Sustainable Design Courses

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Displaying 151 - 175 of 403 results.

FIRST PREV [101-125] [126-150] [151-175] [176-200] [201-225] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Waterproof, fireproof, nonporous, and eco-friendly natural slate has great value as a building material, particularly given its ability to protect structures for generations. This course reviews the characteristics and properties of slate, presents some of the many design options, and provides guidance on sourcing and specification. The sustainability benefits of roofing slate are also discussed, from its extraction and low-impact processing to its strength and enduring properties in all weather conditions.

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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 ) 

    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.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Door systems are an integral part of educational facilities. This course discusses their importance in creating a safe and secure learning environment and explores the different types of doors, frames, and hardware components. Also covered are industry standards, compliance requirements for fire and life safety, accessibility, and security measures that enhance the safety of the door assembly. The course concludes with some practical applications and case studies in educational settings.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Wood is not only visually appealing; it plays a vital role in shaping acoustics. This course examines the acoustic properties of wood and its applications in wood-based architectural solutions, focusing on how acoustic wood products can help control noise in commercial and residential environments. Also reviewed is how these products support sustainable design objectives, including their role in meeting the criteria of the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems, as well as the WELL Building Standard™ v2. The presentation features design strategies and case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of acoustic wood products in achieving superior performance.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course examines how inclusive outdoor environments and well-designed site furnishings can promote health, safety, and well-being for all individuals. While everyone can benefit from being outdoors, many people experience exclusion due to design barriers in public spaces. Learners will explore strategies and furniture specifications, including layout and materials, that support accessible and inclusive design and contribute to LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction (BD+C), WELL Building Standard™ v2, and SITES® v2 goals. Case studies highlight real-world applications in communities, school campuses, and public spaces. 

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Green facades can contribute to building energy efficiency, durability, aesthetic value, sustainability, and cost effectiveness in the performance of ecological system services. This course examines the considerations required for successful green facade installations and includes discussions on system selection, design, plant selection, maintenance, and client/owner education.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Direct vent fireplaces are safe and efficient supplemental heat sources in today’s homes. This course reviews the innovative design options for gas fireplaces, including media options, cool wall technology, and safety barriers. Direct and power vent heat delivery systems are discussed, and the impact of standing versus electric pilot lights on energy efficiency is examined.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Water is one of our most valuable resources, yet many states suffer water shortages due to preventable problems such as overuse and leakages. This course discusses the increased need for water conservation and examines the requirements in CALGreen and the LEED® v4.1, Green Globes®, and BREEAM In-Use green building rating systems. The EPA’s WaterSense® initiative is also discussed, along with case studies explaining the benefits of concealed toilet systems and their contribution to water conservation. This course is one of two identical courses titled Water Conservation: Initiatives and Standards . You will receive credit for taking only one of these courses.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    People spend more than 90% of their time indoors; incorporating sunrooms, conservatories, greenhouses, and/or other glass structures into homes or workplaces can be an effective way to reap the benefits of daylight. The positive impacts of incorporating more natural light into your lifestyle can be seen through energy savings, increase of productivity, and improvement of overall well-being. This presentation reviews strategies and design options to create unique overhead structures, standing structures, and vertical glazing systems that are energy efficient, comfortable, and functional.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Thermally controlled environments such as cold storage freezers and coolers, and food processing and packaging facilities take many different forms. Their performance and functionality depend on their project-specific requirements and can be affected by the conditions the materials and systems are subjected to. This course discusses how insulated metal panels (IMPs) perform the necessary functions to provide an effective energy-efficient building envelope and why they are suitable for use within temperature-controlled hygienic environments—where performance is critical.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Building science experts acknowledge the need for drainage in both vertical and horizontal applications in order to eliminate moisture issues and extend the life of the building. This course examines foundation wall, green roof, and plaza deck applications and discusses the factors that impact drainage, including soil permeability, saturation, land cover, and loading. Flow rate standards are discussed, and drainage composite mat installation is explained.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    From home offices to gyms to entertaining, homes have become multifunctional spaces. The use of smart technology provides innovative options for people to control and manage their homes for comfort and well-being on a daily basis. Smart home technology allows people to customize their homes. This course discusses how smart technology can interconnect household spaces to increase comfort, cleanliness, and well-being.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    The diffuse light-transmitting and composite technology of translucent structural sandwich panels has increasingly caught the imagination of architects and designers because it is possible to maximize wall or roof daylighting while minimizing energy loss, with consequent savings in the running costs of heating, air conditioning, and artificial lighting. This course explores the fundamental connection between light and health by examining how translucent structural sandwich panels deliver glare-free, diffuse daylight deeper and more evenly into spaces with maximum thermal efficiency.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Today, architects and designers need to give special consideration to building acoustics when developing plans for new and newly renovated construction projects. Excessive noise in any environment is considered a serious problem that can negatively impact occupant comfort, leading to learning difficulties, sleep deprivation, delayed recovery from illness, and lack of privacy. Sound basics are discussed in this course, and STC, IIC, and sound attenuation (reduction) techniques are explained. Various case studies are examined to develop further understanding of the performance of common sound abatement assemblies that are essential for occupant well-being and comfort.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Often the largest access point in a building, sectional door systems play a significant role in controlling energy costs and supporting sustainable design in residential and commercial buildings. This course explores the specification considerations and the different types of sectional garage doors, as well as their role in enhancing the thermal performance of homes and commercial buildings.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Designing restrooms to allow for and maximize proper hygiene is important in reducing the spread of germs. This course discusses the elements of hygienic restroom design and how reducing required touchpoints helps to increase safety and cleanliness. The key steps in proper hand hygiene are also discussed. The course then focuses on hand dryers and considers their impact on hand hygiene and sustainability. The future of commercial restroom design is then explored.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Now more than ever, public restrooms must provide users with a hygienic and safe experience that supports inclusivity, human health, and wellness. In this course, we explore how multistall public restrooms address users’ concerns about hygiene, safety, privacy, and efficiency through partitions, touchless fixtures, hand dryers, and more. We also discuss fulfilling WELL Building Standard™ v2 requirements by promoting public health and safety in restroom design.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Extreme weather events of all sorts are becoming increasingly frequent and ferocious. Wood stick-framed structures struggle to withstand them. As climate behavior shifts and worsens, building damage and destruction increase, building codes evolve, and insurance premiums skyrocket or simply become unavailable for certain building types in some locations. Architects must now utilize stronger, more resilient, noncombustible building approaches to address this situation. In addition, mounting pressures related to labor shortages, rising material costs, stringent building codes, and environmental volatility are pushing architects, developers, and engineers to reimagine their approaches to structural design and material selection. This course explores how an innovative, scalable, and economical cold-formed steel column and composite beam framing system can and does address these issues to create faster and deliver stronger, more cost-effective, and sustainable projects. This well-proven, code compliant system reduces dependencies on multiple trades and minimizes the number of handoffs, positively impacting schedule compression, which then translates directly into earlier openings, faster revenue generation, and reduced labor costs. The system is applicable to a range of housing, hotel, and commercial midrise projects in all climates. The course begins by exploring the limitations of traditional wood and metal framing systems. It then describes this prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) column and beam framing system and its details, erection methodology, advantages, environmental and sustainability benefits, accreditations, and certifications. It concludes with some representative examples of real-life projects.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Building a stronger connection with nature is critical to maintaining human health and well-being. Composite wood decking is a durable, environmentally sustainable product that can help build links with nature through outdoor living spaces. This course examines the different decking options and explains the sustainability benefits of using composite decking and how it can help meet green building requirements. Various design innovations that enhance occupant well-being are also discussed.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Redwood lumber and timbers from sustainably managed and harvested forests offer warmth, durability, and strength in indoor and outdoor projects. This course covers the performance characteristics, environmental benefits, and applications of Redwood, including several case studies that highlight the beauty and versatility of Redwood products. Details are presented on differentiating the grades of Redwood, specifying the right grade for the project type, and the specification resources that are available.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Well-designed and detailed skylight systems can significantly improve both building and occupant performance. This course explores the benefits, techniques, and importance of daylighting systems that utilize high-performance skylights to optimize daylighting benefits, avoid negative impacts, and contribute positively to building, occupant, and envelope performance. It examines how daylighting with skylights can help meet the requirements of the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL v2 Building Standard™.

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Biophilic design is a methodology for designing buildings and landscapes that improve human health and well-being while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world. This course provides an overview of biophilic design and its frameworks and how it can help projects earn certification through LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C): New Construction, WELL Building Standard™ version 2, Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2, and the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

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  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Dual-flush wall-mounted toilets help create modern, stylish bathrooms that strike a balance between sustainable water efficiency, flexible design, and space savings. This course compares this style with other traditional types of toilets, discusses how wall-mounted toilets benefit commercial and residential users, and explains how they satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other accessibility and building code requirements.

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  • ( ~ 15 minutes ) 

    Policies targeting the reduction of carbon emissions associated with building products require the disclosure of embodied carbon data to inform those policies and verify whether reduction targets or incentive requirements have been met. This course aims to provide a guide to collecting high-quality embodied carbon data.

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Displaying 151 - 175 of 403 results.

FIRST PREV [101-125] [126-150] [151-175] [176-200] [201-225] NEXT LAST