SUSTAINABILITY
Why – Why is sustainability important to us? What do we believe?
The Three Pillars of Sustainability is a popular framework used to describe sustainable development. This framework tool conveys that sustainability consists of the vital topics of environmental, social, and economic factors.
Environmental sustainability is the most common and most discussed of the three pillars, as it symbolizes the importance of things like natural resources and biodiversity to support life on Earth.
Social sustainability places importance on social structures, well-being, and harmony; all factors that poverty, wars, and injustices can affect.
Economic sustainability describes the ability of an economy to grow. This is especially important in today’s societies, at a time when sustainable initiatives require financing and a strong economic rationale.
Goals
- Goal 1: Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Goal 2: Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
- Goal 3: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
- Goal 4: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
- Goal 5: Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Consumer demands for renewables: One of the most powerful factors shaping the shift towards sustainability is investor pressure. Gartner research Gartner research finds that 85% of investors considered ESG factors in their investments in 2020 while 91% of banks monitor ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) performance of investments. (Environment, Social & Governance)
Regulatory demands for renewable: The Paris Climate Agreement has made it clear that governments need to be stricter. Countries such as Sweden and Germany have legally binding net zero targets for 2045, while the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and others have a 2050 net zero commitment.
Attracting new talent into the renewable industry: Being a sustainable business is important to attract talent. In a Deloitte survey, 49% of Gen-Zs and 44% of millennials said that they had made career choices based on their personal ethics.
- Increased productivity: Being sustainable will lead to employees being more motivated to perform better.
NSTN and She Builds Construction Sustainability Mission and Focus:
At NSTN and She Builds Construction, we are committed to providing our skilled trades students with the education, craftmanship, environmental consciousness, awareness of sustainability techniques, and innovative technologies that will allow them to be good stewards of the Earth and climate by building quality, eco-friendly structures that minimize greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, increase the structure’s life- span while creating a better and healthier living environment for our consumers.
We accomplish this by focusing on key sustainability education components and by emphasizing two parts sustainability focused construction: building facilities that leverage innovative technology to reduce their footprint and being good stewards of the Earth during construction by transforming equipment and construction methods. We support sustainability and climate control through the following instruction:
- EV (Electric Vehicles): Our EV curriculum creates sustainability education and awareness regarding how EVs are considered more sustainable than traditional vehicles because electric car’s efficiency is higher. According to Natural Resources Defense Council, NRDC, compared to conventional vehicles that utilize gasoline and that converts approximately 17% to 21% of the energy into power for the car, EVs covert 59% to 62% of the electric energy to power the vehicle.
- Solar Photovoltaic: Our solar curriculum creates education and awareness for solar photovoltaic installers, often called PV installers, who assemble, install, or maintain solar panel systems on roofs or other structures. Solar can reduce carbon emissions, water consumption, and air pollution.
- VR (Virtual Reality): Our VR curriculum through the utilization of a VR headset instead of a screen immerses the user in lifelike scenarios. The VR environment is controlled by users through controllers and sensors. This technology enhances climate awareness and expands prevention of climate and environmental impacts projects. We use VR education to promote safety, conservation, and to reduce ecological degradation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions).
- Reusable Materials: In our course modules, we provide instructions and awareness of the benefits of using renewable materials, such as replacing steel with renewable mass timber, which lowers carbon emissions.
- Retrofitting: Our curriculum teaches the benefits and sustainability aspects of retrofitting, which makes buildings more efficient, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the lifespan of structures, and make construction spaces healthier and more desirable for the occupants. A deep retrofit, including upgrades to electrical, HVAC and mechanical systems, can improve the building’s operating efficiency also.