Sustainability Consultant: The Green Building Enabler
Q: What do you do as a sustainability consultant?
A: We are the advocates and enablers of sustainable practices in our Built Environment. We primarily provide advisory on energy and environmentally efficient strategies across a building's lifecycle, comprising design, construction, operation and even de-construction. The aim is to minimise the carbon footprint of buildings, by optimising energy and water consumption, assessing the use of sustainable building materials, and ensuring end-users' needs and comfort - all while ensuring financial feasibility!
We also stay up to date with the latest innovations that improve the efficiency of our buildings as well as organise seminars and webinars to raise awareness and advocate for green building practices within the industry.
Q: What is the common misconception/s of what you do?
A: Our role extends far beyond just paperwork and document submission. We lead projects to design for energy and environmental sustainability, which requires us to possess wide and deep knowledge of building systems and construction products.
Q: How does one become a sustainability consultant? Can you tell us more about your journey?
A: While studying environmental studies at the Singapore Polytechnic, I took a module on Green Mark that piqued my interest. This led me to study environmental engineering at university. After graduation, my continued interest in building sustainability led me to join Building System and Diagnostics (BSD), which provides green building consultancy. Sustainability has gained prominence due to Building and Construction Authority (BCA)’s initiatives and climate change concerns, providing ample opportunities to deepen my expertise in the field.
A key part of what we do is to help clients and teams see the value of sustainability, and challenging conventional design approach. This requires critical thinking and an integrated, systemic perspective. Effective communication, alongside empathy and adaptability are other soft skills that are critical in initiating changes in mindset and behaviour.
Q: What is one interesting thing about your job?
A: One of the most interesting aspects of my job is being involved in behind-the-scenes work that makes buildings more energy-efficient. For instance, it is fascinating how small design changes such as relocating a window to improve cross ventilation can significantly improve user comfort and energy efficiency in a residential project.
Being a sustainability consultant exposes me to a diverse range of projects from industrial buildings to high-security sites. It also offers a good mix of desk and site work.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: I value the versatility of my role, which exposes me to various aspects such as costing, structural engineering, and architectural design. Seeing projects evolve from design to completion and contributing to a greener future provides me with a deep sense of accomplishment.
I still vividly remember leading my first project, helping it achieve the highest level of green building certification at that time. It was rewarding and memorable, not just seeing it on paper, but subsequently also seeing the green features that we incorporated working well.
At the same time, the supportive environment at my company allows me to push boundaries and share my knowledge through part-time lecturing at BCA Academy and by conducting webinars.