Sustainable Design Courses

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Displaying 101 - 125 of 406 results.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The United Nations has set 2030 as the deadline for member nations to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The construction industry has set complementary goals, including the AIA 2030 Commitment to reach net zero emissions in the built environment by 2030. This course discusses how circular economy building products are necessary to achieve sustainable design goals and presents the case study of Kohler WasteLAB, a small manufacturing business within Kohler Company that creates beautiful products for the home from waste.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Modern interior spaces often feature open areas and hard surfaces. What should be comfortable rooms in these spaces can become unpleasant from noise and echo or sound reverberation. This course discusses how melamine foam can be used to improve the sound quality in a space. The different options for melamine foam products are discussed along with their installation methods. This course also provides an overview of the sustainability features of sound-absorbing melamine foam.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Synthetic or artificial grass bears virtually no resemblance to its early version produced over fifty years ago. The current product is much more aesthetically pleasing, safer, softer, and durable, made with environmentally friendly materials, highly customizable to suit many indoor and outdoor uses, and recyclable and nonflammable. This course details the many sustainable attributes of this material; its benefits, construction, and certifications; and numerous sample installations.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The primary objective when designing accessible spaces is to ensure that everyone can access all services and offerings provided by the built environment. This course outlines important lessons to help prevent noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By understanding the ADA’s key principles and requirements, designers and architects can create inclusive environments that accommodate individuals with disabilities while mitigating legal risks.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    In applications where wood may be exposed to moisture, insects, or fungal organisms, preservative-treated wood can ensure a project’s durability. This course reviews: the manufacturing process for pressure-treated wood; types of preservative treatments and the required levels of retention as dictated by the end-use application, desired service life, and exposure conditions; American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) Use Category standards; current issues concerning preserved wood in residential and commercial construction; and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for aquatic uses.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Waterproof, fireproof, nonporous, and eco-friendly natural slate has great value as a building material, particularly given its ability to protect structures for generations. This course reviews the characteristics and properties of slate, presents some of the many design options, and provides guidance on sourcing and specification. The sustainability benefits of roofing slate are also discussed, from its extraction and low-impact processing to its strength and enduring properties in all weather conditions.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course examines how inclusive outdoor environments and well-designed site furnishings can promote health, safety, and well-being for all individuals. While everyone can benefit from being outdoors, many people experience exclusion due to design barriers in public spaces. Learners will explore strategies and furniture specifications, including layout and materials, that support accessible and inclusive design and contribute to LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction (BD+C), WELL Building Standard™ v2, and SITES® v2 goals. Case studies highlight real-world applications in communities, school campuses, and public spaces. 

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Incorporating sustainable building materials into design practices is essential for creating environmentally responsible, healthy, and resilient built environments. Thermal modification is a tested and proven chemical-free process for increasing the dimensional stability and long-term performance of wood while preserving its natural beauty. Presented are the thermal modification process, the attributes, applications, and favorable environmental impacts of thermally modified wood, and how thermally modified wood can contribute to achieving certification in LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction, Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2, the WELL Building Standard™ version 2, and the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    For many years, preformed metal wall panels have been a top choice for building owners and architects, offering an excellent blend of cost effectiveness, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, particularly in rainscreen and screen walls. This course examines the different materials, profiles, and finish options for these panels and dives into applications and best practices for design and installation.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    In this course, we will explore the features and outdoor applications of elevated deck systems that enable architects to optimize outdoor spaces with functionality, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal, creating attractive and safe spaces for occupants. This course covers the system components for practical applications in various settings, offering insights into proprietary pedestal systems.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Door systems are an integral part of educational facilities. This course discusses their importance in creating a safe and secure learning environment and explores the different types of doors, frames, and hardware components. Also covered are industry standards, compliance requirements for fire and life safety, accessibility, and security measures that enhance the safety of the door assembly. The course concludes with some practical applications and case studies in educational settings.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Low Impact Development (LID) has several advantages over traditional stormwater management approaches. Since impervious pavement is the main source of stormwater runoff, LID strategies recommend permeable paving for hard surfaces. The course discusses LID, its goals and principles, and how they are achieved. It provides an overview of permeable pavements, and more particularly, plastic permeable grid paver systems and how they support LID goals.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Saunas that exude authentic Nordic minimalism and elegance promote wellness, relaxation, meditation, and socialization. There are many different types of saunas for private or public purposes, but a few unique features and finishing options set some sauna designs apart. This course explains why the sauna has a much deeper tradition than wellness and discusses the considerations for selecting a ready-made or tailor-made sauna solution.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    From pitched to low-slope roofing, a myriad of designs are possible. Conventional roofing with the waterproofing membrane located weather-side and protected membrane roofing with the waterproofing membrane located at the deck can be used on buildings of various end uses. Roofs can be low or high albedo to impact solar gain; add to this vegetative roof assemblies (green roofs), roofs with solar arrays, and blue roofs (stormwater management), and no two roofs are alike. Join us to review the modern roof taxonomies and associated benefits and drawbacks, learn about the latest options in roof construction, and reflect on performance differences.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Good acoustic and aesthetic environments are important to the health, safety, comfort, satisfaction, productivity, and general well-being of all building users. This course outlines the benefits of and methodologies for simultaneously creating both with wall and ceiling acoustic treatments. The highly illustrated course includes detailed descriptions of the many acoustic wall and ceiling treatment options available, as well as sample installations.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Green facades can contribute to building energy efficiency, durability, aesthetic value, sustainability, and cost effectiveness in the performance of ecological system services. This course examines the considerations required for successful green facade installations and includes discussions on system selection, design, plant selection, maintenance, and client/owner education.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The enhanced need for water conservation and a decrease of harmful runoff resulting from lawn maintenance has pushed the demand for environmentally-friendly alternatives for landscaping and recreational areas. Explored in this course are the uses, benefits, and specification and installation considerations of artificial turf products that replicate a natural grass look and feel in any environment

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Since its introduction in the early 20th century, high-strength fiber cement has proven to be an affordable, sturdy construction material. Technological advances in recent years have increased its versatility in terms of color range and usage for ventilated rainscreen facades. This course examines what high-strength fiber cement is and how it can improve the structural sustainability of buildings and enhance creative freedom in design.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Commercial building interiors see all kinds of wear and tear on a daily basis. Various forms of wall protection can combat this wear and tear to help extend the longevity of a space, maintain a clean look, and cut down on maintenance costs. This course discusses the different wall protection products available, how to identify which wall protection products fit certain applications, and which building codes apply to these products.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Energy creation, distribution, and consumption are all in a period of transition. Understanding this transition and its benefits is critical to sustainable transitional energy planning (STEP). This course reviews the nature of the transition, the forces driving it, emerging energy systems and sources, and international and national examples. It details the process required for STEP and provides a comprehensive overview of the many renewable energy options now viable for community energy systems. It concludes with a series of illustrated sample plans and projects.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    The key to an energy-efficient metal building is the implementation of a continuous insulation system that virtually eliminates thermal bridging and prevents condensation. This course discusses how using thermal spacer blocks and metal building insulation in the building envelope increases energy performance, protects against condensation, and meets stringent energy code requirements.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The building envelope is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building and provides resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. As a thermal barrier, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) offers numerous opportunities to contribute to building envelope performance and indoor air quality in several project types. This course presents the sustainable aspects of SPF, SPF fire and strength testing, and the benefits of SPF in below- and above-grade and rooftop applications.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    While natural wood has traditionally been viewed as an ideal material for decking boards and tiles, wood-plastic composite (WPC) has emerged as a durable, easy-to-maintain, and sustainable alternative. This course provides insights into the advantages of composite decking, especially fully capped products, and explores topics including its environmental benefits; contribution to occupant wellness and safety; resistance to fading, staining, and other potential defects that decking experiences; various applications; and attractive aesthetics.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Homeowners are increasingly interested in creating outdoor living spaces that enhance their enjoyment and increase their homes’ energy efficiency. This course outlines how retractable screens offer sustainable design solutions for homeowners, architects, and builders. Topics discussed include screen components and how retractable screens offer protection from insects and UV rays and contribute to enhancing a home’s energy efficiency. Various case studies focusing on sustainability are examined.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Redwood Timbers are a safe, strong, and sustainable option for exterior and interior building projects where natural wood is desired. This course provides an overview of the properties of Redwood Timbers including insulation properties, grades, dimensions, fasteners, finishing options, and strength. It concludes with numerous case studies exploring the use of Redwood Timbers for post and beam construction, decorative elements, deck posts, and outdoor living structures.

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Displaying 101 - 125 of 406 results.

FIRST PREV [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] [126-150] [151-175] NEXT LAST