Continuing Education

Sustainable Design Courses

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Displaying 51 - 75 of 395 results.

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


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 30 minutes ) 

    Continuous insulation is part of building standards and state and energy codes due to its ability to reduce thermal bridging and the 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.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Wildfires are becoming more common and severe, posing a significant threat to communities worldwide. Architects and the building industry must adopt a proactive approach to address this issue. In this course, we explore innovative and eco-friendly wildfire defense systems, which can play a vital role in protecting our communities and the environment from the harmful effects of wildfires and addressing the current home insurance crisis.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The surface coating is the first line of defense in prepainted metal, and one of the most important elements to consider as part of a metal purchase. Selecting the right coating, finish, and paint system can affect product lifespan, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. This course discusses the composition of prepainted metal, its application and performance, and examines the building and environmental factors that may influence the type of paint system specified.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Made from one of the hardest and most abundant minerals in nature, engineered quartz is a beautiful, durable surface solution for a wide range of commercial and residential applications desiring the beauty of natural stone without its drawbacks. The raw materials of quartz surfacing are harvested from the Earth and formed into slabs via an innovative production process, resulting in a homogenous, nonporous material with superior performance and low maintenance requirements. Reviewed in this course are the features, fabrication guidelines, and design trends of quartz surfacing.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    As some of the earliest building materials, masonry and concrete have been used for their durability and strength. However, masonry architecture, both historical and contemporary, has been left vulnerable to water—the single most damaging element to masonry in our environment. This course identifies common water-related problems for masonry and concrete, describes protective treatments that increase masonry durability, and explains the process for safely selecting and applying a protective treatment.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Structural laminated decking allows the beauty of the wood structure to be exposed, creating a unique architectural experience for its occupants. Aesthetics, strength, and durability are combined in one engineered product. Structural laminated wood decking is an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective alternative to solid timber and other roof systems. This course discusses the characteristics of laminated wood decking and reviews recommended design, specification, and installation practices.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    As part of a well-designed rainscreen system, single-skin metal panels offer unique aesthetic options combined with the assurance that the building envelope will withstand the effects of long-term exposure to the elements. This course compares common cladding types; presents single-skin metal panel materials, coatings, finishes, and design options; and examines using single-skin metal panels with a single-component barrier wall to form a complete rainscreen assembly. This course is one of two identical courses titled Single-Skin Metal Panel Building Envelope Solutions . You will receive credit for taking only one of these courses.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Inclusive design is a win-win for customers and businesses. It shows the business supports the assumption that public spaces should be functional for all users no matter their age, health, or abilities. The commitment to inclusivity encompasses promoting and respecting everyone’s right to choose a washroom. This course explores the benefits of inclusive spaces and discusses the sustainable, hygienic, functional, and distinctive design and material options for inclusive public bathrooms.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The construction of residential and commercial buildings that use less energy to operate and are long lived is a key part of sustainable design. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide the necessary U-factor, airtightness, resiliency, and durability for all building types. Insulated concrete forms in residential and commercial construction projects offer excellent thermal performance and reduced energy consumption and operating costs, while maintaining a very comfortable and healthy interior environment. This course examines the ICF wall, including materials and components, and discusses design considerations and construction.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    There are many kinds of resin-based coatings for metal. The type of resin used plays an important role in determining a coating's durability and physical properties. This course discusses these coatings and their application techniques. It also discusses why the coatings may deteriorate and how to measure the performance of the coatings. The role that resin-based coatings perform in cool roofs is explored along with the standards that measure the sustainability of cool roofs. This course provides the information one needs to ensure that the coated product will perform as expected and provide a durable, long-lasting finish.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Low Impact Development (LID) has several advantages over traditional stormwater management approaches. Since impervious pavement is the main source of stormwater runoff, LID strategies recommend permeable paving for hard surfaces. The course discusses LID, its goals and principles, and how they are achieved. It provides an overview of permeable pavements, and more particularly, plastic permeable grid paver systems and how they support LID goals.


  • ( ~ 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.


  • ( ~ 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).


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The inherent properties of concrete masonry, including strength, durability, and fire safety, have been well documented, though a perception of high cost persists. Due to significant changes to codes and standards that increased the flexibility of concrete masonry structural design, this construction method may also offer cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative solutions. This course reviews changes to ASTM C90 and the masonry design standard and includes a discussion on the benefits and opportunities these requirements bring.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    “Sustainable” design isn’t just “environmental.” It’s design that works for and contributes to the health and welfare of all individuals as well as the planet, now and in the future. This course looks at hand dryers as part of sustainably designed restrooms and discusses how air knife hand dryers benefit the environment through energy efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction, and benefit all members of society by meeting ADA requirements and Universal Design principles.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    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 take a look at the code requirements for buildings classified as IBC Types I—IV, paths to achieving compliance, and the number of roles polyisocyanurate insulation plays in meeting these requirements.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Concrete is an essential part of modern buildings. As net zero energy buildings become more common, it is crucial to find ways to reduce concrete’s carbon footprint without losing the performance characteristics that make it valuable to the building team. This course explains the sources of concrete’s carbon footprint and explores strategies for reducing embodied carbon and operational carbon in precast sandwich wall panels and insulated architectural cladding.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is not just an idea about how to “grade the greenness” of products; it is a well-developed, globally recognized way to make responsible comparisons and decisions regarding sustainable material design and continuous improvement. This course discusses the concept of the EPD as applied to building materials and how to integrate EPDs into design and product selection decisions. Detailed information from different thermal insulation EPDs is used to demonstrate how thermal insulation provides a unique and significant payback in terms of energy and environmental impacts.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Rolling doors are used in heavy-duty, medium-duty, and light-duty applications for a wide range of commercial, industrial, and construction environments. This course provides a review of the features, components, options, and applications of various types of commercial rolling door products.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    In the wake of the green movement, combined with rising energy costs, building sustainability has become an important topic. This course examines how foil-faced polyisocyanurate (polyiso) continuous insulation can function as a multiple control layer, providing a building with an air and water-resistive barrier and a thermal control layer. Additionally, this course reviews building codes and standards for meeting the continuous insulation requirements in steel stud building envelope designs, the benefits of using polyiso insulation in wall assemblies, and how polyiso insulation meets NFPA 285 requirements.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Today's architects are faced with a difficult task: how best to design buildings that meet up-to-date energy codes while keeping costs down and clients happy. Developments in filtration technology make it possible to conserve energy, improve indoor air quality (IAQ), and dramatically reduce ongoing utility and operating costs. This course reviews advanced engineered solutions for energy savings and air quality for commercial, institutional, medical, pharmaceutical, and other critical applications.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Drying hands thoroughly is crucial for maintaining hygiene levels, and when a hand dryer is too slow, the result is many people give up trying to dry their hands and leave the bathroom with wet or damp hands. Research has shown that damp hands can transmit up to 1,000x more bacteria than dry hands. This course discusses hand-drying concepts and the advantages of hand dryers with air knife technology. It also reviews the impact the choice of hand-drying equipment has on public health, occupant comfort, facility operations, and our environment.


  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Rainscreens are a multicomponent system offering redundancy in resisting the weather; however, continuity of each component is critical. When an insulated metal panel (IMP) is used within the system, it can function as a number of these components, simplifying installation and improving performance. This course looks at IMPs acting as barrier walls behind various rainscreen systems, with a discussion on the performance characteristics for air, water, vapor, and thermal management.


  • ( ~ 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.


  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    This course encourages dialogue and shares methods to adopt inclusive design approaches within the daily practice of design while seeking to inspire industry professionals to imagine an inclusive world that is powered by your creativity and sense of humanity. As our world becomes smaller and smaller, humanity aspires to provide care, work, and play and live connected experiences that are more meaningful. As designers, it is our responsibility to create considerate environments that support this quality of life for all. This is the Future of Design.

     In order to download this course, a USD $35.00 fee must be paid.

Displaying 51 - 75 of 395 results.

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