invest a lot of time asking these questions too – NO MORE!! BE is the first platform to create a streamlined and digitized Q+A that means every question can be asked and answered ONCE! Designers go to the manufacturer’s Storefront to see what’s been asked and answered. If it has – they can “+1” it to show their interest and demand. If a question has not yet been asked, they can do it there – and then everyone else can see! The Q+A can be used for 3 purposes: First, to eliminate unnecessarily time wasting actions as described. Second, for advocacy – owners and project teams can use this to simply let manufacturers know that they care, and what they care about. Third – manufacturers can use this for their own internal “roadmap” to strategize how they want to improve over time.
2. STANDARD SETTING: Our Standard Setting tool (1st and only in the industry!) is currently based on the CMF, but will soon expand to include attributes like durability. Owners and/or their project teams can create Standards that automate compliance across entire portfolios of projects – and our 1-Click Compliance button lets you know immediately what products meet the standard – or don’t, and why!
3, STOREFRONT “REPORT CARDS”: Manufacturers can have Storefronts that serve many purposes. In addition to being able to tell their story, share case studies and manage samples – their back end (another BuildingEase FIRST in the industry) automates the assessment of their products based on certification data and the CMF – as well as other industry standards and programs. Coming later this summer, this will also apply to building rating systems like LEED, WELL, LBC and more. All of this is more accurate and useful if the manufacturer has transferred their actual product data to us!
