California State University, Long Beach
 

Green and Sustainable Building
Certificate Program

This comprehensive program will provide you with an understanding of green and sustainable building, sustainable technologies, protecting the environment, and the “green challenge.” You will learn about residential sustainable building and compare and contrast green building programs including Build It Green's GreenPoint Rated and LEED for Homes and learn how and when to apply them. You will be introduced to a whole-house HERS Energy audit, HERS Title 24 Verification, and BPI energy auditing procedures. You will also learn about cutting-edge technological advancements in building science, building processes and building materials for both new and existing buildings. You will leave with an understanding of how to conserve natural resources, and how to make any home more energy efficient, healthier, comfortable, green, and more sustainable.

Who Should Attend?

  • Contractors and builders
  • Green-collared workers (and those interested in green collar jobs)
  • Anyone interested in green buildings or green building trades
  • Designers, city planners, and building officials
  • Homeowners wanting more information on the benefits of “green” remodeling and energy efficient home upgrades

You Will Learn:

  • The principles of green building
  • Green building advantages
  • The myths of green building
  • How to make the most of energy resources available to you
  • Green building practices and products
  • Green programs such as LEED, Build It Green, BPI, and HERS
  • Potential career tracks and how to position yourself in the green marketplace

How Do I Complete the Certificate?

  • Complete all eight modules.
  • Design, develop, and present a project illustrating how you have (or will) put what you have learned in each module into practice.
  • To receive the certificate in the current semester, a maximum of one class meeting may be missed.

2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be provided upon request as a permanent record of one's attendance, if requested by the last class meeting.

Program Coordinators:
Wesley Harding, and John Shipman
Instructors:
Kathleen Irvine, Owner, Blue Gecko Design, dedicated to designing sustainable, organic living spaces.  She is committed to educating the public about the pressing need for an environmentally responsible approach to life and teaches children and the community about fresh, healthy food that is locally and organically grown.  She has been working in the landscape industry in various capacities since 1991. She is also President of the Wilmore City Heritage Association, a group dedicated to house sustainability – the preservation and repurposing of historic structures and the use and salvage of historic materials.    
Rachel Hulan, Principal, Path Design, Santa Ana, Assoc. IIDA. She has been an interior designer and architectural color consultant in Southern California for more than 12 years. She is currently an Associate member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, and sits on both the Orange County chapter's Sustainable Homes Committee and Steering Committee. She is also a member of Build It Green, and achieved Certified Green Building Professional status in 2007.  
Wesley Harding, CEO of Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions, a corporation specializing in green residential remodeling and Net-Zero building retrofits. Harding is a partner in Novae, Inc., a green energy efficiency, consulting, building, auditing/analysis, training and green solutions-based corporation specializing in residential, commercial, educational institutions, and local government applications. He is also President of RetroH20, a water conservation corporation specializing in grey water and rain water harvesting systems, a Build It Green Certified Green Building Professional and GreenPoint Rater for new and existing homes, an Energy Star Home Performance Contractor through the California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA), a California Licensed General Building Contractor, certified in air balancing, system performance, and re-design through the National Comfort Institute (NCI), a HERS rater through CalCERTS, an Efficiency First Founding Member, a Steering Committee Board Member of the Efficiency First Los Angeles Chapter, and a Building Analyst Professional, Envelope Professional, and Proctor through the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
John Shipman, CEO of Energy Efficiency Management, Inc., Licensed Realtor, Licensed General Building Contractor, Certified Building Envelope Energy Efficiency Analyst, Certified Green Builder, and Green Project Specialist. Shipman is also a Certified GreenPoint Rater for New and Existing Homes, Certified Green Home Performance Contractor with Energy Star, Certified Home Energy Rating System Rater/Analyst, Certified Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC) Analyst, Certified Existing Home Analyst, Certified Solar Rater/Analyst, Certified Level 1 Infrared Thermographer, Certified Professional, Building Performance Institute (BPI), and Certified Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) Project Specialist, FHA EEM.

Green Building Overview

In the first module, we will establish a basic understanding of the purpose of this program and the fundamentals of green building. This will establish a general understanding of the subject matter going forward and give you a firm grasp of the basic principles of green building and green building practices.

Topics Include:

  • Common myths
  • Advantages of green building
  • Design optimization
  • Use of environmentally-friendly products
  • Introduction of the capstone project

Energy Performance

We will discuss the cornerstone of green building - energy. It is imperative to understand the basic physics of energy and the application of these concepts to building science.

Topics Include:

  • Energy basics
  • How the concept of embodied energy affects the big picture of sustainability in building
  • Ways to conserve energy in existing and new buildings
  • Renewable energy

Water

This module will cover the basics of water and how it relates to sustainable building.

Topics Include:

  • Introduction to the basic facts about water
  • Behavior of water and moisture within the scope of building construction
  • Causes of moisture problems and solutions to fix them
  • Ways to reduce the use of water and ways to reuse certain water sources

Indoor Air Quality

This module will give you a basic understanding of indoor air quality (IAQ).

Topics Include:

  • Most prevalent IAQ threats
  • Common factors that affect air quality including chemical emissions and failures in building design/construction
  • Effects air quality can have on the health of the building’s residents
  • Solutions to the issue of poor indoor air quality

Green Building Practices and Products

This module examines specific green products and practices.

Topics Include:

  • How to evaluate what makes products and practices green
  • Examples of green systems, products and practices that can be used
  • How to use the products during the four basic stages of construction design, shell, mechanical systems, and finishes

Green Building Field Trip

You will tour the Aquarium of the Pacific's Watershed exhibit, classroom, and native landscape garden, experiencing a green building first hand.

Topics Include:

  • Building design
  • Sustainable materials
  • Renewable energy
  • Water conservation
  • LA and OC watershed
  • Building challenges
  • Green Roofs
  • LEED certification

Topics Include:

  • How to evaluate what makes products and practices green
  • Examples of green systems, products and practices that can be used
  • How to use the products during the four basic stages of construction design, shell, mechanical systems, and finishes.

Green Building Programs

In this module, representatives and experts from different green building organizations will make presentations about their programs. This will provide you with a basic understanding of each major program to help decide which will be best for your specific objectives.

Topics Include:

  • NAHB
  • Energy Star-Partner program
  • USGBC's LEED for Homes program
  • Build It Green
  • CBPCA

Capstone

To conclude, we will describe different roles in green building that can be career opportunities for those completing our program,and provide information about different sources of continuing education. We will conclude with brief presentations of the capstone projects where you will get the opportunity to discuss your successes and opportunities for improvement.

Topics Include:

  • Selecting a green building program
  • Adding a green system or device to your building or home
  • Performance testing and monitoring effects of green changes