Green Sustainable Building in Canada

GREEN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IN CANADA
G2011
Implications for the commercial and residential construction workforce
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: info@csc-ca.org March 2011
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 findings..................................................................................................................................................25 References........................................................................................................................................................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
1. Introduction
1.1. Report structure This study focuses 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 from recent green/sustainable building trends, as well as the impact of these changes on the skills and knowledge requirements of the workforce. The specific objectives of the study are to:

engage industry members in a dialogue about issues surrounding green construction practices understand future trends in the industry and challenges that may impede green construction practices investigate the impact of current and future trends on the construction workforce, including
using various data collection methods

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 from all the data collection activities and sources, and considers the trends that emerged from the multiple lines of evidence. The report is structured as follows:

exploration of 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 of the construction workforce green site practices, including waste management examination of the leadership and direction within the industry summary of key findings that emerged from the study
1.2. Context The building industry has a significant environmental impact internationally, as it consumes more than one-half of the worlds physical resources and accounts for 30% to 40% of the worlds energy use.1 In the past decade, public and industry demand for green building has sharply increased, with a correlating effect on the construction industry. A comprehensive 2009 study by McGraw-Hill Construction found that new green/sustainable building projects increased five-fold between 2005 and 2008 in the United States, and the overall value of the green building market is expected to triple by 2013.2 Standards both within Canada and internationally have begun to reflect the growing priority of environmental protection and reducing the effects of global climate change. Social and consumer awareness of green lifestyle and consumption practices have also increased rapidly in recent years.3 This growing emphasis on all things green, however, has led to fundamental ambiguity over the definition and application of the term. For the building industry this is no exception; usage of the term green is often unclear and is frequently applied to a wide variety of contexts. Similarly, sustainable refers to a number of different concepts. Some use it interchangeably with green, while others feel that it represents a very different concept (e.g., material sourcing and site planning/management). For the purposes of this study, the term green is used to describe structures (and associated practices), which are purposefully designed, operated, renovated or reused in a resource-efficient or ecological manner. This is similar to the definition of green building used by the U.S. Office of the Federal Environmental Executive: The practice of: 1) increasing the efficiency 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 lifecycle.4
This definition makes an important distinction between two aspects of green construction: building design/construction and site/waste management. Currently, the concept of green construction in Canada generally encompasses only the former 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 of 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 of 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 focuses on the commercial and residential building sectors of the construction industry only. Finally, this exploratory research was conducted during a period of transition in the Canadian building industry as green building approaches become more prevalent. This report should be interpreted in the context of this culture of change, wherein many of the current challenges are the result of this transition to a new paradigm of building practice and site management.
1 United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (2009). Retrieved from http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/ Environment/climate/Buildings_and_climate_change.pdf. 2
McGraw-Hill Construction. 2009. 2009 Green Outlook: Trends Driving Change. Retrieved from http://construction.ecnext.com/coms2/ summary_0249-294642_ITM_analytics.
National Geographic Society and GlobeScan. 2010. Greendex 2010: Consumer Choice and the Environment A Worldwide Tracking Survey. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/greendex/. Office of the Federal Environmental Executive. The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.p2pays.org/ref/41/40912.pdf.
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 factors that affect both public demand for green approaches and construction companies decision to adopt green practices.
Ambiguity surrounding the term green is a characteristic of the transitory period within the building industry. In the Construction Company Survey, more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents stated that public/ consumer demand for green building has increased substantially or somewhat over the past five years. Commercial companies (81.1%) were somewhat more likely than residential companies (76.4%) to state that demand had increased. The key informants interviewed unanimously reported that demand for 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 of social responsibility has been created, leading to an increased interest and awareness of the green movement. However, the term green is one that carries a number of different connotations. The expression greenwashing was created to describe the ambiguous usage of the term green and the tendency for products and approaches to be labelled as green without an existing clear standard. This has resulted in difficulties related to defining and simplifying what is meant by green as applied to the construction industry. There currently exists general confusion or a sense of uncertainty over what green or sustainable building practices entail. For example, many interviewees noted that the public often associates expensive and sexy approaches such as solar panels, geothermal heating and net-zero 5 homes and commercial buildings with the definition of green instead of the more common, practical and less costly energy-efficient practices. In the Canadian building industry, the term green is used to indicate a wide variety of products, technologies, approaches and practices. Similarly, sustainable refers to a number of different concepts. Some use it interchangeably with green, while others feel that it represents a very different concept (e.g., material sourcing and site planning/management). When asked to identify key barriers to adopting green building approaches, 68.5% of survey respondents indicated that unclear, conflicting or an overabundance of information was either a substantial or somewhat of a challenge. Many interviewees also noted that the lack of specificity or direction, combined with the relative newness of 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 itself, the lack of clear direction results in hesitancy on the part of the companies to invest time, money or training into a relatively undefined field. Several interviewees also explained that since many consumers think that green building implies solar panels and self-sustaining structures, they feel 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 efficient furnace or using energy-efficient insulation and sealing methods, which should be the message conveyed to consumers.
Net-zero structures are buildings that produce (via solar or geothermal power) the energy that is required for them to operate, yielding a net zero energy consumption.
This general confusion and ambiguity surrounding the concept of green is an indication of 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 of workplace safety measures within the construction industry in the past few decades. At first, dedicated approaches and techniques regarding workplace safety were somewhat ad hoc and piecemeal, without a specific definition or approach. Various practices were gradually adopted, eventually proliferating to a point of critical mass whereupon a defined concept of safe construction work sites and associated safety measures became baseline practice. Similar analogies were made by some key informants with respect to green building; while definitions and actual green building practices may be currently uneven and vague, the industry will eventually reach the point where certain definitions and the overall approach becomes standardized and accepted as best practice. Energy efficiency is the predominant focus of green building in Canada. Despite some general confusion over the concept of green construction, some trends and standardized interpretations are beginning to emerge, particularly within the industry itself. In both the survey and key informant interviews, it was clear that the predominant aspect that defines green building in Canada is energy efficiency, involving two principal aspects. The first component is the structural design and sealing of the building (i.e., the building envelope, which includes insulating and sealing the structure, windows, doorways and roof). Many interviewees noted that the building envelope is the most important building block of the green construction process. The second aspect of energy efficiency relates to internal systems, such as efficient means of heating, cooling, lighting and appliances. Professional organizations and labour organizations were most likely to mention the latter system-based aspects as defining energy efficiency, while representatives of 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 of green building, although it was noted by several interviewees that water reduction is actually a form of energy efficiency. Structural and system-based energy efficiency were also identified by survey respondents as the two leading green building approaches used in the industry, followed by water use reduction. Nearly 70% of survey respondents indicated that energy-efficient aspects are called for in the building design most (i.e., more than half) of the time. Table 2-1 shows the proportion of respondents who indicated that each of the listed green building approaches are commissioned by clients or called for in the design in more than half of their projects. Table 2-1: Green building approaches
Green building approach Energy efficiency structural (n=257) Building emission reduction/efficiency (n=258) Water use reduction (n=258) Interior green/sustainable building materials (n=257) Exterior green/sustainable building materials (n=258) Energy production/consumption, e.g., solar (n=256)
Note: does not include missing responses Source: Construction Company Survey
Proportion of respondents 69.3% 56.6% 45.8% 36.6% 30.6% 12.1%
Residential companies were far more likely (62.9%) than commercial companies (43.2%) to indicate that building emission reduction/efficiency is included in more than half of their projects, in addition to structural energy efficiency (74% residential, 59% commercial). It was also noted by some key informants that green approaches and emphasis vary between sectors. In residential building, for 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. Perceptions around cost pose the most significant challenge to green construction, both at the consumer and the builder levels. Despite heightened public awareness of environmental issues, it was noted by many interviewees that general interest does not translate directly to demand. In fact, the majority noted that while the greening of public sector and commercial buildings is well underway, the overall demand for green homes in the residential housing market is still relatively low. However, most interviewees stated that other factors are beginning to play a role in market demand, including rising energy costs. For example, in a 2009 EnerQuality study of home buyers,6 it was found that low energy costs are the most significant market driver in buyers decisions to have green aspects included in their home (55% ranked it as the most important benefit), while environmental concerns are only mentioned by 8% of the buyers. As a result, building approaches related to energy efficiency have risen sharply and are more frequently being incorporated into the conventional building cycle. Dimensions of cost play a pivotal role in the market demand for green building. As noted, perceived cost savings can influence 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 self-sustaining structures featuring pricier sustainable materials act as a barrier to market demand. Cost also plays a significant role in construction companies perspective and uptake of green building approaches. The most significant challenges and barriers to green building indicated in the survey included:7

the cost of green/sustainable construction materials (84.7%) overall costs associated with adopting a green building approach (e.g., training, certification) (83%) lack of consumer/client buy-in or demand (75.4%)
While general lack of clarity around standards seemed to pose less of a challenge to green building, more than half of the respondents identified this as either a substantial or somewhat of a barrier to green construction. No significant differences were noted in the challenges respectively identified by the commercial and residential companies. The survey findings correspond with the key informant interviews, where all groups reported that both actual and perceived costs are the principal challenges to green construction. Other deterring factors mentioned by key informants include a lack of incentive for companies to build green, due to relatively low market demand and the absence of compensation for increased building costs. It was suggested by some key informants that a more fixed measure of return-on-investment (ROI) would be useful for both consumers and builders in order to demonstrate which green building approaches are economically advantageous, as well as helping to give greater clarity and specificity to what it means to build green.
EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efficiency/Green Building Study. York Mills: ON: EnerQuality Corporation. p. 17. Retrieved from http://www.enerquality.ca/site/enerquality/assets/pdf/2009_EnerQuality_Report_FINAL_Sep_29_09.pdf. Percentages indicate those who responded that each factor was a substantial/somewhat of a challenge. Source: Construction Company Survey; does not include missing responses
For example, the lifecycle cost method combines the initial costs of design and construction, the direct operating costs, maintenance, and the environmental costs and benefits of a building over time. In a study undertaken for Californias Building Task Force, it was determined that the cost of constructing a LEED Premium-rated building is less than 2% more than a conventional building, but that the total financial benefits accrued over time are more than 10 times the average initial investment required to construct a sustainable building.8 Because much of the resistance towards adopting sustainable construction practices is associated with the higher initial costs, the lifecycle cost method can be used to accurately estimate the net operating cost payoff of building green. The proportion of green building projects in Canada is increasing, although provincial emphasis varies. In 2008, 13% of 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 findings from both the key informant interviews and the survey. For example, the majority of interviewees stated that approximately 20% to 25% of new housing starts in Ontario are labelled as green, predominantly through ENERGY STAR certification. Similarly, 26.6% of survey respondents indicated that most (i.e., more than 50%) of their contracts or projects are green or sustainable in nature, with 39.6% stating that some (i.e., 5% to 50%) of their projects could be classified as green or sustainable. Residential builders were more likely to have a greater proportion of green projects, with more than one-third (34.7%) of residential respondents indicating that more than half of their projects are green in nature as compared to 13.7% of commercial builders who reported the same (Figure 2-1). Figure 2-1: Proportion of projects that are green in nature 50% or more 5-50% Less than 50% Dont know 34.7% 13.7% 28.1% 53.7% 29.4% 28.4% 7.8% 4.2% 0% Residential Commercial 25% 50% 75% 100%
Note: does not include missing responses or those classified 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 significantly across the country. It was noted by many interviewees that British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario have substantially developed markets for green construction. Correspondingly, companies in British Columbia and Alberta represented in the survey were most likely to indicate that more than 50% of their projects are green or sustainable in nature, with nearly four in 10 (39.5% and 38.9%, respectively) reporting this (Figure 2-2).
8 Suttell, R. The True Costs of Green Building, Buildings Magazine. April 2006. Retrieved from http://www.buildings.com/ArticleDetails/ tabid/3321/ArticleID/3029/Default.aspx. 9
International energy certification system implemented in Canada by Natural Resources Canada (see Section 3 for further details). Terrence Belford, Builders Bringing an Energy-Efficient Option to Market, The Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010, Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/builders-bringing-an-energy-efficient-option-to-market/article1582902/.
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Figure 2-2: Companies by province with more than 50% green projects British Columbia (n=43) Alberta (n=54) Atlantic (n=20) Ontario (n=97) Manitoba (n=17) Quebec (n=20) 39.5% 38.9% 35% 17.5% 17.6% 10% 0%
Source: Construction Company Survey
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Companies were also asked if they consider themselves to specialize in green building. One-quarter (25.3%) of the respondent companies indicated that they specialize in green building. A similar proportion (25.7%) of respondent companies indicated that they specialize in adaptive reuse or green retrofitting. Slightly more residential companies (28.6%) stated that they specialized in green building than commercial companies (20%). Industry representatives believe that the market for green building will continue to grow. When asked if construction companies have been able to keep up with recent growth in the green building industry, all key informants 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 benefit 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 of the respondents (37.9%) indicated that while their company does not currently specialize in green building, they have plans to in the future (Figure 2-3). This indicates that the green building industry in Canada will continue to expand, if not double, over the coming years.
Figure 2-3: Companies specializing in green building Yes No, but we have plans to in the future No, and we do not have plans to in the future Dont know 25.3% 37.9% 31.4% 5.3% 0%
Note: does not include missing responses Source: Construction Company Survey, n=261
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
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 future. Key informants generally concurred that the move toward green construction will become more substantial. Most identified 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 of green building set out by certification systems.11 Most respondents felt that the public will also begin to develop a clearer understanding of what green means, and there will be increased demand for energy-efficient approaches to the point that it becomes standardized. Many key informants felt that, after energy efficiency, self-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 significant part of this movement, as will looking at the whole building lifecycle from materials to waste management and focusing on building deconstruction and recycling. The long-term goal of a growing number of provinces and municipalities is to go net-zero, or have all new buildings be completely self-sustaining in that they produce the energy that they need to consume in order to operate. For example, the province of 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 retrofitting of existing building stock to make them more sustainable over their lifecycle, and the use of automation in building systems (e.g., office lighting, heating/cooling systems). Overall, the industry is optimistic about how it will adapt to developing green building practices. The majority (80.5%) of survey respondents indicated they feel they will be able to meet future demand for green construction to a great or somewhat of an extent, with no significant difference between residential and commercial respondents. Only 16.4% of the companies anticipated they would only be able to meet future demand to a limited extent, or not at all. Companies do, however, typically strive to meet client demands, and thus may be more likely to respond affirmatively that they are prepared to meet future requests.
11 12
See Section 3 Standards and regulations for more details.
Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition. 2007. Getting To Zero: Defining the Path to Net Zero Energy Home Construction in Ontario. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.netzeroenergyhome.ca/Files/files/events/Ontario%20Forums%20-%20Getting%20to%20Zero/ NZEH%20Getting%20to%20Zero%20Forums%20-%20Final%20Strategy%20Paper.pdf.
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 of encouraging or mandating sustainable construction. This section examines the role of governmental and non-governmental standards and regulations concerning green construction.
Certification and standards systems in Canada have played a pivotal role in establishing green building practices. Voluntary assessment and certification systems national and regional are offered through many different organizations in Canada. These organizations provide third-party certification based on point systems in the areas of sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality,13 though the emphasis varies depending on the certification systems. The following is a selection of the most predominant certification systems in Canada:

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the rating system primarily used by the
construction industry in Canada and the United States to assess public/commercial buildings, the retrofitting of existing buildings, and to a lesser degree new residential structures. Certification is assessed through an independent review and audit of the selected credits, with four levels of certification (Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum) available.14

ENERGY STAR is an international program initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consisting
of product and building energy efficiency 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) for residential green home certification, . and is often used as a benchmark for provincial and municipal building codes related to energy use.

Built Green is a voluntary rating system open to members of participating Home Builders associations.
Builder training is a mandatory component, and only Built Green certified builders can construct Built Green certified homes. This certification and training system is most often used in British Columbia and Alberta.

BOMA BESt is a national program launched in 2005 by the Building Owners and Managers Association
(BOMA) of Canada to address an industry need for realistic standards for energy and environmental performance of existing buildings.

GreenHouse is an Ontario-based residential building-specific certification system offered by EnerQuality,
an organization founded through a partnership between the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Ontario Home Builders Association.

Novoclimat is an energy-efficiency focused home certification and voluntary builder training program
offered in Quebec by the Agence de lefficacit nergtique.
13

14
Canada Green Building Council 2010. LEED Canada. Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php. Updated at print time to http://www.cagbc.org/AM/in.cfm?Section=LEED. Canada Green Building Council 2010. What is LEED? Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php. Updated at print time to http://www.cagbc.org/AM/in.cfm?Section=LEED.
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R-2000 is a voluntary technical standard program that emphasizes energy efficiency, indoor air tightness
and environmental responsibility in home construction. Like ENERGY STAR, it is delivered by NRCan, and has been used as a benchmark for some regional building codes. In both the key informant interviews and external studies,15, 16 it was found that the most common type of certification across the country is ENERGY STAR, which is most frequently used in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Built Green certification 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 found that nearly two out of three buyers (63%) indicated that certification labels are important to them.17 In terms of perceptions and experiences surrounding green labelling and certification systems, survey respondents were first asked for their overall opinion on the usefulness of these systems, regardless of whether they had participated in them. Nearly three-quarters (72.1%) of the respondents indicated that these systems are very or somewhat useful, while 18.3% of respondents stated that they were not very or not at all useful (Figure 3-1). Commercial companies (75.7%) were somewhat more likely than residential respondents (70.9%) to indicate that certification systems are very or somewhat useful. Figure 3-1: Usefulness of green certification systems Very useful Somewhat useful Not very useful Not at all useful Dont know 21.9% 18.9% 49% 56.8% 18.7% 7.4% 3.2% 4.2% 7.1% 12.6% 0% Residential Commercial 25% 50% 75% 100%
Note: does not include missing responses or those classified as evenly residential and commercial (n=1) Source: Construction Company Survey, n=155 (residential), n=95 (commercial)
All interviewees from all informant groups agreed that labelling and certification systems have played a pivotal role in establishing the market for green construction in Canada and have given direction to the green building movement. It was indicated that prior to the uptake of these standards, green building concepts were rarely discussed. It was noted that there is a wide variety of rating systems in the market, which can lead to some confusion for both the builder and the home buyer, and could consequently slow the uptake of green building approaches. However, this fragmentation has also led to different markets being served, with a variety of systems available to varying degrees, which has allowed some flexibility in green labelling. Overall, it was stated that these certification systems have established the benchmark for green building from within the industry itself, resulting in an impact on both market demand and changes in building codes and regulations.
15 16 17
The Canadian Home Builders Association. 2010. CHBA Pulse Survey: Winter 2010. Ottawa, ON: The Canadian Home Builders Association. EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efficiency/Green Building Study. York Mills, ON: EnerQuality Corporation. EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efficiency/Green Building Study. York Mills, ON: EnerQuality Corporation. p. 21.
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When asked if they had ever been involved in a green-certified project, survey respondents were divided, with approximately half (49%) having been involved in a green-certified project and the other half (46.7%) not having been involved. Of those companies that had been involved in a green-certified project at some point, one-third (33.3%) indicated that more than half of all of their projects are certified green (Figure 3-2). It should be noted that residential companies (45.8%) were significantly more likely than commercial respondents (17.6%) to state that more than half of their projects are certified green. A large proportion (65.1%) of survey respondents stated that green-certified contracts account for less than half of their projects with 24.8% of respondents indicating that such contracts comprise less than 5% of their total projects. This indicates that, although companies may participate in green-certified projects, the majority are not specializing in this field.
Figure 3-2: Proportion of projects that are certified green More than half Less than half Only a few (<5%) 45.8% 17.6% 29.2% 52.9% 22.2% 29.4% 0% Residential Commercial 25% 50% 75% 100%
Note: does not include those who have not completed a green-certified project Not pictured: dont know responses (n=2) Source: Construction Company Survey; n=72 (residential), n=51 (commercial)
Companies having participated in a green-certified project were much more likely to find standards/certification systems useful. More than eight in 10 (82.9%) companies involved in a green-certified project stated that these systems are very or somewhat useful. Meanwhile, only 63.1% of companies who had not participated in a green-certified project agreed that these systems are useful. A principal challenge to using certification programs is the number of systems available and lack of standardization. Companies indicating that they had not taken part in a green-certified project were asked to detail any reasons for not having participated in such a contract. The most prevalent response (42.6%) was that there is no perceived demand for it among their clientele, or that it was not requested by the client or called for in the design. Other factors included lack of opportunity or unsuccessful bid, and associated costs that have prevented them from pursuing green-certified projects. Commercial and residential companies indicated similar reasons proportionally. As summarized in Figure 3-3, a substantial proportion of the respondents (22.6%) indicated that they did not know why their company had not taken part in a green-certified project.
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Figure 3-3: Reasons for not having taken part in green-certified project No demand/not requested by client/in design Dont know No opportunity yet/in process/unsuccesfully bid Cost Already have own standards in place Not interested/not part of business plan Lack of experience/skills/knowledge 42.6% 22.6% 12.2% 12.2% 4.3% 4.3% 1.7% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Note: does not include missing responses or responses from those who have participated in a green-certified project Source: Construction Company Survey, n=115
The principal challenge noted by key informants was that there are many systems and none of them are standardized, which makes it difficult and confusing for builders/consumers to know which system to select. It was noted that the systems are often costly and can be time-consuming and subjective in the application process. It was also reported that there is a general lack of knowledge surrounding the various green certification 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 for the everyday contractor. Green organization representatives in particular stated that there needs to be more incentive/motivation for builders to construct to these standards, including efforts surrounding raising awareness, education and funding opportunities. Some key informants indicated that the trend of relying on various organizations for standard systems creates two issues. First, private companies are often driven primarily by profit-oriented concerns, which can be problematic when these concerns trump effective regulation. This often creates barriers of entry for companies unwilling or unable to pay for voluntary certification as opposed to government-mandated regulations that set a baseline standard and thus ensure more even and equitable uptake of green-oriented approaches. This contributes to the second issue raised by some key informants: the buying-in process of labelling and certification systems has resulted in somewhat of a proprietary attitude within the construction industry, as some builders have branded themselves as a green builder due to their participation in green-certified projects. Some stakeholders felt that this has held back the industry-wide acceptance and understanding of green building practices to some degree, as consumers or industry members may not consider a building or approach green if it is not labelled as such.
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Changing consumer demands and industry trends with respect to green building are being reflected in regulations. Demand for green building and environmental concerns over sustainable development practices are both expected to continue to increase. As a result, government and construction industry professionals in Canada and internationally are launching a series of initiatives designed to help offset the impact of construction on the environment, and meet clients concerns regarding construction costs while adhering to environmentally friendly standards and practices. In recent years, the Canadian government has implemented a variety of initiatives in response to climate change and environmental concerns. For example, the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA), enacted in 2008, includes targets and initiatives for sustainable development, as well as implementation strategies. Under the FSDA, a new office within Environment Canada will be established and a federal sustainable development strategy will be developed every three years.18 In addition, the Government of Canadas Economic Action Plan will provide $1 billion over a period of five years to the Green Infrastructure Fund (GIF).19 The GIF supports the development of sustainable energy generation and transmission infrastructure, as well as building upgrades that include modern transmission lines and wastewater infrastructure. Sustainable office buildings constitute a significant component of the federal governments approach to reducing its environmental impact, particularly due to the large volume of buildings that the government itself operates across the country. Since April 2005, the Government of Canada has mandated that all new government office buildings meet the LEED Gold level of certification.20 A nation-wide set of basic building standards and codes referred to as the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) are recommended by the Institute for 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 significantly. Some provinces, for example, primarily use the 1995 NBCs, while others enforce the updated 2005 codes.21 An outline of the provincial/regional standards related to green/sustainable construction is presented in Table 3-1. Table 3-1: Provincial/regional energy requirements
Region
Overall energy efficiency
Insulation
Air filtration
Window energy rating
Space heating/ cooling
Domestic hot water
Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
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Environment Canada 2010. Resources and Links. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.ec.gc.ca/cei-iee/default.asp?lang=En&n=ED714727-1. Infrastructure Canada 2009. Green Infrastructure Fund. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2009/gif-fiv-eng.html. Public Works and Government Services Canada 2009. Sustainable Office Buildings. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ecologisation-greening/immeubles-buildings-eng.html. For more information about NBC 2005, visit https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/codes/05-national-building-code.html.

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(Continued from previous page)
Region
Overall energy efficiency NSBCA2006;
Insulation
Air filtration
Window energy rating
Space heating/ cooling
Domestic hot water
NSBCA2006; by end of 2009 n/a 1983 Law
NSBCA2006; EnerGuide 80 by 2010 n/a 1983 Law OBC 2006; n/a 1983 Law OBC 2006; EnerGuide 80 in 2011 BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005 BMHA NBC 2005 ABC 2005 BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005 OBC 2006 OBC 2006 n/a 1983 Law n/a 1983 Law NSBCA2006 NSBCA2006 NSBCA2006
Nova Scotia
EnerGuide 80 by 2009
New Brunswick Quebec
n/a 1983 Law OBC 2006;
Ontario
EnerGuide 80 in 2011
OBC 2006
EnerGuide 80 in 2011
Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta
BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005 BCBC
BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005
BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005
British Columbia
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 profiles, please consult the 2009 Canadian Home Builders Association publication LEED Canada for Homes and Provincial Energy Requirements. Source: Canadian Home Builders Association (2009). LEED Canada for Homes and Provincial Energy Requirements.
Overall, key informants indicated that the building code and regional standards have moved toward a more energy-efficient model. It was also noted that Energy Efficiency was recently added as a fifth objective to the building code, joining Health, Safety, Structural Protection and Accessibility. While other upcoming changes to the next iteration of 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 of energy efficiency into their building code (often 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 of climate change as a national issue. It is anticipated that the recommendations will be completed by 2012 for provincial review, possibly resulting in the document becoming law by 2014.22 When asked if current provincial/municipal codes and regulations encourage green building practices, 55.7% of the respondents indicated that they somewhat encourage green construction. More than 8 in 10 (81.2%) of the respondents expressed that they are somewhat or very prepared if regulations surrounding green building were to become more stringent (Figure 3-4). No significant difference between residential and commercial respondents was apparent in these areas.
22
Government of Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government of Alberta. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38980403/Greener-Homes-Wrkbk.
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Figure 3-4: Extent to which government regulations encourage green building Yes, significantly Yes, somewhat No Dont know/not applicable 9.9% 55.7% 26.9% 7.5% 0%
Note: does not include missing responses Source: Construction Company Survey, n=253
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Companies from British Columbia were most likely to indicate that provincial/municipal standards support green building, with 78.5% of respondents stating this, followed by Manitoba (68.8%) and Ontario respondents (66.3%).23 In many regions, specific strategies and initiatives have been launched within the past few years in a dedicated effort to improve building efficiency and sustainability. For example, the Green Manitoba special operating agency of the provincial government serves as a resource base and portal for provincial sustainability issues, including green building.24 The province of Alberta adopted a Climate Change Strategy in 2008 and is currently working to introduce new and more stringent energy efficiency requirements for 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 specified by the EnerGuide for New Homes criteria. The province of Quebec has implemented a variety of climate change initiatives, one of which is the ClimatSol program, part of the provinces GreenFund, which provides funding to climate change programs. ClimatSol in particular promotes the rehabilitation and development of contaminated/ abandoned land, including integration with green building efforts. In British Columbia, the Greening the Building Code initiative is an example of ongoing efforts to modify current provincial codes and standards to mirror those set by EnerGuide. Some key informants stated that increased regulation is often met with resistance from the industry and must be used sparingly, as codes and policies often may not give sufficient latitude to builders and lag behind changes in technology. Many stakeholders noted that the chief motivator for adopting new practices in the construction industry is economic if 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 of the government when it comes to green building; it was felt that industry and government should work together to encourage public awareness and establish a direct, cohesive message about green construction.
23 24
Only provinces with 10 or more respondents were considered in this analysis, as reliability of data deteriorates with smaller response rates. Government of Manitoba 2007. Green Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Government of Manitoba. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.greenmanitoba.ca/cim/1001.dhtm. Government of Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government of Alberta. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38980403/Greener-Homes-Wrkbk.

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4. Skills, training and knowledge base
This section examines the perceived skills and knowledge base of the construction industry workforce as related to green building. The prevalence and adequacy of green building training opportunities are also examined.
4.1. Current skillS and knowledge base There are some gaps in the awareness and knowledge base of the construction workforce with regard to green building practices. To meet growing demand for sustainable development and construction, a workforce composed of trained and knowledgeable individuals, including the skills required to deliver green building projects, is vital to the industry. Almost half (48.9%) of the construction companies surveyed indicated that, overall, the workforce has the appropriate technical skills and knowledge base required for green construction to a great or to some extent. Opinions about the knowledge and skills of new entrants to the industry were less positive; just over one-third (35.9%) of the construction companies surveyed felt that new entrants to the industry have the knowledge base and technical skills required for green building. The opinions of both residential and commercial respondents were aligned in these areas (Figure 4-1).
Figure 4-1: Knowledge, skills and education of workforce Overall, the construction workforce has the appropriate technical skills and kowledge base (n=256) New entrants to the construction workforce have the appropriate technical skills and knowledge base (n=256) There are sufficient training, education and certification opportunities in place to support green building (n=252) 0% Great/some extent To no extent/not at all
48.9%
47.7%
35.9%
54.7%
40% 25% 50%
46.4% 75% 100%
Note: does not include missing responses Not pictured: dont know responses Source: Construction Company Survey
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Key informants conveyed various opinions on this subject. Some expressed that new entrants to the workforce have a greater degree of understanding and training background on green construction practices. Other stakeholders, however, felt that new entrants do not have an adequate understanding or knowledge base concerning green construction, and that additional workshops or training sessions would be useful for new and current industry workers. In general, it was agreed that the key gaps are not related to the hard skills that the workforce possesses; the skills necessary to build green are already in place for the most part. The real gap was reported to be the level of knowledge and experience with green building approaches, particularly as many in the industry have a great deal of confusion over what the concept of green entails. Overall, it was suggested that industry workers need to have a cohesive, standardized understanding of 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 informants that a specific, on-the-ground practical guide would be most useful to encourage and demystify basic green building approaches. Construction Company Survey respondents were asked to describe specific skills or knowledge gaps with respect to green building. While there was not a significant prevailing theme in the responses (each category represented less than 10% of the responses), a number of issues emerged, including:

not enough courses/information on available courses, or the quality was lacking in those that are available lack of understanding surrounding building science/systems or other technical aspects greenwashing or abundance/conflicting/unclear information time and costs for training (not enough incentives available) lack of leadership/clarity/direction/initiative certification systems in place unclear/too difficult lack of knowledge/expertise/experience/approach lack of demand/consumer knowledge/market support
Overall, it was expressed that the approach to training and skills development is too fragmented and should be unified and standardized. Many respondents indicated that this is due to a combination of factors, often stemming from lack of consultation and overall lack of demand/market for green construction. Another prevalent theme was that building practices and approaches are well-established and difficult 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 identified somewhat contradict the finding that construction companies are optimistic that they will be able to meet future demand for 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 of the knowledge and experience surrounding the overall concept of green building, as opposed to specific requests such as installing energy-efficient appliances. This again reflects the transitory nature of the building industry with respect to green building, and the fact that the overall concept is not yet fully defined or applied. Stakeholders confirmed that lack of understanding or application can be at least partially attributable to the current state of transition within the industry as it moves toward adopting green approaches.
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4.2. Current training and development opportunities While many training and certification opportunities exist in Canada, efforts are required to raise awareness. Private companies, organizations and post-secondary institutions offer an assortment of green construction training programs. In addition, Western Economic Diversification Canada has helped sponsor the development of a sustainable construction training program designed for site superintendents, supervisors, project coordinators, site safety officers and managers of trades.26 The aim of 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 Professionals. Similar training and certification programs exist for many of the various standard systems, for example, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Built Green offer training and certification opportunities under all of their programs. It was reported by NRCan that well over 10,000 builders have been trained in green building approaches, and that a few colleges across the country are looking to offer Energy Advisor certification as part of the training. Natural Resources Canada finds that most builders who use the programs voluntarily complete some training in order to understand the process and also to set themselves apart from other builders. Company representatives were asked if they would consider it useful or appropriate for the construction workforce to obtain training and certification in the area of green building. More than eight out of 10 (81.3%) respondents indicated that it would be very or somewhat useful/appropriate for workers to obtain training or certification in green building across both residential and commercial response groups. Despite the fact that builders consider training and certification appropriate or useful, just over one-third (34.9%) of the respondents indicated that their company has builders/staff members that are certified by a green building organization. Residential companies (38.6%) were more likely than commercial companies (26.7%) to state that members of their companies were green-certified builders. Given that 46.4% of the respondents felt that training, education and certification opportunities were in place only to a limited extent, this illustrates a gap in the training and certification that is perceived to be available and useful (Figure 4-1). This could be partially attributable to the fact that as the concept of green construction is relatively new, related themes are only beginning to be introduced into school curricula and apprenticeship programs. Many of the key informants noted that, although there are a number of training programs available, industry members are not aware of 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-focused training, information 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 of any. The remaining responses were again varied, with the most prevalent response being that standard-/system-based training (e.g., LEED, R-2000) is effective and should be emphasized/ improved. Others noted that more information/greater access to resources would be useful, indicating that although there may be programs and opportunities available, overall awareness is low. Many also indicated that no significant 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 of training opportunities poses a challenge similar to that of having a wide variety of standards systems in place. Furthermore, while some key informants felt that green building training should be mandatory, the majority felt it should not, as it would over-bureaucratize the process and may not reflect all trades requirements. Instead, it was generally thought that training should be integrated into current and up-skilling opportunities and should be targeted at different areas.
26
Light House Sustainable Building Centre 2010. Green Construction Training Program. Vancouver, BC: Light House Sustainable Building Centre. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/gctp.
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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 of the workforce concerning green site practices are considered.
The current understanding of green construction typically does not include site practices. Throughout the study, it was found that relatively little information is available in regards to on-site practices that could be considered green, including waste management, recycling, material reuse, water reduction, proper disposal of concrete wash water and other hazardous waste, and site protection. A similar theme arose in the interviews and survey results, where respondents could often not comment at length on these practices and how they are related to the green movement in Canada. This section only includes the results from those able to comment on this subject. Overall, it became apparent that the definition of green construction is largely limited to aspects related to the structural building itself such as energy efficiency, 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 field in Canada that the expectations of the industry must first concern the low hanging fruit, such as practices surrounding energy efficiency and building science (e.g., efficient windows/doors, energy-efficient furnaces, low-flow toilets). As there are many challenges to the widespread adoption of these basic practices, it was generally agreed that implementation of green practices extending beyond the building itself are not currently a feasible objective. However, there has been some overall effort to modify on-site practices within the industry, particularly concerning waste management. Recycling and reuse of materials are common green site practices. Other green approaches are less widely used due to lack of incentive. More than seven out of 10 (70.7%) respondents to the Construction Company Survey indicated that their companies use of green site practices had increased over the past five years, and almost half (48.4%) have specific diversion/waste management goals in place for some or all of their projects. Commercial companies (53.3%) were more likely than residential companies (43.4%) to state that they have specific diversion goals in place. This indicates that although there may not be a concerted and sustained industry-wide effort in place to implement greener construction site practices, overall awareness and efforts concerning environmental approaches has increased in the industry.
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Figure 5-1: Use of green site practices Increased substantially Increased somewhat Stayed the same Decreased somewhat 17% 18.9% 50.3% 55.6% 29.9% 23.3% 1.4% 1.1% 0% Residential Commercial 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Note: does not include missing responses or those classified as evenly residential and commercial (n=1) Not pictured: dont know responses Source: Construction Company Survey, n=147 (residential), n=90 (commercial)
The most predominant forms of green site practices reported in the Construction Company Survey were the reuse and recycling of building materials (Figure 5-2). This corresponds to the feedback given in the key informant interviews, where recycling was reported as being the most common form of environmental site management, along with waste management in general. Some noted that the availability and cost of these methods affect companies willingness to use them, and that there have been economic incentives put in place to encourage recycling, combined with higher fees for the disposal of waste. Companies are gravitating toward material reuse and recycling primarily for economic purposes.
Figure 5-2: Prevalence of green site practices Reuse of building materials Recycling or green/sustainable disposal of material Site protection, including tree protection On-site energy conservation Erosion and sediment protection Capture and green disposal of hazardous material Indoor air quality measurement and management Equipment emission reduction No additional practices 77.5% 66% 63% 54.6% 50.8% 35.9% 31.7% 16.4% 7.3% 0%
Source: Construction Company Survey, n=262
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
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Key informants provided a range of green site practices that could use improvement, including:

more recycling centres and depots site protection water use management training of inspectors to monitor environmental practices
Opinions concerning site-specific regulations varied greatly from 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 of an issue, as well as limited access to recycling facilities. It was also noted that this varies significantly from 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 of certain green certification programs such as LEED and BOMA, which assign points based on sustainable site development. Some stakeholders also mentioned that some companies are following a LEED-type standard even if they are not going through the formal certification process. Others stated that efforts at green site management can become costly, with few incentives to encourage it. Key informants generally agreed that the lack of standards, regulations and incentives may be holding some companies back from implementing greener site practices. Many indicated that clear guidance and tighter regulations might best promote these practices, as lack of overall consumer demand (due to lack of 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. Additional up-skilling and information on green site practices is needed. All key informants agreed that members of the construction workforce are not adequately trained or educated in green site management techniques. In general, it was felt that training and retraining in green site practices is needed. It was expressed that the workforce has the skills and tools in place, but needs more information, training and support in order to implement green site practices. These comments resonated in the survey responses; more than four in 10 (42% average) respondents felt 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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Figure 5-3: Companies/workers skills/knowledge base on green site practices Great extent Some extent Limited extent No extent Dont know 9.7% 11.4% 44.4% 44.3% 37.9% 37% 4% 4.5% 4% 2.8% 0% Companies (n=248) 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Workers (n=246)
Survey and interview respondents were asked if the provision of additional training would be useful or appropriate for the construction workforce, and if such training should take the form of required certification. As highlighted in Figure 5-4, a significant majority (86.1%) of the survey respondents indicated that such training would be very or somewhat useful and appropriate. Commercial and residential respondent groups were aligned in this respect. Similarly, all key informants agreed that training on green site practices would be very useful, as long as it was standardized and formalized in a practical context so as to develop a flexible and useful knowledge base. Fewer survey respondents (62.5%) were inclined to agree that certification should be required for this type of training, with nearly one-third (32.8%) of survey respondents indicating that it would be not very useful or not at all useful or appropriate. Similarly, some key informants felt it would be useful in that it would provide an external level of accountability, while others stated it would be too difficult to mandate. Figure 5-4: Additional training or certification on green site practices Very/somewhat useful/appropriate Not very/at all useful/appropriate Dont know 86.1% 61.9% 10.5% 32.8% 3.3% 5.3% 0% Provide additional training (n=246)
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Require certification (n=244)
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6. Leadership
This section presents an overview of the range of perspectives surrounding leadership and direction within the building industry in Canada.
Industry should take a leading role in directing green building while working with government to increase consumer awareness and education. As observed throughout this report, the green building movement in Canada has largely been a grassroots effort that has sprung up unevenly across the country. One clear trend does emerge: green certification organizations such as LEED, Built Green and ENERGY STAR have provided the benchmark standard for 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 of the interviews, key informants were asked to discuss the current and appropriate leadership and direction within the following groups: construction companies, governments and green building organizations. While not always unanimous, a general trend did emerge across the interviews. In terms of the role of the industry itself, stakeholders felt that overall there is not a significant amount of leadership, movement or direction among construction companies. It was expressed that the industry is very fractious, and no clear leader has emerged. It was conceded that while some early adopters are ahead of 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 of the industry, claiming green as a branded competitive advantage may have had a negative impact on the market by preventing green approaches from becoming standardized and widely accepted. Overall, there is a proprietary sentiment within the industry when it comes to self-identifying as green, with profits and competition acting as somewhat of a detriment to a strong and cohesive leadership structure. In terms of leadership and direction at the municipal, provincial and federal 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 forward-thinking and have set very high standards and codes with a green focus. In addition, Ontario has launched useful programs that have helped to serve as a model for other provinces. Feedback from the key informant 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 for green construction, in partnership with the building industry.
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The feedback on green/sustainable organizations and certification systems indicates that they have played a significant role in establishing green building practices in Canada. Overall, it was agreed that these organizations are providing very good direction in terms of advocacy and setting benchmarking standards. However, many noted there is a gap in terms of practical application, cost effectiveness and a lack of standardization within the industry. The general sentiment was that while green organizations have and continue to be invaluable in setting the direction for green construction, the organizations have limited reach and impact in an industry-wide sense, and must be supplemented by leadership from 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 effort and partnership between the industry and government. Most key informants stated that a cohesive effort to standardize practices needs to be industry-led in order to succeed, although continued support by government, particularly in the role of increasing consumer awareness, was seen to be necessary.
7. Key findings
This section contains the key findings from all lines of evidence and the analysis presented in this report.
The building industry is in a state of transition where the concept of green remains ambiguous. Green building and on-site practices are relatively recent trends in the construction industry in Canada. International and Canadian governmental efforts, in addition to growing public awareness of environmental concerns, have precipitated an increased demand for green products and services, including commercial and residential buildings that could be considered green. A central challenge has been the ambiguity of the term green, which represents a wide variety of approaches, practices and products. In addition, the industry is currently in the midst of 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 confusion exists concerning green building and what impact this has on sourcing, technologies, design, site management and skills training. This confusion is characteristic of the cultural changes typically associated with periods of transition in industry. Nevertheless, certain approaches and aspects of green building (e.g., energy efficiency) are beginning to become more standardized. Economic drivers play a central role in the green building industry in Canada. Perceptions surrounding cost play a significant role on both the demand for and uptake of green building approaches. While social consciousness around environmentalism is high, home buyers are still reluctant to pay more for 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 sufficient market demand and economic incentive. Overall, consumer perception plays a significant role in how the market for green building evolves; greenwashing misconceptions may be holding back the industry to some degree.
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A combined effort is required to standardize green building practice and increase consumer awareness. While independent green certification systems have created benchmark standards for the industry, most respondents felt that green building should not be tightly regulated, as the market shift must come from consumer demand and within the industry itself. The pattern of up-levelling is anticipated, whereby the industry continues to raise the standard for green building approaches, which is then reflected in minimum regulatory requirements. The National Building Code of Canada provides a framework for provincial and municipal governments, and the updated version (2010), which will include energy efficiency requirements, is highly and optimistically anticipated. It was generally expressed that the role of the government should be to continue to inform and educate the general public, and provide incentives and guidance while letting the industry self-regulate specific best practices. Green site practices require additional guidance, infrastructure and regulatory structure. In regards to green site practices specifically, most companies and stakeholders felt that additional environmental regulatory approaches are needed, as this less visible aspect is not likely to experience the level of consumer demand required to push it into standard use. Additional infrastructure (such as recycling depots) is required to support companies efforts at greening their site building practices. Education and awareness about green building is more essential to the construction industry than skill-specific training. The construction industry is reaching the point where green building is extending beyond a niche market to an overall shift in building trends. This, despite the fact that the transitory phase has expectedly resulted in some general confusion over the concept of green and how it translates to actual construction practice. Specific skill-oriented training is not needed as much as additional resources and information (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 of consistent definitions of green building across the industry and training programs, in addition to standardizing practical, on-the-ground aspects of green building. Green approaches that are beginning to be accepted as the baseline standard, such as energy efficiency, 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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References
Belford, Terrence, Builders Bringing an Energy-Efficient Option to Market, The Globe and Mail, May 27, 2010, Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/builders-bringing-an-energyefficient-option-to-market/article1582902/. Canada Green Building Council 2010. LEED Canada. Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php. Canada Green Building Council 2010. What is LEED? Ottawa, ON: Canada Green Building Council. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php. EnerQuality Corporation. 2009. 2009 EnerQuality Energy Efficiency/Green Building Study. York Mills: ON: EnerQuality Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.enerquality.ca/site/enerquality/assets/pdf/ 2009_EnerQuality_Report_FINAL_Sep_29_09.pdf. Government of Alberta 2009. Greener Homes Workbook. Edmonton, AB: Government of Alberta. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38980403/Greener-Homes-Wrkbk. Government of Manitoba 2007. Green Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Government of Manitoba. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from http://www.greenmanitoba.ca/cim/1001.dhtm. McGraw-Hill Construction. 2009. 2009 Green Outlook: Trends Driving Change. Retrieved from http://construction.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0249-294642_ITM_analytics. National Geographic Society and GlobeScan. 2010. Greendex 2010: Consumer Choice and the Environment A Worldwide Tracking Survey. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/ environment/greendex/. Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition. 2007. Getting To Zero: Defining the Path to Net Zero Energy Home Construction in Ontario. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.netzeroenergyhome.ca/Files/files/ events/Ontario%20Forums%20-%20Getting%20to%20Zero/NZEH%20Getting%20to%20Zero% 20Forums%20-%20Final%20Strategy%20Paper.pdf. Office of the Federal Environmental Executive. The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from http://www.igpn.org/global/national_governments/us_office.html. Suttell, Robin. The True Costs of Green Building, Buildings Magazine. April 2006. Retrieved from http://www.buildings.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/3321/ArticleID/3029/Default.aspx. The Canadian Home Builders Association. 2010. CHBA Pulse Survey: Winter 2010. Ottawa, ON: The Canadian Home Builders Association. United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (2009). Retrieved from http://www.unglobalcompact.org/ docs/issues_doc/Environment/climate/Buildings_and_climate_change.pdf.
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Appendix A Methodology
A combination of research methods was used to gain an accurate and representative understanding of the state of 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 of the pulse of the industry. It is not intended to be comprehensively representative of the entire building industry and should be interpreted only as providing a contextual overview of the current state of green construction in Canada and the impacts on the skills and knowledge requirements of the workforce.
The data collection methods included:

a comprehensive literature review on green construction in Canada and internationally,
including the regulatory environment, standards and certification systems, workforce skills and knowledge base, key challenges, and prevalent practices and approaches to green building

a survey of residential and commercial construction companies in Canada in-depth key informant interviews with industry stakeholders across the country a findings 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 of the project and acted as a living document throughout the study as interviewees directed researchers to other research, reports and studies. During the first round of 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 of this search and contributed to the overall understanding of the public view of green construction. The articles and studies found were also mined for further relevant resources using a snowballing technique. The websites of green organizations in Canada (e.g., Canada Green Building Council) were also used to recover relevant information and studies. The key findings from the literature review are integrated in this report. Web engagement tool The web engagement tool (referred to hereafter as the CSC Green website) served a variety of functions for the study. It was primarily intended to be a source of information about the study itself, as well as a resource hub on green construction in Canada and a forum for discussion. Its secondary purpose was to act as a portal to the Construction Company Survey for those who elected to complete the questionnaire online. Informally, several respondents and interviewees commented that the websites resource listing and explanation of the study were useful. The CSC Green website can be found at: http://www.csc-ca.org/green.
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Survey The Construction Company Survey was an integral component of this study, as it allowed for the collection and assessment of 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 of closed-ended questions in scale or categorical format. The questions were organized into the following sections: company demographics, trends and practices in green building, workforce skills/knowledge base, regulations, and trends and practices in green site management. The full survey questionnaire is included in Appendix B. A number of approaches were explored for survey implementation, including direct mailing, e-mailing and faxing. In the end, it was decided that a targeted approach phoning companies directly to identify a contact person would be most conducive to generating responses. A random sample of 2,796 construction companies was drawn from the InfoCanada database in the sub-sectors of residential and commercial building. The following Standard Industrial Classification (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 of companies between 5-99 employees in size and all listed companies with more than 100 employees to ensure a representation of small to medium companies and major Canadian construction companies. The sample consisted of 1,167 commercial builders (41.7%) and 1,618 residential builders (57.9%); 11 companies were uncategorized. The targeted approach consisted of 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., familiar with the whole building cycle). Companies were given the option of receiving the survey via an e-mail link, by fax or by regular post; they were also offered the opportunity to complete the survey online. A total of 1,363 companies were sent the survey, representing 48.7% of the initial sample frame. Those who selected fax or e-mail modes received a follow-up call after seven days if they had not returned a completed survey, while those who were mailed the survey were contacted after three weeks. Survey administration began in late August and continued throughout September; 262 respondents returned completed surveys. Of these respondents, 248 had completed the entire survey, while the remaining 14 had completed at least two-thirds of the questions and were thus included in the analysis. This represents a 5.4% sample error27 based on the number of companies included in the original population of 2,796 companies. Responses should be viewed as providing a baseline indication of the current perceptions surrounding green construction and may not necessarily be representative of the whole industry.
27
The true value for the sample population will lie within the range of the survey result plus or minus 5.4%, with a 95% confidence level (i.e., 19 times out of 20.)
29
Characteristics of the survey respondent sample The largest proportions of respondent companies were located in Ontario (37%), Alberta (21%) and British Columbia (16.4%), as depicted in Table A-1. Table A-1: Respondents by region
Region Ontario (n=97) Alberta (n=55) British Columbia (n=43) Atlantic (n=21) Quebec (n=20) Manitoba (n=17) Saskatchewan (n=7)
Not pictured: Yukon (n=1) Source: Construction Company Survey, n=262
Proportion of respondents 37% 21% 16.4% 8% 7.6% 6.5% 2.7%
Nearly half (47.3%) of respondents were company owners, followed by 16.4% who were project managers. The remaining 36.3% of respondents were general managers, office administrators, contractors and site managers, with none of the positions accounting for more than 10% of respondents. Close to six in 10 (59.2%) of the companies represented the residential building sector, and 36.3% represented the commercial building sector (Figure A-1).28
Figure A-1: Companies by sector Residential Commercial Evenly split None given 59.2% 36.3% 3.4% 1.1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Source: Construction Company Survey, n=262
As depicted in Table A-2, the majority (67.6%) of respondents represented small companies with 25 or fewer employees. A similar proportion (68.6%) of respondents indicated that they had been the primary or lead contractor on all of 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) of their projects.
28
Respondents were asked to provide the percentage of their projects that were residential or commercial in nature. Responses were counted as residential if 51% or more of the projects were classified as residential or if the ratio was less than 50% but was still greater than the percentage provided for commercial building. The same approach was used to classify respondents as commercial builders.
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Table A-2: Size of company
Size of company Fewer than 5 employees 5-25 employees 26-50 employees 51-99 employees 100-499 employees More than 500 employees
Not pictured: dont know responses Source: Construction Company Survey, n=262
Proportion of respondents 12.2% 67.6% 15.3% 8% 5% 1.1%
Key informant interviews Conducting key informant interviews with construction industry and green building stakeholders was an essential component of this study, as it helped contextualize the findings from both the survey and the literature review. The interview guide was based on themes similar to the survey, including trends and demand in green building, workforce skills and knowledge base, regulations and standards, and site practices. The guide was intended to serve as a framework for discussion with each stakeholder, with the understanding that various group members would have differing areas of expertise and experience. As such, certain questions did not apply in some of the interviews while others were pursued at greater length. In addition, a slightly modified guide was created for the government interviewees to ensure an appropriate focus in the line of questioning. The interview guides can be found in appendices B and C. Stakeholders were approached from a wide cross-section of the industry in order to ensure that a comprehensive and accurate account was recorded. The following groups were represented:

construction companies and developers industry and professional organizations labour organizations green organizations government representatives
The preliminary list of interviewees was reviewed by the CSC advisory committee to ensure adequate representation and confirm appropriate representatives. The preliminary list consisted of 54 potential interviewees. Potential interviewees were contacted by e-mail and telephone to identify those interested in participating in an interview. Throughout the course of the preliminary interviews, many recommendations for other stakeholders to contact were made and followed up upon accordingly. In the end, 37 interviews were conducted (Table A-3).29 It should be noted that some of the stakeholders belonged to more than one stakeholder group. For example, a stakeholder could be the president of a construction company as well as a member of the Canada Green Building Council.30
29 30
This includes three stakeholders who completed the interview guide on their own and submitted it to the CSC. The more predominant of these individuals roles is counted in Table A-3.
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Table A-3: Key informant interviews
Stakeholder group Industry and professional organizations Green organizations Construction companies and developers Labour organizations Government representatives Total
Number of interviewees 19 7 5 3 3 37
Interviews typically lasted 60 to 90 minutes and took place from late August to mid-October, 2010.
Validation session Validation sessions are an effective method of reviewing and confirming results, helping to interpret or contextualize the data, as well as helping to get buy-in from key stakeholders in the field. Following the conclusion and initial analysis of the primary data collection activities, a validation session was conducted with the CSC advisory committee comprised of industry stakeholders. The session involved a formal presentation of the findings and a discussion of the key trends, after which the draft report was revised to include the CSC advisory committees feedback. Methodological considerations Due to the voluntary and self-selecting nature of the survey research, it should be recognized that the survey data may not be representative of the range of perspectives and opinions within the industry. For example, companies currently implementing or planning to implement green building practices may have been more likely to complete a survey on green construction in Canada, as opposed to those companies without a green focus. However, the use of multiple lines of evidence within the study helps to validate or disconfirm these findings. Caution should still be taken when interpreting survey results, and generalizations to all builders/building companies should not be assumed. This report is to be interpreted as an initial exploration into the state of green construction in Canada, not a definitive or prescriptive representation of the industry.
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Appendix b Construction Company Survey

In the past decade, demand for green/sustainable commercial buildings and residential homes has sharply increased. Due to the sudden growth of this trend, construction practices, certification, training standards and building codes vary widely throughout Canada. In order to assess the current state of the field of green/sustainable construction practices in Canada, the Construction Sector Council is embarking on a study designed to examine current trends, practices and perceptions within the Canadian construction sector. As a member of the construction industry, the perceptions of your company are integral to this study. This survey, lasting approximately 15-20 minutes, is designed to explore your companys experiences and opinions pertaining to green/sustainable construction. Please note that no direct experience with green/ sustainable building practices is required to take part; we are looking for input and feedback from companies with a wide variety of construction backgrounds. This survey is completely voluntary; you can choose to discontinue participation at any time. The results will contain no identifying information and will be presented in aggregate form only; responses will be used solely for research purposes. If you have further questions about this survey or research study you can contact Rosemary Sparks at (905) 852-9186. We greatly appreciate the time taken to share your experiences and opinions. Company profile This section consists of general questions about your company. 1. In what city and province is your operation/office located? City ................................................................................................................................................................. Province ......................................................................................................................................................... 2. What is your main role/position within the company? (Please select one option.) Company Owner Site Manager Designer/Architect Developer Contractor Green/Sustainable Consultant/Analyst Project Manager Sub-Contractor Other (please specify):................................................................................................................................
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3. Please select which type(s) of construction your company engages in, indicating the percentage each accounts for in terms of total work completed by your company (Note: does not need to add up to 100% if your company completes work in other sectors). Commercial _______% Residential _______%
4. What is the approximate size of your company (based on the annual average number of permanent full- and part-time employees)? Fewer than 5 employees 5-25 employees 26-50 employees 51-99 employees 100-499 employees More than 500 employees Dont know
5. For approximately what percentage of your companys projects over the past 12 months were you the primary contractor (e.g., the lead or managing contractor on a project)?
100% or all of them
More than 75% but not all
5175%
2650%
Less than 25%
Dont know
Section B: Green/sustainable building This section addresses green/sustainable building. For the purposes of this survey, green/sustainable building includes activities such as building design, retrofitting, materials and systems, and excludes any site management approaches to using green/sustainable or environmentally friendly practices during the building process. 6. Does your company specialize in the construction of green/sustainable buildings (i.e., this is the main focus of your business and clientele)? Yes No, but we have plans to in the future No, and we do not have plans to in the future Dont know
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7. Does your company specialize in adaptive reuse the retrofit of older buildings in order to increase their overall efficiency and/or repurposing a building for another type of use (i.e., this is a main focus of your business and clientele)? Yes No, but we have plans to in the future No, and we do not have plans to in the future Dont know
8. In your experience, to what extent has the demand for green/sustainable construction changed over the past five years, if at all?
Increased substantially
Increased somewhat
Stayed the same
Decreased somewhat
Decreased substantially
Dont know
9. What proportion of construction contracts/projects completed by your company do you estimate are green/sustainable in nature?
More than 75%
51-75%
21-50%
6-20%
Less than 5%
Dont know
10. Please indicate the proportion of your projects in which each of the following approaches to green/sustainable building is commissioned by the client or called for in the design.
Green/sustainable approach a) Water use reduction fixtures, plumbing systems, grey water use, water reuse b) Building emission reduction/efficiency heating/cooling, electrical c) Interior green/sustainable building materials drywall, insulation, structural, flooring, finishing
Not applicable
76-100%
51-57%
26-50%
0-25%
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Green/sustainable approach d) Exterior green/sustainable building materials stucco, siding, roofing, paving e) Energy efficiency structural (e.g., insulation, overall design building shell, sealing); windows and doors f) Energy production/ consumption systems/ process controls (e.g., solar panels, off grid, self-sustaining) g) Other (please describe):
Not applicable
76-100%
51-57%
26-50%
0-25%
11. Does your company advise or recommend green/sustainable approaches (such as those outlined above) proactively to your clients (i.e., without clients requesting the specific approach)?
Yes, most/ all of the time
Yes, some of the time
Yes, rarely no
No
Dont know
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12. From the following possible barriers to green/sustainable construction, please indicate the extent to which each poses a challenge to green/sustainable building approaches, if at all.
Potential barrier to green/ sustainable building a) Cost of green/sustainable construction materials b) Costs associated with green/sustainable construction equipment c) Overall costs associated with green/sustainable construction approach d) Unclear, conflicting or overabundance of information on green/sustainable approaches and materials (e.g., greenwashing) e) Lack of information or resource base on green/ sustainable building f) Lack of consumer/client buy-in or demand for green/ sustainable building g) Green/sustainable approaches not included in building design h) Employees do not have sufficient/appropriate level or type of training or experience in green/sustainable building i) Lack of green/sustainable equipment/technology/ materials suppliers j) Unclear/lack of government building standards/codes k) Lack of leadership at the government level
Substantial challenge
Somewhat of a challenge
Not a challenge
Dont know

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Potential barrier to green/ sustainable building l) Unclear rating standards (e.g., LEED, EnerGuide, ENERGY STAR) m) Complex/stringent rating accreditation standards (e.g., LEED, EnerGuide, ENERGY STAR) n) Time/effort required to complete green/sustainable projects o) Other (please describe):
Substantial challenge
Somewhat of a challenge
Not a challenge
Dont know
13. a) How useful are non-government standards (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide, GreenHouse) in providing direction/opportunity for green/sustainable building?
Very useful
Somewhat useful
Not very useful
Not at all useful
Dont know
b) Has your company ever been involved in a green-/sustainable-certified project (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide, GreenHouse)? Yes [Go to Question 13c] No [Go to Question 13d] Dont know [Go to Question 14] c) Approximately what percentage of your projects over the past two to three years have been green/sustainable certified? [Go to Question 14]
More than 75%
51-75%
21-50%
6-20%
Less than 5%
Dont know
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d) Why has your company not been involved in any green-/sustainable-certified projects? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ Dont know
14. To what extent do you feel that your company will be able to meet future demand (i.e., in the next five years) for green/sustainable construction?
To a great extent
Some extent
A limited extent
No extent
Dont know
15. a) To what extent do you feel that:
To a great extent/ a lot
To some extent/ a fair amount
To a limited extent/ a little bit
To no extent/ not at all
Dont know
a) Overall, the construction workforce has the appropriate technical skills and knowledge base required to meet current demand for green/sustainable building? b) New entrants to the construction workforce have the appropriate technical skills and knowledge base required to meet current demand for green/sustainable building? c) There are sufficient training, education and certification opportunities in place to support demand for green/ sustainable building?
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b) Please describe any key gaps in skills or knowledge that you feel exist with respect to green/sustainable construction. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ There are no gaps Dont know
16. a) Are any builders/staff members of your company certified by a green/sustainable building organization (e.g., LEED green/sustainable associate; LEED accredited professional credentials, EnergyStar certification, other certification)? Yes No Dont know b) How useful/appropriate is it (or would it be) to have members of the construction workforce obtain training and certification in the area of green/sustainable building?
Very useful/ appropriate
Somewhat useful/ appropriate
Not very useful/ appropriate
Not at all useful/ appropriate
Dont know
17. Please describe any green-/sustainable-focused training opportunities, information or resources that you feel could help to address gaps in skills/knowledge that exist concerning green/sustainable building. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ None are needed Dont know
18. a) Do you feel that provincial/municipal standards, regulations or codes in respect to green/sustainable building (e.g., efficiency, water/energy use, windows/doors, materials requirements) in your area adequately promote and encourage green/sustainable building? Yes, they significantly encourage green/sustainable building Yes, they somewhat encourage green/sustainable building No, they do not encourage green/sustainable building Dont know/not applicable
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b) To what degree is your company prepared to meet provincial/municipal codes and standards regarding green/sustainable building if they were to become more stringent?
Very prepared
Somewhat prepared
Somewhat unprepared
Very unprepared
Dont know
Section C: Green/sustainable construction site practices The next set of questions pertains to green/sustainable site practices. We are using the term green/sustainable site practices to include activities and standards related to things like recycling, waste management and reuse of materials on the job site. 19. Please select the green/sustainable site practices that your company generally employs above and beyond municipal/provincial regulations: Recycling or green/sustainable disposal of building materials Reuse of building materials (recycle back into process) Equipment emission reduction (e.g., use of lower emission equipment/building tools) Erosion and sediment protection on the job site Site protection, including tree protection Capture and green/sustainable disposal of environmentally hazardous materials (e.g., concrete wash water) On-site energy conservation (e.g., turning off unused lights/power sources in cranes, other operating equipment) Indoor air quality measurement and management No additional practices Other forms of pollution prevention (please describe): ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ Other green/sustainable site practices (please describe): ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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20. Does your company have specific diversion/waste management goals or standards in place for construction projects?
Yes, for all projects
Yes, for some projects
Yes, for a few project
No
Dont know
21. How clear are regulations and standards as related to green/sustainable site practices for the following levels of government:
Very clear
Somewhat clear
Not very clear
Not at all clear
No regulations/ standards
Dont know
a) Municipal b) Provincial c) Federal
22. How effective are regulations and standards related to green/sustainable site practices as set out by the following levels of government:
Very effective
Somewhat effective
Not very effective
Not at all effective
No regulations/ standards
Dont know
a) Municipal b) Provincial c) Federal
23. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations as to how government standards relating to green/sustainable practices could be made more clear or effective? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ No
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24. Over the past five years, has your companys use of green/sustainable construction site management practices increased, decreased or stayed the same?
Increased substantially
Increased somewhat
Stayed the same
Decreased somewhat
Decreased substantially
Dont know
25. Please describe the barriers, if any, to implementing green/sustainable site construction practices. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ There are no barriers Dont know
26. a) In general, to what extent do you feel that construction companies have the resources, information and tools needed to use green/sustainable site practices?
To a great extent
Some extent
A limited extent
No extent
Dont know
b) In general, to what extent do you feel that construction workers/builders in your company have the skills and knowledge base needed to use green/sustainable practices on site?
To a great extent
Some extent
A limited extent
No extent
Dont know
27. a) How useful or appropriate would it be to provide additional training to members of the construction workforce for green/sustainable site construction practices?
Dont know
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b) How useful or appropriate would it be to require members of the construction workforce to obtain certification for green/sustainable site practices?
Dont know
28. Please describe any training opportunities, information or resources that you feel could help to address gaps in skills/knowledge that exist concerning green/sustainable site management practices. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ None are needed Dont know
29. Do you have any other comments or concerns on the subject of green/sustainable construction in Canada? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ No
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey! If you would like more information about this and other research being completed by the Construction Sector Council, please visit www.csc-ca.org.
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Appendix C Key informant interview Guide Construction companies and organizations

Thank you for agreeing to participate in an interview concerning green/sustainable construction in Canada. The Construction Sector Council is currently conducting a state of the field assessment of green/sustainable building and site management practices across the country. Interviews are being completed to gain a comprehensive understanding of green/sustainable construction in Canada, including recent trends, demand, site management practices, information and training, and any challenges that may exist. Id like to remind you that your participation in this interview is completely voluntary; not all questions may pertain to your experience, so please respond to the extent that you feel able to do so. Every effort will be made to ensure that the information collected is accurately recorded. Your information will be kept confidential and will only be reported in aggregate form. The results of the research will be made available on the Construction Sector Councils website (www.csc-ca.org) upon completion. Do you have any questions before we begin? Background information 1. Please describe your organization, including your relationship to the construction sector(s) or segments of the labour force. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
Green/sustainable building First, we will be discussing green/sustainable building. For the purposes of this interview green/sustainable building includes things like building design, retrofitting, materials and systems, and excludes any site management approaches to using green/sustainable or environmentally friendly practices during the building process. 2. a) Do you feel that there has been increased interest by the general public for green/sustainable construction in recent years? Yes No Dont know b) If so, what do you feel are the primary market drivers or causes behind increased public interest in green/sustainable building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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3. How prevalent are green/sustainable building projects within the Canadian construction industry in general? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
4. a) Overall, what green/sustainable building approaches are currently most prevalent? [Examples: water reduction/reuse; emission reduction; increasing building efficiency through heating/cooling; reduced energy consumption through use of certain appliances or self-sustaining energy production such as solar panels or green/sustainable roofs] ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Please describe the pace of adoption of green/sustainable building within the construction industry. Are there any facilitators that encourage adoption or barriers that prevent it? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
5. What has been the overall effect of green/sustainable building trends on companies in the construction industry? For example, are businesses able to meet current demand? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
6. What future demands and trends related to green/sustainable building do you anticipate, given your experience in the construction industry? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
The next few questions concern the knowledge and skills required in order to meet demand for green/sustainable building. 7. a) To what extent do you feel that the construction workforce has the appropriate hard skills and knowledge base required to meet current demand for green/sustainable building? Please describe any gaps. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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b) To what extent are newly trained workers/new entrants in construction trades adequately trained in green/sustainable building techniques? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
8. How useful/appropriate is it to have members of the construction workforce obtain separate training and certification (i.e., in addition to the required apprenticeship training) in the area of green/sustainable building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
The following questions address both government and non-government standards and certification as related to green/sustainable building. 9. In what ways have federal/provincial and/or municipal building codes/standards changed in the past 5-10 years in terms of supporting green/sustainable building? Have these changes been positive or negative for the industry? In what ways? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
10. a) How useful are non-government standards (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, GreenHouse and other green/sustainable certification standards) in providing direction with respect to green/sustainable building? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Are there any barriers or challenges that exist with respect to non-government certification standards (e.g., training challenges, capacity barriers due to application process, knowledge gaps, skill gaps). ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
11. To what extent does the availability or associated rating systems for green or sustainable materials and equipment have an effect on green building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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Green site practices Next, we will be discussing green/sustainable site practices to examine construction companies approaches to working on building projects (green/sustainable or otherwise). We are using the term green/sustainable site practices to include activities and standards related to things like recycling, waste management, reuse of materials, etc. on the job site. 12. Do federal/provincial/municipal regulations and standards pertaining to green/sustainable site practices exist in your area? Have they changed in the past 5-10 years? Have these changes been positive or negative for the industry? In what ways? [Examples: waste management, site protection, recycling, emissions, etc.] ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
13. Are there areas where standards and guidelines are being exceeded (e.g., companies going above and beyond existing standards in adopting a green/sustainable approach to site management), or being implemented voluntarily where none exist? If so, in what areas and to what extent? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
14. a) What types of green/sustainable site practices are used most widely across residential and commercial construction companies? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Are there any particular areas where you feel that more attention is required? If so, please describe the area and what type of emphasis is needed. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ c) Please describe any facilitations that encourage adoption of green/sustainable site practices, or barriers that prevent it. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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15. How useful are non-government standards (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide and other green/sustainable certification standards) in providing direction with respect to green/sustainable site practices? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
16. In general, do you feel that the following two groups have sufficient and appropriate information, training, . skills and tools to apply green/sustainable site practices? If not, what kind of information is needed and how could it best be provided? a) Construction companies/contractors ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Construction labour force ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
17. Do you feel that its necessary or would be useful to provide additional training for green/sustainable construction site practices? Why or why not? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
18. Would it be useful or appropriate to require members of the construction workforce to obtain certification for green/sustainable site practices? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
19. How could green/sustainable construction site practices be better promoted or supported in order to increase adoption? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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Leadership and direction 20. a) In your experience, is there a sufficient amount of leadership and direction concerning green/sustainable construction in general from: i) The construction industry Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ii) Local/municipal governments Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ iii) Provincial governments Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ iv) Federal government Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ v) Green/sustainable organizations (e.g., Canada Green Building Council, Sustainable Building Canada) Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Whose responsibility do you feel it is to provide leadership and direction to the construction industry on green/sustainable construction? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
21. Do you have any other comments or concerns on the subject of green/sustainable construction in Canada? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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Appendix D Key informant interview Guide Government representatives

Thank you for agreeing to participate in an interview concerning green/sustainable construction in Canada. The Construction Sector Council is currently conducting a state of the field assessment of green/sustainable building and site management practices across the country. Interviews are being completed to gain a comprehensive understanding of green/sustainable construction in Canada, including recent trends, demand, standards, regulation and any challenges that may exist. As not all questions may pertain to your experience, please respond to the extent that you feel able to do so. Id like to remind you that your participation in this interview is completely voluntary. Every effort will be made to ensure that the information collected is accurately recorded. Your information will be kept confidential and will only be reported in aggregate form. The results of the research will be made available on the Construction Sector Councils website (www.csc-ca.org) upon completion. Do you have any questions before we begin? Background information 1. Please describe the nature of the relationship between your department/ministry and the building industry, highlighting those areas that relate to green/sustainable construction, including on-site practices. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
Green/sustainable building First, we will be discussing green/sustainable building. For the purposes of this interview green/sustainable building includes things like building design, retrofitting, materials and systems, and excludes any site management approaches to using green/sustainable or environmentally friendly practices during the building process. 2. a) Do you feel that there has been increased interest by the general public for green/sustainable construction in recent years? Yes No Dont know b) If so, what do you feel are the primary market drivers or causes behind increased public interest in green/sustainable building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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c) To what extent and in what ways does public interest in environmental sustainability affect governments stances or regulations pertaining to the construction industry? Please describe. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
3. Overall, what green/sustainable building approaches currently seem to be most prevalent? [Examples: water reduction/reuse; emission reduction; increasing building efficiency through heating/cooling; reduced energy consumption through use of certain appliances or self-sustaining energy production such as solar panels or green/sustainable roofs] ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
4. a) What future demands and trends related to green/sustainable building do you anticipate? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) In what ways do you feel that future demands and trends will affect governments stances or regulations on sustainability issues related to the construction industry? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
The following questions address both government and non-government standards and certification as related to green/sustainable building. 5. a) In what ways have federal, provincial and/or municipal building codes/standards changed in the past 5 to 10 years in terms of supporting green/sustainable building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Are municipal/provincial/federal building codes/standards with respect to green/sustainable building clear to project management companies/contractors? Why or why not? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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c) Are municipal/provincial/federal building codes/standards effective in supporting green/sustainable building? Why or why not? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ d) In what ways, if any, do they need to be changed? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
6. How useful/appropriate do you feel it would be to have members of the construction workforce obtain separate training and certification (i.e., in addition to the required apprenticeship training) in the area of green/sustainable building? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
7. a) How useful are non-government standards (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide and other green/sustainable certification standards) in providing direction with respect to green/sustainable building? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) To what degree is the government involved in encouraging or mandating a specific green/sustainable certification or accreditation process? Should there be increased governmental involvement in this process? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
8. a) Are the standards and rating systems that classify materials and equipment as green or sustainable clear and consistent? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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b) To what degree is the government involved in ensuring that standards and rating systems that classify materials and equipment as green or sustainable are clear and consistent? Should there be greater governmental involvement in this process? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
Green/sustainable site practices Next, we will be discussing green/sustainable site practices to examine construction companies approaches to working on building projects (green/sustainable or otherwise). We are using the term green/sustainable site practices to include activities and standards related to things like recycling, waste management, reuse of materials, etc. on the job site. 9. In what ways have Canadian federal, provincial/municipal regulations and standards pertaining to green/ sustainable site practices changed in the past five to 10 years? Are there adequate regulations in place? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
10. a) To what degree do you feel that local/municipal, provincial and federal site management regulations, standards and guidelines (e.g., for waste management, recycling, etc.) are adhered to or met overall?
Not at all
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Always
Dont know
Please explain.
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) How useful are certification standard systems (e.g., LEED, BOMA, ENERGY STAR, EnerGuide and other green/sustainable certification standards) in providing direction with respect to green/sustainable site practices? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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11. a) Are there areas where standards and guidelines are being exceeded (e.g., companies going above and beyond existing standards in adopting a green/sustainable approach to site management), or being implemented voluntarily where none exist? If so, in what areas and to what extent? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Are there any particular areas where you feel that more attention is required? If so, please describe the area and what type of emphasis is needed. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
12. In general, do you feel that construction companies/contractors have sufficient and appropriate information and tools to apply green/sustainable site practices? If not, what kind of information or tools are needed and how could they best be provided? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
13. a) In your opinion, is there sufficient incentive for construction companies or builders to use or promote green/sustainable site practices (e.g., government grants, subsidies, accreditation, positive reputation, etc.)? Why or why not? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) How could green/sustainable construction practices be better promoted or supported in order to increase adoption? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
Leadership and direction 14. a) In your experience, is there a sufficient amount of leadership and direction concerning green/sustainable construction in general from: i) The construction industry Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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ii) Local/municipal governments Yes
No
Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ iii) Provincial governments Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ iv) Federal government Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ v) Green/sustainable organizations (e.g., Canada Green Building Council, Sustainable Building Canada) Yes No Dont know
........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ b) Whose responsibility do you feel it is to provide leadership and direction to the construction industry on green/sustainable building practices? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
15. To what extent is your province and/or local community keeping up with global standards relating to green/sustainable construction? Please explain. ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
16. Do you have any other comments or concerns on the subject of green/sustainable construction in Canada? ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................
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This project is funded by the Government of Canadas Sector Council Program. The opinion and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
Funded by the Government of Canadas Sector Council Program

Green Sustainable Building in Canada

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Green Sustainable Building in Canada

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GREEN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IN CANADA

Implications for the commercial and residential construction workforce

About the CSC

For more information, or additional copies contact :

using various data collection methods

2. Trends in demand and practices

Proportion of respondents 69.3% 56.6% 45.8% 36.6% 30.6% 12.1%

See Section 3 Standards and regulations for more details.

3. Standards and regulations

GreenHouse is an Ontario-based residential building-specific certification system offered by EnerQuality,

offered in Quebec by the Agence de lefficacit nergtique.

Overall energy efficiency

Window energy rating

Space heating/ cooling

Domestic hot water

Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island

(Continued from previous page)

Overall energy efficiency NSBCA2006;

Window energy rating

Space heating/ cooling

Domestic hot water

NSBCA2006; by end of 2009 n/a 1983 Law

New Brunswick Quebec

n/a 1983 Law OBC 2006;

Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta

BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005 BCBC

BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005

BMHA NBC 1995 ABC 2005

2008; 2008 EnerGuide upcoming

4. Skills, training and knowledge base

40% 25% 50%

46.4% 75% 100%

5. Green site practices

Require certification (n=244)

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

Proportion of respondents 37% 21% 16.4% 8% 7.6% 6.5% 2.7%

Source: Construction Company Survey, n=262

Table A-2: Size of company

Proportion of respondents 12.2% 67.6% 15.3% 8% 5% 1.1%

Table A-3: Key informant interviews

Appendix b Construction Company Survey

100% or all of them

More than 75% but not all

Less than 25%

Stayed the same

More than 75%

(Continued on next page)

(Continued from previous page)

Yes, most/ all of the time

Yes, some of the time

(Continued from previous page)

Not very useful

Not at all useful

More than 75%

15. a) To what extent do you feel that:

To a great extent/ a lot

To some extent/ a fair amount

To a limited extent/ a little bit

To no extent/ not at all

Very useful/ appropriate

Somewhat useful/ appropriate

Not very useful/ appropriate

Not at all useful/ appropriate

Yes, for all projects