Continuing Education

GBCI Information

The "GBCI CE" mark indicates that the course, as described in the application and materials submitted by the provider to USGBC, holds a General CE designation and meets the General CE conditions set out in the USGBC Education Partner Program course guidelines.

Displaying 1 - 25 of 219 results.

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


  • ( ~ 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.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Interest in metal cladding is continually growing because of its sustainable features: durability, long life span, recyclability, and contribution to cool roofs. Manufacturers provide a wide range of panel profiles, materials, and colors to meet the increased demand. This course examines the performance characteristics and attributes of metal roofing and cladding, different aesthetic options, and best installation practices, as well as how they contribute to more energy-efficient buildings.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Cellulose insulation has been used successfully by builders and designers for hundreds of years to provide comfort and warmth. Today, builders and designers also consider sustainability principles, climate change, occupant health and wellness issues, energy conservation, and carbon sequestration. Advanced cellulose insulation addresses all those areas as well. This course explains its environmental benefits, including its carbon capture ability, how it improves occupant health and well-being, and its numerous high-performance thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant attributes.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    As interest in cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings grows, the market for building enclosure products as a whole has yet to fully provide the water-resistant barriers, vapor retarders, and air barriers to optimally support the unique characteristics of wood. Furthermore, there are few building enclosure design guides specific to detailing wood-framed walls and roofs. This comprehensive course fills the gaps, providing detailed information on mass timber, building enclosure issues, the vapor-permeable technology available to address wood’s unique moisture characteristics, and a how-to guide on detailing the walls and roof of the enclosure.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Undesirable acoustics in educational spaces adversely affect the learning and teaching processes. The impact on students’ academic achievement, social adaptation, and mental health can be profound and long lasting. This course examines the impact of different sound problems and presents solutions that create synergy between the architecture and the classroom environment to optimize student learning and engagement and teacher retention.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    With the increasing prominence of glass in new buildings and retrofits, the use of window film can raise the style, performance, and safety of today’s building projects. This course examines the use of various types of window film (decorative, solar control, and safety/security) and their role in improving occupant comfort and safety, lowering energy costs, and enhancing privacy.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    There is no substitute for the natural beauty of newly installed tropical hardwood, but keeping it looking great and achieving the desired performance over time require careful attention to detail. Choosing the best hardwood species and specifying the appropriate fastening and finishing systems will ensure an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance, and successful design in terms of installation, performance, and appearance. This course discusses wood species specification, installation techniques, and finishing methods for tropical hardwoods in conventional and sustainable buildings. As well, international programs that are used to successfully determine sustainability are examined.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Infrared patio heaters sustainably increase safety and comfort in outdoor entertaining areas. There are many variables in creating ambient warmth, and the effectiveness and cost of heating an outdoor space depend on the design of the selected heating option. This course looks at the available outdoor heating options and their sustainability profiles, focusing on the types, color choices, mounting methods, and control options of electric infrared heaters. It includes a review of the steps required to select the best solution.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    Healthcare environments require high-performance, durable, and sustainable materials to meet the ever-increasing demands for the health and safety of patients and staff. Vinyl provides a reliable and proven solution that supports infection control measures, the need for long-lasting products, and the replacement of infrastructure that supports health and wellness, clean water, reduced carbon footprint, and long product service life. Vinyl is a material of choice for interiors as well as the core and shell of healthcare buildings. Chemistry and formulations are part of successful product performance; utilizing life cycle approaches to product selection, meeting owner project requirements, and supporting criteria within green building certifications are all part of the vinyl story.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    For generations, designers have turned to the beauty and functionality offered by terrazzo. In recent years, new technologies and materials mean terrazzo can respond to the needs of the most modern buildings. This course covers the evolution of terrazzo, terrazzo flooring systems, and the environmental advantages of terrazzo and how they apply to sustainable initiatives for indoor air quality, recycling, and resource efficiency.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    With the ever-increasing focus on the sustainable built environment, building owners, architects, engineers, and contractors are incorporating structural steel into their designs. Presented here is a comprehensive view of the cradle-to-cradle structural steel supply chain from a sustainability perspective. Also discussed are steel production and design, steel’s potential contribution to LEED v4 credits, thermal capacity, and the environmental and life cycle benefits of prefabricated fireproof steel columns.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    Local vacuum networks are economical and sustainable systems that provide deep, stable, high-quality vacuum to a variety of lab environments. In this course, the environmental and performance benefits of local vacuum networks vs. central vacuum systems are explored, along with discussions on their components and design and installation considerations. Brief case studies are used to highlight the wide range of flexible, adaptable solutions supported by this strategy.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    High-performance coatings are a necessity when it comes to protecting building exteriors and restoring them after harsh weathering and UV degradation; the right coatings prolong a building exterior’s life span and divert materials from landfills. New PVDF coating systems provide superior protection while satisfying aesthetic and environmental considerations. Their various characteristics and benefits are explored, and application methods are discussed.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Now more than ever, architects and designers of commercial restroom facilities are responsible for meeting or exceeding guest and employee expectations for safety and cleanliness. Presented here are touchless fixtures for public restrooms, how restrooms affect sustainability goals, and the benefits of taking cost-saving measures.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Over the past few decades, exterior building spaces and roofs have significantly transformed from utilitarian ballasted roof systems to roof systems with highly programmed, environmentally conscious, people-friendly amenities that promote healthier lifestyles. A variety of products and materials can be utilized in the design and construction of roof gardens and decks. This course reviews the construction of basic types of roof systems and the range of hardscaping products that are available to designers.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the use of entrance floor systems in commercial buildings in order to promote a safe and clean environment. The course explains the codes, regulations, and guidelines specifically related to entrance flooring systems for high-traffic entrances in healthcare, education, transportation, corporate, and other commercial settings.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This program introduces building retrofits as a method to achieve green building standards by adapting existing structures. While a building retrofit may have several types of interventions, effective air sealing improves the durability of the structure and occupant comfort, health, and safety. This course includes a detailed look at sources of air leakage and the various methods available to address this infiltration. Several real-world examples demonstrate the importance of identifying the source of air leakage, investigating existing conditions, and proper detailing.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Bamboo is a versatile building material that brings warmth and character to indoor applications such as flooring, furniture, and wall and ceiling panels; an innovative process also allows bamboo to be used outdoors in decks, soffits, and siding. This course reviews the material technologies that make bamboo products with reduced environmental impacts and better performance than traditional materials and discusses their potential to meet requirements of the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    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.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    While frequently chosen for aesthetics and durability, clay brick is not often considered when energy efficiency is a primary concern, even though it historically played a significant role in occupant comfort before the widespread use of HVAC systems. This course discusses the basics of heat transfer, relevant energy code provisions for walls, and how current research by the National Brick Research Center demonstrates the role that brick veneer can play in meeting or exceeding energy requirements in modern wall assemblies.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    People are captivated by birds, and for many, they hold intrinsic value. However, millions of birds collide with glass every year, significantly impacting avian populations. This course examines the ecological services that birds perform that impact human wellness and safety and reviews how bird-friendly glass can mitigate collisions. Various bird-friendly glass examples are also identified, and design guidelines and existing legislation mandating bird-friendly buildings is discussed.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    It is an expectation that today’s buildings have to be more than just aesthetically pleasing: they have to provide measurable environmental benefits. This course outlines how insulated concrete forms (ICFs) help meet sustainable design objectives and examines the advantages that ICFs and ICF technology have over conventional construction materials for building envelopes in all building types.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials throughout the world, and as such, it is in everyone’s best interest to consider more sustainable options. This course provides an overview of the properties of slag cement. Discussion topics include benefits, effects on plastics and hardened concrete, environmental profile including life cycle analysis (LCA) and environmental product declarations (EPDs), and various slag cement applications.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Unwanted sound can become more than a mere annoyance. Excess noise has been found to increase stress and distraction, reduce learning and productivity, and even lead to hypertension and permanent hearing loss. This course presents an overview of how sound is described and measured and describes the many industrial and architectural products available to control noise in virtually any environment.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Beyond aesthetics, ventilated façades and cladding systems provide added wind load absorption, moisture protection, and insulation properties, resulting in prolonged building durability and sustainability. This course examines how these systems benefit occupant well-being by mitigating exterior noise transmission, offer significant building operating energy savings from decreased HVAC demands, and increase occupant comfort by regulating interior temperatures. Mechanical and chemical adhesive attachment is also examined, focusing on the adhesive’s ability to absorb wind-induced vibration as well as expansion and contraction from temperature and humidity changes. Several case studies are also discussed.

Displaying 1 - 25 of 219 results.

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