Building for the Future: Sustainable Home Design Online

Whether you're building your own house or simply want to talk knowledgeably with those who will build it for you, these workshops will help you understand the home design principles that make use of both new and centuries old methods and materials for sustainable living. These workshops are also suitable as a prerequisite for those interested in becoming professionals in the field of sustainable design and for those design professionals interested in capably meeting their clients' demand for sustainable design.

Building for the Future Online will focus on the principles behind designing and building residential structures that achieve optimal year-round comfort, reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and limit environmental impact. The emphasis is on integrated design using a whole-building approach, applying building science and integrating green design strategies into the built environment. Also covered will be the synergistic relationship between climate-sensitive design and natural building materials.

Designed to compliment each other, the Building for the Future online & face-to-face courses can be taken independently to bring you up to speed or combined with each other to solidify knowledge. Both courses provide a solid overview of building a sustainable home with specifics in site analysis, building science, energy efficiency, passive solar design and alternatives to conventional building materials & techniques. In addition to online curriculum, participants will receive The Building With Awareness video, the book Your Green Home by Alex Wilson, and industry related hand-outs, and numerous Internet resource links. A course glossary, extensive resource guide and case studies of successful sustainable homes are included online.

Time Requirements: You can work on the Building for the Future Online course at ANYTIME, but you will generally need between 8-15 hrs/week to complete assignments/quizzes and participate in online discussions. This is an average/estimate and will vary based on user's computer/internet connection and previous experience/understanding of the subject matter.


The Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technologies (CERET) offers certificates in Renewable Energy to provide students with the theoretical knowledge necessary to begin a career in energy management and renewable energy technology. Certificates are granted through Madison Area Technical College (MATC). SEI's online courses qualify for college credits through MATC and towards a Renewable Energy Certificate. Click here for more information on CERET's Renewable Energy Certificates."

Students residing outside the United States must pay an extra fee for shipping of course materials. Contact SEI for details.

Topics Include

• Building Orientation
• Solar Site Analysis
• Lessons Learned
• Building Science
• Moisture & Air Leakage
• Super-Insulation Strategies
• New Window Technologies
• Passive Solar Designs
• Energy Efficient Technologies
• Indoor Air Quality
• Sustainable Back-up Heating Systems
• Healthy/Green Building Materials
• Domestic Solar Hot Water
• Renewable Energy Options
• Practical Building Techniques

 

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