In 2030, much more will be expected of roofs on buildings than just keeping the rain and snow out and the heat and air conditioning in. Roofs of the future will use gardens as eco-friendly insulation, have solar panels to increase energy efficiency and/or earn income for the building’s owner, and divert rainwater to the building’s gray-water recycling system.
Integrated Roofing System Designers will look at the whole picture of what a roof can do and the needs of the building’s occupants as well as the surrounding environment.  Here’s an example:  A family buys a house with a 10 year old roof.  A roof typically lasts 25 years.  The homeowners would like to have solar panels installed on their roof to reduce their monthly electricity bill.  Solar panels are guaranteed to last 25 years.  If the roof needs to be replaced well before the solar panels, the cost of doing so (including removing and re-installing the solar panels) will most likely outweigh the financial benefits of installing the solar panels in the first place.

Integrated Roofing System Designers will bring together the fragmented disciplines of the roofing manufacturing, installation and maintenance industry with disciplines in the areas of energy efficiency and environmental sciences to design customizable roofing systems to meet a variety of needs.  They will work with companies specializing in the design and manufacture of the components, including solar panels, water drainage, collection and recycling technology, heating and cooling systems, and green roof systems.  Integrated Roofing System Designers will design a variety of integrated roofing systems to meet the needs of a wide range of buildings, including homes and schools, as well as commercial, agricultural and industrial buildings.
Related Careers: Do you want to take part in making buildings more environmentally friendly and/or have a keen interest in architecture or construction but you’re not the engineering-type? There will be other career options available to you in the integrated roofing system industry.  You can play to your strengths and education in careers spanning manufacturing/strategic sourcing, marketing/sales, logistics, installation and maintenance/repair.

Designers will require conceptualization, integration, and specific construction and environmental design skills as well as certification in areas where public safety is a concern.
Professionals in related careers will be at the forefront of bringing integrated roofing systems to communities across Canada.  There will be positions in this industry where one or more of the following knowledge sets will be required: people management, finance and accounting, customer communications and service, project management and trade skills such as construction, electrical and architectural landscaping.