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Methods and systems for a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule and a “green” schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction plans created with an architectural software design tool, and a palette of architectural parametric symbols corre

Methods and systems for a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule and a “green” schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction plans created with an architectural software design tool, and a palette of architectural parametric symbols corresponding to respective construction plan elements, such as windows. At least one parametric symbol corresponding to a construction plan element is inserted into the construction plans. A cost value and a statement indicating whether or not a parametric symbol is “green” for each of the inserted parametric symbols is determined corresponding to respective plan elements. A price schedule, a “green” schedule or both are then created, which can include the total cost for all of the inserted parametric symbols, and a statement for each of the inserted symbols indicating whether or not they are certified as being energy efficient or rated “green.”

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What is claimed is: 1. An automated method for creating a schedule for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) providing on a local co

What is claimed is: 1. An automated method for creating a schedule for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) providing on a local computer an architectural software design tool and a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element, wherein the construction plan drawing is created with the architectural software design tool; (b) providing on the local computer an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool, and that includes a palette containing one or more parametric symbols, and optionally one or more corresponding parametric symbol values, wherein the palette includes a parametric symbol for each of the construction plan elements; (c) selecting one or more of the parametric symbols that is included in the palette for insertion into the construction plan drawing; (d) inserting one or more of the selected parametric symbols into the construction plan drawing; (e) using the add-on computer software code and an Internet connection, transmitting data corresponding to each of the inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to a remote server system, either directly or via an optional communication module; (f) using the add-on computer software code and an Internet connection, accessing data from a web site present on the remote server system that includes data for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the data states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (g) using the add-on computer software code, creating a schedule from the data, wherein the schedule states for each construction plan element corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol whether or not the construction plan element meets predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises an additional step of inserting the schedule into the construction plan drawing. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the schedule contains a list of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols with corresponding statements indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the architectural software design tool is a CAD software product. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the construction plan elements are selected from a group comprising at least one of a window, a door and an acrylic glass block. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises an additional step of placing an order to purchase one or more of the construction plan elements that are present in the schedule. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the order is placed using the local computer or the web site on the remote server, or both. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method creates the price schedule including one or two construction plan elements. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the construction plan drawing includes one or more walls, and wherein one or more of the inserted parametric symbols automatically aligns with a wall. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more inserted parametric symbols additionally automatically auto-embeds itself into the wall. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more parametric symbol values are selected. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein one or more of the selected parametric symbol values is modified after a corresponding parametric symbol has been inserted into the construction plan drawing. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein, after the schedule is created, one or more changes is made to one or more of the inserted parametric symbols, and the schedule is automatically edited to correspond to the changes. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the schedule created is exported into a separate database. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the web site is an online web site or a remote server system. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication module is not employed. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication module is employed. 18. An automated system for creating a schedule for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) a local computer; (b) an architectural software design tool, wherein the architectural software design tool provides on the local computer a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element; (c) a remote server system having a web site that maintains a database including data for the construction plan elements, wherein the data states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, and wherein an Internet connection exists between the remote server system and the local computer; and (d) an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool on the local computer; wherein the add-on computer software code has a palette that includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with each of the construction plan elements, and that may be selected by a user for insertion into the construction plan drawing; and wherein the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (i) inserts at least one of the parametric symbols that are selected by a user into the construction plan drawing; (ii) transmits via the Internet connection data corresponding to each inserted parametric symbol from the local computer to the remote server system, either directly or via an optional communication module; (iii) receives via the Internet connection from the remote server system for each of the construction plan elements corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol a statement or other indication as to whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, either directly or via an optional communication module; and (iv) generates a schedule from the statements, wherein the schedule includes a statement for each construction plan element corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol indicating whether or not the construction plan element meets predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the schedule becomes inserted into the construction plan drawing. 20. The system of claim 18 wherein the schedule contains a list of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols with corresponding statements indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 21. The system of claim 18 wherein the architectural software design tool is a CAD software product. 22. The system of claim 18 wherein the construction plan elements are selected from a group comprising at least one of a window, a door and an acrylic glass block. 23. The system of claim 18 wherein the add-on computer software code additionally confirms that each inserted parametric symbol meets criteria of a building code. 24. The system of claim 18 wherein the system permits a user to place an order to purchase one or more of the construction plan elements that are present in the schedule. 25. The system of claim 24 wherein the order is placed using the local computer or the web site on the remote server, or both. 26. The system of claim 18 wherein the schedule includes one or two construction plan elements. 27. The system of claim 18 wherein the schedule includes two or more construction plan elements. 28. The system of claim 18 wherein the construction plan drawing includes one or more walls, and wherein one or more of the inserted parametric symbols automatically aligns with a wall. 29. The system of claim 28 wherein the one or more inserted parametric symbols additionally automatically auto-embeds itself into the wall. 30. The system of claim 18 wherein the system has one or more selected parametric symbol values. 31. The system of claim 30 wherein the system permits one or more of the selected parametric symbol values to be modified after a corresponding parametric symbol is inserted into the construction plan drawing. 32. The system of claim 18 wherein, after the schedule is created, the system permits one or more changes to be made to one or more of the inserted parametric symbols, and the schedule to be automatically edited to correspond to the changes. 33. The system of claim 18 wherein the system permits the schedule created to be exported into a separate database. 34. The system of claim 18 wherein the web site is an online web site or a remote server system. 35. The system of claim 18 wherein a communication module is not employed. 36. The system of claim 18 wherein a communication module is employed. 37. An automated method for creating for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project both a price schedule and a schedule that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) providing on a local computer an architectural software design tool and a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element, wherein the construction plan drawing is created with the architectural software design tool; (b) providing on the local computer an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool, and that includes a palette containing one or more parametric symbols, and optionally one or more corresponding parametric symbol values, wherein the palette includes a parametric symbol for each of the construction plan elements; (c) selecting one or more of the parametric symbols that is included in the palette for insertion into the construction plan drawing; (d) optionally, selecting one or more parametric symbol values for one or more of the selected parametric symbols; (e) optionally, selecting one or more types of manufacturers or distributors for one or more of the selected parametric symbols; (f) inserting one or more of the selected parametric symbols into the construction plan drawing; (g) using the add-on computer software code and an Internet connection, transmitting data corresponding to each of the inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to a remote server system, either directly or via an optional communication module; (h) using a zip code, the add-on computer software code and an Internet connection, accessing price data from a web site present on the remote server system that includes price data for a purchase of construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols from one or more available manufacturers or distributors in a geographical location within the zip code, and using the add-on computer software code and the Internet connection, accessing data from the web site that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; (i) determining from the price data a price for each of the construction plan elements corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol; and (j) using the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (1) creating a price schedule from the prices, wherein the price schedule includes a total cost for all of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the price schedule can include one or more construction plan elements, and wherein the price schedule may be immediately used on the local computer to place an order to purchase one or more construction plan elements that are present in the price schedule; and (2) creating a schedule from the data that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, wherein the schedule states for each construction plan element corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol whether or not the construction plan element meets predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 38. The method of claim 37 wherein the method comprises an additional step of inserting the price schedule, the schedule stating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, or both schedules into the construction plan drawing. 39. The method of claim 37 wherein the price schedule, the schedule stating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, or both schedules contain a list of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols with corresponding prices or statements indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 40. The method of claim 37 wherein the architectural software design tool is a CAD software product. 41. The method of claim 37 wherein the construction plan elements are selected from a group comprising at least one of a window, a door and an acrylic glass block. 42. The method of claim 37 wherein the method comprises an additional step of placing an order to purchase one or more of the construction plan elements that are present in one or both of the schedules. 43. The method of claim 37 wherein the order is placed using the local computer or the web site on the remote server, or both. 44. The method of claim 37 wherein the method creates one or both of the schedules including one or two construction plan elements. 45. The method of claim 37 wherein the construction plan drawing includes one or more walls, and wherein one or more of the inserted parametric symbols automatically aligns with a wall. 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the one or more inserted parametric symbols additionally automatically auto-embeds itself into the wall. 47. The method of claim 37 wherein one or more parametric symbol values are selected. 48. The method of claim 47 wherein one or more of the selected parametric symbol values is modified after a corresponding parametric symbol has been inserted into the construction plan drawing. 49. The method of claim 37 wherein, after one or both of the schedules are created, one or more changes is made to one or more of the inserted parametric symbols, and the created schedules are automatically edited to correspond to the changes. 50. The method of claim 37 wherein one or both of the schedules are exported into a separate database. 51. The method of claim 37 wherein the web site is an online web site or a remote server system. 52. The method of claim 37 wherein a communication module is not employed. 53. The method of claim 37 wherein a communication module is employed. 54. An automated system for creating for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project both a price schedule and a schedule that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) a local computer; (b) an architectural software design tool, wherein the architectural software design tool provides on the local computer a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element; (c) a remote server system having a web site that maintains one or more databases for the construction plan elements including pricing data and data indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, wherein an Internet connection exists between the remote server system and the local computer; and (d) an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool on the local computer; wherein the add-on computer software code has a palette that includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with each of the construction plan elements, and that may be selected by a user for insertion into the construction plan drawing; and wherein the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (i) inserts at least one of the parametric symbols that are selected by a user into the construction plan drawing; (ii) transmits via the Internet connection data corresponding to each inserted parametric symbol from the local computer to the remote server system; (iii) receives via the Internet connection from the remote server system for each of the construction plan elements corresponding to an inserted parametric symbol: (a) a price for the purchase of each of the construction plan elements, wherein the price may be determined using a zip code and price data that is present on the web site on the remote server system, and corresponds with the purchase of the construction plan elements in a geographical location within the zip code; and (b) a statement as to whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (iv) generates: (a) a price schedule from the prices, wherein the price schedule includes a total cost for all of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the price schedule can include one or more construction plan elements, and wherein the price schedule can be immediately used on the local computer to place an order to purchase one or more construction plan elements that are present in the price schedule; and (b) a schedule of statements indicating whether or not each of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols meets predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 55. The system of claim 54 wherein the price schedule, the schedule stating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, or both schedules become inserted into the construction plan drawing. 56. The system of claim 54 wherein the schedule contains a list of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols with corresponding prices or statements indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, or both such prices and statements. 57. The system of claim 54 wherein the architectural software design tool is a CAD software product. 58. The system of claim 54 wherein the construction plan elements are selected from a group comprising at least one of a window, a door and an acrylic glass block. 59. The system of claim 54 wherein the add-on computer software code additionally confirms that each inserted parametric symbol meets criteria of a building code. 60. The system of claim 54 wherein the system permits a user to place an order to purchase one or more of the construction plan elements that are present in one or both of the schedules. 61. The system of claim 54 wherein the order is placed using the local computer or the web site on the remote server, or both. 62. The system of claim 54 wherein the schedules include one or two construction plan elements. 63. The system of claim 54 wherein the schedules includes two or more construction plan elements. 64. The system of claim 54 wherein the construction plan drawing includes one or more walls, and wherein one or more of the inserted parametric symbols automatically aligns with a wall. 65. The system of claim 64 wherein the one or more inserted parametric symbols additionally automatically auto-embeds itself into the wall. 66. The system of claim 54 wherein the system has one or more selected parametric symbol values. 67. The system of claim 66 wherein the system permits one or more of the selected parametric symbol values to be modified after a corresponding parametric symbol is inserted into the construction plan drawing. 68. The system of claim 54 wherein, after the schedules are created, the system permits one or more changes to be made to one or more of the inserted parametric symbols, and the schedules to be automatically edited to correspond to the changes. 69. The system of claim 54 wherein the system permits one or both of the schedules created to be exported into a separate database. 70. The system of claim 54 wherein the web site is an online web site or a remote server system. 71. The system of claim 54 wherein a communication module is not employed. 72. The system of claim 54 wherein a communication module is employed. 73. An automated method for creating a schedule for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) providing on a local computer an architectural software design tool and a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element, wherein the construction plan drawing is created with the architectural software design tool; (b) providing on the local computer an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool, and that includes a palette containing one or more parametric symbols, and optionally one or more corresponding parametric symbol values, wherein the palette includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with a construction plan element; (c) selecting one or more of the parametric symbols that is included in the palette for insertion into the construction plan drawing; (d) inserting one or more of the selected parametric symbols into the construction plan drawing; (e) using the add-on computer software code, transmitting data corresponding to the inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to a database, either directly or via an optional communication module; (f) using the add-on computer software code, accessing data from the database that includes data for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the data states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (g) using the add-on computer software code, creating a schedule from the data, wherein the schedule states for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 74. An automated system for creating a schedule for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) a local computer; (b) an architectural software design tool, wherein the architectural software design tool provides on the local computer a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element; (c) a database including data for the construction plan elements, wherein the data states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (d) an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool on the local computer; wherein the add-on computer software code has a palette that includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with a construction plan element, and that may be selected by a user for insertion into the construction plan drawing; and wherein the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (i) inserts at least one of the parametric symbols that are selected by a user into the construction plan drawing; (ii) transmits data corresponding to the inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to the database, either directly or via an optional communication module; (iii) receives from the database for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols a statement or other indication as to whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, either directly or via an optional communication module; and (iv) generates a schedule from the statements, wherein the schedule includes a statement for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 75. An automated method for creating for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project both a price schedule and a schedule that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) providing on a local computer an architectural software design tool and a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element, wherein the construction plan drawing is created with the architectural software design tool; (b) providing on the local computer an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool, and that includes a palette containing one or more parametric symbols, and optionally one or more corresponding parametric symbol values, wherein the palette includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with a construction plan element; (c) selecting one or more of the parametric symbols that is included in the palette for insertion into the construction plan drawing; (d) optionally, selecting one or more parametric symbol values for one or more of the selected parametric symbols; (e) optionally, selecting one or more types of manufacturers or distributors for one or more of the selected parametric symbols; (f) inserting one or more of the selected parametric symbols into the construction plan drawing; (g) using the add-on computer software code, transmitting data corresponding to the inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to a database, either directly or via an optional communication module; (h) using the add-on computer software code, accessing price data from a database that includes price data for a purchase of construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols and, using the add-on computer software code, accessing data from the database that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; (i) determining from the price data a price for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols; and (j) using the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (1) creating a price schedule from the prices, wherein the price schedule may include a total cost for all of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the price schedule can include one or more construction plan elements, and wherein the price schedule may be immediately used on the local computer to place an order to purchase one or more construction plan elements that are present in the price schedule; and (2) creating a schedule from the data that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, wherein the schedule states for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 76. An automated system for creating for one or more construction plan elements of a construction project both a price schedule and a schedule that states whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both, comprising: (a) a local computer; (b) an architectural software design tool, wherein the architectural software design tool provides on the local computer a construction plan drawing having at least one construction plan element; (c) one or more databases for the construction plan elements including pricing data and data indicating whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (d) an add-on computer software code that runs as an internal component within the architectural software design tool on the local computer; wherein the add-on computer software code has a palette that includes at least one parametric symbol that corresponds with a construction plan element, and that may be selected by a user for insertion into the construction plan drawing; and wherein the add-on computer software code when executed by the local computer: (i) inserts at least one of the parametric symbols that are selected by a user into the construction plan drawing; (ii) transmits data corresponding to inserted parametric symbols from the local computer to the database; (iii) receives from the database for construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols: (a) a price for the purchase of the construction plan elements, wherein the price may be determined using price data that is present in the database; and (b) a statement as to whether or not the construction plan elements meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both; and (iv) generates: (a) a price schedule from the prices, wherein the price schedule may include a total cost for all of the construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols, wherein the price schedule can include one or more construction plan elements, and wherein the price schedule can be immediately used on the local computer to place an order to purchase one or more construction plan elements that are present in the price schedule; and (b) a schedule of statements indicating whether or not construction plan elements corresponding to inserted parametric symbols meet predetermined environmental or efficiency criteria, or both. 77. The method of claim 73 wherein the method may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD, a DVD or a physical storage medium. 78. The system of claim 74 wherein the system may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD, a DVD or a physical storage medium. 79. The method of claim 75 wherein the method may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD, a DVD or a physical storage medium. 80. The system of claim 76 wherein the system may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD, a DVD or a physical storage medium. 81. The method of claim 73 wherein the method may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD or a DVD. 82. The system of claim 74 wherein the system may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD or a DVD. 83. The method of claim 75 wherein the method may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD or a DVD. 84. The system of claim 76 wherein the system may be implemented using an Internet, a LAN, a CD or a DVD. 85. The method of claim 73 wherein the schedule additionally includes a reference number. 86. The system of claim 74 wherein the schedule additionally includes a reference number. 87. The method of claim 75 wherein the price schedule or schedule, or both, additionally includes a reference number. 88. The system of claim 76 wherein the price schedule or schedule, or both, additionally includes a reference number.