Carbon Reduction Efforts Creating Increased Demand for Sustainable Building Engineers

​​A good engineer must possess many talents. Creative problem-solving skills and strong mathematical ability, a keen eye for detail, and a knack for mechanical reasoning are essentials. Now you need to add sustainable building knowledge to that list.

Of course, engineers have been grappling with the challenges of sustainability for many years. But it has long ceased to be a niche skillset and become a vital asset for any engineer looking to build a healthy, long career in the industry. Commercial and residential buildings accounted for 39 % of U.S. carbon emissions in 2017, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Any plan to reduce emissions needs to tackle the built environment, and engineers will be central to those efforts.

For an engineer working in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) sectors, sustainability can take many different forms. Mechanical engineers will need to understand how to maximise the efficiency of building systems. Electrical engineers may find themselves having to rethink the layout of lighting systems in order to save on energy. Plumbing engineers will find clients interested in rainwater capture systems and other ways to cut down on fresh water use.

To keep ahead of changing sustainability technologies and standards, MEP engineers will need to consider accreditations in green building standards, including most notably, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which has become one of the most common sustainability certifications found across the globe.

In its most recent annual report, the World Green Building Council (WGBC) notes that 1.24 billion square metres of floor space have been certified worldwide under the LEED programme. That growth suggests there is value in engineers earning the designation of LEED Accredited Professional. By taking a test through their regional Green Building Council, professionals can have their green credentials officially recognised.

Indeed, the building industry is likely to put increasing importance on sustainability in the coming years as efforts to reduce carbon emissions gain momentum. One sign of the changing market: the WGBC is globally launching the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment this year. The initiative’s goal is to have new buildings operating at net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and all buildings at net zero by 2050.

If the industry intends to reach that 2050 target, it will require a considerable amount of engineering talent and ingenuity. Cities are filled with decades’ worth of structures built before sustainability guidelines took root. To reduce carbon emissions, older buildings will need considerable retrofitting. Ageing and inefficient mechanical systems will need to be entirely replaced; in some cases, building envelopes will need to be completely redeveloped.

Hayes notes that restoration is one of the fastest growing engineering subsectors. Many of the skills involved in new builds transfer readily to retrofit projects, but engineers experienced in working on existing buildings may be able to carve out a valuable niche for themselves.

States like California and many of the larger urban centres have placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, but the challenges of greening the built environment are being addressed throughout many different parts of the U.S. In their 2017 National Green Building Adoption Index, CBRE and Maastricht University say that Chicago is the top market in the country for green buildings, with 66% of the city’s built space certified green. San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, and Minneapolis/St. Paul round out the top-five markets.

For sustainable building engineers, the opportunities stretch across the country. But more than just a career stepping stone, these sustainability projects offer a rewarding professional challenge for any engineer looking to prove their talents.