LEED General Courses By Newest

During this one-hour course, ‘Expansive Openings for Energy Efficient Settings’, you’ll uncover the features and benefits of large opening glass wall systems. Explore how architects and builders are using glass wall systems to expand spaces and connect occupants to the outdoors. We’ll also drill into system components, glazing, and frames and the detailed characteristics of each that contribute to energy efficiency.

This course is part two of a documentary exploring the Health Science Education Building (HSEB) pursuing LEED certification under the LEED NC 2009 v3 rating system, using the Campus Program as a case study. Through a series of interviews, info-graphics, and construction video tours, we will concentrate on credit implementation during construction.

This course documents the design challenges for the Health Sciences Education Building in Arizona. Design team members discuss sustainable sites, integrated design process, energy models, copper cladding, and the LEED campus approach. Ultimately, the documentary explores how a harsh climate and community needs inspire and determine building design.

In this course, we discuss the longevity, durability, and sustainability attributes of pre-fabricated shower pans compared to traditional mortar bed shower pans and how these affect occupants. Our team reviews pre-fabricated shower pan installation practices and how they reduce resource consumption and improve worker safety. Finally, we examine how pre-fabricated shower pans contributed to LEED projects.

Water heaters are vital for every building’s operation. However, traditional tank-style water heaters are inefficient, unreliable, and harmful to the environment. Join us in this one-hour course as we discuss the many benefits of tankless water heaters, including lower building emissions and increased occupant health. Participants will encounter real world cost analyses and case studies that incorporate tankless water heaters in a variety of applications.

The roof of a building is not only vital  as a structural component but can also be an important design feature that makes a building stand out among others. Join us in this one-hour course as we discuss the installation  methods of concrete roof tile systems that minimize environmental impact while maximizing durability and design.

In this presentation, we explore the WELL Building Standard and how it can advance human health and well-being. WELL v2 is an evidence-based, technically robust, resilient rating system that can help design professionals create inspiring and healthy buildings. Our team discusses the ten concepts of WELL v2 and performance testing that can help improve occupant health. We examine WELL certified projects and their attributes that make them healthy buildings. This introductory course is aimed at design professionals who want a basic overview of the WELL Building Standard.

In this course we explore how Low Impact Development (LID) has several advantages over traditional stormwater management strategies. Our team discusses LID, its goals and principles, and how they are achieved. The course provides an overview of how plastic permeable grid paver systems support LID goals. We review how LID can help reduce environmental impacts and contribute to LEED v4 as well as reduce hazards for site occupants. Finally, our team examines case studies that show how plastic permeable grid paver systems can benefit projects.

In this presentation, we discuss Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and how it can be used as a tool by building designers to ensure occupant health and safety. We interpret CFD analyses to make design improvements for optimal air movement, cohesive comfort for occupants, and efficiency. Finally, we explain how destratifying a space can decrease HVAC sizing for more efficient and sustainable designs.

This course will go over the basics of vegetated roof construction and how the industry has documented successful installations over the last 25 years in the United States. We will teach the design requirements and standards unique to green roofs. The course will educate the participant on the benefits of the technology- including stormwater management and lowering roof temperatures. We will also provide project examples across the country that incorporate a variety of technologies such as biosolar, amenity decks, daylight harvesting, and agricultural production.

In this course, we explore how HVLS Fans can contribute to thermal comfort, energy savings, and sustainable design. Our team explores the basics of ASHRAE Standard 55 requirements and new updates to Standard 55-2017 & 55-2020. We discuss how air movement can assist with meeting indoor air quality performance and energy performance requirements for sustainable design projects. Finally, we describe how to evaluate compliance with comfort standards in various environments and how they affect building occupants.

This one hour educational video is part one of a two part case study focusing on an off the grid residence in northern Washington. We will explore sustainable design issues and discover how this project comes to fruition. With a focus on reducing environmental impacts, the course delves into the design strategies associated with off the grid principles such as on-site renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and renewable regional materials. Interviews with owners, architect and the construction team will provide informative narrative and lessons learned during the process.

During this course, we explore how vacuum plumbing can help design professionals create projects that save water, energy, and money and contribute to sustainable design. We review how vacuum plumbing can help contribute to LEED projects and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, especially during a pandemic. Our team illustrates the differences between vacuum plumbing and gravity plumbing and how they compare regarding sustainability, health and safety, cost and design and use of existing real estate flexibility.

How can commercial restroom design reduce touchpoints, promote proper hand hygiene, and reduce the spread of infection? This course explores this timely question. Attendees will first hear an overview of hygienic restroom design, learning about key elements, such as reducing touching points, improving air quality, and optimizing waste management. Next, the course explores proper hand hygiene techniques, something 97% of consumers fail to do before a meal.

This one-hour course describes Southern Yellow Pine’s impact on building structures historically and today, listing its sustainable attributes and characteristics. This course also examines how the by-products and waste of SYP are reusable and compares the life cycle assessment of SYP to other building materials.

In the wake of COVID-19, people expect more from the facilities they use daily. Public spaces, especially restrooms and locker rooms, must be clean, hygienic, and accessible for everyone to use. Emphasizing public health should not require sacrificing sustainability or aesthetics. This one-hour presentation outlines practical short- and long-term solutions that design professionals can incorporate into restrooms, locker rooms, and other public spaces to ensure safety for both end users and the environment.

This course discusses the impact of buildings on the natural environment and offers insight on designing to minimize those impacts. The discussion emphasizes how implementing design methods including specification of technologies such as sunshading systems and other materials that contain recycled content as part of a holistic building design is critical to optimizing energy performance and reducing extraction of natural resources for building materials. LEED credits associated with specifying aluminum sunshading systems is also discussed.

Canopy systems are sometimes one of those building elements that get taken for granted or overlooked, despite the important role they play in providing coverage, shading and reduced heat gain to a building. The integration of these systems with other exterior building systems also often ends up becoming an afterthought, leaving room for potential errors and less-than-ideal scenarios.

In this program we’ll discuss the importance of early consideration and integration of your canopy system in the design process while exploring the various benefits whole canopy solutions provide.