2010 Green Building Challenge: Internship Training Program

As part of its 2010 Green Building Challenge program, Light House will be providing green building technical assistance to 10 renovation projects (residential and commercial) in the Metro Vancouver region.  This technical assistance will be provided by experienced green building professionals from Light House and City Green, supported by a team of professional volunteer interns.  In addition to supporting the achievement of provincial and federal climate change targets and providing specific data on green building in Metro Vancouver, the purpose of the program is to build industry capacity by providing technical green building training and practical experience on real-life renovation projects for emerging professionals.

Location:  Classroom and building sites

Time commitment:  Approximately 5 hours per week for 8 months, with consideration given to shorter periods 

Educational strategy: Powerpoint presentations, hands-on on-site experience, independent research, meetings for support and ongoing education

Benefits

-Learn from green building industry professionals
-Interact with building owners
-Educate the public on the benefits of green building

Learning Outcomes

-Working knowledge of green building principles in five areas: energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable sites, healthy/eco-friendly materials and indoor air quality
-Practical experience with green building practices and products
-Ability to navigate an energy assessment report
-Understand basic construction processes and principles
-Green building research methodology – where to go for information, green building industry contacts, standard authorities and product certification

Program recruits may be drawn from within existing design and engineering firms, contracting companies and from all the major higher education facilities.  Interns can pursue careers within architectural and mechanical design firms, construction companies and environmental consulting firms.

Responsibilities

-Attend training sessions with green building professionals
-Attend regular meetings with building owner
-Conduct sustainability research on products and technologies
-On-site support, including assisting with building performance monitoring and reporting:
     Establish project baseline energy and water use and waste generation
     Collect data on energy, water and waste reductions
-Compile and analyze data from renovation projects to create case studies for 2010 Green Building Challenge website and exhibition
-Deliver, with another intern, a minimum of 2 two-hour “Green Building Renovation” workshops to educate the public on the benefits of green design

Qualifications

-Commitment to and knowledge of green building practices and products
-Strong organizational and research skills
-Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of people in a professional environment
-Commitment to learning, exchanging ideas, and (where necessary) taking direction
-Ability to meet deadlines and work independently in a fast-paced environment
-Experience and/or education related to the building industry (eg. design, construction)

Although the program will accommodate applicants with wide-ranging backgrounds, admission will require a basic level of technical knowledge. Initially, those from outside the construction industry will be required to be enrolled in certain foundation courses to provide basic knowledge of building processes and principles.

To apply: Please complete the attached application form and return (with a resume and cover letter) to Helen Carruthers, Manager of Public Outreach and Volunteer Programs:
-by email: helenc<at>sustainablebuildingcentre.com
-by fax: 604-682-5961
-in person: 1575 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver

Application deadline: Wednesday, May 13th, 2009  

Meet our current intern team: 

Mike Blake

Originally from Southern Ontario with a background in forestry, Mike moved to Vancouver in 2005 and has since worked in various areas of construction and home renovation.  He has been car-free for 2 years and is looking to establish a career in renewable energy. 

Esteban Matheus

Esteban has a background in art and architectural design. He has worked mainly in commercial and residential projects of small to medium scale and has focused on sustainable building projects in the last two years. The most relevant of these was the design and construction supervision of a rammed-earth single family residence that incorporated traditional sustainable building techniques with more contemporary approaches. In 2007, Esteban was part of a team which won the third prize in an international competition of sustainable architecture with a project that proposed a new modular bamboo building system for the inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands' UNESCO Natural Heritage Wildlife Reserve. He moved to Vancouver from Ecuador last year and is currently working as CAD Printroom Supervisor at Can Draft and studying part-time at BCIT. 

Leah Nielsen

Leah has worked in the fields of pollution prevention, waste reduction, and recycling. Combined with an educational background in social sciences, she is interested in how sustainable building concepts can become standard practice for private households and large-scale developments. Leah's main interests in sustainable building include the 'greening' of existing structures, the incorporation of reusable and recycled materials, renewable energy systems, and bringing elements of the outdoors indoors.

Doug Sharpe

Doug is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. His final year thesis project involved the design of a power and heating system for an off-grid house in northern Ontario. While getting his degree, he also participated in McMaster's Engineering and Society program which exposed him to the complex interactions between technology and culture, specifically in regards to environmental issues. After graduating Doug spent 2 years working in industry and performing energy audits. Doug is currently employed at Morrison Hershfield as an EIT in the position of Greenhouse Gas Inventory Consultant dealing specifically with building and facility projects.

Sharon Stern

Sharon is currently acquiring her Diploma of Technology in Interior Design from BCIT. She has a Management Certificate in Interior Design and has been working in the field for over a year. As a volunteer at the Lighthouse since the beginning 2006, she has had the opportunity to research a variety of issues and practices pertaining to green and sustainable design.

Laureen Stokes

Laureen is a recent graduate from BCIT’s Architectural and Building Engineering Technology (ABET) program.  She has received two awards for academic achievement in building science, including first prize for a collaborative project investigating the cost-effectiveness of weatherstripping.  The ABET program covers a wide range of building topics, including construction management and sustainable practices in the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings.  Currently, in her role as a Building Science Technologist with RDH Building Engineering, Laureen conducts condition assessments of existing buildings to identify “leaky” buildings.  She is also involved in field review of two buildings undergoing repairs.

Taryn Swiatek

A graduate of geography from the University of Calgary, Taryn is passionate about all scales of sustainable design from urban/regional planning to individual home construction and renovation.  She also has a particularly keen interest in the role of laneway housing in Vancouver's future.  As a volunteer at Light House, Taryn was a key collaborator on the research and design of Green Building 201, an energy efficiency workshop for homeowners.  Taryn is currently working for Kane Consulting and preparing for the LEED AP exam.

Jennifer Tan

A graduate of Psychology from the University of Edinburgh and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, Jennifer currently works in Facility Planning with Vancity Savings Credit Union. Working on projects such as corporate space planning and new branch construction and renovations has provided her with valuable experience in the design and building process and knowledge about incorporating sustainable building goals and practices. Jennifer loves the constant learning opportunities that green building provides and is currently learning how to accurately document the green building process. 

Tim Tewsley

Tim has worked in facilities management and as a property manager with experience planning and managing capital upgrade projects. Having developed a strong interest in sustainability, he is currently studying with the Cascadia Green Building Council's Sustainable Building Advisor programas well as preparing for the LEED AP examination. He is particularly interested in the integrated design process and sustainable retrofits to existing buildings.

If you are interested in hearing about upcoming volunteer opportunities with the 2010 Green Building Challenge, please contact Helen Carruthers, Manager of Public Outreach and Volunteer Programs:
helenc<at>sustainablebuildingcentre.com
604-682-5960

The 2010 Green Building Challenge is brought to you by: