Make an Impact: How Construction Careers Drive a Sustainable Future

Careers with a Higher Purpose

Choosing a career is one of life’s most important decisions.

For today’s job seekers, especially those newer to the full-time work force, the ability to make a meaningful impact in the world is one of the most significant aspects in their quest for a new job. In fact, millennials, Gen Z, and other younger generations say they are even willing to trade parts of their compensation for work that aligns with their values.

While most opportunities to make a difference mean doing it outside of working hours, a construction career can offer multiple ways to make a positive impact simply as part of doing the job.

Finding a Path That Aligns With Your Interests

The ability to have meaningful impact will vary by company. However, a career in construction often provides plenty of ways to be a part of something bigger that also aligns with your personal interests and passions.

For some, that passion might be working for a company that is actively involved in the community by giving back or authentically focused on diversity and inclusion. For others, that could be positively impacting the environment and minimizing climate change by being a part of sustainable building practices or recycling and redeveloping wind turbines.

Sustainability Goals Are Driving More Projects

Since many industries and corporations have long played an adversarial role in contributing carbon emissions, there remains a consistent and deliberate push for companies to improve the numbers. Significant regulation changes are translating into new construction projects that will have a more positive impact on the planet than ever before.

From revitalizing renewable energy with green hydrogen, creating new infrastructure in energy storage, or building new green construction structures with zero carbon footprints, the construction industry is actively changing practices to help combat climate change.

Assisting customers in reaching their sustainability goals is a primary focus at Mortenson. We help them attain their sustainability, carbon emission reduction, and energy efficiency targets, often at little additional expense. We take pride in guiding our customers toward these objectives, providing them with valuable data to facilitate informed investment decisions.

Maximizing Energy Efficiency

The construction of today’s modern professional sports stadiums is a perfect example of this focus. In today’s world, sports organizations cannot treat sustainability as a mere marketing buzzword. While it can be complicated to achieve eco-friendly building requirements and identify the right green investments, there are pathways for every sports organization to embrace sustainability.

In terms of power consumption, some sports facilities can consume a massive 10 megawatts of electricity during a single event – primarily driven by lighting and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Efficient HVAC systems are even more integral when large stadiums face extreme weather. 

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas made strategic choices, deliberately selecting cutting-edge features such as a state-of-the-art chiller plant, high-efficiency air handling units, and energy-optimized lighting. This impressive infrastructure enabled the stadium to become 100 percent powered by Nevada-sourced renewable energy.

Conserving Water Resources

Water scarcity has become a prominent issue in recent years. Sports venues are also taking proactive and creative steps to reduce their water consumption including low-flow bathroom fixtures, smart irrigation technology and rainwater collection systems.

Allianz Field, the home stadium of Minnesota United MLS soccer team, anticipated several challenges related to stormwater management and the need for a sustainable water supply. A collaborative effort between the City of Saint Paul, the Minnesota United FC, and the project team resulted in the region’s largest comprehensive stormwater system.

This green infrastructure prevents environmental contamination while irrigating 150,000 square feet of public open space around the stadium and serving the entire surrounding 35-acre “United Village” redevelopment site.

“The stormwater harvest and reuse system at Allianz Field is a great example of how a private-public partnership can enhance the environment and serve the community,” said Greg Huber, Project Executive at Mortenson. “Over 2 million gallons of rainwater are conserved every year. It’s a true win-win.”

Achieving Zero Carbon Certification

Zero Carbon Certification is the first worldwide program to independently verify claims about “net zero carbon” and “carbon neutral” buildings. Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle is another notable example of the power of sustainable construction.

Home of NHL's Seattle Kraken and WNBA's Seattle Storm, Climate Pledge Arena had the goal of being the first International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon certified professional sports venue in the world. The certification requires 100% of the energy used to operate the building to be offset by new renewable energy. In addition, all embodied carbon emissions associated with the project’s construction and materials were also disclosed and offset.

As the first net-zero carbon-certified sports and entertainment arena in the world, the arena more than lives up to its name and garnered a naming rights agreement with Amazon reportedly valued at $400 million over 20 years – sending a powerful message about the company’s values while not naming the arena after themselves.

Make a Lasting Impact with a Construction Career

These are just a few examples demonstrating how Mortenson and the construction industry offer opportunities to influence change in ways that align with team members’ personal values and goals. Construction careers also provide other tangible benefits like being able to travel, work with the latest innovations and technology while seeing the results of hard work in real time.

It’s an exciting time to be building the future as part of the construction industry. By leveraging your unique talents, you will have opportunities to help make a difference and shape a better world while building a solid, long-term career along the way.