Sustainable Materials, Systems, and Certification

This unit examines green building materials, water and energy systems, and the certification and incentive landscape that influence sustainable residential remodeling. Students compare material life‑cycle impacts and costs, design basic conservation and renewable systems, and prepare documentation strategies for green certifications and incentives to inform project planning.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze life‑cycle environmental impacts, upfront and long‑term costs, and performance trade‑offs of sustainable materials (e.g., insulated concrete forms, rammed earth, recycled‑content drywall, recycled glass tile/terrazzo).
• Evaluate residential water and energy strategies (graywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, water‑saving devices, conservation techniques, and renewable energy systems) and select appropriate solutions based on performance, local incentives, and regulatory considerations.
• Apply advanced framing, insulation, and wall system techniques to develop construction drawings or scopes of work that meet green performance targets and accommodate remodeling constraints.
• Demonstrate the ability to assemble basic certification documentation (e.g., LEED checklist), identify green product certifications, and locate applicable rebates/incentives to create a project sequencing plan that accounts for longer timelines for green building.