Sustainability

Green Urban Design

Overview/Description:

Urban design theory is the livability and sense of urban place. “Green urban design” incorporates sustainability and environmental stewardship in urban design decisions. This interactive online course gives you fundamental urban design principles and green urban design approaches. Specifically we’ll discuss green urban design details that you can apply to your projects: Green street design Parking approaches Alternate transportation options Storm water considerations Landscaping and irrigation Site elements

Course Number:

RV-10226

Sustainable Design: Eco-efficiency of Roofing Insulation Systems

Overview/Description:

This 1-hour interactive online course explores several popular roofing insulation systems – Expanded polystyrene (EPS), Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso), Extruded polystyrene (XPS), and Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) – and discusses the influences each one has on sustainable design. It is divided into the following sections: Sustainable Development Insulation Systems Technical Aspects Environmental and Economic Aspects Appendix The course begins with an introduction to sustainable development, compares different plastic insulation systems, then follows up with some technical points on each system. Lastly, eco-efficiency analysis is explained and the environmental and economic aspects of each system are discussed.

Course Number:

RV-10189

Introduction to Net Zero Buildings

Overview/Description:

Gaining particular momentum in the design and construction industry is the notion of Net Zero buildings. For many in the design and construction industry Net Zero is a lofty goal, and one not usually realized.  This interactive webcast will focus on the concept of Net Zero, which has several variations of what the term means in practice. We will look at the practicality and marketability of a Net Zero building that uses no more energy than it generates.  We will conclude with discussion of the world-wide application of Net Zero building.

Course Number:

RV-10348AW

Green Design: Introduction to High Performance Building Design (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

There is consensus among the majority of scientists that the climate of the earth is changing in the direction of higher temperatures and that some of the change is anthropomorphic (caused by human activity). This course is intended to address that portion of the human contribution to climate change that is related to energy use in buildings.   In this course, we will look at the ways buildings use energy and how buildings can be designed for high energy performance. It is important that architects and designers understand and are aware of the resources and methods available for improving building designs in the future. A major piece to understanding sustainable buildind design is also understanding th requirements of the Energy and Atmosphere category of LEED v4 Building Design and Construction (BD+C).

Course Number:

RV-10683

LEED v4 for Healthcare Facilities

Overview/Description:

This course reviews the greatest changes in the new LEED-NC v4 Rating System that would impact healthcare projects and what credits provide the biggest “bang for the buck”. Real life relational stories are included to help reinforce some of the concepts and actions.

Course Number:

RV-10649AW

Green Design: Sustainability and Historic Preservation

Course Number:

RV-10274

The Principles and Implications of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) v2012

Overview/Description:

Green building and sustainable design are hot topics in the building design and construction industry. Beyond the hype, though there is a real advantage to employing many of the tactics espoused by these strategies, chief among these advantages is the ability to save money while saving the environment. Many standards have been written in an attempt to codify these green approaches. ASHRAE has put out their 189.1 standard, and industry personnel are very familiar with LEED. Another entity that is pushing the boundaries of green and sustainable design is the IECC – International Energy Conservation Code. In this course we will explore the tenets and nuances of that standard.

Course Number:

RV-10645AW

LEED v4 for New Construction Projects

Overview/Description:

This course will describe how to navigate the new credits and prerequisites under the new version of LEED. It will address the changes from LEED 2009 in each credit category and how they will affect new projects registering under Version 4.

Course Number:

RV-10819AW

Sustainable Solutions: Loss of Biodiversity

Overview/Description:

Biodiversity refers to the richness and distribution of species living in a given area. This course will deal with strategies to effectively mitigate negative impacts to habitat and to restore damaged or degraded natural systems on-site.   Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10489

Design of Water Efficient Buildings

Overview/Description:

This interactive webcast will discuss approaches for conserving water including water efficient building technologies, simple systems for recycling and reusing water on site, and how to drastically decrease the demands on shared supplies.   This course will also discuss the many great environmental and economic benefits to water efficient buildings. We will conclude with details on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria for water efficiency, plus additional case study examples on innovations in wastewater treatment and reuse

Course Number:

RV-10354AW

2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) Fundamentals Part 1

Overview/Description:

The International Green Construction Code (or IgCC) Fundamentals series will provide an overview of the critical concepts of the IgCC. The series will address how the IgCC regulates new construction, existing construction, multiple occupancy classifications and community development. It will also address how the IgCC relates to ASHRAE/189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings. This particular course, Part 1, will explain chapters 1 through 5 of the IgCC.   Developed in partnership with the International Code Council. 

Course Number:

RV-10640

Energy Modeling Outcomes – Design with Confidence

Overview/Description:

What is energy modeling and how can it help in your next site design? We all know that having the right information earlier produces substantially superior results. Systematic early design energy modeling assists design teams and owners by clarifying the decision space, and bringing relevant information to the discussion. This interactive online course will help you discover the replicable methods to produce better information sooner as well as the incentive programs to look for that will subsidize these best practices. Building energy modeling and distributed generation systems will be covered so you will have all of the tools necessary to push for net zero building designs.

Course Number:

RV-11162AW

Green Building: Commercial High Performance Guidelines Part 2

Overview/Description:

Do you know the new methodologies that form the underpinnings of high performance commercial and municipal buildings? This course will give them to you. This is the second installment of a two-part series in designing high performance “green” commercial buildings. This online, interactive course gives you the principles and practices for designing new buildings and redesigning existing frameworks. You’ll learn to maximize operational energy savings; improve comfort, health, and safety of occupants and visitors; and limit detrimental effects on the environment.   We recommend you complete Commercial Green Building High Performance Guidelines – Part 1 before you begin this course.

Course Number:

RV-10204

Green Design: Introduction to Sustainable Design Materials and Resources (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

This course provides an introduction to the study of those materials and techniques that are both ecologically efficient and ecologically effective. After completing the course, you should have an understanding of: Characteristics of sustainable materials. The concepts of life cycle, embodied energy, and embodied carbon are introduced. The benefits of using sustainable materials. Environmental, economic, social, cultural, and aesthetic opportunities are discussed. Selecting a sustainable material selected. Techniques, databases, and organizations are introduced. Using sustainable materials. design for building and material reuse, construction waste management, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Materials and Resources (MR) credits are discussed.

Course Number:

RV-10680

Introduction to Rain Gardens

Overview/Description:

Rain gardens have become very popular, with good reason. You can create landscapes that add beauty, wildlife habitat, and interest to an area – while helping manage storm water more sustainably. You can use them to meet LID (Low Impact Development) requirements.   This interactive online course will teach you how to significantly reduce the impacts of development and also aid in improving storm water quality.

Course Number:

RV-10281

Sustainable Solutions: Human Health and Well-Being

Overview/Description:

This course emphasizes the importance of using site design to increase physical activity within a community and provides strategies for doing so. It addresses the subject of maintaining positive mental health through the integration of natural landscapes. Strategies for implementing opportunities for social interaction among adults and spontaneous play among children are also discussed. Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10484

Increasing Building Energy Efficiencies: Policies and Practice

Overview/Description:

While LEED and Sustainable Design dominated the industry landscape in the 2000’s, the last several years have witnessed a pivot to specific improvements in resources, specifically in the areas of water and energy use and efficiency. That bar has been raised through increasingly stringent standards in ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and 189.1-2011, as well as Federal mandates increasing in stringency from EPAct05 through EISA 07, Executive Order 13423, EO 13423 & EO 13514, and most recently 10 CFR 433: Energy Efficiency Design Standards for new Federal Commercial Buildings.

Course Number:

RV-10735AW

Sustainable Urban Design: High Speed Rail

Overview/Description:

High Speed Rail is an increasingly popular means of rapid passenger transit, capable of speeds up to 250 miles per hour.  As demand for more efficient, eco-friendly means of mass transit increases, so does the appeal of high speed rail as a more prominent means of  travel in the United States.   This 1-hour webcast discusses key concepts of High Speed Rail and compares it with other popular modes of transportation.

Course Number:

RV-10216AW

LID Technologies

Overview/Description:

A low-impact development (LID) design approach is defined as a combination of hydrologically functional site design with pollution prevention measures to compensate for land development impacts on hydrology and water quality. This course will provide an overview and introduction into the philosophy, objectives, various design approaches, economic and environmental benefits, and management practices of low-impact development. Specifically, course will demonstrate how to develop land and maintain the predevelopment hydrologic regime by using current structural and nonstructural storm water management technological approaches.

Course Number:

RV-10545AW

Green Design: Introduction to Sustainable Sites (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

This course provides students with the conceptual foundation necessary for exploring many aspects of environmentally progressive site design. Aspects of site sustainability covered in the course include water, solar environment, natural ventilation, transportation, and civic patterns. Each is considered at a variety of scales ranging from the individual parcel to the neighborhood and placed within larger regional and global contexts. In this way, students are equipped to immediately begin making ecologically informed decisions about the site design of their projects, while simultaneously preparing themselves for further, more detailed study of various issues related to site sustainability. Vector Solutions has a long history of providing industry-specific content for its customers. While this course and its content remain accurate and functional within our systems, the look and feel may not match our more modern offerings.

Course Number:

RV-10681

LEED v4 and the Future of Green

Overview/Description:

The US Green Building Council has just unveiled its 4th version of the LEED certification standards known as LEEDv4. In this course, we will focus on the differences between LEED v4 and its predecessor, LEED 2009. The course will cover the reasoning behind the new update as well as describe new credit categories and the changes that are to be implemented per individual credit. The course goes on to examine LEED v4 technical content and point distribution. The overall objective of the course is to take a comprehensive look at LEED v4 standards of New Construction relative to previous LEED versions and come away with a good working knowledge of its new project criterions and its impact on the future of sustainable new construction.

Course Number:

RV-10537AW

Residential Green Remodeling: Design, Construction, and Certification

Overview/Description:

This course will introduce residential construction professionals to green building and renovation strategies, practices, and materials. In addition to its positive environmental impacts, green building ultimately results in a healthier and a more affordable home for clients. If a program is implemented effectively, it’s also good for the residential remodeler’s financial bottom line. The green building and remodeling market continues to grow, providing great opportunities for building professionals to develop and expand their businesses. This course provides a comprehensive discussion of the unique aspects of green remodeling with a focus on building evaluation, deconstruction, handling of hazardous waste, materials recycling and reuse, energy conservation, indoor air quality, use of environmentally safe products, design principles, system planning and construction best practices. The course also provides an overview of green building certification programs, green building professional accreditation programs, and incentives available from government agencies and utilities.   ATTN: This educational offering is recognized by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry as satisfying 4 hours of credit toward the required continuing education.

Course Number:

RV-10858

Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape

Overview/Description:

Infrastructure is the complex, interdependent system that supports our way of life. You can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities to build and re-build a “Green” Infrastructure – if you have the right template. This course is one of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts applicable to cities and municipalities. This 2-hour interactive online course gives you the information and action items for assessing sites and identifying opportunities to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. Topics covered are: Working with community groups Attractive Streetscapes safe for pedestrians and vehicles Improvements that promote good health in cities Upgrades that are cost-effective and sustainable Changes that provide for increased security The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices

Course Number:

RV-10172

Green Design: Sustainable Daylighting Design (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

Daylighting can be one of the most difficult “tools” in the lighting designer’s toolbar. Adding sustainability into the mix carries its own considerations and obstacles. But you can become a master at sustainable daylighting design. In this course, we will concentrate on pragmatic daylight design and how sustainable daylighting elements can be used efficiently in lighting design projects. You will get instruction in and see examples of daylighting designs that are functional, beautiful, and worthy of LEED credits.

Course Number:

RV-10686

Green Design: Introduction to Sustainable Water Systems (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

The goal of this online interactive course is to introduce you to a perspective on development and design practices that help professionals support communities in managing and sustaining use of local water resources. It is often said when discussing sustainable practices that people need to think globally and act locally. This is especially true when dealing with water resources. Unlike any other resource, water cycles through the earth’s environments at global and continental scales, but each step of that journey serves as a highly valued local resource. This course will discuss a sustainable approach to water use and management in buildings, sites, and campuses. It systematically introduces key concepts that help practitioners understand the larger watershed and community water systems that local development practices impact, and the cultural, social, economic, and health benefits communities derive from earth’s water systems. This course also introduces the consequences of conflicts between current development practices and these water systems and emerging developments practices that work better with, and have a lower-impact on, watershed systems. Brief overviews of LEED-BD+C v4.0 credits that contribute to improved water quality, reduced water use, management of local stormwater and groundwater resources are included to help orient professionals to practices they may wish to learn more about. Lastly, the author provides some examples of how strategies introduced in the lesson can contribute to and express the natural, cultural, social, and aesthetic character of places.

Course Number:

RV-10988

Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management

Overview/Description:

This course is the sixth of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts as they apply to cities and municipalities. This 3-hour interactive online course gives you the information and action items to assess sites and identify opportunities to use Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. You’ll get: Integrated stormwater management planning Water pollution prevention Construction runoff prevention Surface pretreatments for filtering runoff Catch basin inserts and water quality inlets Detention and Infiltration structures Constructed wetlands The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices  It is recommended that you take the Introduction course before taking the Best Practices courses.

Course Number:

RV-10179

Green Design: The Ethics of Green Design

Overview/Description:

Green design is an evolutionary process—every day designers, engineers, academics and other innovators continue to expand the constellation of green design materials and techniques. No set of professional standards could ever be exhaustive enough to deal with every conceivable scenario. Therefore, a holistic ethical understanding of green design is necessary, as is an ability to embrace the constant change inherent to the industry. This course will cover ethical concepts and codified professional ethical standards as they relate to green design, as well as topical environmental and group functionality issues.

Course Number:

RV-10685

2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) Fundamentals Part 2

Overview/Description:

The International Green Construction Code (or IgCC) Fundamentals series will provide an overview of the critical concepts of the IgCC. The series will address how the IgCC regulates new construction, existing construction, multiple occupancy classifications and community development. It will also address how the IgCC relates to ASHRAE/189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings. This particular course, Part 2, will explain chapters 6 through 12 of the IgCC, as well as the appendices.   Developed in partnership with the International Code Council. 

Course Number:

RV-10646

Green Landscape Design: Reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect

Overview/Description:

As the earth’s average temperature increases, cities, which are often significantly warmer than the surrounding landscapes (the urban heat island effect), will be faced with higher energy needs, increased pollution and degradation of air quality. The world is becoming more and more urban – it is estimated that within 50 years 80% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This interactive online course will address how we can mitigate the heat island effect so our urban cities remain healthy, economically viable places to live.

Course Number:

RV-11345AW

Sustainable Solutions: Air Pollution

Overview/Description:

Welcome to the course Sustainable Solutions: Air Pollution. In this course we will explore the relationship between air pollution and site development. Major pollutant sources and their impacts will be discussed along with strategies for reducing embodied energy and creating favorable microclimates that benefit the site and surrounding area. Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10485

Green Building: Commercial High Performance Guidelines Part 1

Overview/Description:

What is a high performance “green” commercial building? Why build one? This interactive on-line course answers those questions and much more. This course is Part 1 of a 2-part course that gives you the methodologies to plan, design, and build high performance, “green” commercial buildings. You’ll get guidelines and processes to apply specifically to commercial and municipal construction. You’ll start with the basics of sustainability and progress through designing new construction or renovating existing structures.

Course Number:

RV-10198

Green Design: Economics of Green Building

Overview/Description:

In this course we will present an in-depth study of the perceived and actual costs associated with green building. You will get an overview of the federal, state, and local tax credits available; life cycle cost analysis; and business incentives to go green. We will also review a couple of case studies.

Course Number:

RV-10682

Green Design: Biophilia and the Human Affinity for Nature

Course Number:

RV-10254

Building Performance: Design Through Operations

Overview/Description:

How has building design changed in recent years? Have you thought about how much more energy efficient your design could be today? How about in the next 5, 10, or 15 years? In this interactive online course, we will discuss how to best implement sustainable buildings from the design phase through the operations phase by focusing on the 3 main narratives of integrated design, construction commissioning, and performance tracking. By following up with the design of your building through the performance period, your project can meet the requirements of Architecture 2030 and can become a marketing opportunity of proven performance tracked on sustainable design.

Course Number:

RV-11002AW

Building a Sustainable Future

Overview/Description:

Over 7 billion people now inhabit the earth, placing unprecedented pressure on the planet’s soils, waters, forests, and other natural capital. The majority of the global population lives in urban areas, where their interactions with nature, and the benefits that these interactions provide, commonly occur in small-scale sites and residential settings. Most often, these landscapes are treated as inconsequential, and their full potential to mend humanity’s environmental offenses and improve our quality of life is commonly overlooked. This course illustrates the importance of creating regenerative and resilient systems that increase the provision of ecosystem services. Site sustainability is defined, and the value of education about sustainability and stewardship toward our built and natural ecosystems is discussed. The importance of instilling a love of nature in our children is examined, in addition to the monitoring and adaptive management of ecosystems so maintenance practices can be continually adjusted to improve the overall function of the site.   The purpose of this course is to elevate the discussion of sustainability beyond “doing less bad”—attempting to merely slow down environmental degradation—to create regenerative sites that restore ecosystem function and rebuild the earth’s natural capital.   Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. 

Course Number:

RV-10482

LEED v4 for Retail Projects

Overview/Description:

This course reviews the greatest changes in the new LEED v4 Rating System that would impact retail projects and what credits provide the biggest “bang for the buck”. Real life relational stories are included to help reinforce some of the concepts and actions. We’ll also review when the NC Rating System should be used or when the project is more aligned with the CI Rating System.

Course Number:

RV-10700AW

LEED v4: Residential Homes

Course Number:

RV-10595AW

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Overview/Description:

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are a new sustainable structural panelized building material that can be used for roofs, floors, and wall panels. This course will examine various uses and structural limitations on the materials. An exploration of code requirements and constructibility will be included. Design examples will illustrate cost effective approaches to incorporating this new sustainable material.   ATTN: This educational offering is recognized by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry as satisfying 1 hour of credit toward the required continuing education.

Course Number:

RV-10795AW

Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities

Overview/Description:

This course is one of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts applicable to cities and municipalities. This interactive online course gives you the information and action items for assessing sites and identifying opportunities to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. You’ll get: Mechanisms to affect right-of-way construction by private utilities Technology to minimize pavement damage and degradation Upgrades to utility installation and maintenance The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices It is recommended that you take the Introduction course before taking the Best Practices courses. Vector Solutions has a long history of providing industry-specific content for its customers. While this course and its content remain accurate and functional within our systems, the look and feel may not match our more modern offerings.

Course Number:

RV-10177

Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape

Overview/Description:

This course is seventh in an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts as they apply to cities and municipalities. This 3-hour interactive online course gives you the information and action items to assess sites and identify opportunities to use Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. You’ll get: Citywide landscape planning Maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and ecology Landscapes capable of high rates of stormwater absorption, infiltration, and treatment Tree planting for quantity, density and diversity Turfgrass reduction Plant selection Designing water-efficient landscapes Pest Management The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices It is recommended that you take the Introduction course before taking the Best Practices courses.

Course Number:

RV-10180

Sustainable Solutions: Urban Flooding and Water Pollution

Overview/Description:

As the U.S. was discovered and populated, people located their families and businesses near water. Living near water brings many opportunities and some inconveniences. In this course we will review some basics about flooding and water pollution as well as explore some specifics about these catastrophes and the sustainable solutions we can employ to prevent them. Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10486

Sustainable Building Technology

Overview/Description:

This course covers key essentials in sustainable building technology, primarily in the areas of lighting, hvac, and plumbing. Sustainable technology and design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments. Design and construction of buildings and related infrastructure create major direct and indirect impacts on the environment.

Course Number:

RV-10876AW

Understanding Concrete’s Environmental Advantage

Overview/Description:

Environmental concerns are not new to humanity – they date back as long as there is recorded history. Civilizations have had to deal with pollution in many different forms, especially as societies began to grow and cities became more densely populated. The modern-day green movement in the United States can be traced back to the early 1970’s with the beginning of the Earth Day movement and the founding of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. These efforts have been an attempt to draw attention to the impact humans have on the health and resources of the planet, and the importance of working toward sustainable living and development so future generations can continue to thrive here on earth.   This course will take a detailed look at the many environmental advantages of ready mix concrete and how it is playing a growing role in green building design and construction. Participants will come away with a better understanding of how ready mix concrete can be used to minimize the environmental impact associated with construction and day-to-day building operations. They will be introduced to the life cycle methodology and shown how ready mix concrete contributes to earning LEED certification.

Course Number:

RV-10870

LEED v4 – Certified Buildings Under the O&M and BD+C Categories

Overview/Description:

This webcast will provide essential information regarding latest updates for LEED certification – LEED v4. It’s critical to stay current with this green building rating system that has revolutionized how we design, construct, operate, and maintain buildings and communities. LEED has created a complete industry dedicated to energy savings and efficiency. As a result of viewing this webcast, you will have a better understanding of the core areas of LEED certification, and how the program helps meet full performance potential with existing buildings.

Course Number:

RV-10618AW

The WELL Building Standard

Overview/Description:

How well does your building fit your tenants? Do your employees need a place to walk or work out? This interactive online course introduces the WELL Building Standard and discusses unique “features” (known as “credits” in LEED) to certify projects and gain the credential. We will discuss the application of the WELL standard to a hypothetical case study, conducting a feature-by-feature analysis and comparing the building before and after the standard is applied.

Course Number:

RV-11152AW

ASHRAE 100: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings

Overview/Description:

The entire design & construction industry is focused on increasing energy, water, and resource efficiency in building designs, however, new buildings represent a very small percentage of the full building portfolio. Over 95% of buildings that will be in operation 10 years from now are already built – the key to a national and cultural improvement in energy and water use is increased efficiencies within existing buildings. This course will explore ASHRAE 100, which is aimed directly at those improvements and standards required to improve resource efficiencies within existing building stock.

Course Number:

RV-10696AW

Introduction to Sustainable Design and Construction Using Green Globes

Overview/Description:

What’s the oldest sustainability rating system for buildings? It isn’t LEED*! The roots of Green Globes go back before 1990 to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) developed in the United Kingdom. From there it expanded to Canada and thence to the U.S. It offers an online alternative and perhaps less expensive way to a certified sustainable building. This course provides an introduction to sustainable building design and construction and to the Green Globes system. It compares Green Globes and the U.S. GBC’s LEED rating system. It also describes the path for professionals to become trained assessors. *LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Course Number:

RV-10724AW

Bamboo Flooring and Beyond

Overview/Description:

Have you heard about bamboo? It is used for food, clothing, and to build bridges. With its inherent sustainability, it’s becoming especially popular as a flooring option. Do you know why? Here’s your opportunity to learn about and speak knowledgeably about bamboo.   This webcast takes you from how bamboo grows and gets harvested to valuable information about its characteristics, how it compares to wood, and why its such an excellent choice for flooring. You’ll get basics, processes, and the many choices that are available whether you are looking for “green” options or simply an attractive flooring material. This course will meet your needs.

Course Number:

RV-10280AW

Sustainable Solutions: Invasive Species

Overview/Description:

A foundational principle of an ecological education is the notion of a species’ native status. The idea has to do with where a species evolved and was able to establish without the aid of humans. At the other end of the spectrum, an invasive species is defined as one that is nonnative to a particular ecosystem and whose introduction into that system causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. In this course, we will learn about explore the characteristics of an invasive species and cover methods of how to control and prevent invasive species, such as encouraging high-diversity plant communities, limiting habitat fragmentation, maintaining a healthy disturbance, minimizing resource input, and utilizing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10488

LEED v4: Neighborhood Development

Course Number:

RV-10594AW

Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement

Overview/Description:

This course is one of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts as they apply to cities and municipalities. This 3-hour interactive online course gives you the information and action items to assess sites and identify opportunities to use Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. You’ll get: Pavement lifecycle Pervious vs. impervious pavement Albedo or Reflectivity of pavement Pavement materials A materials program Material applications The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices It is recommended that you take the Introduction course before taking the Best Practices courses.

Course Number:

RV-10176

LEED v4 for Hospitality Projects

Overview/Description:

This course reviews the greatest changes in the new LEED v4 Rating System that would impact that hospitality projects and what credits provide the biggest “bang for the buck”. Real life relational stories are included to help reinforce some of the concepts and actions. We’ll also review when the NC Rating System should be used or when the project is more aligned with the CI Rating System.

Course Number:

RV-10698AW

LEED v4 and Data Center Construction

Overview/Description:

Although the two aspects of this topic – Data Centers and Green Design – seem almost antithetical to each other, a properly designed data center makes good use of sustainable design. With a limited amount of incremental effort, sustainable design efforts can be paired with a good working knowledge of LEED to provide a LEED certified critical facility environment.

Course Number:

RV-10621AW

Green Design: Brownfield Redevelopment (RV-10900)

Overview/Description:

Brownfield is used to describe land that is abandoned or underused out of concern that the land is contaminated. There are a variety of estimates that claim there are anywhere from 450,000 brownfields to over 5 million acres of abandoned properties throughout the US alone. These properties are sited in every metropolitan city in the U.S. as well as in rural America creating major urban infill opportunities. This interactive online course gives you a better understanding of what brownfield is, where it came from, where it still exists and with the help of USGBC and LEED, the multitude of Federal, State and local initiatives that surround brownfield redevelopment.

Course Number:

RV-10900

Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines

Overview/Description:

Infrastructure is the complex, interdependent system that supports our way of life. You can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities to build and re-build a “Green” Infrastructure.  This interactive online course gives you the facts about why “Green” is cost effective, healthy and visually appealing. In this course you will find current examples of successful Green applications as well as principles and practices that you can use to develop your own comprehensive plans. This course is the first of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts applicable to cities and municipalities. It is recommended that you take this course prior to the other courses in the series:  Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices Vector Solutions has a long history of providing industry-specific content for its customers. While this course and its content remain accurate and functional within our systems, the look and feel may not match our more modern offerings.

Course Number:

RV-10167

LEED v4 – Operations and Maintenance

Overview/Description:

Did you know that Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED Version 4 is now officially adopted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)? Since the first LEED Rating System launch, sustainable design and the idea of sustainable design has gone from a catchphrase to actually a prerequisite on how we build, maintain, and operate our buildings.   The goal of sustainable development is to create healthy environments through things like responsible planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of those buildings. The heart of the sustainable building movement is the USGBC LEED Green Building Rating System for buildings. This course specifically covers LEED for Operations and Maintenance and focuses on the ongoing operations and maintenance of existing commercial and institutional buildings.

Course Number:

RV-10593AW

Green Design: Introduction to Indoor Environmental Air Quality (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

There is consensus among the majority of scientists that the climate of the earth is changing in the direction of higher temperatures and that some of the change is anthropomorphic (caused by human activity). This course is intended to address that portion of the human contribution to climate change that is related to energy use in buildings. At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to understand the ways buildings use energy and how buildings can be designed for high energy performance. You should be aware of activities and plans for improving building designs in the future. You will have an understanding of the requirements of the Energy and Atmosphere category of LEED v4 Building Design and Construction (BD+C).

Course Number:

RV-10679

Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices For Construction

Overview/Description:

This course is the last in an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts as they apply to cities and municipalities. This 1-hour interactive online course gives you the information and action items to assess sites and identify opportunities to use Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. You’ll get: Site Protection Plan development Protecting water sources and planted areas Developing waste management and recycling plans Minimizing construction and equipment impacts The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are: Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape It is recommended that you take the Introduction course before taking the Best Practices courses.

Course Number:

RV-10185

Green Streets

Overview/Description:

Can you design and execute a “green” street project? A green street is an integral part of the “green infrastructure” within an urban community. How expert are you in stormwater management,  mitigation of urban heat island effect and improvement of urban air quality? This interactive online course gives you the concept of green street design to remedy the social, environmental, and safety issues associated with standard street design. You’ll learn how to design green streets to: Reduce the amount of water that is collected and piped directly to streams and rivers Ensure the street has the least impact on the surrounding environment Help ensure the safety of the pedestrian or bicyclist on the street Vector Solutions has a long history of providing industry-specific content for its customers. While this course and its content remain accurate and functional within our systems, the look and feel may not match our more modern offerings.

Course Number:

RV-10222

Green Infrastructure 2: Best Practices for Site Assessment

Overview/Description:

This course is one of an eight course series on Green Infrastructure that provides a template for design and implementation of Green Building concepts applicable to cities and municipalities.   This interactive online course is the second in the series and gives you the information and action items for assessing sites and identifying opportunities to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) in “Green” planning, design and construction. Topics covered are:  Soil testing Hydrologic and hydraulic analysis Vegetation assessment, preservation, and  transplantation Invasive species evaluation  The other courses included in the “Green Building for Infrastructure” series are:  Green Infrastructure 1: Introduction to High Performance Guidelines Green Infrastructure 3: Best Practices for Streetscape Green Infrastructure 4: Best Practices for Pavement Green Infrastructure 5: Best Practices for Utilities Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure 7: Best Practices for Landscape Green Infrastructure 8: Best Practices for Construction Practices  

Course Number:

RV-10169

Introduction to Sustainable Roof Technologies

Overview/Description:

Roofs account for one of the largest areas of imperviousness on a site. Impermeable roofs impact storm water quality and quantity, air quality, the urban heat island effect, and the energy needs of the building. This interactive webcast focuses on how we can potentially rethink how we build our roofs to ensure energy efficient buildings, harness energy from the sun to help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels (nonrenewable energy), manage storm water as a resource, increase air and water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of sustainable roof technologies including: vegetative roofs, photovoltaic roof applications, cool reflective approaches, recycled or bio-based content roofs, or some combination thereof. Focus of learning includes the benefits and limitations of sustainable roofs and the potential of technological advancements in sustainable roof design. We will conclude with creative applications and site selection and placement considerations of sustainable roofs.

Course Number:

RV-10352AW

LEED v4 for Existing Buildings: Operation & Maintenance (EBOM)

Overview/Description:

This course is going to focus on LEED EB (Existing Buildings – Operations & Maintenance). This course will provide you with essential knowledge about LEED, which is an objective, unbiased, 3rd party green building rating standard. The acronym LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED was introduced as the standard developed by the United States Green Building Council, or USGBC, upon its founding in 1993. Since then, LEED has grown enormously, USGBC has also introduced the GBCI, or Green Building Certification Institute, which is responsible for accrediting personnel with the LEED-AP designation, for certifying buildings, at the LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels, and for interpreting criteria, updating information, and generally ensuring day-to-day operations for the LEED system.   We will be discussing the LEED Rating Paths, of which there are several, the intent of which has been to create as many specifically tailored and appropriate options as are reasonable to allow for ease of guidance and certification in the building design, construction, and operations processes. We’ll review the variously available tools and resources that exist to support the efforts of project teams as they seek LEED certification, and of course we will delve significantly into our main focus, which is LEED EBOM, or Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance. 

Course Number:

RV-10676AW

Green Design: Introduction to Sustainability and Measurement Systems (Based on LEED v4)

Overview/Description:

In this course, we will discuss the concept of sustainability and the need for ways to measure the sustainability of a building design. In addition, we will describe the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Version 4 for Building Design and Construction (BD+C), Neighborhood Development (ND), Homes (H), Building Operation and Maintenance (O&M), and Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) rating systems and the goals each strives to achieve. We will also outline for a prospective candidate the process of becoming a LEED Accredited Professional and lastly we’ll compare other rating systems to the USGBC system.

Course Number:

RV-10553

Sustainable Solutions: Water Shortages

Overview/Description:

Over the next forty years, the global population is expected to increase from 6 billion to an estimated 9 billion, yet the world’s water supply is constant. Only 3 percent of the global water supply is fresh; the majority of it is locked in ice or stored deep in the earth, making its extraction very expensive. The remaining 97 percent is found in the oceans and is too salty for human consumption, irrigation, and industrial uses. Water from the oceans can be processed; however, desalination is an energy-intensive practice. In this course we will explore site strategies for reducing water waste and recharging groundwater supplies.   Posted by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.

Course Number:

RV-10487