Dear Mr Brown,

I am currently pursuing studies in architecture and construction. I would like to pursue postgraduate studies in Canada. Are local degrees accepted in Canada or would I have to start over?

— KS

Dear KS:

Green technology is the new trend in Canada. Passive houses are green buildings constructed using a set of international design principles and standards that allow them to use up to 90 per cent less energy for heating and cooling than conventional buildings. There are new, passive house developments which are designed to be so energy/efficient that each bedroom can be heated with a 100-watt light bulb.

Passive houses are so named because they’re generally designed to stay at a comfortable temperature without ‘active’ heating and cooling like furnaces and air conditioners.

To maintain a comfortable temperature, the technology relies on:

• Passive heat sources such as the body heat of the occupants, the sun, refrigerators, hot showers, and appliances like computers, hair dryers and laundry machines;

• Airtightness;

• Heavy insulation;

• Ultra-efficient windows and doors;

• Mechanical ventilation systems that capture and release heat as needed from air entering and leaving the building;

• Insulated fibreglass clips which replace heat-conducting metal screws.

Passive houses assist Canadian cities that want to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets and ultimately Canada’s commitment to cutting its emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels, as one of the 197 countries which signed onto the 2015 Paris climate change accord.

There are very practical and marketable programmes such as green business management and energy systems engineering, which may be pursued as part of the process for permanent residence in Canada, based on Canadian experience.

Green Business Management

This programme is taught by a number of Canada’s foremost sustainability practitioners and thought leaders. The programme provides you with the practical and pragmatic skills employers are looking for to give you an advantage in a very competitive marketplace. Specifically, you will learn the tools, processes, systems and protocols utilised by today’s leading organisations to drive sustainability performance.

Energy Systems Engineering

The utility sector is currently undergoing a shift in operating practices that embrace a range of innovative solar energy projects for electricity, heat and air conditioning for homes and businesses. The construction industry has also adopted new green building initiatives that increase the use of sustainable, integrated architecture and engineering practices for new buildings. Furthermore, manufacturers have many new products that provide ways to implement advanced energy control in commercial and residential structures.

The issue is that most people currently working in the energy industry are engineers or skilled tradespeople who have accumulated enough on-the-job experience to understand a broad range of technologies. However, an increasing skilled labour shortage and quickly advancing technology in the energy sector are creating a huge demand for technicians and technologists who possess a breadth of knowledge across the mechanical, electrical, electronic, and automation engineering fields.

Should you need any assistance with the application process, you may contact me.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study & Work Programme, visas or appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration and education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com.