Student Profile
Name: Michael Williams
Program of Study: Bachelor of Engineering – Sustainable Building Engineering (BENG)
Where Did You Do Your Co-Op Work Terms?
I completed my co-op terms at Ecovert, a sustainability consulting firm that focuses on creating a more sustainable built environment.
Describe What You Did During Your Co-Op Experience.
Consulting is a fast-paced environment which means that day-to-day tasks can be different. This fast-paced environment provides students with the opportunity to work on a wide range of different projects. During my f irst few months, I focused on learning the fundamentals of the different software platforms that were being used in the industry. For my department that involved software used in energy modeling and other software that revolved around providing sustainable solutions to the built environment. After being trained by senior team members on how to navigate the software, I was then given the opportunity to be a part of projects and complete meaningful work with supervision.
I was involved with decarbonization projects where the objective was to create methods of reducing or eliminating the carbon emissions associated with the operation of a building. My role on these projects was to model the existing buildings and the buildings with the recommended reduction methods. I also worked on creating energy models for new and existing buildings that were pursuing sustainability certifications/goals. These energy models showed the amount of energy that a building will be/ is using during operation. I also completed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) which help us quantify the total environmental impact of a building from the construction stage to demolition/reuse stage.
What Were the Best (Or Most Important) Things You Learned During Your Co-Op Experience?
Something that stood out was that I was constantly learning. There was something new every day which kept things interesting and ensured I was learning as much as possible.
If I must choose the most important thing I have learned, it would be how to use the different software that are used across the industry. Learning these software platforms gave me a deeper understanding of how buildings operate, and the different systems involved, their effect on the environment, what we can do to minimize their negative effects, and, the role we play in creating a sustainable built environment.
What Advice Would You Give to Other Students Who Are Getting Ready to Participate in Co-Op?
I highly recommend participating in a co-op. It is a great opportunity to work on impactful projects while learning along the way. A co-op provides students with real world experience in the field and provides training that builds on what is learned in the classroom.
I would advise students to pursue a co-op in the industry that they are most interested in. For example, for students in Sustainable Building Engineering, sectors might include consulting, design, construction or commissioning, to name a few. Co-op is done in the workplace, and you are a part of a team that is working towards common goals yet different objectives on projects. This real-world experience can help students learn how to work and function in a team in the work environment, discover what areas of the industry they want to focus on, and how they want to build their career.
I believe the main focus of a co-op is for the student to learn as much as possible. The advice I would give to students is when entering your co-op term aim to gain valuable experience by working on a variety of different types of projects.
