Green Buildings


Green buildings are designed and built to minimize the potentially negative impacts on human health and the surrounding environment associated with conventional construction codes and practices. Three central areas of concern are indoor air quality, energy efficiency and material quality/origin. 


Green buildings offer many ‘perks,’ including lower building costs, improved air quality and a reduction in the overall environmental impact. There are many different materials that can be used in the construction of a green building. For example, eco-friendly hardwood alternatives like bamboo or cork and reclaimed brick or metal can reduce the cost of a building while increasing its overall ‘green quotient’ – not to mention contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal. It is important to source local, reclaimed, and non-toxic materials whenever possible. Energy used to power green buildings is a critical factor, with an extended focus on integrating renewable sources (i.e., solar panels) when possible.


The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) promotes green building initiatives by changing industry standards, creating educational material for the public and the construction industry, and by generating guidelines for design and design implementation. The CaGBC is also creating initiatives that make the green building process affordable and accessible to everyone. By 2015, the CaGBC plans to have retrofitted and improved 100,000 buildings and 1,000,000 houses - decreasing water and energy use by 50% (according to 2005 levels). Currently, there are 100 projects certified by the CaGBC.
The not-for-profit U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) mission is, “To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.” This organization predicts the green building industry will grow to $60 billion by 2010. Their certification program, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), has different levels of identifying, categorizing, and ranking green buildings. These factors include the sustainability of the site’s development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials used and indoor environmental quality. This certification program is used internationally, with changes relative to a country’s needs and climate.


Industry Trends
Green buildings are becoming more possible – especially since many governments are giving incentives and rebates for upgrading appliances and structural materials. 


•    Green Appliances: The availability and affordability of green products will become the norm, such as: non-toxic paints, dual-flush toilets, incandescent bulbs, tightly insulated walls and hard floor surfaces instead of carpeting.
•    Retrofitting Brown Buildings: The focus within the green building industry will switch from building new green buildings to fixing old (‘brown’) buildings and making them greener. In reality, retrofitting existing buildings for higher performance is not only one of the most sustainable strategies, but often the most cost-effective (and thereby practical) choice.
•    Reducing Water Usage: In an effort to conserve water, green buildings will reduce water consumption by using more conservative fixtures and technologies.
•    Green homes: The green building revolution will change from the corporate sector into the private sector. Proactive individuals will take it upon themselves to do their part for the environment through the greening of their homes.
•    Solar Power: More buildings will use 100% solar energy, as well as return energy to the grid. Third-party financing will continue to increase, allowing large rooftop systems to be used.


Relevant Job Titles
•    Carpenter
•    Chief Green Officer
•    Civil Environmental Engineer
•    Eco Power Lineman
•    Energy Auditor
•    Environmental Advisor
•    Environmental and Occupational Toxicologist
•    Environmental Chemical Engineer
•    Environmental Consultant
•    Environmental Epidemiologist
•    Environmental Geologist
•    Environmental Health Inspector – Supervisor
•    Environmental Planner
•    Glaziers
•    Green Building Architects
•    Green Plumbers
•    Hazardous Materials Specialist
•    Holistic Passive Solar Energy Builder
•       Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professionals
•       Metal Fabricators
•       Pipefitters
•      Solar Energy and Wind Energy Engineers
•      Solar Panel Electrician
•    Welder
•    Wind Technician

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