Sustainable Design Courses

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 399 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Polished concrete combines style, eco-friendliness, durability, and cost effectiveness, making it a standout choice in flooring for architects and building owners. This course explores polished concrete, its benefits, and its role in sustainability efforts. It covers various job types, their specific requirements, the process of using polished concrete, and the importance of mock-ups, protective treatments, and maintenance for long-lasting results.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

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

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    In the fight against climate change, efforts intensify against the planet’s number one enemy—carbon dioxide. The building industry will play a significant role in these efforts. Embodied carbon—the global greenhouse gas emissions generated from sourcing raw material and processing, manufacturing, transporting, and installing building materials—will be the target over the next decade. This course will define embodied carbon, its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry's impact, and the methods and tools that building designers can employ to limit embodied carbon.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Structural HDPE plastic lumber offers strength, durability, and design versatility and is a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. This course examines the types of structural HDPE plastic lumber and their manufacturing processes and provides technical information on performance attributes, suitable applications, installation considerations, and design guidelines. Comparisons are made to wood and wood-plastic composite lumber. Also presented is how recycled HDPE plastic lumber may help meet credit requirements in the Sustainable SITES Initiative® (SITES® v2) and LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Residential BD+C rating systems. Case studies demonstrate the exemplary performance of structural HDPE plastic lumber in aggressive environmental conditions.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Learners will receive information about cast stone and how it is made, testing requirements, applications, design recommendations, and how it differs from related materials. Learners will describe appropriate specification, design details of cast stone for architectural applications, and how to determine quality cast stone production.

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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 ) 

    As the architectural industry shifts toward more sustainable, low-maintenance materials, aluminum has emerged as a preferred choice for its eco-friendly properties, design versatility, and long-lasting performance. This course explores its manufacturing and installation processes, durable finishes, and wide-ranging applications, including cladding, soffits, battens, fencing, gates, screens, and pergolas. Discover how aluminum helps architects elevate design while meeting sustainability goals, particularly those of the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction green building rating system.

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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 ) 

    Resiliency is a growing necessity. It is important to understand the impacts on the built environment resulting from natural and manmade disasters and disturbances and to design for those impacts now. Presented in this course is an overview of the benefits of using steel doors as part of a resilient design strategy for applications requiring resistance to blasts, tornadoes, and ballistics.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Vertical-lift doors and windows enhance the functionality and convenience of many types of spaces, and when offered with an array of innovative customization options, the result is a unique, aesthetically pleasing opening that can transform any residential or commercial design. This course reviews the types of openings and lifting systems, safety features, and design options. Also addressed are the sustainability benefits that can contribute toward credit fulfillment in the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems, as well as in the WELL Building Standard™ v2.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course provides a comprehensive overview of quartz surfacing as a sustainable material in contemporary design. It examines the environmental impact, safety standards, and wide-ranging applications of quartz surfacing. The course focuses on manufacturing processes, performance characteristics, and the material’s contribution to sustainability, equipping participants with the knowledge to effectively utilize quartz surfacing in residential and commercial projects.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    This course is designed to educate and raise awareness among landscapers and architects to assist them in making correct turfgrass selections for their projects. The focus is on warm-season sod turfgrasses suited for the southern and midsection tiers of the United States. The selection criteria and best practices for sodding and maintaining turfgrass are reviewed, along with an introduction to proprietary cultivars designed to offer improved aesthetics, greater tolerances, and fewer inputs.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores the critical role of shade in urban design, public health, and climate resilience. It examines how natural, built, and combined shading systems reduce heat exposure, support thermal comfort, and enhance the usability of outdoor spaces. Through case studies, technical analysis, and planning frameworks, participants will learn how to evaluate shade needs, select appropriate solutions, and integrate shade into parks, plazas, transit stops, and other public environments.

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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 ) 

    The construction industry has experienced a significant increase in moisture-related problems in exterior walls. This presentation explains how a rainscreen wall system prevents moisture accumulation within walls by providing a means for drainage and ventilation, thereby prolonging the life of buildings. Discussion topics include air and moisture movement in the building envelope, building code and water-resistive barriers, and stucco and thin veneers in rainscreen systems.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    An air curtain, also known as an air door, employs a controlled stream of air aimed across an opening to create an air seal. This seal separates different environments while allowing a smooth, unhindered flow of traffic and unobstructed vision through the opening. This course discusses how air curtains work and why they can contribute to occupant comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality when the door is open. It also reviews how air curtains improve whole-building energy efficiency versus conventional methods.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The increase in building energy efficiency requirements has led to the use of exterior continuous insulation (CI) to improve the performance of the building envelope. This presentation reviews the benefits of polyiso continuous insulation and then examines in detail the NFPA 285 test standard and fire safety requirements of the 2021 International Building Code for the use of polyisocyanurate insulation in exterior walls of commercial buildings (Construction Types I—IV).

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Energy creation, distribution, and consumption are all in a period of transition. Understanding this transition and its various aspects is critical to sustainable transitional energy planning (STEP). This course delves into the reasoning behind the STEP approach and its contributions to creating resilient communities and explores available exhaustible and renewable energy resources and innovations in the energy sector that can be leveraged by STEP.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Cleanliness and sanitation are important aspects of buildings and businesses, especially in restrooms. Users want environments where they don’t have to worry about picking up germs while owners desire solutions that are safe, attractive, and cost effective. Smart, connected fixtures can leverage sensor technology to optimize user experiences while also streamlining the management of building facilities, conserving water, and providing a hygienic, touchless experience for users. 

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Many communities face challenges related to the presence of harmful pollutants in their drinking water supply. This course examines the issues associated with these contaminants, focusing on lead, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics. It also discusses the government’s response to providing clean, safe water and innovations in point-of-use filtration systems designed to reduce toxic substances in drinking water and minimize the environmental impact of disposable plastic water bottles.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Modular mechanical support systems are flexible and adaptable frameworks used in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) applications. They replace fabricated steel and streamline the installation process. This course presents the history of modularization in construction and the functions, features, benefits, and applications of several modular mechanical support systems, including structural steel framing, adjustable pipe supports, pipe racks, and skid systems.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Concrete-faced insulated products are composite prefinished panels that are used to construct walls and roofing assemblies to maximize the energy efficiency, durability, and performance of a building envelope. This course discusses the design criteria used in designing energy-efficient buildings using concrete-faced continuous insulation systems for low-slope roofing, walls, and foundations. The functional and physical features of protective membrane roof (PMR) systems, concrete-faced insulated panels for walls and foundations, and concrete structural insulated panels (CSIPs) are evaluated.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Architectural metal panels (AMPs) provide exceptional design versatility, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of a building. This course explores different types of panels, their applications, finishes, key design and specification considerations, and best practices to ensure the durability and performance of the panel system. Additionally, several project examples are presented to showcase the creative applications of AMP systems.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Architectural railing systems offer safety, durability, strength, and design flexibility for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications. This course provides an overview of the important factors that need to be considered when selecting and specifying a railing system for a commercial or residential building project. Topics include materials and finishes, fabrication and installation, and relevant building codes and standards.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Protected roof membrane assemblies (PRMAs), and vegetative roof assemblies (VRAs) in particular, place extreme requirements on the components below the surface, from waterproofing to insulation and everything in between. Each element must meet specific standards for energy efficiency and durability. This course reviews the benefits and design considerations of VRAs. It also describes the high-performance attributes of VRA components and defines the building code/performance standards and best specification practices for optimal fire, wind, thermal, and moisture performance.

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 399 results.

FIRST [1-25] [26-50] [51-75] [76-100] [101-125] NEXT LAST