A century ago, everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions of people across the planet will never experience the majestic night sky where they live. The widespread use of artificial light at night is not only impairing our view of the universe, it negatively affects our environment, our s...

Embodied carbon is the hidden impact embedded within construction materials and products and contributes significantly to our carbon footprint. By understanding the implications of your specification decisions, you possess the key to not only reducing embodied carbon, but also creating resilient and environmentally consc...

Is Phoenix on the brink of a desert apocalypse, where relentless heat, dwindling water supplies, and raging wildfires could transform this vibrant city into an uninhabitable wasteland? Explore the critical intersection of climate change, urban design, and sustainability in this course focused on the future of desert metr...

What if the smallest intervention could transform an entire neighborhood? What if the spaces we design carry hidden psychological and cultural messages that either empower or exclude? This course takes you beyond traditional sustainability metrics to explore five theories that are reshaping how we think about responsible...

In a world of escalating environmental crises and competing priorities, where does a design professional find the clarity and courage to champion truly sustainable solutions? The answer might be 2,300 years old. This course bridges ancient Stoic philosophy with contemporary sustainable design practice, offering a powerfu...

Ready to revolutionize your design practice by partnering with the most powerful force in the universe? This dynamic course reveals how entropy—the same principle that governs stars, storms, and ecosystems—has been quietly shaping architecture's most beloved and resilient buildings for decades. Through engaging case stud...

In this course we describe how project teams can use Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for LEED v4.1 projects. Our team describes the environmental impacts referenced in EPDs and how these impacts may affect the planet and its inhabitants. We discuss how EPDs can contribute to the LEED v4.1 BD+C, ID+C, and O+M ra...

The choices we make when specifying building materials can have significant effects on the planet and human health. The world is facing cataclysmic issues such as climate destabilization, pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and greenhouse gases. Construction produces vast volumes of waste and consumes colossal a...

In the heart of Los Angeles, where the skyline meets the unpredictable forces of nature, a battle is brewing against earthquakes, wildfires, mudslides, and more. As the city grapples with the looming threats of drought, smog, and power grid failures, design professionals are stepping up to create resilient buildings that...

Protecting wildlife and preserving it for future generations is critical. Our planet desperately needs to be safeguarded, with climate change already wreaking havoc on our natural environment. In this course, we describe how to achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C Protect or Restore Habitat credit and reduce environmental impacts...

What professional responsibility do we bear for the environmental impact of our designs? In this thought-provoking course, participants will delve into the critical ethical dimensions of sustainable design that shape our built environment for generations to come. Explore how the AIA and ASCE Codes of Ethics translate int...

What if buildings weren’t just structures—but vessels for memory, imagination, and the ghosts of what might have been? Join us as we explore how architecture holds onto dreams and disappointments, carrying the echoes of modernism’s bold promises of infinite progress. We'll look at sustainable design not just as a technic...

In this course, we explore strategies to improve indoor air quality and how to achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C EQ Low-Emitting Materials credit. In addition, we review the applicable requirements such as (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017. Finally, we discuss how buildings with excellent indoor environmental quality pr...

The LEED v4.1 Materials and Resources (MR) credit category focuses on minimizing the embodied energy and other impacts associated with the extraction, processing, transport, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. The requirements are designed to support a life-cycle approach that improves performance and promot...

In this course, we explore how Health Product Declarations (HPDs) contribute to the LEED v4.1 rating system. Our team discusses how design professionals can achieve the LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C Material Ingredients credit. In addition, we review the HPD Open Standard and discuss how it can influence design professionals t...

Have you ever wondered about the untapped potential of esoteric design strategies in shaping the future of sustainable architecture? What design strategies are innovators, disruptors, and mavericks using to advance sustainable design? In this course we explore uncommon LEED v4.1 BD+C pilot credits and review how projects...

This one hour documentary is part two of a case study focusing on an off the grid residence in northern Washington. The course explores how to calculate a solar array, PV panel installation strategies for different types of roofs, harvesting renewable materials on site, and composting toilets vs. septic tanks. Exclusive...

In this presentation, we explore how deadly diseases have impacted cities and affected urban planning. We discuss how urbanization contributes to pandemics and how diseases like the bubonic plague, Spanish influenza, and SARS changed how cities operate. Our team will review how hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare pr...