Stewardship in the Construction Industry

Investment in, and deployment of, innovative green technologies will position the construction industry as a force for change in the broader climate movement. As a major employer in Canada, the construction industry has the opportunity to play a positive role in the reduction of GHG emissions by advocating for responsible sustainable construction.

A balance is required between the advocacy for newer building techniques and materials and the cost implications of these emerging trends. As a whole, transformative approaches to building greener are tempered by the appetite and budget of clients. The primary role of builders and general contractors is to be knowledgeable about and proficient in the use of greener technology in order to advocate for their use on a range of projects, while being cognizant that the client may ultimately decide to utilize primarily conventional materials and processes. While awareness of carbon impacts, including carbon sequestration and offsets, is growing, there is still a sense of wariness about the implications for construction projects as there is a perception that these types of measures are costly in terms of money and time, and that the benefits are mostly intangible and abstract. For some clients, the importance of minimizing their impact on the environment overcomes these concerns. For others, cost remains an essential consideration. 

Being able to articulate the immediate and long-term benefits of employing environmentally friendly materials and processes is therefore critical. Many green technologies have matured, and the cost differential between conventional and green buildings has all but disappeared in some areas. Direct energy savings and lower operations and maintenance costs alone can offer significant advantages over traditional builds. Furthermore, the adoption of greener materials and processes, including mass timber, modular construction, and prefabrication, will be accelerated by the introduction of new regulatory requirements, which are already being seen across Canada and internationally, albeit in select sectors so far.

Bird’s role as an environmental steward in the construction industry is to act as a conduit for bringing new low carbon initiatives to the construction market, advising clients on the range of green solutions that are available and appropriate for their projects. Bird advocates a holistic approach to all aspects of sustainability, from the products in our supply chain and the materials we use in our projects, to the way we build.

In order to deliver on the technologies presented to clients, Bird is committed to developing the expertise of our teams. In addition to having LEED-accredited professionals across the country, targeted sustainability-focused Centres of Excellence and Task Forces have been convened. This enables the sharing of knowledge and best practices across the organization, and drives a culture of innovation around green technology and processes, including mass timber and net-zero.

The Mass Timber Centre of Excellence is well-established, and Bird is a recognized North American leader in wood construction. Mass Timber is more than a low carbon renewable resource. Through sustainable forestry, wood-based materials capture carbon and offset total CO2 emissions. At an end-user level, visible wood has been shown to improve productivity and happiness. As awareness of the versatility of wood construction grows, we are observing a transformation of the sector and seeing increasing opportunities to construct cost-effective and high-performance structures that are appropriate for a climate-smart future. This is particularly relevant for addressing housing shortages, for example, through mid-rise multifamily residential construction.

The Environmental Centre of Excellence has developed significant self-perform capabilities for processing facilities, as well as market expertise for major environmental projects, including water and wastewater, biosolids, and anaerobic digester facilities, waste to energy, and RNG/hydrogen. A recent example of work in this sector is Noventa’s innovative wastewater to energy project that will supply 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of low-carbon renewable energy to Toronto Western Hospital.

The Net Zero Task Force focuses on expanding and promoting the range of expertise and services we offer to enable clients to achieve their net-zero goals through both new builds and retrofits, which will be a key strategy for carbon reduction. For example, the Mackimmie Complex Redevelopment Project at the University of Calgary combines iconic and sustainable design with modern technology and building analytics. The tower achieved net-zero carbon standards in 2020 and strives to be net carbon neutral for annual operations. It will be one of the most energy-efficient buildings on Canadian post-secondary campus and is an important case study for the future of high quality and efficient construction project delivery. Humber College Building NX in Toronto, Ontario is another example of a building that through a deep energy retrofit, has been transformed into the most energy-efficient building on campus, and one of the most energy-efficient buildings in North America.

Taking a more expansive view of the entire project lifecycle informs our approach to sustainability.  We must think beyond what materials we use and the methods we employ to construct our projects. These are important elements that can have immense impact, but we must also consider the structure we leave behind and how it will age and interact with its environment. The Centre for Building Performance (CfBP) assists with this dimension by integrating building systems to ensure smarter, more efficient, environmentally-friendly buildings. In other words, the CfBP optimizes the sustainability of building systems and minimizes long-term environmental impacts by ensuring that buildings and systems within buildings operate at peak efficiency.

Bird’s partnership with the CPLC will expand the conversation on how infrastructure is procured and what motivates material decisions, as well as explore means to reduce the impact of infrastructure on global warming. This essential dialogue must be rooted in the practical realities of the industry, and this requires open exchanges with clients about the available technologies and the impact that adoption of these greener solutions can have.

For more about Bird’s sustainability program, please visit our website or click here to view Bird’s 2020 Sustainability Overview.

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Patrick Crabbe is the Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction – an integral and innovative role within the national Strategic Development team. Growing up within the sawmill and wood manufacturing sector, Patrick brings unparalleled expertise that is demonstrated through his $1 Billion worth of construction value experience and commitment to numerous agencies that are advocating for the use and benefits of mass timber as a sustainable and economical solution. In his role, Patrick supports 18 districts across Canada with a focus on providing constructability input during the design and pre-construction and construction phases, as well as educating project teams, clients, and the public. He is an active member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (led by the World Bank) and a trusted advisor to Infrastructure British Columbia and the Canadian Wood Council.