This course follows the growth of the IP through four stories of projects whose objectives were met or exceeded though the use of the IP. The projects range in age from 1993 to the present and in scope from a series of single-family homes and a freestanding rural structure to a multi-acre inner city mixed use redevelopment. The course will highlight the IP components employed while focusing on the more invisible benefits and the lessons learned from each of the IPs.

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

 In order to download this course, a USD $50.00 fee must be paid.

To fully assess the benefits of spray foam and its importance to today’s building industry requires taking a closer look at one of the main goals of architects and building engineers—to create sustainable structures which allows maximum design creativity. With an ability to contour into any space or shape and adhere to any surface, spray foam allows such creativity. This course examines the performance properties spray foam products and discusses advanced design concepts using spray foam

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

Energy creation, distribution, and consumption is in a period of transition. Understanding this transition and its benefits is critical to sustainable community energy planning (SCEP). This course reviews the transition forces, describes the systems that are emerging, illustrates them with international and national examples, details the steps required for SCEP and provides a comprehensive overview of the many renewable energy options now viable for community energy systems.

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

Water is essential to life on Earth. We use it every day for drinking, cooking, cleaning, irrigating, and much more. And while it is such an important part of our lives, we are facing mounting issues when it comes to droughts, flooding, and the systems and infrastructure by which we receive our water. This course covers local and global water supply and demand issues, our current water infrastructure systems and where they are failing, and new technologies and innovations that are helping create more sustainable water solutions for the future.

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

Most of us don’t plan our environments to accommodate unforeseen changes in ability or even age-related limitations. But when change occurs, our environments can hinder our day-to-day living. Universal design adds value regardless of where people are in their lives and allows people with a range of abilities to live in comfort. In this course, we’ll look the guiding principles of Universal Design and some innovative and highly functional kitchen and bath solutions.

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

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, second only to water. Over time, as a result of the build-up of atmospheric compounds in the surrounding environment, concrete will become discolored, stained, dirty and dingy. This course examines photocatalytic technology in concrete and the benefits this technology offers in accelerating the self-cleaning and pollution abatement properties of concrete, while maintaining the same mechanical and physical properties of traditional concrete.

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

A fireplace can be the center of interest in a space, be a supplemental heat source, and can help meet green design objectives. This program explains how hearth products contribute to home comfort, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and environmental sustainability. Discussions pertain to how to identify different hearth product categories, and how some types qualify for national green building programs, and why others do not.

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

Sustainability seeks to balance resource efficiency, health, and social concerns throughout the life cycle of a structure. Concrete has a variety of benefits to offer in achieving this goal. This course examines the environmental impacts of building with concrete along with a discussion of the features of reflective and decorative concrete floors and their role in a sustainable building strategy. As well, we present a review of the best practices and specification considerations that are required to facilitate a successful concrete floor installation.

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

There are a number of building elements that maintain a separation between indoors and out. These elements should be able to work together to provide a comfortable and energy efficient building. This course reviews building envelope systems, with a focus on selecting performance-based products for below-grade, above-grade, and roofing applications, and a discussion on best practices for design and installation.

A green roof can be defined as an artificial landscape on a rooftop, consisting of plants, growing media, and drainage over a waterproof membrane. That said, there are a variety of green roof types, each meeting different needs. In this course, we’ll look at green roof design considerations, policy, system types and installation, including specifying a green roof for single-source warranty.

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

Parks, recreational areas, and common rural and urban spaces can be essential relaxing oases. Pathways that navigate through these public spaces should be functional, durable, and complement the natural environment. This course explores pathway materials and focuses on decomposed granite (DG) and natural aggregates. It discusses the types of pathways, their applications, installation and maintenance, as well as their contribution to green design.

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

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.

This course will focus on the benefits of multi-user, in-lab local vacuum networks for supply of laboratory vacuum in science buildings. The course will review common approaches to laboratory vacuum and consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Emphasis will be placed on considerations related to the specification, design, and installation of a “local vacuum network.” Case studies will demonstrate the applicability of local vacuum networks for new and renovated lab space in a wide range of facilities and scientific disciplines.

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

As urban areas become more dense, land values increase, and the demand for space becomes more challenging, developers are seeking alternative innovative approaches to parking cars that allow a project to proceed while meeting all parking and sustainability requirements. High-density parking (HDP) systems are able to park 30%–400% more vehicles than a traditional garage in the same amount of space. This course explains the origins, history, and types of high-density parking. The sustainable advantages of HDP systems are examined and design considerations are discussed.

Sound transmission control is an issue which should be addressed in the design of any building. Acoustic comfort is part of providing an amenable interior space and it requires having the proper level and quality of sound to utilize a space as planned. This course looks at the components, features, and the role of acoustic door assemblies in occupant comfort in both workplace and school environments.

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

This program provides an overview of the purpose of recycling, steps on setting priorities and analyzing needs when setting up a recycling program, considerations for servicing workstations and servicing public spaces, guidance on how to select the right bins, and other tips for improving sustainability efforts.

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.

In the 1920s, aluminum turned the world of metals upside-down with its benefits of light weight, strength, fabrication flexibility, and durability. Since then, finishing technology has provided a steady stream of protection and coloring improvements. This course explores the sustainability of aluminum, the anodizing process, and the performance characteristics of architectural anodized aluminum. It includes information to assist in the selection and specification of architectural anodized finishes for aluminum sheet, extrusions, and panels.

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

Increased energy efficiency in both new and existing construction continues to play a large factor behind the design decisions we make and the materials we choose to integrate into our buildings. Concrete masonry construction can provide a wide range of benefits. This course illustrates how building envelopes constructed with concrete masonry create high-performance buildings that can exceed energy code requirements.

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

Continuous insulation (ci) was introduced in the IBC (International Building Code) in 2006 as a new topic primarily in the northern tier climate zones. Over the course of the next two code cycles, continuous insulation has become part of the prescriptive path in all climate zones and for virtually all types of wall assemblies. This course examines different types of insulation materials commonly used as continuous insulation. Attributes that affect material use, installation, and performance within exterior wall assemblies are compared and discussed.

The green building movement is gaining momentum worldwide, resulting in stricter regulations regarding the energy efficiency of structures. Conventional construction methods can’t always meet these demands and more innovative and thermally efficient building products are required. This course will focus specifically on thermal bridging, how it affects the overall efficiency of a building, and how it can be effectively addressed.

HVLS fans work in tandem with natural ventilation or HVAC systems, reducing or eliminating many of the challenges associated with these systems while offering significant energy efficiencies. This course examines high volume, low speed (HVLS) fans and includes discussions on the indoor environmental benefits of air movement; thermal comfort; supplementing a traditional HVAC system with HVLS fans; innovations in fan design and technology; and the standards that govern fan performance.

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

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.

Plantable permeable paving systems continue to grow in scope and practicality as we search for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, improve water quality, diminish flooding and erosion, reduce the urban heat island from reradiated heat in our cities and environment, and add attractive open space to building sites and neighborhoods. This course looks at plantable permeable pavement system types, their use, and how they can help achieve sustainability goals.

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

Green building is about architectural and human performance, and about creating spaces that enhance the user experience. In these regards, LEED v4 and other green programs can drive market transformation. This course demonstrates how LEED requirements are changing to place greater emphasis on materials and health. It also illustrates how new credits with higher standards for health and performance are raising the bar for project teams and the sustainable buildings they design.

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