June 30, 2008

Canadian Construction Association Board Meeting

CCA committee suggests owners educate contractors involved in LEED projects

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) chief operating officers’ committee would like to see owners step up to the plate and ensure contractors are up to speed on LEED.

In a memo to the CCA’s board of directors, the committee said owners should be encouraged to be “pro-active” in educating contractors before commencing projects that are in the pipeline for LEED certification.

Development of information courses or packages for specific trades is also important, said the committee which is composed of the chief operating officers of the CCA’s member associations.

“The idea is that the onus should be on the owners to sit everybody down at the start of a project to explain the role of each contractor and subcontractor in meeting LEED certification,” said CCA spokesman Jeff Morrison.

The LEED program is administered by the Canada Green Building Council. Morrison said the council recommends that project teams meet in advance and collaborate closely during the course of such projects.

In partnership with CCA’s member associations, the council offers half-day LEED for Construction courses. Last year, there were 1,197 registrants.

“However, generally speaking, there are only a handful of people on a given project who actually have taken LEED courses,” Morrison said.

Morrison, also secretary to the CCA’s environment committee which handles LEED-related matters on behalf of the association, said CCA plans to raise the committee’s suggestions with the green building council.

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