Building Science Fundamentals

Course Level: 300         |          Course Length: 2 days

Date, Time and Location 

• Not currently scheduled. 
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  Questions? Contact Ryan Harper at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (503) 968-7160 x25. 

Gain confidence in your energy-efficient design and construction practices.  Take the mystery out of tight homes and moisture management.  Optimize your investment and reduce liability through superior building performance.  This course explores how properly designing and constructing a building's envelope, or thermal and moisture barrier, is essential for a comfortable, healthy, durable, and energy-efficient home. Featured on the second day is a site visit to a Certified Green Home. Course topics include: air flow and heat transfer, moisture management strategies, R-value and U-value calculations.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the natural laws that drive the thermal, air, and moisture flows within a house.
• Develop strategies for analyzing how dynamic flows affect the performance of a house.
• Communicate building science fundamentals to others.
• Calculate the overall R-values of various house assemblies and analyze potential efficiency improvements.
• Describe potential water management strategies.
• Calculate wall assembly U-factors and evaluate the optimum orientation of a house.
• Select appropriate design features and assemblies according to project objectives.
• Integrate building envelope details into plans and specifications.

Credits/Accreditations

AIA: 14 learning units LU/HSW/SD
CCB: 2 core hours (codes) and 12 elective hours
BPI: 7 continuing education units 
OR Real Estate Agency: 14 hours (with principal broker approval)
Clackamas Community College: 1 college credit (100-level)  

Instructors

John Spillman (Salem, OR courses)
John is a trainer and technical consultant with Earth Advantage Institute. He teaches classes to Energy Auditors, Builders, Architects/Designers and Building Code officials. John has been promoting sustainable building and energy efficiency in both new and existing residential construction with Earth Advantage Institute since 2009. John’s construction background is in residential remodeling. He is currently an Oregon general contractor, a certified professional with the Building Performance Institute, and a LEED for Homes Green Rater. John earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of California, Davis.

Stephen Aiguier (Portland, OR courses)
Stephen founded Green Hammer in 2002, evolving the business into a full service design-build firm committed to advancing the highest standards for green building. In the first few years of operation, Stephen led Green Hammer in building five of the nation’s highest scoring LEED Platinum homes. A Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) and building science expert, Stephen has been involved with many of the first residential and commercial Passive House buildings in the Pacific Northwest. 

A stern advocate for the protection of wilderness areas and restoration of natural forests, Stephen has supported countless non-profits and campaigns to both protect wild places and to responsibly steward our natural resources. In 2008, Stephen spearheaded Green Hammer becoming the first and only Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (COC) certified building firm in the United States. In 2004 Stephen co-founded Urban Timber Works, an FSC certified milling operation that transforms urban salvaged trees from the Portland metro area into artisan furniture. In 2005, Stephen co-founded the Build Local Alliance as a forum for connecting local FSC certified forest stewards to builders and architects in the Portland region. 

Rarely is such a wealth of knowledge, passion and expertise found in an individual so willing to share with the world. Stephen has been invited to speak in front of thousands of people at every major green building conference in the United States, and he regularly blogs for the Daily Journal of Commerce and Sustainable Business Oregon. 

In 2011, Stephen was named one of Portland Business Journal’s “40 Under 40”, and as one of Sustainable Business Oregon’s Top 10 Sustainable Built Environment Leaders to Watch in 2012.

 

Course Fee