Updated January 2024
Climate change, pollution, and over-populated cities have become major issues all across the globe. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the cars we drive, to the buildings we live in—sustainability is the new watchword.
More than ever, we're looking at our manufacturing processes, supply chains, and lifestyle choices, searching for ways to become more eco-friendly. The science is clear: changes must be made or our planet will not be able to sustain our growing population over the long term.
Architectural sustainability is at the centre of this trend. From single homes to entire cities, we're constantly looking for ways to reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and minimize environmental impact.
Have a passion for architecture and design, and want to take part in the eco-friendly building revolution? There's never been a better time to launch a career in sustainable architecture. Here's why...
Growing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly building in Canada
The eco-friendly building movement isn't just a passing trend. Every year, all across Canada, we see a growing commitment to creating structures that won't harm our natural environment.
Designers are focussing more on using renewable energy and locally-sourced, recyclable materials. There's a big movement to retrofit and renovate existing buildings to be more eco-friendly—especially among property owners looking to lower heating and cooling costs, and reduce waste.
The Canada Greener Homes Initiative is a good example of the nationwide push for more energy-efficient home designs.
We see sustainable architecture practices in big commercial buildings, too. Some of the most famous green buildings in the world are large-scale institutional and cultural projects. Green Building Canada recently profiled five outstanding examples of sustainable buildings, including the Bibliothèque du Boisé in Montreal.
The bottom line is that sustainable architecture is quickly becoming the norm. More than just a fashion, this is a massive movement to protect our planet, and ensure our cities have the smallest possible environmental footprint.
Building designers trained in this field will be in-demand for many years to come—which makes sustainable architecture a career worth investing in.
Earn your Sustainable Architecture Diploma in just 24 months
Looking for a quick training path to start a career in building design and drafting? Sustainable architecture offers students a good alternative to a four-year university degree.
At Herzing, for example, you can complete a sustainable architecture diploma in just 24 months. And this includes a 13-week intensive internship at a local company.
Courses cover all the essential theory and technical skills you need to get hired, including:
- Principles of sustainable architectural design for residential, commercial, institutional, and cultural buildings
- Industry-standard CAD software for drafting building models, elevations, blueprints, and other architectural drawings
- How to select and apply eco-friendly building materials and processes
- How to design retrofits and renovations
- Sustainable landscape design
- Assessing and appraising buildings
- Building codes and regulations
Work with cutting-edge building technologies and materials
This is a really exciting time to work in the field of sustainable architecture. The industry is exploding with all kinds of new technology, building techniques, and systems designers can use to create zero-impact buildings.
Choose this path and you'll be exploring and applying cutting-edge, eco-friendly design solutions for the rest of your career. Some of the latest innovations in sustainable design include:
- Super light, bendable solar panels that are easier to use than ever before
- Incredibly innovative recycled materials we can use for building insulation, bricks, tiles, flooring, and walls
- Grey water recycling systems for homes (channeling gently used water for re-use in the home and garden)
- "Living" roofs, which use vegetation to absorb and filter rainwater, provide extra insulation, and extend the life of the roof
- Geothermal heat pumps that transfer heat from the earth into a building
Designers are right on the front line of this industry. They recommend the latest products to clients and try out new solutions for improving the efficiency of the buildings they're hired to create.
Multiple career options in architectural design & drafting
Once you're trained in sustainable architecture, you'll have skills that can be applied to several different occupations within the building industry.
Obviously, you could work with an architectural firm that specializes in green building projects. But you could also work as a general drafting technician for architectural, engineering, and design firms—or construction companies.
A third option would be to work as a building assessor or appraiser, where you'll find job opportunities with government, real estate firms, and other private companies.
Starting sustainable architecture training
Interested in learning more about sustainable architecture training and want to explore your diploma options? We'd love to hear from you.
Your first step is to look at the program details and talk with an admissions advisor to make sure you're a good fit for this career.
Chat live with an advisor right now.
Or click below to check out the program, see a detailed course list, and request more information. We're here to help!
