ICYMI: Canada's Green Buildings Strategy

Recently, the Government of Canada unveiled the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, aiming to revolutionize the building sector using modern technology. This initiative is part of broader efforts to boost sustainability and drive economic growth nationwide.

• Read Announcement Press Release

Strategic Priorities of the Strategy

The Canada Green Buildings Strategy focuses on three main strategic priorities:

1. Accelerate Retrofits: This involves large-scale upgrades to insulation, windows, and heating systems to boost energy efficiency. The goal is to retrofit eleven million buildings across Canada, achieving a 3% annual retrofit rate for existing homes and buildings.
2. Build Green and Affordable from the Start: The strategy emphasizes constructing with sustainability at the forefront. Given the increasing demand, Canada needs at least 3.5 million new homes by 2030. Adopting green building standards ensures these homes are environmentally friendly and affordable, reducing long-term utility costs and environmental impact.
3. Shape the Building Sector of the Future: Innovation and advancement are crucial. Supporting research and development in sustainable construction practices and materials will drive the sector’s evolution. As these technologies evolve, the demand for skilled workers to support them will increase. By 2030, RBC predicts Canada will need 45% more HVAC tradespeople and 55% more electricians to support these systems.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

The implementation of the Canada Green Buildings Strategy is expected to bring substantial economic and environmental benefits. Energy-efficient buildings will reduce utility costs for Canadians who are now spending an average of $2,200 annually, making housing more affordable. The strategy is also poised to create numerous job opportunities in the green building sector, driving economic growth and supporting workforce development.

In addition to the retrofit targets, the strategy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37 megatonnes by 2030, contributing significantly to Canada’s climate targets. By improving energy efficiency, the strategy projects a savings of $14.6 billion in energy costs by 2030, benefiting both households and businesses alike.

Quick Facts From Release

• Buildings are Canada’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with nearly all emissions—over 96%—stemming from space and water heating.
• Canadian households spend an average of $2,200 annually on home energy costs, with significantly higher expenses in homes that rely on oil for heating and in older homes with poor insulation, ventilation, and heating/cooling systems.
• To meet national housing requirements there is a need to accelerate retrofitting 10 million buildings and constructing millions of new energy-efficient buildings in the coming decades.

Government Call to Action for Stakeholders

The success of the Canada Green Buildings Strategy relies on the active involvement of various stakeholders, including governmental bodies, private sector partners, and the Canadian workforce.

As Canada moves forward with this strategy, all stakeholders must work together to realize their full potential. By embracing modern building practices and investing in the innovative technology available at our disposal, Canada can enhance its building sector’s resilience, and sustainability, and improve our national productivity while doing it.

Uvaro Perspective: Workforce Skills Is a ‘Missing Piece’ Of The Strategy

With new technology comes new standards and skills requirements. As we implement the Green Building Strategy or any future initiatives like it, the technological advancements driven forward must be matched by workforce readiness. Without a workforce skilled in installing and maintaining these new advanced systems, even the most innovative technologies cannot achieve their full potential.

At Uvaro, we believe our unique ‘Long-Tail’ approach to program design offers a solution to the challenges faced by many of Canada's emerging industries. This approach provides an ongoing, industry-driven method for upskilling, which is essential for established industries that need to adopt new skills to enhance productivity.

Although Uvaro focuses on digital roles with online training, see a few examples of how our 'Long-Tail' approach to program design and upskilling could be used to tackle the skills gaps emerging in Canada's key industries:

• Skills Gap Series: Aligning Workforce Readiness with Canada’s Green Building Strategy
• Skills Gap Series: The EV Revolution - Are We Ready?

THE FUTURE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Discover how Uvaro’s modularized approach to workforce development can enhance skills across various industries and boost Canadian productivity.