1 hour

Shade structures are becoming increasingly inherent to the design conversation. As the environment is constantly changing and evolving, our requirements for shade are evolving along with it. This course provides an overview of how fabric is being integrated into architectural designs for exterior shading focusing on design, personal health, and energy efficiency.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

Since North America’s post-war building boom, the unique characteristics of gypsum board have served the needs of builders well. Now, with environmental concerns directing many design decisions, how does gypsum board respond? This course looks at how gypsum board contributes to sustainably designed buildings, ensuring healthy indoor air and low waste.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Rubber roofing is roofing material which contains natural rubber, often recycled tire-derived rubber, as its key or major ingredient. It often contains other ingredients such as compatibilizers, stabilizers, UV (ultraviolet light) inhibitors, and color which make it suitable for sloped roof applications. Recycled rubber roofing has a significant ecological impact today, as well as in the future when it can be recycled again and made into new roofing material. This course illustrates the environmental and performance benefits of rubber roofing and discussed why it facilitates fast and easy installation.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

The construction of buildings that use less energy to operate and are long lived is a key part of sustainable design. Insulated concrete forms are one solution that provide the necessary U values, air tightness and durability. In this course, we will delve into the ICF wall, types and components and look at design considerations and construction.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Recycled rubber flooring is an environmentally responsible material that outlasts many types of traditional commercial flooring products when exposed to normal foot traffic stress. Interior and exterior recycled rubber surfacing products are explored in terms of their sustainable design benefits and applications. The program includes discussions on rubber manufacturing, post-consumer tires, and green building certification programs.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.5 hour

The popularity of bamboo products has soared due to their desirable aesthetic and unique, eco-friendly attributes. This course covers an overview of the history, uses, characteristics, and specification considerations of bamboo, including a discussion of the health advantages and green benefits of designing with bamboo products.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a molded, lightweight, resilient, foamed plastic that is used in a variety of construction products. The impact-absorbing and structural properties of EPS provide a unique advantage over alternative materials. This course provides a review of EPS insulation, EPS geofoam, and ICF/SIP building system solutions produced using sustainable EPS manufacturing processes. Applicable material properties, product standards, and code references are also discussed.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

With a radiant heat system, the temperature profile associated with a forced-air system is switched around, and the entire floor becomes the radiator. The heat radiates from the floor, warming all of the objects in the room, and everything in the room gains a warm, comfortable feel to it. This course evaluates self-regulating polymer technology and the performance benefits of using PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heaters for energy efficient floor warming, primary heating, snow melting, and roof de-icing.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

Over time urban parks and other open landscaped areas are being lost to development. One solution to mitigate this issue is to reconsider undeveloped areas such as building roofs to create green amenity spaces. Amenity decks can provide some alleviation of lost green space, while affording developers the potential to monetize unutilized spaces in their buildings and provide an advantage over older buildings to attract tenants.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

Sustainability in construction and operation is becoming the new normal and the cleaning industry has responded by offering products for restroom facilities that are as energy-conserving and as environmentally-friendly as possible. This course provides an overview of the hand-drying options that are available for commercial restrooms, including the economic and environmental benefits of high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Considering that 90–95% of our time is spent indoors and that 28% of the energy demand in commercial buildings comes from lighting, proper daylighting strategies are more essential than ever. This course describes how to best harness the benefits of natural light without causing occupant discomfort, discusses how to calculate daylighting accurately, and presents case studies on the performance of daylight redirecting films.

 1 hour

This course is an overview of permeable interlocking concrete pavements, related environmental issues and solutions, system components, selection and basic design information.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Originally developed to reduce solar heat gain from entering through a pane of glass, window films in today’s market provide UV protection, reduce glare, reduce fading, increase occupant comfort, offer safety and security, and yield energy savings. This course evaluates the performance of different types of solar control window films and offers daylighting strategies for commercial, retail, and residential building and architectural applications.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.5 hour

New and ancient sources of natural stone, along with advances in technology, make stone an attractive and appropriate material choice for many different applications. This course will provide you with an introduction to stone, an overview of the principles and drivers in the green/sustainability building movement, and descriptions of how stone makes an attractive and natural material design choice that will contribute to a holistic solution over the life cycle of a project.

 1.0 hour

Artisanal handcrafted fixtures and furnishings are not only unique, functional, and aesthetically appealing, they can establish a sense of connection with the maker. Many artisanal handcrafted products are made using traditional techniques that have been passed down over time, often from generation to generation. This course illustrates the value of bridging cultures, combing artisan heritage with innovative design, and investing in the craftsmanship of kitchen and bath furniture made by hand with sustainable and reclaimed materials.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

Low impact development (LID) includes a variety of practices that mimic or preserve natural drainage processes to manage stormwater. One of these practices is the use of permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) systems. This presentation addresses environmental concerns related to impervious surfaces, PICP design for hydrological and structural requirements, and PICP installation and maintenance processes and considerations.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 2 hour

Provides an overview of sustainable community design, with a focus on applying the six basic planning principles to integrate buildings into communities, which in turn creates healthy, peaceful, environmentally conscious spaces.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

“Sustainable” design isn’t just “environmental.” It’s design that works for and contributes to the health and welfare of all individuals as well as the planet, now and in the future. This course looks at hand dryers as part of sustainably designed restrooms, and discusses how air knife hand dryers benefit the environment through energy-efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction, and benefit all members of society by meeting ADA requirements and Universal Design principles.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of tankless water heating technologies, including the history, features and functions, and the energy and environmental benefits of a tankless system, as well as a discussion on how they compare to existing tank heater technology.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

In addition to being an effective alternative to artificial lighting options, daylighting provides a wide range of other benefits for both the building and its occupants. This course addresses achieving daylighting in building design using skylights and curtainwall. This program includes discussions on the basics of daylighting, glazing options, daylighting methods, creative design, and green benefits of daylighting systems.

 1.5 hour

Data centers, some consuming up to 200X the energy of comparably sized office space, are rapidly evolving in numbers, size, location, and energy demands. These facilities are frequently becoming integrated into other buildings and the purview of the architect. This course reviews the data center impact on building design and then identifies and describes the most effective design approaches and fitments that building designers can employ to control their capital and operating costs, spatial needs, and energy consumption.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1 hour

Although NFPA 285 has been part of the building code since 2000, there are still misunderstandings as to how materials and assemblies meet its requirements. This course reviews the types of continuous insulation (CI) options and discusses the advantages and challenges of several CI assemblies that pass NFPA 285.

 1.0 hour

With the demand for sustainable power on the rise, building owners and homeowners alike are turning to solar power as a supplemental power generator. Choosing the right platform for the solar panels is a critical step in the design process and can have a significant impact on both initial and long-term costs. This course will discuss the basics of photovoltaic systems, including the components and rooftop applications. Comparisons between traditional roofing and standing seam metal roofing platforms will be examined, and the benefits of a non-penetrating clamping system will also be discussed.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.

 1.0 hour

Lack of secure bicycle parking and storage is one of the top barriers to increased bicycle ridership. However, there is much more to selecting functional and appropriate bike storage than installing a few racks at the building sidewalk. This course examines best practices for bicycle racks and shelters for indoor and outdoor bicycle parking and storage, including typical municipal guidelines and regulations, incentives, guidance on shelters, and rack planning and design.

 1.5 hour

Daylighting systems provide a sustainable and environmentally conscious solution for building illumination. Daylighting however, is not just about letting in as much light as possible. Instead, it is an intentional and controlled introduction of natural light into a space. This course provides an overview of the benefits and applications of successful daylighting systems with a focus on the characteristics of high-performance translucent technologies, including removable glazing/skin options and two-panel systems. Also included is a discussion on meeting today’s strict code requirements with daylighting technology.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click to view details.