CentreStar Academy INC

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”   - unknown

The purpose of this Green Design and Construction course is to expand your skills and knowledge relevant to professional practice. This course present an overview of various concepts involved in green building including environmentally thoughtful design, responsible construction practices, materials considerations, tips and strategies. At the end of this course you should be able to:

• Define “green” construction, greenhouse gas and carbon footprint.
• Understand the value of green construction to both humans and the environment.
• Know how to apply “green” principles to landscaping and urban construction.
• Recognize the economic value of sustainable building.

Green building, also called sustainable design or environmental design, is a method of design and construction intended to minimize – even eliminate – negative environmental impacts from human building. This is done by using a thoughtful, skilled, environmentally sensitive design, seeking to lessen damage done to our environment.

Buildings cover a large amount of land, take a large amount of resources to build and consume vast amounts of energy during their lifespan. The energy used in buildings, as well as the energy used to create the materials for building, creates vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which negatively impact the Earth. Furthermore, pollution and waste from construction and usage put further strain on our environment.

Sustainable building efforts began in the 1970s and today are making significant gains in popularity. Green building practices are designed to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits, with green buildings projects trying to meet all human needs. Green building, while most economic during new construction, can also be done during retrofitting. Many power companies and municipalities today are encouraging green construction through tax breaks, rebates and other incentives.

By design, this course is expected to take approximately 4 hours to fully complete. The course is segmented into ten concept modules each with readings, reinforcing concept and a scenario question designed to provide foundational knowledge on the topic. However, many of the concept modules also include additional videos or readings designed to enhance learning of the concepts. While these readings and videos may add an additional 3-10 minutes work per concept, the student is highly encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities for additional learning. A listing of recommended books for further reading is also included at the conclusion of the course along with a 20 question post review quiz which you may take as many times as you wish to achieve complete mastery of the course material. An interactive blog or forum is incorporated into the website design for you to share your thoughts regarding additional resources for expanding skills and knowledge relevant to professional practice.  

• Overview / Learning Objectives
• Key Concept 1: What does “green” mean?
• Key Concept 2: What is a carbon footprint and does a building have one?
• Key Concept 3: Can green design make economic sense?
• Key Concept 4: Does green construction require exclusive use of renewable resources?
• Key Concept 5: Does green design matter in landscaping?
• Key Concept 6: How can green design be used in urban settings?
• Key Concept 7: How does green design relate to energy efficiency?
• Key Concept 8: What types of materials are eco-friendly?
• Key Concept 9: What type of green equipment is available?
• Key Concept 10: Are there laws that govern green design and building?
• Summary
• Further Reading
• Knowledge Review Test