Description
This program explores the context, motivations, frameworks and perspectives necessary to build a deeper understanding of sustainability and to form a solid foundation for sustainable design and put it into practice. We place sustainability in its historical context in relation to other drivers of major world view shifts including Renaissance and Modernist paradigms. A close reading of the first and second invisible hands of wealth will be presented in order to reveal sustainability as a powerful motivation for action towards a sustainable future. A number of frameworks including the Quadruple Bottom Line and Integral Sustainable Design will be studied in order to organize those actions into holistic relationships. The program takes a deeper look at the state of energy and environmental systems and their impacts.
Participants in the program are exposed to the rationale, organization and specifics of a range of rating systems including LEED®, Passivhaus, Living Building Challenge and more. The Integrated Project Delivery is explored in detail with a special emphasis on collaborative design practices as a means to achieve ambitious sustainable design projects in a tough economic context. Green construction practices will follow with a focus on the specific knowledge and techniques needed to build and operate a highly functioning green buildings. We then jump scale to study the practices needed to green cities including eco-districts, eco-villages and more. The future of sustainable design practice is also studied through the concepts of biophilia, biomimicry and more. Finally, students will receive a Green Associate Preparation session and final exam.
Certification
You will receive a certificate by the Jefferson University and Build Academy after you complete all the course assignments and exams: basic certificate and the certificate with CEU (Continuing Education Units). The two certificates available for the course are: basic, CEU-CPD. You can include the certificate in your CV and LinkedIn profile. We can also provide you with reference letters for job or school applications and promotions.
Professor
Prof. Rob Fleming, LEED AP
Rob Fleming is a registered architect with over 18 years’ experience of teaching, research and practice in sustainable design. He is the co-creator and Director of the award winning Master of Science in Sustainable Design Program at Philadelphia University. Rob is the author of Design Education for a Sustainable Future, a book focused on transforming design education in the 21st century. Rob is a Sustainability Fellow at Re:Vision Architecture in Philadelphia where he consults and facilitates integrated design charrettes.