Armed with funding from the federal government, the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) has launched a free program to develop low-carbon skills training for stakeholders across Canada’s building sector.

The Low Carbon Training Program, which is the first of its kind in Canada, will provide people working in architecture, engineering, construction and commercial real estate with a common language and understanding of low-carbon strategies and solutions. Doing so, says CAGBC, will help the sector take advantage of low-carbon building opportunities and investments.

“The needs of the building sector are changing quickly, increasing demand for skills in low carbon construction and retrofits. The industry can no longer afford the status quo where these skills are not integral and required,” says Thomas Mueller, CAGBC President and CEO. “The Low Carbon Training Program is designed to improve collaboration among leading industry associations and increase reach into the industry to effectively build knowledge and skills for low-carbon solutions. Companies who upskill their employees will have a competitive advantage in the market.”

Partially funded by the Government of Canada, the Low Carbon Training Program was developed by CAGBC in partnership with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), Climate Risk Institute (CRI), Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), and the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC) in consultation with leaders in the Canadian building sector.

The curriculum encompasses the fundamental principles of low-carbon building that can be applied to new construction and building retrofits.

A variety of courses within the program cover topics including the business case for low-carbon building and retrofits and how carbon is being considered and measured by evolving codes and regulations during the life cycle of a building, from planning and design to construction and building maintenance and operation.

Courses will begin to roll out in October and will be available for free through to March 31, 2024. No previous training in sustainability is required.

Low-carbon construction and building retrofits are expected to play a significant role in helping Canada reach its 2030 and 2050 carbon reduction targets.

According to a study led by CAGBC and Delphi Group, current investments from the government and industry will significantly expand Canada’s green building economy with projections of $150 billion in GDP and 1.5 million jobs by 2030. In addition to growing the workforce, the sector will need to upskill with low-carbon knowledge and training to keep up with the growing demand for low-carbon projects.

A series of CAGBC workforce studies conducted in 2019 and 2020 found that technical skills alone will not close the skills gap. The research underscored the need to establish a deeper understanding of the role of carbon in building design, construction and operation and to ensure stronger collaboration and communication among project teams and trades. Creating and using a common vocabulary around low-carbon concepts and solutions were identified as a necessary component.

“Low-carbon buildings and retrofits require more complex collaboration than traditional building projects. For many professionals, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest information and skills and to know where to start, what to focus on or what’s worth the effort,” says Laurna Strikwerda, Director at Canada Green Building Council and Low Carbon Training Program Project Lead. “It was really important for us to work with a cross-section of industry leaders who understand the day-to-day challenges of professionals to create a program that is accessible and can benefit anyone interested in staying ahead of the curve as the building sector transitions to a low-carbon future.”

A Low Carbon Training Foundations Course will provide professionals across all industries with an introduction to important low-carbon concepts.

Delivered over five modules, it will help establish common understanding, approach and vocabulary that will enable collaboration across all building sector professions.

Other partners will offer profession-specific low-carbon training courses that dive deeper into the distinct day-to-day responsibilities and expertise of each professional group.

A workshop for architecture professionals, for example, will cover competencies supporting new construction and building retrofits, including climate change literacy, climate-responsive design and integrative design thinking.

The program for construction professionals provides an introduction to low-carbon building core concepts and their application to construction. The course will equip construction professionals with operation skills and knowledge to retrofit and build the low-carbon buildings. The CCA will offer the program online starting in November 2023 through its partner associations in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

Low Carbon Training for Engineering Professionals covers guiding principles of low-carbon development. It will equip learners with collaborative decision-making, design, construction and operation skills and knowledge to retrofit and build the low-carbon buildings needed for a climate-resilient future.

The course for building owners and real estate professionals across development, investment, asset management and corporate roles, will provide participants with a practical understanding of low-carbon concepts. The course addresses GHG accounting, asset and portfolio level standards, targets and pathways, low-carbon technologies and transition plans, reporting and third-party verification.

Finally, Pathway to Net Zero: Decarbonization for Building Operators will examine the foundations of low-carbon building operations, including understanding building performance, decarbonization concepts and strategies, the role of building operators in implementation, and relevant case studies.

More information on the programs is available at lowcarbontraining.ca.