This course counts as 16 hours towards the Sustainable Practices Certificate Program or 1.6 continuing education credits.
Course Format
2-day Classroom Seminar
Course Description
An in-depth and hands-on exploration of passive solar heating and passive cooling for homes and businesses. We’ll explore the principles of passive design; practical implications of design principles; integrated design; building materials well suited to passive solar; maintenance of air quality in air-tight, energy-efficient homes; thermal mass requirements; proper glazing; window options; energy-efficient backup heating and cooling systems; computer software to analyze energy performance of homes during the design phase; and common errors of passive design – and ways to avoid these costly mistakes.
We’ll spend a considerable amount of time designing homes and analyzing energy performance using computer software. It is recommended that students bring their own laptop if possible.
Instructor Bio
This two-day course will be taught by green building expert Dan Chiras, author of numerous books on residential renewable energy and green building, including The New Ecological Home, The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy, The Solar House, The Natural House, and The Natural Plaster Book.
Course Text
(provided to all registered students at no additional cost).
The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling by Dan Chiras
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