The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) is leading an innovative effort to prepare professionals in the building and real estate industries for a future with reduced carbon emissions.
In a dynamic landscape of evolving regulations and surging demand for eco-friendly buildings, this innovative program aims to reskill the workforce and enhance industry collaboration, aligning with Canada’s ambitious goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Low Carbon Training Program, partially funded by the Canadian government, is poised to reshape the industry and position Canada for a sustainable future. The program represents a significant partnership between CAGBC and prominent industry associations. It targets professionals in architecture, engineering, construction, and commercial real estate, including building owners and operators. This program, offered at no cost, equips participants with a shared language and an in-depth understanding of low-carbon strategies, fostering their ability to capitalize on green building opportunities and investments.
The urgency for low-carbon construction and retrofits necessitates these skill enhancements, as Canada strives to meet its carbon reduction targets by 2030 and 2050. A collaborative study led by CAGBC and Delphi Group suggests the industry’s current investments could boost Canada’s green building economy by generating $150 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and 1.5 million jobs by 2030. However, these prospects hinge on equipping the workforce with a deeper comprehension of carbon’s role in building design and operation, along with improved collaboration.
The Low Carbon Training Program offers a comprehensive curriculum, spanning topics such as the business case for low-carbon buildings, understanding carbon within evolving codes and regulations throughout a building’s lifecycle, and the complexities of low-carbon construction and retrofits. Enrollment for these courses is open from October 2023 to March 31, 2024, and there is no prerequisite for prior sustainability training.
CAGBC’s Low Carbon Training Foundations Course introduces essential low-carbon concepts to professionals across industries, fostering common understanding and vocabulary. Additional profession-specific courses, offered by partner organizations, delve deeper into the unique responsibilities of each professional group:
- Architecture professionals can attend the Low Carbon Education Training workshop, focusing on climate change literacy, climate-responsive design, and integrative design thinking. Online versions will be available later.
- Building owners and real estate professionals will benefit from the Low Carbon Fundamentals course, covering greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, asset standards, low-carbon technologies, and transition plans, offered by the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC).
- Building operators can explore “Pathway to Net Zero: Decarbonization,” a course by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), focusing on low-carbon building operations.
- Construction Professionals can access the Low Carbon Training Program offered online by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) to equip them with the skills needed for low-carbon construction.
- Engineering Professionals can benefit from the Low Carbon Training for Engineering Professionals, provided by the Climate Risk Institute (CRI), covering low-carbon development principles.
For more details and to stay informed about course offerings, visit lowcarbontraining.ca.
