301 Fundamentals of Green Building
Design and Construction
$410 for members, $440 for non-members
Introduction
Learning Objectives
Class Organization and Grading
Grading Policies
The Textbook
Introduction
The purpose of this course is to give the student an overview of design and construction delivery systems for high performance green buildings. We will look at the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in some detail. Sustainability evaluation systems will be reviewed. This course will focus on LEED-NC (new construction) requirements.
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Learning objectives:
By the end of this class you should:
Understand the concept of high performance green buildings and sustainablity.
Become familiar with the vocabulary associated with green buildings..
Understand the physical limitations of the materials we are studying.
Become familiar with USGBC's LEED-NC suite of standards.
Know about the charrette process and the design process for high-performance buildings.
Understand the concepts of sustainable landscapes and high-performance building energy design.
Learn about the selection of mechanical and electrical lighting systems..
Learn about green building water supply and waste water supply strategies.
Become familiar with the issues in selecting green building materials.
Become familiar with indoor environmental quality factors.
Learn how to reduce the ecological footprint of construction operations.
Become familiar with green building commissioning.
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Class Organization and Grading
The following table lists the learning modules, the maximum value in points a student can receive within each module, and the time in which the modules must be finished.
Module
Point Value By End of Week
0. Student Orientation 0 Before start
1. Introduction To Green Buildings 25 1
2. Impacts of building construction, operation and disposal 25 2
3. The green building process and assessment 25 3
4. Ecological design 25 4
5. Sustainable sites and landscaping 25 5
6. Creating a low energy profile 25 6
7. The building hydrologic system 25 7
8. Material loops and Indoor environmental quality 25 8
9. Construction Operations and Building Commissioning 25 9
10. Economic issues and future directions in green building. 25 10
Total Points 250
It is important that the student keep up with the class and not fall behind. Course modules will be made available to students on Sunday of each week. Class work must be completed before the following Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead of the class although reading assignments will be made available in advance. Actual dates that modules will become available will be posted in advance on the course calendar.
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Grading Policies
Graded assignments will consist of one quiz for each module and participation in at least two class discussions. Each quiz will count 10 points and class discussions will count 15 points per module. You can see that I consider class discussions to be a very important part of this course. For that reason, the regular weekly discussions are even more important than the weekly quizzes. Students should provide at least 3 contributions to the class discussions each week to gain the maximum points.
Grades will be posted on a weekly basis. You will have full access to your grade sheet so you will be able to keep track of how you are doing at all times.
Your overall grade in the course will be determined by the total number of points you have accumulated on quizzes and assignments. The grading scale is as follows:
A 225 to 250 points
B 200 to 224 points
C 175 to 199 points
D 150 to 174
Anything less will be considered either failure (F) or an unauthorized withdrawal from the course.
You will be given more information about the grading and other course matters in the Orientation Module.
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The Textbook
You can find detailed textbook information at http://www.constructionclasses.com/textbooks.htm#sus
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WITHDRAWAL POLICY
You may withdraw from a course by sending an email to PSmith@aspeNational.org or by conventional mail requesting to be dropped from the course. Non-attendance or notifying the instructor does not constitute officially dropping or withdrawing from a course. Students who stop attending courses without officially dropping will receive a grade of U (unauthorized withdrawal) in the class. Refunds are not automatic. NO refunds are due unless the course is officially dropped within stated guidelines in the refund schedule.
Refund Schedule
| a. |
Withdrawal postmarked at least one working day before the first day of class – total fee less a $20 handling fee. |
| b. |
Refund requests postmarked on or after the first day and no later than two weeks after the first day of class will be refunded 65% of the fee, after which time there is no refund. |
| c. |
Decision on withdrawals and refunds will be based on the date when the ASPE Society Business Office receives written withdrawal notice. Drops done by mail are effective as of the postmark date. |
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Edward B. Walsh
Executive Director
ASPE National
877-273-5679
www.aspenational.org
edwalsh@aspentional.org