Educating Future Construction Workers on Sustainability Shape

Today’s construction students are the builders of tomorrow. Construction teams and contractors are now expected to build more efficient and sustainable homes and commercial spaces for their clients and communities. To achieve these sustainability goals, students must understand the concepts, methods and technologies currently driving green building projects.

Why It’s Critical to Teach Sustainability in Construction

The world’s climate is changing at a pace we can’t ignore, underscoring the need for increased sustainability in our built environment.

As we look to the future of our cities, construction teams must implement sustainable practices to allow residents to have the best possible living space while also preserving the planet. While it’s true that current workers can learn sustainable practices on the job, it’s essential to teach green construction practices in an educational setting.

Classrooms allow students to have significant opportunities to study an aspect of their field in depth. Most of the time, construction workers are busy with their work once entering the workforce; they won’t have as many opportunities to learn the best sustainable practices and how to evaluate the efficiency of each project critically.

By educating students about sustainability, you’re also giving them a competitive advantage in their field. By learning about the different types of sustainable ratings and certifications, they can work towards achieving them in their projects, which can attract new clients.

Sustainable Construction Methods and Certifications

Many contractors are implementing sustainable building practices in their projects with a variety of goals in mind. The following terms are commonly used by contractors and clients alike:

Net-Zero

Net-zero buildings are identified by their energy outputs being equal to their energy consumption. This design makes the client’s carbon footprint smaller by eliminating emissions, waste and water consumption.

Architects and contractors typically find ways to generate renewable energy for the building on- and off-site through wind turbines, solar panels and hydroelectricity. If it’s not possible to create enough energy on-site, workers can source renewable resources from large-scale geothermal plants, solar and wind farms, and hydropower facilities.

Climate Resiliency

Weather can wreak havoc on buildings, especially if up-to-date building codes and standards are not being implemented. Climate resiliency is the concept of constructing a building to withstand the elements.

This practice focuses on sustainability as it reduces the likelihood of buildings in high-risk areas needing repairs after a natural disaster strikes. This practice can involve investing more money in the quality of materials used in the construction process and is dependent on the location of the site.

GreenStar

GreenStar is a program that certifies residential buildings meet mandatory requirements to reduce their environmental impact and help achieve sustainability goals. Contractors aiming for this certification will have their building or project rated by an independent panel of experts using nine categories – ranging from the materials used in construction to the building’s energy draw – to determine the rating.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used sustainability system worldwide. It operates globally using a points-based rating system to ensure green building criteria are met.

The certification process provides education and training on using reduced and renewable energy and the most effective sustainable indoor and outdoor materials.

EDGE

Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certifies buildings based on the efficiency of their construction process, including building materials, energy, water and waste. EDGE offers software contractors can use to determine the ideal building strategies for their projects and once the project is complete, a panel of experts will determine whether it meets the predetermined standards.

WELL

WELL, run by the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), is the health and wellness standard for buildings, interior spaces and communities. Experts rate the projects based on their sustainability and how they affect the people around them. These are important considerations for delivering intentional spaces that enhance health and well-being.

Roadblocks to Sustainability Education

Though the United States plays a significant role in the education and training of construction students, there’s no primary requirement for sustainability classes and the schools that do offer individual classes have varying curriculums.

Few of the schools named by the Associated Schools of Construction offer individual sustainability courses. This discrepancy leaves it up to educators to determine how to incorporate sustainability into their other courses. Currently, educators lack a consensus on what aspects of sustainability they should teach.

Another barrier to learning about sustainability stems from the more experienced generations already in the construction industry. Research shows that older people are less likely to work toward a greener environment.

New workers will likely train with older ones on the job, so companies must educate their current employees on sustainable practices.

Integrating Sustainability Into Education

To ensure students have thorough knowledge about sustainability, it’s crucial for accreditation agencies, like the American Council for Construction Education, create specific guidelines and requirements for schools to follow.

Without standardization, students may have difficulty collaborating and sharing ideas about sustainability since they may be coming from different levels of education.

It’s also important that when new methods for sustainable construction become available, educational programs reflect the changes.

Educating Current Construction Professionals

Educating current professionals on the latest sustainable techniques and their impact on the environment is vital as the industry becomes more energy efficient.

Teaching one change at a time

It’s hard to focus on new educational objectives being introduced to the industry while spending long days on a job site. As sustainable changes become mainstream and a wave of new education floods the industry, it can be beneficial to focus on making one change at a time instead of all at once.

Providing outside training

Construction firms can help workers implement sustainable practices by providing ongoing training opportunities. By studying the latest in green construction, workers can build more efficiently while assisting businesses in keeping up with future employment practices.

Implementing new technologies

With new sustainable ideas come innovative technologies that assist in efficient building techniques. Implementing them allows workers to learn how to use them effectively while on the job.

Modular prefabrication and 3D-printed construction allow builders to use precisely what they need to complete their projects. By working with these technologies, workers will continually learn about their ongoing importance.

Leveraging Sustainability for a Better Future

Sustainability is necessary to preserve the planet for future generations. The construction industry is vital for humans worldwide to live and travel, so we must continue discovering sustainable ways to complete projects.

Educating construction students on sustainable building practices is an excellent step for implementing them throughout the industry.

The right regulations and opportunities will allow future professionals to shape the industry and help meet the sustainability and resiliency needs of our communities worldwide.