This course covers the fundamental concepts of green building and is intended for design, construction and real estate professionals, building owners, or anyone who wants to develop their knowledge in this area. The course will prepare students to earn the LEED Green Associate credential from the Green Building Certification Institute and fulfill the eligibility requirement to sit for the exam. Students examine case studies of LEED certified building projects, concepts of integrated design, third-party verification and the LEED administration process.  

In each of the first seven Units we cover all specification sections listed by the Green Building Certification Institute as exam content areas.  The final Unit focuses on exam preparation.  

To be successful in this course and on the exam I recommend you view all the presentations, thoroughly read and understand all the readings, successfully pass each of the Unit's quizzes and engage in the discussion forums with me and your fellow students. 

You will examine case studies of LEED certified building projects, concepts of integrated design, third-party verification and the LEED administration process. Kelly Gearhart, your instructor, holds the designations LEED AP BD+C, LEED AP O+M, and will answer your questions in the online discussion.

Two month online course, Kelly Gearhart, instructor.

$695 

Supporting Topics in all Units include:

•Primary references
•Case studies of LEED certified building projects
•Concepts of integrated design
•Project team approach
•LEED champions
•Third-party verification
•LEED administration process
•Exam Preparation

 Unit 1
Introduction and Project Site Factors
Introduction to LEED
Community Connectivity
Zoning Requirements
Development

Unit 2
Water Management
Types and Quality of Water
Water Management

Unit 3
Project Systems and Energy Impacts
Environmental Concerns
Green Power

Unit 4
Acquisition, Installation and Management of Project Materials
Recycled Materials
Locally Harvested and Manufactured Materials
Construction Waste Management

Unit 5
Improvements to the Indoor Environment
Ventilation
Pollutants
Indoor Air Quality During Construction
Indoor Air Quality Before Occupancy

Unit 6
Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation & Project Surroundings and Public Outreach 
Integrated Project Team Criteria
Durability Planning and Management
Innovative and Regional Design
Codes

Unit 7
LEED Certification Process
Project Requirements and Resources
Costs
Project Resources
Standards

Unit 8
Green Associate Exam Preparation
Credentials
USGBC and GBCI
Exam Application and Eligibility Requirements
What to Expect on Exam Day
After the Exam

About online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends. It’s easy. It’s fun.


How the Course Works
It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom. You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.
Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.


Participate when you want
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.

For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

What you will do
For each Unit, you will:
• Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
• Access additional online readings
• Watch Videos and recorded presentations
• Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
• Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants
For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, videos, activities) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

Discussion
The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area throughout the week and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

Next offering(s):
September 3 - October 25

$695 

Ave. hours 32, 3.2 CEUs/ILUs

About Your Instructors


 Kelly S. Gearhart LEED AP BD+C, LEED AP O+M, a Principal with Triple Green Building Group, a green building consulting firm with locations in the San Francisco Bay area, Savannah, Georgia and Sophia, Bulgaria.

Gearhart is a USGBC LEED Faculty member, Instructor for the University of California, former Manager of Commercial Green Building Services at Southface Energy Institute, Inc. and has been involved with green building education, technical assistance, and leadership since 2005. 

Accredited in the new Building Design + Construction and Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance programs, she has taught over 50 full-day and multi-day LEED courses, facilitated seven full-day and multi-day green building charrettes, presented at 12 conferences, consulted with more than 100 clients on green building strategies and worked on 25 LEED registered and certified projects across the U.S. and internationally.


Vessela Valtcheva-McGee has extensive experience with sustainability in both practice and education. She has been a LEED AP since 2005 and has been a founder and President of a USGBC chapter in the United States, serving as an officer of the executive committee for 6 years. In her capacity as an architect she has worked on LEED projects of national significance and as a consultant she managed the administration and documentation of numerous LEED rating systems on projects of various scopes and sizes.
 
In 2008 Vessela joined partners to form Triple Green Building Group, LLC - a full service sustainability consulting and education, company. She has worked with two major USGBC education providers in the US to deliver LEED workshops and co-authored a LEED Prep and LEED Practice Exam book for Professional Publications, Inc. She has since taken the company international creating a base in her native country of Bulgaria.
 
In 2010 The U.S. Green Building Council recognized Triple Green Building Group as an Authorized Education Delivery Partner providing the company with a license to deliver USGBC’s LEED curriculum courses for the international marketplace.  Triple Green is recognized as one of a handful of trusted partners around the world who have obtained a license to deliver USGBC’s LEED curriculum. 
 
Vessela Valtcheva-McGee holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design where she is an honorary guest lecturer. She is also accredited under the German green building rating system DGNB as an international auditor and the British rating tool as a BREEAM international assessor. 
 
 
Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will:

1. Possess the information necessary to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and fundamental strategies in LEED
2. Understand the relationships and synergies between LEED credits
3. Be able to explain the function of the integrated design approach
4. Have identified and explained the major policies and regulations that govern green building
5. Have the knowledge necessary to describe the LEED project certification process and identify the resources available to project teams
6. Be qualified and prepared to sit for the Green Associate Exam from the Green Building Certification Institute

Course Objectives

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and fundamental strategies in LEED
2. Understand the relationships and synergies between LEED credits
3. Be able to explain the function of the integrated design approach
4. Identify and explain the major policies and regulations that govern green building
5. Be able to describe the LEED project certification process and identify the resources available to project teams.
6. Be qualified and prepared to sit for the Green Associate Exam from the Green Building Certification Institute.

Completion Requirements