green sustainable building in canada

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GREEN SUSTAINABLE

BUILDING IN CANADA

Implications for the commercial andresidential construction workforce

G2011


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About the CSC

The Construction Sector Council (CSC) is a national industry-led organization committed

to the development of a highly skilled workforce that will support the future needs of

Canadas construction industry.

This report is available in both official languages and can be obtained electronically at www.csc-ca.org.

For more information, or additional copies contact :

The Construction Sector Council

220 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 1150

Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5Z9

Phone: 613-569-5552

Fax: 613-569-1220

E-mail: [email protected]

March 2011


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Contents

1. IntroduCtIon ..............................................................................................................................................2

1.1. Report structure .................................................................................................................................2

1.2. Context ...............................................................................................................................................3

2. trends In demand and praCtICes ........................................................................................................4

3. standards and regulatIons.................................................................................................................10

4. skIlls, traInIng and knowledge base ...............................................................................................17

4.1. Current skills and knowledge base ...................................................................................................17

4.2. Current training and development opportunities ............................................................................19

5. green sIte praCtICes ................................................................................................................................20

6. leadershIp ....................................................................................................................................................24

7. key IndIngs.................................................................................................................................................25

reerenCes .......................................................................................................................................................27

appendIx a Methodology ................................................................................................................................28

appendIx b Construction Company Survey ...................................................................................................33

appendIx C Key informant interview guide Construction companies and organizations ........................45

appendIx d Key informant interview guide Government representatives ................................................51


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1. IntroduCtIon

1.1. report struCture

This study ocuses on green/sustainable building in Canada in the commercial and residential construction

sectors. The report describes the changes in the construction industry that have resulted rom recentgreen/sustainable building trends, as well as the impact o these changes on the skills and knowledge

requirements o the workorce. The specic objectives o the study are to:

engage industry members in a dialogue about issues surrounding green construction practices

using various data collection methods

understand uture trends in the industry and challenges that may impede green construction practices

investigate the impact o current and uture trends on the construction workorce, including

human resource challenges and gaps regarding skills, training and knowledge base

The study results are presented in an integrated manner: each section reports on the analysis rom

all the data collection activities and sources, and considers the trends that emerged rom the multiplelines o evidence.

The report is structured as ollows:

exploration o trends in demand and practices related to green construction, including key challenges

standards, regulations and leadership across the industry

skills, training and knowledge base within various levels o the construction workorce

green site practices, including waste management

examination o the leadership and direction within the industry

summary o key ndings that emerged rom the study


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1.2. Context

The building industry has a signicant environmental impact internationally, as it consumes more than one-hal

o the worlds physical resources and accounts or 30% to 40% o the worlds energy use.1 In the past decade,

public and industry demand or green building has sharply increased, with a correlating eect on the construction

industry. A comprehensive 2009 study by McGraw-Hill Construction ound that new green/sustainable building

projects increased ve-old between 2005 and 2008 in the United States, and the overall value o the green

building market is expected to triple by 2013.2

Standards both within Canada and internationally have begun to refect the growing priority o environmental

protection and reducing the eects o global climate change. Social and consumer awareness o green liestyle

and consumption practices have also increased rapidly in recent years.3 This growing emphasis on all things

green, however, has led to undamental ambiguity over the denition and application o the term. For the

building industry this is no exception; usage o the term green is oten unclear and is requently applied

to a wide variety o contexts. Similarly, sustainable reers to a number o dierent concepts. Some use

it interchangeably with green, while others eel that it represents a very dierent concept (e.g., material

sourcing and site planning/management).

For the purposes o this study, the term green is used to describe structures (and associated practices),which are purposeully designed, operated, renovated or reused in a resource-ecient or ecological manner.

This is similar to the denition o green building used by the U.S. Oce o the Federal Environmental Executive:

The practice o: 1) increasing the eciency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water and

materials, and 2) reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting,

design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal throughout the complete liecycle.4

This denition makes an important distinction between two aspects o green construction: building

design/construction and site/waste management. Currently, the concept o green construction in Canada

generally encompasses only the ormer aspect in that overall building design and construction elements

related to the structure are the main considerations in building green, although site practices are also

starting to be included. In this report, the majority o the discussion revolves around green building

design and construction elements (i.e., the structure), as this is the current emphasis within Canada.

The distinction between green building and green site management practices is depicted by the use o the

term green building to capture issues related to building design and construction. The term green site

practices is used to describe site/waste management and sourcing. It should also be noted that this study

ocuses on the commercial and residential building sectors o the construction industry only. Finally, this

exploratory research was conducted during a period o transition in the Canadian building industry as green

building approaches become more prevalent. This report should be interpreted in the context o this culture

o change, wherein many o the current challenges are the result o this transition to a new paradigm o

building practice and site management.

1 United Nations Division or Sustainable Development (2009). Retrieved rom ://.cc./c/i_c/ei/ci/bii__ci_c. .

2 McGraw-Hill Construction. 2009. 2009 Green Outlook: Trends Driving Change. Retrieved rom ://cci.c.c/c2/_0249-294642_Itm_ic .

3 National Geographic Society and GlobeScan. 2010. Greendex 2010: Consumer Choice and the Environment A Worldwide Tracking Survey.Retrieved rom ://i.iic.c/i//.

4 Oce o the Federal Environmental Executive. The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations.Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom ://.2.//41/40912..


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2. trends In demand and praCtICes

This section examines the key trends in demand and green building practices

most prevalent within the Canadian construction industry. Also considered are

actors that aect both public demand or green approaches and construction

companies decision to adopt green practices.

aii i i cciic i i

ii ii i.

In the Construction Company Survey, more than three-quarters (78%) o respondents stated that public/

consumer demand or green building has increased substantiallyor somewhatover the past ive years.

Commercial companies (81.1%) were somewhat more likely than residential companies (76.4%) to state

that demand had increased. The key inormants interviewed unanimously reported that demand or green

building has risen, with the principal market driver being media messages and public discourse surrounding

climate change and environmental concerns. As a result, a sense o social responsibility has been created,

leading to an increased interest and awareness o the green movement.

However, the term green is one that carries a number o dierent connotations. The expression greenwashing

was created to describe the ambiguous usage o the term green and the tendency or products and approaches

to be labelled as green without an existing clear standard. This has resulted in diculties related to dening

and simpliying what is meant by green as applied to the construction industry. There currently exists general

conusion or a sense o uncertainty over what green or sustainable building practices entail. For example,

many interviewees noted that the public oten associates expensive and sexy approaches such as solar

panels, geothermal heating and net-zero 5 homes and commercial buildings with the denition o green

instead o the more common, practical and less costly energy-ecient practices.

In the Canadian building industry, the term green is used to indicate a wide variety o products, technologies,

approaches and practices. Similarly, sustainable reers to a number o dierent concepts. Some use it

interchangeably with green, while others eel that it represents a very dierent concept (e.g., material sourcing

and site planning/management). When asked to identiy key barriers to adopting green building approaches,

68.5% o survey respondents indicated that unclear, conficting or an overabundance o inormation was

either a substantialor somewhato a challenge.

Many interviewees also noted that the lack o specicity or direction, combined with the relative newness

o green building approaches, results in both construction companies and the general public being hesitant to

spend extra money on green building approaches. Within the industry itsel, the lack o clear direction results in

hesitancy on the part o the companies to invest time, money or training into a relatively undened eld. Several

interviewees also explained that since many consumers think that green building implies solar panels and

sel-sustaining structures, they eel that the associated costs would exceed their budget. However, it was

argued by some, that green approaches begin with very small changes, such as a more ecient urnace or

using energy-ecient insulation and sealing methods, which should be the message conveyed to consumers.

5 Net-zero structures are buildings that produce (via solar or geothermal power) the energy that is required or them to operate,yielding a net zero energy consumption.


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This general conusion and ambiguity surrounding the concept o green is an indication o the transitory phase

that the industry is currently experiencing. Green construction techniques and approaches are relatively new to

the industry and have not yet become standard practice. A similar situation emerged with the standardization

o workplace saety measures within the construction industry in the past ew decades. At rst, dedicated

approaches and techniques regarding workplace saety were somewhat ad hoc and piecemeal, without a

specic denition or approach. Various practices were gradually adopted, eventually prolierating to a point

o critical mass whereupon a dened concept o sae construction work sites and associated saety measuresbecame baseline practice. Similar analogies were made by some key inormants with respect to green building;

while denitions and actual green building practices may be currently uneven and vague, the industry will

eventually reach the point where certain denitions and the overall approach becomes standardized

and accepted as best practice.

e cic i i c ii i C.

Despite some general conusion over the concept o green construction, some trends and standardized

interpretations are beginning to emerge, particularly within the industry itsel. In both the survey and key

inormant interviews, it was clear that the predominant aspect that denes green building in Canada is energy

eciency, involving two principal aspects. The rst component is the structural design and sealing o the building(i.e., the building envelope, which includes insulating and sealing the structure, windows, doorways and roo).

Many interviewees noted that the building envelope is the most important building block o the green

construction process. The second aspect o energy eciency relates to internal systems, such as ecient

means o heating, cooling, lighting and appliances. Proessional organizations and labour organizations were

most likely to mention the latter system-based aspects as dening energy eciency, while representatives

o construction companies and green organizations were more apt to describe the overall structure and

building envelope. Water reduction was also mentioned as a common aspect o green building, although

it was noted by several interviewees that water reduction is actually a orm o energy eciency.

Structural and system-based energy eciency were also identied by survey respondents as the two

leading green building approaches used in the industry, ollowed by water use reduction. Nearly 70% o survey

respondents indicated that energy-ecient aspects are called or in the building design most (i.e., more than hal)

o the time. Table 2-1 shows the proportion o respondents who indicated that each o the listed green building

approaches are commissioned by clients or called or in the design in more than hal o their projects.

t 2-1: g ii c

g ii c pi

Energy eciency structural (n=257) 69.3%

Building emission reduction/eciency (n=258) 56.6%

Water use reduction (n=258) 45.8%

Interior green/sustainable building materials (n=257) 36.6%

Exterior green/sustainable building materials (n=258) 30.6%

Energy production/consumption, e.g., solar (n=256) 12.1%

Note: does not include missing responses

Source: Construction Company Survey


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Residential companies were ar more likely (62.9%) than commercial companies (43.2%) to indicate that

building emission reduction/eciency is included in more than hal o their projects, in addition to structural

energy eciency (74% residential, 59% commercial). It was also noted by some key inormants that green

approaches and emphasis vary between sectors. In residential building, or example, green appliances and

materials are more typically used, while commercial builders and their clients tend to be more concerned

with structural design and whole-building sustainability.

pci c iic c cci,

c i .

Despite heightened public awareness o environmental issues, it was noted by many interviewees that

general interest does not translate directly to demand. In act, the majority noted that while the greening o

public sector and commercial buildings is well underway, the overall demand or green homes in the residential

housing market is still relatively low. However, most interviewees stated that other actors are beginning to

play a role in market demand, including rising energy costs. For example, in a 2009 EnerQuality study o home

buyers,6 it was ound that low energy costs are the most signicant market driver in buyers decisions to have

green aspects included in their home (55% ranked it as the most important benet), while environmental

concerns are only mentioned by 8% o the buyers. As a result, building approaches related to energy eciencyhave risen sharply and are more requently being incorporated into the conventional building cycle.

Dimensions o cost play a pivotal role in the market demand or green building. As noted, perceived cost

savings can infuence home buyers to request structural and interior installation and design elements that

will reduce their energy consumption and lower their energy bills. At the same time, the perception that green

buildings are sel-sustaining structures eaturing pricier sustainable materials act as a barrier to market demand.

Cost also plays a signicant role in construction companies perspective and uptake o green building approaches.

The most signicant challenges and barriers to green building indicated in the survey included: 7

the cost o green/sustainable construction materials (84.7%)

overall costs associated with adopting a green building approach (e.g., training, certication) (83%)

lack o consumer/client buy-in or demand (75.4%)

While general lack o clarity around standards seemed to pose less o a challenge to green building,

more than hal o the respondents identied this as either a substantialor somewhat oa barrier to green

construction. No signicant dierences were noted in the challenges respectively identied by the

commercial and residential companies.

The survey ndings correspond with the key inormant interviews, where all groups reported that both actual

and perceived costs are the principal challenges to green construction. Other deterring actors mentioned by key

inormants include a lack o incentive or companies to build green, due to relatively low market demand and the

absence o compensation or increased building costs. It was suggested by some key inormants that a morexed measure o return-on-investment (ROI) would be useul or both consumers and builders in order to

demonstrate which green building approaches are economically advantageous, as well as helping to give

greater clarity and specicity to what it means to build green.

6 EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efciency/Green Building Study. York Mills: ON: EnerQuality Corporation. p. 17.Retrieved rom ://.qi.c/i/qi///2009_eQi_r_Inal_s_29_09. .

7 Percentages indicate those who responded that each actor was a substantial/somewhat o a challenge. Source: Construction Company Survey;does not include missing responses


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For example, the liecycle cost method combines the initial costs o design and construction, the direct operating

costs, maintenance, and the environmental costs and benets o a building over time. In a study undertaken or

Caliornias Building Task Force, it was determined that the cost o constructing a LEED Premium-rated building is

less than 2% more than a conventional building, but that the total nancial benets accrued over time are more

than 10 times the average initial investment required to construct a sustainable building. 8 Because much o the

resistance towards adopting sustainable construction practices is associated with the higher initial costs, the

liecycle cost method can be used to accurately estimate the net operating cost payo o building green.

t i ii jc i C i ici, ici i i.

In 2008, 13% o new homes built in Canada were rated ENERGY STAR9 or better. Within one year, that

proportion had risen to 22%.10 This trend corresponds with the ndings rom both the key inormant interviews

and the survey. For example, the majority o interviewees stated that approximately 20% to 25% o new

housing starts in Ontario are labelled as green, predominantly through ENERGY STAR certication. Similarly,

26.6% o survey respondents indicated that most (i.e., more than 50%) o their contracts or projects are green

or sustainable in nature, with 39.6% stating that some (i.e., 5% to 50%) o their projects could be classied as

green or sustainable. Residential builders were more likely to have a greater proportion o green projects, with

more than one-third (34.7%) o residential respondents indicating that more than hal o their projects aregreen in nature as compared to 13.7% o commercial builders who reported the same (Figure 2-1).

i 2-1: pi jc i

50% or more34.7%13.7%

5-50%28.1%

53.7%

Less than 50%29.4%28.4%

Dont know

7.8%

4.2%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Residential Commercial

Note: does not include missing responses or those classied as evenly residential and commercial (n=2)

Source: Construction Company Survey, n=153 (residential), n=95 (commercial)

Both the survey and interview results suggest that green building trends vary signicantly across the country.

It was noted by many interviewees that British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario have substantially

developed markets or green construction. Correspondingly, companies in British Columbia and Alberta

represented in the survey were most likely to indicate that more than 50% o their projects are green or

sustainable in nature, with nearly our in 10 (39.5% and 38.9%, respectively) reporting this (Figure 2-2).

8 Suttell, R. The True Costs o Green Building, Buildings Magazine. April 2006. Retrieved rom ://.ii.c/aicdi/i/3321/aicId/3029/d. .

9 International energy certication system implemented in Canada by Natural Resources Canada (see Section 3 or urther details).

10 Terrence Belord, Builders Bringing an Energy-Ecient Option to Market, The Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010, Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom://.i.c/-/i-ii---ci-i--/ic1582902/ .


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i 2-2: Ci ic i 50% jc

British Columbia (n=43) 39.5%

Alberta (n=54) 38.9%

Atlantic (n=20) 35%

Ontario (n=97) 17.5%

Manitoba (n=17) 17.6%

Quebec (n=20) 10%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Companies were also asked i they consider themselves to specialize in green building. One-quarter (25.3%)

o the respondent companies indicated that they specialize in green building. A similar proportion (25.7%) o

respondent companies indicated that they specialize in adaptive reuse or green retrotting. Slightly more

residential companies (28.6%) stated that they specialized in green building than commercial companies (20%).

I i i ii i ci .

When asked i construction companies have been able to keep up with recent growth in the green building

industry, all key inormants responded that since market demand was still relatively low, perhaps even a niche

market, companies are easily able to keep up with demand. Currently, there is little pressure on non-specializing

companies to adopt green approaches. However, it was noted by several construction company representatives

that builders are beginning to incorporate green practices into their building cycle. Companies are realizing that

it can benet them by streamlining and updating construction approaches, providing positive market leverage,

and allowing them to adopt practices that will likely become the standard down the road.

Well over one-third o the respondents (37.9%) indicated that while their company does not currently specialize

in green building, they have plans to in the uture (Figure 2-3). This indicates that the green building industry in

Canada will continue to expand, i not double, over the coming years.

i 2-3: Ci ciizi i ii

Yes 25.3%

No, but we have plans to in the uture 37.9%

No, and we do not have plans to in the uture 31.4%

Dont know 5.3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


Source: Construction Company Survey, n=261


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Residential companies (28.6%) were somewhat more likely to indicate that they specialize in green building

than commercial companies (20%); although both respondent groups were equally likely to state that they

have plans to do this in the uture.

Key inormants generally concurred that the move toward green construction will become more substantial.

Most identied the principal trend as being up-levelling whereby practices become standardized in the

building code, driving the industry to implement stricter practices. This trend is already evident, as certain

provinces and municipalities (e.g., Ontario, Vancouver) have mandated the level o green building set out

by certication systems.11

Most respondents elt that the public will also begin to develop a clearer understanding o what green means,

and there will be increased demand or energy-ecient approaches to the point that it becomes standardized.

Many key inormants elt that, ater energy eciency, sel-sustaining buildings will become the next trend in

green building, with a move toward solar and geothermal energy production as well as grey water use. Training,

education and contractor awareness will be a signicant part o this movement, as will looking at the whole

building liecycle rom materials to waste management and ocusing on building deconstruction and recycling.

The long-term goal o a growing number o provinces and municipalities is to go net-zero, or have all new

buildings be completely sel-sustaining in that they produce the energy that they need to consume in order

to operate. For example, the province o Ontario has set a goal to have all new homes built to net-zero energy

standards by 2030.12 Other anticipated trends mentioned include the retrotting o existing building stock

to make them more sustainable over their liecycle, and the use o automation in building systems

(e.g., oce lighting, heating/cooling systems).

Overall, the industry is optimistic about how it will adapt to developing green building practices.

The majority (80.5%) o survey respondents indicated they eel they will be able to meet uture demand

or green construction to a greator somewhat oan extent, with no signicant dierence between residential

and commercial respondents. Only 16.4% o the companies anticipated they would only be able to meet uture

demand to a limitedextent, or not at all. Companies do, however, typically strive to meet client demands, and

thus may be more likely to respond armatively that they are prepared to meet uture requests.

11 See Section 3 Standards and regulations or more details.

12 Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition. 2007. Getting To Zero: Defning the Path to Net Zero Energy Home Construction in Ontario.Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom ://.z.c/i///oi%20%20-%20gi%20%20Z/nZeh%20gi%20%20Z%20%20-%20i%20s%20p..


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3. standards and regulatIons

In an attempt to reduce direct environmental impacts, many organizations

are adopting a regulatory stance, using statutory and voluntary guidelines as

methods o encouraging or mandating sustainable construction. This section

examines the role o governmental and non-governmental standards and

regulations concerning green construction.

Cici i C i i ii

ii cic.

Voluntary assessment and certication systems national and regional are oered through many dierent

organizations in Canada. These organizations provide third-party certication based on point systems in the

areas o sustainable site development, water eciency, energy eciency, materials selection and indoorenvironmental quality,13 though the emphasis varies depending on the certication systems.

The ollowing is a selection o the most predominant certication systems in Canada:

li i e ei di (leed) is the rating system primarily used by the

construction industry in Canada and the United States to assess public/commercial buildings, the retrotting

o existing buildings, and to a lesser degree new residential structures. Certication is assessed through

an independent review and audit o the selected credits, with our levels o certication (Certied, Silver,

Gold and Platinum) available.14

energy star is an international program initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consisting

o product and building energy eciency rating systems and North America-wide awareness campaigns. In

Canada, it is delivered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), along with the EnerGuide rating system. It is

the most commonly used system in some provinces (e.g., Ontario) or residential green home certication,

and is oten used as a benchmark or provincial and municipal building codes related to energy use.

bi g is a voluntary rating system open to members o participating Home Builders associations.

Builder training is a mandatory component, and only Built Green certied builders can construct Built Green

certied homes. This certication and training system is most oten used in British Columbia and Alberta.

boma bestis a national program launched in 2005 by the Building Owners and Managers Association

(BOMA) o Canada to address an industry need or realistic standards or energy and environmental

perormance o existing buildings.

gh is an Ontario-based residential building-specic certication system oered by EnerQuality,

an organization ounded through a partnership between the Canadian Energy Eciency Alliance and the

Ontario Home Builders Association.

nci is an energy-eciency ocused home certication and voluntary builder training program

oered in Quebec by the Agence de lecacit nergtique.

13 Canada Green Building Council 2010. LEED Canada. Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.cc.///i.. Updated at print time to ://.cc./am/i.c?sci=leed.

14 Canada Green Building Council 2010. What is LEED? Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.cc.///i.. Updated at print time to ://.cc./am/i.c?sci=leed.


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r-2000 is a voluntary technical standard program that emphasizes energy eciency, indoor air tightness

and environmental responsibility in home construction. Like ENERGY STAR, it is delivered by NRCan, and

has been used as a benchmark or some regional building codes.

In both the key inormant interviews and external studies,15, 16 it was ound that the most common type o

certication across the country is ENERGY STAR, which is most requently used in Ontario, Manitoba and

Saskatchewan. Built Green certication is most common in Alberta and British Columbia, while Quebec builders

primarily use the Novoclimat standard. The Atlantic provinces rely almost exclusively on the two programs

delivered by NRCan: R-2000 and ENERGY STAR. A 2009 study by EnerQuality ound that nearly two out

o three buyers (63%) indicated that certication labels are important to them.17

In terms o perceptions and experiences surrounding green labelling and certication systems, survey respondents

were rst asked or their overall opinion on the useulness o these systems, regardless o whether they had

participated in them. Nearly three-quarters (72.1%) o the respondents indicated that these systems are veryor

somewhatuseul, while 18.3% o respondents stated that they were not veryor not at alluseul (Figure 3-1).

Commercial companies (75.7%) were somewhat more likely than residential respondents (70.9%) to indicate

that certication systems are veryor somewhatuseul.

i 3-1: u cici

Very useul21.9%18.9%

Somewhat useul49%

56.8%

Not very useul18.7%

7.4%

Not at all useul3.2%4.2%

Dont know7.1%

12.6%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%




All interviewees rom all inormant groups agreed that labelling and certication systems have played a pivotal

role in establishing the market or green construction in Canada and have given direction to the green building

movement. It was indicated that prior to the uptake o these standards, green building concepts were rarely

discussed. It was noted that there is a wide variety o rating systems in the market, which can lead to someconusion or both the builder and the home buyer, and could consequently slow the uptake o green building

approaches. However, this ragmentation has also led to dierent markets being served, with a variety o

systems available to varying degrees, which has allowed some fexibility in green labelling. Overall, it was

stated that these certication systems have established the benchmark or green building rom within the

industry itsel, resulting in an impact on both market demand and changes in building codes and regulations.

15 The Canadian Home Builders Association. 2010. CHBA Pulse Survey: Winter 2010. Ottawa, ON: The Canadian Home Builders Association.

16 EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efciency/Green Building Study. York Mills, ON: EnerQuality Corporation.

17 EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efciency/Green Building Study. York Mills, ON: EnerQuality Corporation. p. 21.


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When asked i they had ever been involved in a green-certied project, survey respondents were divided, with

approximately hal (49%) having been involved in a green-certied project and the other hal (46.7%) not having

been involved. O those companies that had been involved in a green-certied project at some point, one-third

(33.3%) indicated that more than hal o all o their projects are certied green (Figure 3-2). It should be noted

that residential companies (45.8%) were signicantly more likely than commercial respondents (17.6%) to state

that more than hal o their projects are certied green.

A large proportion (65.1%) o survey respondents stated that green-certied contracts account or less than hal

o their projects with 24.8% o respondents indicating that such contracts comprise less than 5% o their total

projects. This indicates that, although companies may participate in green-certied projects, the majority are

not specializing in this eld.

i 3-2: pi jc ci

More than hal45.8%17.6%

Less than hal29.2%52.9%

Only a ew (


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i 3-3: r i i -ci jc

No demand/not requested by client/in design 42.6%

Dont know 22.6%

No opportunity yet/in process/unsuccesully bid 12.2%

Cost 12.2%

Already have own standards in place 4.3%

Not interested/not part o business plan 4.3%

Lack o experience/skills/knowledge 1.7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Note: does not include missing responses or responses rom those who have participated in a green-certied project


The principal challenge noted by key inormants was that there are many systems and none o them are

standardized, which makes it dicult and conusing or builders/consumers to know which system to select.

It was noted that the systems are oten costly and can be time-consuming and subjective in the application

process. It was also reported that there is a general lack o knowledge surrounding the various green certication

systems, and the more common ones such as LEED may intimidate smaller builders. However, interviewees

indicated that there are starting to be some programs in place that have lower barrier entry points or the

everyday contractor. Green organization representatives in particular stated that there needs to be more

incentive/motivation or builders to construct to these standards, including eorts surrounding raising

awareness, education and unding opportunities.

Some key inormants indicated that the trend o relying on various organizations or standard systems

creates two issues. First, private companies are oten driven primarily by prot-oriented concerns, which can be

problematic when these concerns trump eective regulation. This oten creates barriers o entry or companies

unwilling or unable to pay or voluntary certication as opposed to government-mandated regulations that set a

baseline standard and thus ensure more even and equitable uptake o green-oriented approaches. This contributes

to the second issue raised by some key inormants: the buying-in process o labelling and certication systems

has resulted in somewhat o a proprietary attitude within the construction industry, as some builders have branded

themselves as a green builder due to their participation in green-certied projects. Some stakeholders elt that

this has held back the industry-wide acceptance and understanding o green building practices to some degree,

as consumers or industry members may not consider a building or approach green i it is not labelled as such.


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14

Ci c i i c ii i

fc i i.

Demand or green building and environmental concerns over sustainable development practices are both

expected to continue to increase. As a result, government and construction industry proessionals in Canada

and internationally are launching a series o initiatives designed to help oset the impact o construction on

the environment, and meet clients concerns regarding construction costs while adhering to environmentally

riendly standards and practices.

In recent years, the Canadian government has implemented a variety o initiatives in response to climate

change and environmental concerns. For example, the Federal Sustainable Development Act(FSDA), enacted

in 2008, includes targets and initiatives or sustainable development, as well as implementation strategies. Under

the FSDA, a new oce within Environment Canada will be established and a ederal sustainable development

strategy will be developed every three years.18 In addition, the Government o Canadas Economic Action Plan

will provide $1 billion over a period o ve years to the Green Inrastructure Fund (GIF).19 The GIF supports the

development o sustainable energy generation and transmission inrastructure, as well as building upgrades

that include modern transmission lines and wastewater inrastructure.

Sustainable oce buildings constitute a signicant component o the ederal governments approach to reducing

its environmental impact, particularly due to the large volume o buildings that the government itsel operates

across the country. Since April 2005, the Government o Canada has mandated that all new government oce

buildings meet the LEED Gold level o certication.20

A nation-wide set o basic building standards and codes reerred to as the National Building Code o Canada

(NBC) are recommended by the Institute or Research in Construction. Because the NBC is a model code, it has

no legal status until it is adopted by a region/jurisdiction. As such, provincial and territorial approaches vary signicantly.

Some provinces, or example, primarily use the 1995 NBCs, while others enorce the updated 2005 codes.21

An outline o the provincial/regional standards related to green/sustainable construction is presented in Table 3-1.

t 3-1: pici/i qi

ri

o

cic

Iiai

i

wi

i

sc

i/

ci

dic

Newoundland

and Labradorn/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Prince Edward

Islandn/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

18 Environment Canada 2010. Resources and Links. Ottawa, ON: Government o Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.c.c.c/ci-i/.?=e&=ed714727-1 .

19 Inrastructure Canada 2009. Green Inrastructure Fund. Ottawa, ON: Government o Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.iic-cic.c.c/i/-/2009/i--. .

20 Public Works and Government Services Canada 2009. Sustainable Oce Buildings. Ottawa, ON: Government o Canada.Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.c-c.c.c/cii-i/i-ii-. .

21 For more inormation about NBC 2005, visit ://.c-cc.c.c//i/ic/c/05-i-ii-c..

(Continued on next page)


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15

ri

o

cic

Iiai

i

wi

i

sc

i/

ci

dic

Nova Scotia

NSBCA2006;

EnerGuide80 by 2009

NSBCA2006;

by end o2009

NSBCA2006;

EnerGuide80 by 2010

NSBCA2006 NSBCA2006 NSBCA2006

New

Brunswickn/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Quebec 1983 Law 1983 Law 1983 Law 1983 Law 1983 Law 1983 Law

Ontario

OBC 2006;

EnerGuide

80 in 2011

OBC 2006

OBC 2006;

EnerGuide

80 in 2011

OBC 2006;

EnerGuide

80 in 2011

OBC 2006 OBC 2006

Manitoba BMHA BMHA BMHA BMHA BMHA BMHA

Saskatchewan NBC 1995 NBC 1995 NBC 1995 NBC 1995 NBC 2005 NBC 1995

Alberta ABC 2005 ABC 2005 ABC 2005 ABC 2005 ABC 2005 ABC 2005

British

Columbia

BCBC

2008; 2008

EnerGuide

upcoming

BCBC 2008 BCBC 2008 BCEEA BCEEA BCBC 2008

Note 1: n/a indicates that standards have not been provincially/regionally adopted

Note 2: For detailed provincial proles, please consult the 2009 Canadian Home Builders Association publication

LEED Canada or Homes and Provincial Energy Requirements.

Source: Canadian Home Builders Association (2009). LEED Canada or Homes and Provincial Energy Requirements.

Overall, key inormants indicated that the building code and regional standards have moved toward a more

energy-ecient model. It was also noted that Energy Eciency was recently added as a th objective to the

building code, joining Health, Saety, Structural Protection and Accessibility. While other upcoming changes to the

next iteration o the NBC related to green building were noted by many stakeholders, it was also indicated that

implementation has been uneven and provincial/municipal standards vary widely (Table 3-1). Certain provinces

(e.g., Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec), have integrated a substantial amount o energy eciency

into their building code (oten using EnerGuide as a minimum), which has subsequently driven up the market and

builders approaches to building green. It should be noted that the National Research Council is currently working

to update the model national energy codes, due to the increasing prominence o climate change as a national

issue. It is anticipated that the recommendations will be completed by 2012 or provincial review, possibly

resulting in the document becoming law by 2014.22

When asked i current provincial/municipal codes and regulations encourage green building practices, 55.7%

o the respondents indicated that they somewhatencourage green construction. More than 8 in 10 (81.2%) o

the respondents expressed that they are somewhator veryprepared i regulations surrounding green building

were to become more stringent (Figure 3-4). No signicant dierence between residential and commercial

respondents was apparent in these areas.

22 Government o Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government o Alberta. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.cc.c/c/38980403/g-h-w.

(Continued rom previous page)


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i 3-4: e ic i c ii

Yes, signicantly 9.9%

Yes, somewhat 55.7%

No 26.9%

Dont know/not applicable 7.5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%



Companies rom British Columbia were most likely to indicate that provincial/municipal standards support

green building, with 78.5% o respondents stating this, ollowed by Manitoba (68.8%) and Ontario

respondents (66.3%).23

In many regions, specic strategies and initiatives have been launched within the past ew years in a dedicated

eort to improve building eciency and sustainability. For example, the Green Manitoba special operating agency

o the provincial government serves as a resource base and portal or provincial sustainability issues, including

green building.24 The province o Alberta adopted a Climate Change Strategy in 2008 and is currently working to

introduce new and more stringent energy eciency requirements or homes and other buildings in the province.25

In Nova Scotia, it is now required that all new residential dwellings meet standards equivalent to those specied

by the EnerGuide or New Homes criteria. The province o Quebec has implemented a variety o climate change

initiatives, one o which is the ClimatSol program, part o the provinces GreenFund, which provides unding to

climate change programs. ClimatSol in particular promotes the rehabilitation and development o contaminated/

abandoned land, including integration with green building eorts. In British Columbia, the Greening the Building

Code initiative is an example o ongoing eorts to modiy current provincial codes and standards to mirror those

set by EnerGuide.

Some key inormants stated that increased regulation is oten met with resistance rom the industry and must

be used sparingly, as codes and policies oten may not give sucient latitude to builders and lag behind changes

in technology. Many stakeholders noted that the chie motivator or adopting new practices in the construction

industry is economic i using a green approach is seen to be to the builders or regions economic advantage,

it will be taken up more readily. For example, it was pointed out that because in some provinces the government

is able to sell excess energy to the United States, they encourage consumers to save energy. In other provinces,

energy conservation at the regulatory and market level is being encouraged in order to avoid building new and

costly power plants. Many stakeholders viewed this to be the principal role o the government when it comes

to green building; it was elt that industry and government should work together to encourage public awareness

and establish a direct, cohesive message about green construction.

23 Only provinces with 10 or more respondents were considered in this analysis, as reliability o data deteriorates with smaller response rates.

24 Government o Manitoba 2007. Green Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Government o Manitoba. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.i.c/ci/1001..

25 Government o Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government o Alberta. Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom://.cc.c/c/38980403/g-h-w.


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4. skIlls, traInIng and knowledge base

This section examines the perceived skills and knowledge base o the

construction industry workorce as related to green building. The prevalence

and adequacy o green building training opportunities are also examined.

4.1. Current skIlls and knowledge base

t i cci c

i ii cic.

To meet growing demand or sustainable development and construction, a workorce composed o trained

and knowledgeable individuals, including the skills required to deliver green building projects, is vital to the

industry. Almost hal (48.9%) o the construction companies surveyed indicated that, overall, the workorce

has the appropriate technical skills and knowledge base required or green construction to a greator to some

extent. Opinions about the knowledge and skills o new entrants to the industry were less positive; just over

one-third (35.9%) o the construction companies surveyed elt that new entrants to the industry have the

knowledge base and technical skills required or green building. The opinions o both residential and

commercial respondents were aligned in these areas (Figure 4-1).

i 4-1: k, i ci c

Overall, the construction workorce has the

appropriate technical skills and kowledge

base (n=256)48.9% 47.7%

New entrants to the construction workorce

have the appropriate technical skills andknowledge base (n=256) 35.9% 54.7%

There are sucient training, education andcertication opportunities in place to supportgreen building (n=252)

40% 46.4%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Great/some extent To no extent/not at all


Not pictured: dont know responses



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18

Key inormants conveyed various opinions on this subject. Some expressed that new entrants to the

workorce have a greater degree o understanding and training background on green construction practices.

Other stakeholders, however, elt that new entrants do not have an adequate understanding or knowledge base

concerning green construction, and that additional workshops or training sessions would be useul or new and

current industry workers. In general, it was agreed that the key gaps are not related to the hard skills that the

workorce possesses; the skills necessary to build green are already in place or the most part. The real gap

was reported to be the level o knowledge and experience with green building approaches, particularly asmany in the industry have a great deal o conusion over what the concept o green entails.

Overall, it was suggested that industry workers need to have a cohesive, standardized understanding o

what constitutes green building, particularly at the management level. Policies and best practices must in

turn be communicated to the work site level, as it was indicated that some gaps in knowledge or skills relate

to practical application. It was suggested by some key inormants that a specic, on-the-ground practical

guide would be most useul to encourage and demystiy basic green building approaches.

Construction Company Survey respondents were asked to describe specic skills or knowledge gaps with

respect to green building. While there was not a signicant prevailing theme in the responses (each category

represented less than 10% o the responses), a number o issues emerged, including:

not enough courses/inormation on available courses, or the quality was lacking in those that are available

lack o understanding surrounding building science/systems or other technical aspects

greenwashing or abundance/conficting/unclear inormation

time and costs or training (not enough incentives available)

lack o leadership/clarity/direction/initiative

certication systems in place unclear/too dicult

lack o knowledge/expertise/experience/approach

lack o demand/consumer knowledge/market support

Overall, it was expressed that the approach to training and skills development is too ragmented and

should be unied and standardized. Many respondents indicated that this is due to a combination o actors,

oten stemming rom lack o consultation and overall lack o demand/market or green construction. Another

prevalent theme was that building practices and approaches are well-established and dicult to change,

with building practices/habits needing to be honed to meet green/sustainable requirements.

It should be noted that the skills, knowledge and training gaps identied somewhat contradict the nding

that construction companies are optimistic that they will be able to meet uture demand or green building,

as outlined in section 3. This suggests that while companies are able to respond to market-driven demand,

some challenges may exist in terms o the knowledge and experience surrounding the overall concept o green

building, as opposed to specic requests such as installing energy-ecient appliances. This again refects the

transitory nature o the building industry with respect to green building, and the act that the overall concept

is not yet ully dened or applied. Stakeholders conrmed that lack o understanding or application can be

at least partially attributable to the current state o transition within the industry as it moves toward

adopting green approaches.


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4.2. Current traInIng and development opportunItIes

wi ii cici ii i i C, qi i .

Private companies, organizations and post-secondary institutions oer an assortment o green construction

training programs. In addition, Western Economic Diversication Canada has helped sponsor the development o

a sustainable construction training program designed or site superintendents, supervisors, project coordinators,

site saety ocers and managers o trades.26 The aim o the course is to provide the skills and knowledge needed

to coordinate, supervise and train construction crews on green building principles. The Canada Green Building

Council has developed a similar program, through which individuals can become LEED Accredited Proessionals.

Similar training and certication programs exist or many o the various standard systems, or example, Natural

Resources Canada (NRCan) and Built Green oer training and certication opportunities under all o their programs.

It was reported by NRCan that well over 10,000 builders have been trained in green building approaches, and that

a ew colleges across the country are looking to oer Energy Advisor certication as part o the training. Natural

Resources Canada nds that most builders who use the programs voluntarily complete some training in order

to understand the process and also to set themselves apart rom other builders.

Company representatives were asked i they would consider it useul or appropriate or the construction

workorce to obtain training and certication in the area o green building. More than eight out o 10 (81.3%)respondents indicated that it would be veryor somewhatuseul/appropriate or workers to obtain training or

certication in green building across both residential and commercial response groups. Despite the act that

builders consider training and certication appropriate or useul, just over one-third (34.9%) o the respondents

indicated that their company has builders/sta members that are certied by a green building organization.

Residential companies (38.6%) were more likely than commercial companies (26.7%) to state that members o

their companies were green-certied builders. Given that 46.4% o the respondents elt that training, education

and certication opportunities were in place only to a limited extent, this illustrates a gap in the training and

certication that is perceived to be available and useul (Figure 4-1). This could be partially attributable to the

act that as the concept o green construction is relatively new, related themes are only beginning to be

introduced into school curricula and apprenticeship programs.

Many o the key inormants noted that, although there are a number o training programs available, industry

members are not aware o them. Green organization representatives in particular reported that the numerous

training opportunities and workshops that are available are generally underused.

Survey respondents were asked to describe any green-/sustainable-ocused training, inormation or resources

that would help to address gaps in skills/knowledge that exist concerning green building approaches. The majority

(56.2%) indicated they were not aware o any. The remaining responses were again varied, with the most prevalent

response being that standard-/system-based training (e.g., LEED, R-2000) is eective and should be emphasized/

improved. Others noted that more inormation/greater access to resources would be useul, indicating that

although there may be programs and opportunities available, overall awareness is low. Many also indicated

that no signicant gaps exist; rather, the industry and market need time to adapt.

Overall, while training opportunities themselves may not be seen as lacking, builders exposure and knowledge

about the various options available may be more limited. This array o training opportunities poses a challenge

similar to that o having a wide variety o standards systems in place. Furthermore, while some key inormants

elt that green building training should be mandatory, the majority elt it should not, as it would over-bureaucratize

the process and may not refect all trades requirements. Instead, it was generally thought that training should

be integrated into current and up-skilling opportunities and should be targeted at dierent areas.

26 Light House Sustainable Building Centre 2010. Green Construction Training Program. Vancouver, BC: Light House Sustainable Building Centre.Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.iiic.c/c.


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5. green sIte praCtICes

This section examines green construction site practices. Current practices,

key gaps, regulations and the skills/knowledge base o the workorce

concerning green site practices are considered.

t c i cci ic ic i cic.

Throughout the study, it was ound that relatively little inormation is available in regards to on-site practices

that could be considered green, including waste management, recycling, material reuse, water reduction, proper

disposal o concrete wash water and other hazardous waste, and site protection. A similar theme arose in the

interviews and survey results, where respondents could oten not comment at length on these practices and

how they are related to the green movement in Canada. This section only includes the results rom those able

to comment on this subject.

Overall, it became apparent that the denition o green construction is largely limited to aspects related to

the structural building itsel such as energy eciency, building materials, structural water use reduction and

interior systems (e.g., heating, cooling and lighting). The pervasive theme was that green construction is such

a new eld in Canada that the expectations o the industry must rst concern the low hanging ruit, such as

practices surrounding energy eciency and building science (e.g., ecient windows/doors, energy-ecient

urnaces, low-fow toilets). As there are many challenges to the widespread adoption o these basic practices,

it was generally agreed that implementation o green practices extending beyond the building itsel are not

currently a easible objective. However, there has been some overall eort to modiy on-site practices

within the industry, particularly concerning waste management.

rcci i c i cic. o c i c ici.

More than seven out o 10 (70.7%) respondents to the Construction Company Survey indicated that their

companies use o green site practices had increased over the past ve years, and almost hal (48.4%) have

specic diversion/waste management goals in place or some or all o their projects. Commercial companies

(53.3%) were more likely than residential companies (43.4%) to state that they have specic diversion goals

in place. This indicates that although there may not be a concerted and sustained industry-wide eort in place

to implement greener construction site practices, overall awareness and eorts concerning environmental

approaches has increased in the industry.


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i 5-1: u i cic

Increased substantially17%

18.9%

Increased somewhat50.3%55.6%

Stayed the same29.9%23.3%

Decreased somewhat1.4%1.1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%





The most predominant orms o green site practices reported in the Construction Company Survey were the

reuse and recycling o building materials (Figure 5-2). This corresponds to the eedback given in the key inormant

interviews, where recycling was reported as being the most common orm o environmental site management,

along with waste management in general. Some noted that the availability and cost o these methods aect

companies willingness to use them, and that there have been economic incentives put in place to encourage

recycling, combined with higher ees or the disposal o waste. Companies are gravitating toward material

reuse and recycling primarily or economic purposes.

i 5-2: pc i cic

Reuse o building materials 77.5%

Recycling or green/sustainable disposal o material 66%

Site protection, including tree protection 63%

On-site energy conservation 54.6%

Erosion and sediment protection 50.8%

Capture and green disposal o hazardous material 35.9%

Indoor air quality measurement and management 31.7%

Equipment emission reduction 16.4%

No additional practices 7.3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%



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Key inormants provided a range o green site practices that could use improvement, including:

more recycling centres and depots

site protection

water use management

training o inspectors to monitor environmental practices

Opinions concerning site-specic regulations varied greatly rom those pertaining to green building in that

more stakeholders advocated increasing standards and regulations as opposed to leaving it up to the industry

to determine. In general, it was expressed by many interviewees that increased standards and regulations are

needed to push construction companies to adopt green site practices. Some indicated that waste management

is becoming more o an issue, as well as limited access to recycling acilities. It was also noted that this varies

signicantly rom region to region; some municipalities have stricter waste management regulations while

others do not have any standards in place.

Some companies go above and beyond the minimum standards set by municipalities and provinces

a requirement o certain green certication programs such as LEED and BOMA, which assign points based

on sustainable site development. Some stakeholders also mentioned that some companies are ollowinga LEED-type standard even i they are not going through the ormal certication process.

Others stated that eorts at green site management can become costly, with ew incentives to encourage it.

Key inormants generally agreed that the lack o standards, regulations and incentives may be holding some

companies back rom implementing greener site practices. Many indicated that clear guidance and tighter

regulations might best promote these practices, as lack o overall consumer demand (due to lack o visibility/

prominence in the building process) and economic motivators may not always be enough to encourage

companies to take up these practices on their own.

aii -ii ii i cic i .

All key inormants agreed that members o the construction workorce are not adequately trained or educated

in green site management techniques. In general, it was elt that training and retraining in green site practices

is needed. It was expressed that the workorce has the skills and tools in place, but needs more inormation,

training and support in order to implement green site practices. These comments resonated in the survey

responses; more than our in 10 (42% average) respondents elt that both construction companies and

workers had limited or no skills and knowledge in place to use green site practices (Figure 5-3).


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i 5-3: Ci/ i/ i cic

Great extent9.7%

11.4%

Some extent44.4%44.3%

Limited extent 37.9%37%

No extent4%

4.5%

Dont know4%

2.8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Companies (n=248) Workers (n=246)



Survey and interview respondents were asked i the provision o additional training would be useul or appropriate or

the construction workorce, and i such training should take the orm o required certication. As highlighted in Figure 5-4,

a signicant majority (86.1%) o the survey respondents indicated that such training would be veryor somewhat

useul and appropriate. Commercial and residential respondent groups were aligned in this respect. Similarly, all key

inormants agreed that training on green site practices would be veryuseul, as long as it was standardized and

ormalized in a practical context so as to develop a fexible and useul knowledge base.

Fewer survey respondents (62.5%) were inclined to agree that certication should be required or this type

o training, with nearly one-third (32.8%) o survey respondents indicating that it would be not veryuseul or

not at alluseul or appropriate. Similarly, some key inormants elt it would be useul in that it would providean external level o accountability, while others stated it would be too dicult to mandate.

i 5-4: aii ii cici i cic

Very/somewhat useul/appropriate86.1%61.9%

Not very/at all useul/appropriate10.5%

32.8%

Dont know3.3%5.3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Provide additional training (n=246) Require certication (n=244)




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6. leadershIp

This section presents an overview o the range o perspectives surrounding

leadership and direction within the building industry in Canada.

I i i ici ii i i i

ic c ci.

As observed throughout this report, the green building movement in Canada has largely been a grassroots

eort that has sprung up unevenly across the country. One clear trend does emerge: green certication

organizations such as LEED, Built Green and ENERGY STAR have provided the benchmark standard or the

industry. ENERGY STAR (and EnerGuide) in particular has served as an achievable paradigm on which many

provincial and municipal building codes are now based.

At the conclusion o the interviews, key inormants were asked to discuss the current and appropriate leadership

and direction within the ollowing groups: construction companies, governments and green building organizations.While not always unanimous, a general trend did emerge across the interviews.

In terms o the role o the industry itsel, stakeholders elt that overall there is not a signicant amount

o leadership, movement or direction among construction companies. It was expressed that the industry is

very ractious, and no clear leader has emerged. It was conceded that while some early adopters are ahead

o the curve, there does not exist a cohesive leadership base. In addition, early adopters have pushed green

building into almost a niche market. Given the competitiveness o the industry, claiming green as a branded

competitive advantage may have had a negative impact on the market by preventing green approaches rom

becoming standardized and widely accepted. Overall, there is a proprietary sentiment within the industry

when it comes to sel-identiying as green, with prots and competition acting as somewhat o a detriment

to a strong and cohesive leadership structure.

In terms o leadership and direction at the municipal, provincial and ederal government level, the response was

somewhat mixed, although the prevailing theme was that this varies widely by region. Many stakeholders noted

that Vancouver and Toronto in particular are quite orward-thinking and have set very high standards and codes

with a green ocus. In addition, Ontario has launched useul programs that have helped to serve as a model or

other provinces. Feedback rom the key inormant interviews indicates that the industry is looking to provincial/

municipal governments to play a progressive part in green building, and that their role should be to encourage

public awareness, education and developing the consumer market or green construction, in partnership with

the building industry.

24


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The eedback on green/sustainable organizations and certication systems indicates that they have played a

signicant role in establishing green building practices in Canada. Overall, it was agreed that these organizations

are providing very good direction in terms o advocacy and setting benchmarking standards. However, many

noted there is a gap in terms o practical application, cost eectiveness and a lack o standardization within the

industry. The general sentiment was that while green organizations have and continue to be invaluable in setting

the direction or green construction, the organizations have limited reach and impact in an industry-wide sense,

and must be supplemented by leadership rom other industry stakeholders.

Finally, stakeholders were asked whose responsibility it should be to provide leadership and direction on

green building approaches and practices. The overall response was that this needs to be a combined eort

and partnership between the industry and government. Most key inormants stated that a cohesive eort to

standardize practices needs to be industry-led in order to succeed, although continued support by government,

particularly in the role o increasing consumer awareness, was seen to be necessary.

7. key IndIngs

This section contains the key indings rom all lines o evidence and the

analysis presented in this report.

t ii i i i ii cc i i.

Green building and on-site practices are relatively recent trends in the construction industry in Canada.

International and Canadian governmental eorts, in addition to growing public awareness o environmental

concerns, have precipitated an increased demand or green products and services, including commercial and

residential buildings that could be considered green. A central challenge has been the ambiguity o the term

green, which represents a wide variety o approaches, practices and products. In addition, the industry is

currently in the midst o a transitory phase in which environmental approaches to building are becoming

more common, yet have not been standardized as best practice in a cohesive manner. As such, some general

conusion exists concerning green building and what impact this has on sourcing, technologies, design, site

management and skills training. This conusion is characteristic o the cultural changes typically associated

with periods o transition in industry. Nevertheless, certain approaches and aspects o green building

(e.g., energy eciency) are beginning to become more standardized.

ecic i c i ii i i C.

Perceptions surrounding cost play a signicant role on both the demand or and uptake o green building

approaches. While social consciousness around environmentalism is high, home buyers are still reluctant to

pay more or green homes, particularly when green is perceived as implying large-scale approaches such

as solar and geothermal energy. Conversely, builders are not willing to build green without sucient market

demand and economic incentive. Overall, consumer perception plays a signicant role in how the market or

green building evolves; greenwashing misconceptions may be holding back the industry to some degree.


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a ci i qi iz ii cic ic c .

While independent green certication systems have created benchmark standards or the industry, most

respondents elt that green building should not be tightly regulated, as the market shit must come rom consumer

demand and within the industry itsel. The pattern o up-levelling is anticipated, whereby the industry continues

to raise the standard or green building approaches, which is then refected in minimum regulatory requirements.

The National Building Code o Canada provides a ramework or provincial and municipal governments,

and the updated version (2010), which will include energy eciency requirements, is highly and optimistically

anticipated. It was generally expressed that the role o the government should be to continue to inorm and

educate the general public, and provide incentives and guidance while letting the industry sel-regulate

specic best practices.

g i cic qi ii ic, ic c.

In regards to green site practices specically, most companies and stakeholders elt that additional environmental

regulatory approaches are needed, as this less visible aspect is not likely to experience the level o consumer

demand required to push it into standard use. Additional inrastructure (such as recycling depots) is required

to support companies eorts at greening their site building practices.

eci ii i i cci i

i-cic ii.

The construction industry is reaching the point where green building is extending beyond a niche market to an

overall shit in building trends. This, despite the act that the transitory phase has expectedly resulted in some

general conusion over the concept o green and how it translates to actual construction practice. Specic

skill-oriented training is not needed as much as additional resources and inormation (e.g., workshops, on-site

orientation), which will help to educate industry players and raise awareness about green building and on-site

practices. It will also be important to promote the use o consistent denitions o green building across the

industry and training programs, in addition to standardizing practical, on-the-ground aspects o green building.

Green approaches that are beginning to be accepted as the baseline standard, such as energy eciency,

should be integrated into preliminary training. On-site green practices also require additional resources and

greater emphasis in training, as their role in green building within Canada is currently unclear.


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reerenCes

Belord, Terrence, Builders Bringing an Energy-Ecient Option to Market, The Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010,

Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom ://.i.c/-/i-ii---

ci-i--/ic1582902/ .

Canada Green Building Council 2010. LEED Canada. Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council.

Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.cc.///i..

Canada Green Building Council 2010. What is LEED? Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council.

Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.cc.///i..

EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efciency/Green Building Study. York Mills: ON:

EnerQuality Corporation. Retrieved rom ://.qi.c/i/qi///

2009_eQi_r_Inal_s_29_09. .

Government o Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government o Alberta.

Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.cc.c/c/38980403/g-h-w .

Government o Manitoba 2007. Green Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Government o Manitoba.

Retrieved August 31, 2010 rom ://.i.c/ci/1001. .

McGraw-Hill Construction. 2009. 2009 Green Outlook: Trends Driving Change. Retrieved rom

://cci.c.c/c2/_0249-294642_Itm_ic .

National Geographic Society and GlobeScan. 2010. Greendex 2010: Consumer Choice and the Environment

A Worldwide Tracking Survey. Retrieved rom ://i.iic.c/

i//.

Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition. 2007. Getting To Zero: Defning the Path to Net Zero Energy Home

Construction in Ontario. Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom ://.z.c/i//

/oi%20%20-%20gi%20%20Z/nZeh%20gi%20%20Z%

20%20-%20i%20s%20p. .

Oce o the Federal Environmental Executive. The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and

Expectations. Retrieved August 30, 2010 rom ://.i.//i_/_c. .

Suttell, Robin. The True Costs o Green Building, Buildings Magazine. April 2006. Retrieved rom

://.ii.c/aicdi/i/3321/aicId/3029/d. .

The Canadian Home Builders Association. 2010. CHBA Pulse Survey: Winter 2010. Ottawa, ON:

The Canadian Home Builders Association.

United Nations Division or Sustainable Development (2009). Retrieved rom ://.cc./

c/i_c/ei/ci/bii__ci_c. .


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appendIx a methodology

A combination o research methods was used to gain an accurate and

representative understanding o the state o green construction in Canada.

It should be noted that this research was designed to be exploratory in nature

and should be viewed as a taking o the pulse o the industry. It is not intended

to be comprehensively representative o the entire building industry and should

be interpreted only as providing a contextual overview o the current state o

green construction in Canada and the impacts on the skills and knowledge

requirements o the workorce.

The data collection methods included:

a comprehensive literature review on green construction in Canada and internationally,

including the regulatory environment, standards and certication systems, workorce skills

and knowledge base, key challenges, and prevalent practices and approaches to green building

a survey o residential and commercial construction companies in Canada

in-depth key inormant interviews with industry stakeholders across the country

a ndings validation session with the CSCs expert review panel

Each research activity is detailed below.

lIterature revIew

A comprehensive literature review was conducted at the outset o the project and acted as a living document

throughout the study as interviewees directed researchers to other research, reports and studies. During the

rst round o research, online databases were used to retrieve the most relevant and recent research and reports

on green construction in Canada and internationally. News articles were also included as part o this search and

contributed to the overall understanding o the public view o green construction. The articles and studies ound

were also mined or urther relevant resources using a snowballing technique. The websites o green organizations

in Canada (e.g., Canada Green Building Council) were also used to recover relevant inormation and studies.

The key ndings rom the literature review are integrated in this report.

web engagement tool

The web engagement tool (reerred to hereater as the CSC Green website) served a variety o unctions or

the study. It was primarily intended to be a source o inormation about the study itsel, as well as a resource

hub on green construction in Canada and a orum or discussion. Its secondary purpose was to act as a portal

to the Construction Company Survey or those who elected to complete the questionnaire online. Inormally,

several respondents and interviewees commented that the websites resource listing and explanation o

the study were useul.

The CSC Green website can be ound at: ://.cc-c./.


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survey

The Construction Company Survey was an integral component o this study, as it allowed or the collection

and assessment o builders experiences and perspectives regarding current practices, trends and key issues

around green construction. The survey was designed to take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and

consisted principally o closed-ended questions in scale or categorical ormat. The questions were organized

into the ollowing sections: company demographics, trends and practices in green building, workorce

skills/knowledge base, regulations, and trends and practices in green site management. The ull survey

questionnaire is included in Appendix B.

A number o approaches were explored or survey implementation, including direct mailing, e-mailing and axing.

In the end, it was decided that a targeted approach phoning companies directly to identiy a contact person

would be most conducive to generating responses.

A random sample o 2,796 construction companies was drawn rom the InoCanada database in the sub-sectors

o residential and commercial building. The ollowing Standard Industrial Classication (SIC) codes were used

as sample parameters:

SIC code 1521-12: Home Builders

SIC code 1542-13: Building Contractors

The extraction included a random sampling o companies between 5-99 employees in size and all listed

companies with more than 100 employees to ensure a representation o small to medium companies and

major Canadian construction companies. The sample consisted o 1,167 commercial builders (41.7%) and

1,618 residential builders (57.9%); 11 companies were uncategorized.

The targeted approach consisted o telephoning each company in the extracted sample data and inquiring as to

the most appropriate contact at the company to complete the survey (i.e., amiliar with the whole building cycle).

Companies were given the option o receiving the survey via an e-mail link, by ax or by regular post; they were

also oered the opportunity to complete the survey online. A total o 1,363 companies were sent the survey,

representing 48.7% o the initial sample rame.

Those who selected ax or e-mail modes received a ollow-up call ater seven days i they had not returned

a completed survey, while those who were mailed the survey were contacted ater three weeks.

Survey administration began in late August and continued throughout September; 262 respondents returned

completed surveys. O these respondents, 248 had completed the entire survey, while the remaining 14 had

completed at least two-thirds o the questions and were thus included in the analysis. This represents a 5.4%

sample error27 based on the number o companies included in the original population o 2,796 companies.

Responses should be viewed as providing a baseline indication o the current perceptions surrounding

green construction and may not necessarily be representative o the whole industry.

27 The true value or the sample population will lie within the range o the survey result plus or minus 5.4%, with a 95% condence level(i.e., 19 times out o 20.)


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CharaCterIstICs o the survey respondent sample

The largest proportions o respondent companies were located in Ontario (37%),

Alberta (21%) and British Columbia (16.4%), as depicted in Table A-1.

t a-1: r i

ri pi

Ontario (n=97) 37%

Alberta (n=55) 21%

British Columbia (n=43) 16.4%

Atlantic (n=21) 8%

Quebec (n=20) 7.6%

Manitoba (n=17) 6.5%

Saskatchewan (n=7) 2.7%

Not pictured: Yukon (n=1)


Nearly hal (47.3%) o respondents were company owners, ollowed by 16.4% who were project managers.

The remaining 36.3% o respondents were general managers, oce administrators, contractors and site

managers, with none o the positions accounting or more than 10% o respondents.

Close to six in 10 (59.2%) o the companies represented the residential building sector,

and 36.3% represented the commercial building sector (Figure A-1). 28

i a-1: Ci c

Residential 59.2%

Commercial 36.3%

Evenly split 3.4%

None given 1.1%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%


As depicted in Table A-2, the majority (67.6%) o respondents represented small companies with 25 or ewer

employees. A similar proportion (68.6%) o respondents indicated that they had been the primary or lead

contractor on all o their projects in the past year, with more than two in 10 (21.1%) stating that the company

had been the primary contractor on 50% or more (but not all) o their projects.

28 Respondents were asked to provide the percentage o their projects that were residential or commercial in nature. Responses were countedas residential i 51% or more o the projects were classied as residential or i the ratio was less than 50% but was still greater than thepercentage provided or commercial building. The same approach was used to classiy respondents as commercial builders.


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t a-2: siz c

siz c pi

Fewer than 5 employees 12.2%

5-25 employees 67.6%

26-50 employees 15.3%

51-99 employees 8%

100-499 employees 5%

More than 500 employees 1.1%



key Inormant IntervIews

Conducting key inormant interviews with construction industry and green building stakeholders was an

essential

green sustainable building in canada

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