Increasing Sustainability and Reducing Carbon Output with Green Construction Materials and Training
Building materials suppliers are core to the construction ecosystem, providing critical upskilling opportunities for architects, engineers, and builders to learn about new and innovate products. This is particularly true for Ecological Building Systems, with its focus on products that support healthy, low-energy and sustainable structures. Discover how this Co. Meath-based company delivers both exceptional construction systems and exceptional construction training to staff and industry alike.
For small builders that typically work on a limited number of small developments per year, the working relationship with a materials supplier is just as vital as with an architect or engineer. Small builders need confidence they are using the highest quality and most reliable materials – particularly as construction regulations relating to sustainability become more stringent.
Ecological Building Systems is dedicated to the use of more natural materials to optimise building performance and durability, delivering quality products with full technical support. These include wind- and airtightness systems, as well as insulation boards and associated ‘green’ products.
Beyond researching and supplying these solutions to the Irish market, the company also offers product training, installation workshops, and CPD sessions at its Training Centre in Athboy, Co. Meath. Launched in 2009, this facility allows specifiers to see the full range of Ecological Building Systems’ solutions in full-system build-ups within a bespoke timber frame demo house.
How does Ecological Building Systems ensure it provides the most innovative, sustainable construction systems and deliver best-in-class training for installers to make the most of these? With a dedicated Technical team and someone to coordinate its regular product training.
Joe Fitzgerald is the Technical Manager for Ecological Building Systems, with his role encompassing responsibilities such as project assessment to aid technical decision making, researching and developing new products, and delivering specialised product training.
It’s a management role that hasn’t always existed at Ecological Building Systems, evolving over the years as the company has expanded its range of solutions as products have become more innovative. Joe, notes his role started with a much greater focus on technical sales – an area now covered by technical executive team (who we will meet later).
When Joe finished school, he went straight into the Plumbing trade. The 2008 Recession, which hit towards the end of his apprenticeship, compelled Joe to return to training. Studying a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Construction at Technological University of the Shannon followed by a Bachelor of Science in Energy and Business Management.
“With the economy still in recovery, I decided to continue my third-level education in Green Engineering before what was to be a short work placement with Ecological Building Systems. To do that, I connected with Niall Crosson, the Technical Director at Ecological Building Systems. On the placement I mucked in and did a bit of everything, but with a primary focus on technical sales at first. A lot of the people who started in the company around then are still here, which shows you how good a place to work in it is.”
Technical Manager at Ecological Building Systems
Joe has undertaken numerous upskilling opportunities from his early days in technical sales to his current responsibilities in project assessment, product R&D, and delivering training. During his time with the company Joe completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Thermal Modelling and a Postgraduate Certificate CPD in Hygrothermal Risk Assessment. This gave Joe a vital grounding in applied building physics principles central to energy efficient building performance.
This upskilling has been vital in Joe building on the skills to deliver specialist training to small builders and other registered installers on sustainable construction materials and systems.
“I am very involved in continuing to evolve the company’s training environment as the needs of the industry change. We are now running so much training that we had to hire to help to coordinate all the various upskilling roadshows we run, and staff CPDs.”
Technical Manager at Ecological Building Systems
Emily Hannon Rubotham, Training & Events Coordinator at Ecological Building Systems, organises the company’s training programme, coordinating both in-house and nationwide events for Joe and the technical team, while also hosting and facilitating online CPDs. She manages event logistics, engages with architects, builders and contractors to promote the CPD roadshow, and stays up to date with developments in the construction industry.
“Tied to the ethos at Ecological Building Systems around upskilling, it’s part of my role to encourage salespeople and administrative staff to undertake product training. CPD isn’t just about what’s relevant to the day to day – it also covers what we offer as a business.”
Training & Events Coordinator at Ecological Building Systems
Emily has had her own interesting path into the construction industry. She transitioned into the sector while working in customer service and then marketing for a national insulation manufacturer and supplier. There, she developed her technical knowledge of sustainable construction systems, as well as key communication skills. After returning to college for a year,
Emily then got her role at Ecological Building Systems, where she has continued to upskill in product training related to airtightness and moisture control products – to help her better coordinate training around these solutions. She has “ambitions to keep up this product training”, to develop her career further.
Product training is also a cornerstone in the career development plan of Stjepan Palfi, Technical Executive at Ecological Building Systems.
“Being exposed to the natural and sustainable products that we bring to the Irish building market, and gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable construction practices, has really opened my eyes ... Being closely involved in the design and planning stages of a wide range of Modern Methods of Construction, including timber frame, cross-laminated timber (CLT), and EcoCocon straw wall panel systems, has been particularly rewarding.”
Technical Executive at Ecological Building Systems
Stjepan notes that this expert product training, particularly on innovative solutions such as EcoCocon straw wall panels, is essential to builders moving their skillsets in a positive direction:
“The entire construction industry is being driven towards ZEB standards and, while it may be relatively straightforward to specify the correct products and detail junctions on a clean sheet of paper, the success of any project will depend on the quality of the installation onsite ... we must find effective ways to support installers in understanding the measures being implemented and help them develop the skills necessary.”
Technical Executive at Ecological Building Systems
What better way to ensure that small builders and certified insulation installers around Ireland have the required skills to make best use of the innovative sustainable construction products now available then by focusing on delivering that training personally?
“Our team regularly visits sites to oversee installations, provide toolbox talks, and offer practical guidance to installers. We also deliver training courses at our dedicated training centre in Athboy ... In addition, we have developed strong relationships with educational institutions nationwide, including ETBs and universities. We are committed to support these organisations, helping to equip current and future construction professionals with the knowledge and skills required to deliver high-quality, low-energy buildings.”
Technical Executive at Ecological Building Systems
Supplying the solution to greener building, and the skills development opportunities to deploy those solutions, just makes sense.
