January 12, 2009

Association of Canadian Engineering Companies

Green building has shifted into the mainstream, ACEC president says

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Not all that long ago, green building proponents were viewed as tree-hugging liberals in some circles.

But that is no longer the case, said Jeff Morrison, president of the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies.

“I think it’s safe to say that green building has shifted fully into the mainstream,” he said.

“We’ve moved beyond the point where some of the architects, engineers and designers who were leading the charge were seen as radicals or tree-hugging liberals. They now are viewed as pioneers of what has become a trend.”

Morrison, who chaired a contractors’ roundtable at Construct Canada, said there are, however, both challenges and opportunities inherent in any leading-edge trend that is really affecting the industry.

“Given the pace at which change is occurring, they (conference organizers) thought the time had come to revisit the issue and look at what new challenges and opportunities exist out there,” he said.

Morrison, formerly secretary to the Canadian Construction Association’s environment committee, said one concern that has been raised by smaller design and contracting firms pertains to the amount of paperwork required to complete LEED documentation.

“One of the ironies is that you pretty much have to kill a tree in order to create the paper you need to complete all the forms,” Morrison said.

“That is a huge problem for smaller firms.”

Still, smaller contractors nevertheless need to jump on this quickly and get up to speed, given that LEED is rapidly becoming the norm, said Cameron Blair, manager, sustainable building services, eastern Canada at EllisDon.

Compton Cho, estimating director at Vanbots, a division of Carillion Construction Inc., agreed.

“I think you have to take that initial hit and go through the process,” said Cho, whose firm is a member of the Canada Green Building Council.

“I’d say the unknown is the biggest fear.”

Murray MacKinnon is the director of project development at Ledcor Construction Ltd. He said a LEED seminar is a good starting point for contractors new to green building.

“You also need to find a champion (internally) of sustainable construction,” said MacKinnon, whose firm built the LEED Platinum Gulf Islands Operation Centre in Sidney, B.C.

Others agree.

Klaus Gloge, district building systems manager at PCL Constructors Canada Inc., said his firm has seen a huge growth in LEED projects across North America.

“It’s been unbelievable,” he said.

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