Stantec to train staff in new credential for green infrastructure

Stantec is training 100 of its staff across North America in “Envision” a program that evaluates infrastructure projects based on their sustainability (community, environmental and economic) benefits. The program is comparable to LEED, but for civil infrastructure.

The Edmonton-based company has committed to train and credential at least 100 of its professionals in the program over the next 12 months. At the end of the process, staff who pass muster will receive the credential “Envision Sustainability Professional,” or “ENV SP.” As well, some ENV SPs will be trained to qualify to do third party reviews and verification of submitted projects.

ISI launched Envision in 2012 as a basis to evaluate and rate all size and types of civil works, such as water and transportation infrastructure, looking at their community, environmental and economic benefits.

Marty Janowitz, Stantec’s vice president of sustainable development, says: “Envision is the much needed counterpart to widely used buildings sustainability rating systems such as LEED. We need a similar planning framework and rating system keyed to public projects which often have an even broader impact on communities and the environment. Envision is that system.”

The Envision program is run by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), an organization funded by several national and international engineering associations, and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.