Green Building for Contractors Level 1

Hours: 60 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $1,295.00

Course Overview:

What does a "green" home look like? What are its characteristics, and how can you ensure that you meet the highest green standards within a given budget? The answers to these questions and more are found in Green Building for Contractors – Level 1, a course dedicated to teaching builders and homeowners alike about environmentally-friendly residential construction.

This course is a highly practical resource and explores the very latest construction techniques, materials, processes, and green practices that will reduce the environmental impact of the building itself. Coverage ranges from air sealing measures and energy efficient practices to water conservation and the usage of natural materials, with a special focus on complying with zoning ordinances and building codes. With thorough explanations of the many benefits of green building, this course is the perfect "nuts and bolts" guide to environmentally-sound homes.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Define the core elements of sustainable home design
  • Identify strategies for conservation of materials and controlling job waste
  • Identify the elements of energy conservation
  • Comprehend features of using natural or renewable materials
  • Comprehend methods for maintaining a green home

Course Outline:

Green Building for Contractors Module 1
Green Home Building
  • What is Sustainable Design?
  • Shades of Green
  • Planning & Design
  • Green Home Lot Shopping
  • Site Work & Landscaping Considerations
  • Safety  Considerations
  • Alternative Materials & Methods of Construction
  • Modifications to the Building Code
  • Manufactured Alternative Methods
  • Non-manufactured Alternative Methods
  • Talk to Your Inspector
  • Evolving Green Building Code
Green Building for Contractors Module 2
Efficient Design & Material Usage
  • Small Is Better
  • Conservation of Materials
  • Controlling Job Waste
  • Conventional Building Materials
  • Used, Recycled, or Reclaimed
  • Natural or Renewable Materials
  • Modern Innovations
  • Durability & Cost
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Healthy Houses
  • Equipment & Materials
Green Building for Contractors Module 3
Energy Conservation & Efficiency
  • Energy Conservation Basics
  • Exceeding the Code
  • Controlling Heat Loss through Air Sealing Measures
  • Lighting: Daylight & Design Elements
  • Energy Efficient Appliances
  • Behavioral Changes
  • Waste Management
  • Job Site Organization
  • Framing Plan & Drywall
  • Recycling Plan
Green Building for Contractors Module 4
Renewable Energy & Maintaining a Green Home
  • Water Efficiency
  • Indoor Water Usage
  • Outdoor Water Usage
  • Alternative Energy Sources
  • Active Energy Production Systems
  • Homeowner Operation
  • Green Home Recycling Center
  • Energy Usage Feedback
  • Sample Homeowners Operation Manual
  • Reflections & Considerations

All necessary materials are included.


System Requirements:

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:
  • Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.
Hardware Requirements:
  • CPU: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 2 GB or higher
  • Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
  • Speakers / Headphones
  • Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)
Operating System Requirements:
  • Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
  • Mac OSX 10 or higher.
  • Latest Chrome OS
  • Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:
  • Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
  • Latest Mozilla FireFox
  • Latest Microsoft Edge
  • Latest Apple Safari
Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):
  • Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
  • PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
  • Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.


** The course outlines displayed on this website are subject to change at any time without prior notice. **