Green Tech & Great Teams: Roles Emerging in Sustainable Construction
When we talk about sustainability in construction, the discussion usually centers around new design concepts, renewable materials, and green certifications, but people are what really make the difference.
Without demand from private citizens and government agencies, there would be little reason for construction companies to invest in sustainable design and building practices, or to strive for green certifications like LEED or BREEAM. To fulfill these unmet needs and turn global aspirations for a sustainable future into reality, all stakeholders must become active participants.
Why Sustainability Demands New Skills
As Albert Einstein once said, “You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” The challenges of sustainability in general, and sustainable construction in particular, bear this out, since the habits, biases, and methods that put the environment in peril have been in place for over a century. Lifecycle thinking, waste reduction, and carbon accounting are among the new concepts calling for a clean break with the past.
This new mindset must be accompanied by new software tools, and people equipped to use them. Training the next generation is the key to sustaining the green momentum that will carry the construction industry into the future. Industry-wide talent gaps continue to grow for construction roles and jobs requiring skills such as:
- Sustainable supply chain management incorporating product lifecycle concepts, reuse criteria, and renewable material options
- Building information modeling (BIM) expertise for digital planning, design, and construction processes
- In depth knowledge of green building certification requirements and challenges
- Energy modeling and performance analysis to identify efficient solutions and minimize carbon emissions over the lifespan of a building
Many construction industry veterans are rising to the challenge by pursuing available training opportunities and acquiring the right skills, while a new generation is turning the skills gap into opportunities to land dream jobs or move up the company ladder.
Key Roles Driving Sustainable Construction
Studies have shown that 69% of stakeholders view sustainable construction as a priority, although 72% admit they do not fully understand what this entails. This underscores the importance of establishing key roles dedicated to sustainable construction, along with the tools and policies needed to execute sustainable projects successfully.
1. Sustainability Lead
The sustainability lead becomes the champion for green initiatives by continually integrating sustainable practices into all aspects of the business and establishing key environmental strategies. This role also takes responsibility for compliance with relevant regulations as they carefully evaluate sustainability metrics, waste management practices, and material selection processes for each new project.
2. Energy Analyst
Energy efficiency, consumption, and sourcing are among the most important considerations for sustainable building projects, and the energy analyst focuses on optimizing these parameters. This important role benefits from specialized software tools and simulations that model short and long-term energy performance. Analysts assess compliance with green building standards and identify opportunities for energy-related improvements.
3. Green Building Manager
Sustainability and efficiency objectives do not end once a project is completed. The green building manager ensures ongoing efficiency post-construction by promoting comprehensive waste management plans, monitoring the building’s performance against sustainability goals, and seeking out new opportunities to minimize energy and water consumption. The green building manager role typically requires a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or environmental science, and in-depth experience with green rating systems and building design.
4. BIM Coordinator (with sustainability focus)
Utilizing building information modeling software to shift design, schedule, cost, and sustainability data into the digital realm allows stakeholders to compare the cost and environmental impact of new building concepts side-by-side, and test the overall viability of each option. The BIM coordinator facilitates these efforts by integrating green parameters like embodied carbon, insulation alternatives, and water-efficient fixtures into the digital model.
5. Facility Manager
The facility manager of a green building or commercial structure is responsible for bridging the gap between owners, tenants, and sustainability goals and objectives. This role becomes essential once the building is fully operational and metrics regarding waste reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency, and other parameters reflecting the success (or failure) of a green design must be monitored and reported.
Connecting Roles to Long-Term Success
These emerging green tech positions reflect the collective effort required to successfully meet building certification requirements, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure clients and tenants are satisfied with the finished product over the long term. As sustainable construction becomes the de facto mode of operation, these new roles and responsibilities will become as commonplace (and mandatory) as project managers, construction foremen, superintendents, and other traditional construction roles and jobs.
Conclusion
New software and technology innovations have been the catalysts for a steady stream of green building success stories in recent years, with buildings like the Bullitt Center in Seattle and the Edge in Amsterdam proving that net zero operation, comfort, and functionality do not need to be mutually exclusive. Tools like BIM, takeoff & estimation software, and specification management platforms play a vital role, but workers trained to leverage these tools and take sustainable construction to the next plateau are the real keys to long-term success.
Does your business have the right people and the right mindset in place to reap the full benefits of sustainable building for you and your customers?
