Building knowledge and connections
This section contains 200 courses.
These GBCI approved courses meet the requirements for LEED, SITES, and WELL General CE hours. General CE courses are relevant to general green building concepts, such as environmental sustainability or human health and wellness, but are not specific to any rating system or standard.
This section contains 20 courses.
GBCI has approved these courses as LEED, WELL, or SITES Specific. GBCI Specific courses have an explicit connection to credit categories, credits, and/or prerequisites found in any of the current LEED, WELL, or SITES rating systems. Course credit information can be found on the course details page.
This section contains 1 course.
These courses will prepare you for the LEED Green Associate™ exam. This exam prep provides general knowledge of green building practices and how to support others working on LEED projects.
This course is Part 1 of two courses aimed at helping contractors get organized, be proactive, and to work efficiently on LEED projects. Part 1 covers proposal preparation for LEED projects and general documentation principles, and also provides some recommendations and best practices for bidding and award during preconstruction.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
Growing US cities face escalating housing costs, residential and commercial displacement, homelessness, and the suburbanization of poverty. As increasing numbers of households are pushed out of the city by rising housing costs, they are burdened with long commutes and increased transportation costs while their carbon emissions escalate. These challenges are exacerbated by a deeply embedded policy—single-family zoning—that accounts for 75% or more of the land area allotted for housing in many fast-growing US cities. Part 2 of this two-part series outlines policies implemented at the city and state levels to make existing single-family neighborhoods more inclusive, equitable, walkable, and sustainable. It illustrates innovative case studies at the building scale to increase access to these neighborhoods for both renters and homeowners. In addition, it reviews efforts by architects and AIA chapters to address this issue despite the controversy that surrounds it. Each part of Right to the City can be taken as an individual course.
Want free access to this and other NCARB courses? The NCARB Continuum Education Program offers free HSW CE courses to licensure candidates and architects who hold a current NCARB Certificate, which can be accessed through their NCARB record. Renew your NCARB Certificate, or get NCARB Certified.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $25.00 fee must be paid.
Growing US cities face escalating housing costs, residential and commercial displacement, homelessness, and the suburbanization of poverty. As increasing numbers of households are pushed out of the city by rising housing costs, they are burdened with long commutes and increased transportation costs while their carbon emissions escalate. These challenges are exacerbated by a deeply embedded policy—single-family zoning—that accounts for 75% or more of the land area allotted for housing in many fast-growing US cities. In this first of a two-part series, the history, evolution, and social equity and environmental impacts of single-family zoning policy in one city, Seattle, serve as an example of conditions in a number of fast-growing cities around the country. It also outlines the aggressive resistance to change and strategies architects can employ to address this. Each part of Right to the City can be taken as an individual course.
Want free access to this and other NCARB courses? The NCARB Continuum Education Program offers free HSW CE courses to licensure candidates and architects who hold a current NCARB Certificate, which can be accessed through their NCARB record. Renew your NCARB Certificate, or get NCARB Certified.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $25.00 fee must be paid.
This course is for anyone working on a LEED project that is pursuing the Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan credit. This course looks at how teams can work together to make sure the correct documentation is collected and that, ultimately, the plan is being implemented effectively by everyone involved. This will result in fewer questions from reviewers, less backtracking by the project team to collect documentation retroactively, and a less contaminated space for future occupants.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
This session discusses how LEED certified buildings can contribute to the health and well-being of occupants and simultaneously promote a healthy economy. We will discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how they shaped the USGBC vision for the built environment. We will discuss the implementation of the LEED v4.1 Safety First: Re-enter Your Workspace pilot credit, as well as synergies with the other three LEED v4.1 Safety First credits, and synergies with existing credits in the LEED v4 rating system for New Construction.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $52.50 fee must be paid.
This course encourages dialogue and shares methods to adopt inclusive design approaches within the daily practice of design while seeking to inspire industry professionals to imagine an inclusive world that is powered by your creativity and sense of humanity. As our world becomes smaller and smaller, humanity aspires to provide care, work, and play and live connected experiences that are more meaningful. As designers, it is our responsibility to create considerate environments that support this quality of life for all. This is the Future of Design.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
Anybody who has worked on a green building project knows that a large portion of the project’s success lies in how well the project building is built. And success may be attaining a certain LEED® certification level, attaining certain LEED points, keeping the project on budget, implementing innovative strategies for occupants, or any number of other success metrics. Many project teams put so much emphasis into the project design and often overlook how the contractor influences the project outcome. Whether it’s managing the materials and products used on-site, planning and implementing proper indoor air quality management strategies, or just overall effective project execution, the contractor has the ability to make or break a green building project. This requires the contractor and their trades to be knowledgeable about sustainability and the green building project they’re working on.
This course is aimed at contractors and their trades who are working on green building projects or who would like to be more involved in green buildings. This course will provide an overview of what a green building is, different ways that contractors and their trades can get involved, and the key areas that fall under the contractor’s responsibility when executing a LEED project.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
This session will begin with an explanation of the importance of energy efficiency, particularly with today's evolving grid portfolio. Attendees will be provided with an overview of the energy modeling process and a methodology for integrating it into the design process. They will also learn about a variety of ways to think about improving energy performance in building design. Using a medical office building as a case study, the session will look at a number of appropriate energy-efficiency strategies and will demonstrate how different strategies can be combined to achieve higher performance and value.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
This course introduces accessibility from Canadian and US perspectives. It covers a few specific technical accessibility requirements and compares the differences when referencing Canadian or US design standards, such as the National Building Code of Canada (Canada's Model Code) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (the United States accessibility regulation), while reinforcing the intent of good design that is not always outlined by a code or standard. The seven principles of universal design are also discussed.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.
This presentation focuses on four major areas of managing a LEED project team from the general contractor’s perspective. It includes an overview of the integrative process; identifying potential members and responsibilities of the project team and discussing how to implement that process in detail; investigating why the role of a LEED project manager is critical to the success of the project; ideas based on personal experience; and examples of past projects with best practice recommendations for a practical approach.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In order to download this course, a USD $70.00 fee must be paid.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing is one of the best and easiest ways to prevent the spread of germs. However, drying hands is just as important as washing them. This course introduces the reader to the main features of air knife hand dryers and discusses how their technical components, such as high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filtration, touch-free operation, and fast dry times, contribute to their hygienic performance.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
As populations in cities grow, natural ground cover is being replaced with impervious surface cover that, in turn, is causing an increase in stormwater runoff. The need to successfully manage and mitigate the harmful effects of stormwater runoff is becoming clear. This course discusses how permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) offers solutions for stormwater management, including mitigating runoff volumes, decreasing peak flow, reducing flooding potential, and decreasing stream bank erosion. Pavement components, design considerations, and pavement maintenance are also examined.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
Building systems can be enhanced by incorporating reflective insulation or radiant barriers into the building envelope. With effective insulation, heat transfer is reduced, resulting in less summer heat gain, and less winter heat loss. This course explains common and effective uses for reflective insulation and radiant barriers in a wide range of construction and building applications and demonstrates how these systems reduce energy usage, increase the lifespan of the mechanical equipment for heating and cooling, and reduce maintenance requirements and frequency of replacement.
Cellulose insulation has been in use for hundreds of years, and it continues to be an ideal choice for comfortable, safe, energy-efficient buildings and homes. This course provides an overview of what modern cellulose insulation is and how it is made, followed by a detailed discussion of the performance characteristics of cellulose insulation and how it compares to other common insulation types, with a focus on sustainability, fire safety, and two-hour fire wall assemblies for multifamily structures. The course concludes with a look at modern cellulose insulation’s environmental impact and its application in a wide variety of projects.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
“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 here to view the details...
Concrete is a very versatile and fundamental building material; however, because it is porous and wicks water through its matrix, concrete has water-related design challenges. This program examines the sustainable benefits of integral concrete waterproofing and analyzes traditional waterproofing methods as compared to integral methods in terms of performance, durability, risk, cost, and construction timeline.
Through sustainable management, the forests of New England have had a remarkable comeback since the 1830s, with eastern white pine being the most represented softwood in these forests. This light, yet strong wood species has been used for generations and today, meets the requirements of a renewable and sustainable building material. This course reviews eastern white pine’s contribution to sustainability, its grading rules, wood products, and many applications.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
Exterior shading devices offer a number of advantages that contribute to a more sustainable building, including minimizing cooling costs, reducing peak electricity demand, and controlling glare. These benefits result in greater occupant comfort and improved productivity. This course provides a review of exterior aluminum shading device systems, including the components, finishes, and design and engineering considerations, as well as a discussion of how shading strategies contribute to LEED® certification.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
This presentation celebrates the value of incorporating artisanal, handcrafted fixtures and furnishings into a building’s design. Not only are these products unique, functional, and aesthetically appealing, but they can also establish a sense of connection with their maker. Many artisanal, handcrafted products are made using traditional techniques that have been passed down over time, often from generation to generation. And because many of these products are made from sustainable, recycled, or reclaimed materials that are locally available, they can help reduce the environmental impact of a new build. This course illustrates how sourcing artisan-made products for their projects can allow designers and builders to effect social, economic, and environmental change
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
This presentation provides an overview of sustainable materials for the bath, including production, performance, maintenance, and frameworks for assessment, and focuses on recycled copper, sustainably made concrete, FSC®-certified bamboo, and reclaimed wood.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
With a focus on hybrid green roof systems, this course provides an overview of green roofs, including system options and design and specification considerations such as plant selection, irrigation, mitigation of wind pressure and fire risk, sloped applications, and warranty options.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
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 here to view the details...
As we become more aware of the levels of toxins in our environment, we are realizing that the quality of air inside our homes is just as important as the quality of air outside our homes. This course outlines why indoor air quality is so important to our health and describes how to improve indoor air quality by using a balanced ventilation system.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
In the last couple of decades, houses have become progressively more airtight due to energy efficiency and cost concerns. While air infiltration and exfiltration rates have been significantly reduced, the need for an efficient ventilation system has become extremely important. This course evaluates different types of mechanical ventilation systems and discusses why heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems are characterized by a high level of energy efficiency and as an effective means for improving indoor air quality.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
Sound control is a critical element in a building’s design. We all think of the walls, ceiling, and floor when discussing sound attenuation, but without the proper acoustic door, the sound-control goals in an acoustic plan may not be met. This course reviews healthy sound levels and how to test and identify target STC ratings. Also discussed are the elements of acoustic door assemblies and how they address fire ratings and ADA compliance, contribute to LEED® certification and green building, and provide security for classified files and electronic data.
This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details...
