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.

Time spent on the playground has positive effects on students’ mental wellness, physical health, and academic performance, yet too many playgrounds consist of dark, hot, boring asphalt. This course presents the benefits of low-cost, water-based acrylic coatings to renew and rejuvenate playground surfaces. These solar reflective coatings help protect asphalt and keep it significantly cooler while transforming dull play surfaces into safe, fun, and engaging spaces.

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

Animals, plants, and microbes are engineers of what works and lasts on earth. Biomimicry is a practice in which nature's designs, patterns, and strategies are examined to find sustainable solutions to our technical and design problems. This course discusses how applying the concepts of biomimicry can better connect our designs and buildings with nature and examines the relationship between nature's solutions to light, heat, and glare control and today's shading design principles.

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

Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light into a building. It takes into consideration both direct sunlight and diffuse skylight, and reduces use of electric light, thereby decreasing energy costs. This course evaluates a variety of daylighting strategies for commercial applications and includes discussions about the relevance of daylight factor calculations and the impact fabric characteristics have on a shading solution.

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

Acrylic solid surface is an attractive design solution, delivering enhanced aesthetics combined with superior properties. This course provides an overview of the characteristics of 100% Acrylic Solid Surface compared to other surface materials, and the driving factors that contribute to its growing role in sustainable design strategies. Also discussed are the manufacturing, fabricating, and thermoformable processes of 100% Acrylic Solid Surface and the related green standards and certification programs.

Aerogel is a translucent lightweight solid made from silica (sand) that is long-lasting and safe in its production and application. When filled with aerogel, multiwall polycarbonate provides high strength, high light transmittance, and high thermal resistance in a lightweight, long-lasting glazing system. This course examines aerogel’s remarkable properties and the glazing performance of aerogel-filled multiwall polycarbonate to daylighting design in multiple architectural design applications.

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

Provides an overview of the critical properties that require consideration when specifying underslab vapor barriers and moisture/gas barriers, as well as discussions on the basic installation guidelines to help insure a successful installation.

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

The use of sustainable materials and products during building design will become the standard within the construction industry, and environmental product declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) help architects and owners make informed decisions for their projects. Insulated metal panels— a prime example of a sustainable product—are one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce energy and greenhouse gases.

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

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.

PICP plays a vital role in the urban restoration of natural hydrologic processes as it traps stormwater where it falls and slowly releases it into the ground. PICP is considered a best management practice by the Environmental Protection Agency and complies with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations. But in order to be effective, PICP must be properly and regularly maintained. This course addresses inspections, test methods, equipment, repairs and reinstatement to ensure PICP continues to contribute to green infrastructure goals.

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

Specialty door and frame assemblies have been developed that are designed specifically for the built healthcare environment where performance criteria are critical. Reviewed in this course are specialty door and frame assemblies that meet the challenges of infection prevention, building cleanliness, patient privacy, and increased security, as well as containment of radio wave and radiation interference in hospitals and clinics.

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

As buildings and what we demand of them have evolved, so has the technology for providing air, vapor, and water controls for the building envelope. This course will provide an overview of a sophisticated air barrier system using a self-adhered membrane that is not only highly effective, but also simple to apply with a minimum of surface preparation, and can be applied during cold or rainy conditions.

Driven largely by public interest in minimizing the potential environmental impact of building products, architects and builders actively embrace “green” initiatives and are calling for building product transparency. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) was developed to address this need. This course examines the EPD and includes discussions on who wants EPDs and why, the EPD development process, the contents of an EPD, and the future of EPDs.

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

Siding adds to the attractiveness of a residence while protecting the home from damage by the elements. Options for siding and trim encompass a variety of materials, including engineered wood, natural wood, fiber cement, and vinyl. This course reviews the features, performance characteristics, styles, and installation considerations of engineered wood siding and trim products.

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

Vinyl is one of the most popular types of plastic because of its durability and cost-effectiveness. However, the safety and sustainability of vinyl often comes into question. This course discusses the human and environmental impacts of vinyl, sustainable corporate strategies, and product transparency.

Infrared patio heaters are the best method of increasing comfort for outdoor entertaining areas of any size. There are many variables in creating a warm ambient setting as both the effectiveness and the cost of heating an outdoor space greatly depend on the heating option that is selected and the way it is designed. This course looks at the outdoor heating options that are available with a focus on the types, color choices, mounting methods, and control options of electric infrared heaters, including a review of the steps that are required in selecting the best solution.

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

Energy codes are appearing on the Federal, State, and Local level in an effort to reduce energy consumption, save consumers money, and reduce CO2 emissions. Whether new or existing, energy codes play an important role in the buildings we design, build, and ultimately live, work and play. This course examines the lighting requirements and provisions of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 and the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code®, and identifies plug and lighting control strategies for energy efficiency.

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

High-performance architectural glass can significantly improve the energy efficiency of buildings while reducing their operating costs and carbon emissions. This course provides in-depth information about the solar energy spectrum and common glass performance measures, including the manufacturing processes for passive and solar control low-e coatings and how the energy, environmental, and economic benefits of low-e glass are quantified.

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

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.

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.

In today’s market, designers are always looking for innovative products that are beautiful, versatile, and sustainable. Glass-quartz surfacing encompasses all of these characteristics. This course describes the importance of recycled content surfaces and their environmental significance including reducing the use of natural resources and improving indoor air quality. Traditional and recycled surfacing materials are compared, the sustainable manufacturing process is explained, and case studies are discussed.

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

The triple bottom line approach to sustainability requires thinking of the world as an interconnected system of economic, environmental, and social well-being. Choices can be made to select home furnishings made from durable, recycled, recyclable, rapidly renewable, and/or reclaimed materials from companies who work to improve the lives and livelihoods of others. This course looks at recycled copper, sustainably made concrete, FSC®-certified bamboo, and reclaimed wood used in bath fixtures and furniture handmade by skilled artisans.

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

There are a multitude of building envelope products used, and a variety of methods taken, for achieving energy and building code requirements. Understanding the different roles a product plays in the envelope simplifies its design. In this course we’ll take a look at: the code requirements for buildings classified as IBC Type I-IV, paths to achieving compliance and the number of roles polyisocyanurate insulation plays in meeting these requirements.

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

Continuous insulation is part of building standards and state and energy codes, due to its ability to reduce thermal bridging and its associated heat loss and energy consumption. This course looks at the use of polyisocyanurate as a continuous insulation in Type V and residential construction, and its use as a multifunctional envelope component—air barrier, weather-resistive barrier and vapor retarder—by reviewing code requirements for the building envelope.

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

Aesthetics and performance are key considerations for architectural metal finishes. This course addresses aluminum extrusion coatings and includes discussions on the aluminum extrusion process; a comparison of powder and liquid coatings; an overview of the chrome and the chrome-free pretreatment processes; and, the performance objectives of AAMA testing standards.

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