PROGRAMME DES FOURNISSEURS D’ÉDUCATION (PFÉ)

Currently, buildings are the single biggest contributor to GHG emissions, accounting for roughly half of all energy consumption in the U.S. and globally. It is crucial to reduce this level of consumption by including high-performance envelope strategies such as shading systems in all new building designs. In this course, we look at shading systems, examine shading and design strategies, and learn tips for successful selection and design.

Rooftop deck systems offer the design flexibility to create adaptable, sustainable outdoor spaces that provide myriad environmental, social, economic, and aesthetic benefits. This course presents the three pillars of sustainability and how building products, materials, and systems can contribute to sustainable design. It outlines forest management objectives and practices and the responsible sourcing of wood for rooftop deck tiles. Case studies exemplify how rooftop deck systems can contribute to sustainable design objectives.

Building a stronger connection with nature is critical to maintaining human health and well-being. Composite wood decking is a durable, environmentally sustainable product that can help build links with nature through outdoor living spaces. This course examines the different decking options and explains the sustainability benefits of using composite decking and how it can help meet green building requirements. Various design innovations that enhance occupant well-being are also discussed.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

Assesses the urban environmental issues of stormwater runoff and heat islands and describes how their damaging impacts can be mitigated by blue, white, and green roofs. The considerations and additional benefits of each roof type are also discussed.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 HOUR

Well-designed, well-maintained outdoor decks and siding can add utility, pleasure, and value to every home and business. If poorly maintained, they can diminish all those attributes. This course explains the optimized advantages of ultra-low-maintenance composite decking and siding boards. Composite boards are formulated and manufactured in an environmentally beneficial manner and virtually eliminate maintenance and aging concerns. Their usage results in strong, safe, moisture- and insect-resistant, aesthetically appealing decking and siding projects in all contexts. 

Other coastal softwood species can be used in many of the same applications as western red cedar, including yellow cedar, western hemlock, and Douglas fir. Their performance characteristics vary, giving each species its specific use for structural or appearance applications. This course reviews each softwood species and discusses the importance of sustainably managed forests in curbing climate change.

Sustainable building envelopes demand high performance from and proper installation of continuous insulation and air, water, and vapor control layers. What happens when thousands of holes are made in these materials as they are installed with blind fasteners, one layer on top of another by different subcontractors? Sequencing issues can generally not be avoided; instead, this course focuses on self-sealing fasteners as a solution to avoid damage and thermal bridging in insulation and control layers. Various fasteners and anchors are described, and recommendations are presented for how to specify and what testing data to look for.

Innovative and sustainable, powder-coated/sublimated extruded aluminum products are ideal for exterior, interior, and high-traffic architectural applications. Reviewed in this course is an overview of the properties and finishing processes of this material along with discussions of its applications, design criteria, and testing standards.

The materials we use have a significant impact on the environment, our communities, and our health. Consequently, material transparency—wherein manufacturers disclose vital sustainability information about their products—is an increasingly necessary element of modern life. This course examines the tools and resources that are available for both manufacturers and the A&D community that effectively communicate transparency information and optimization of building products. Also reviewed are the benefits of the new-generation insulated metal panels (IMPs) designed to achieve a trusted range of health and wellness certifications.

Sustainable design has become a key responsibility in building practices. The decisions that architects, designers, and landscape professionals make at the early stages of design extend far beyond aesthetics and structure. They shape environmental performance, material life-cycle costs, and occupant comfort. This course explores sustainable design strategies focusing on specialty metals and gratings, with a strong emphasis on performance, life-cycle benefits, specification insights, applicable codes and standards, and real-world results. Specialty metals and gratings are also examined for their structural integrity and appearance, resource efficiency, longevity, and performance attributes that contribute to sustainable architectural outcomes.

The diffuse light-transmitting and composite technology of translucent structural sandwich panels has increasingly caught the imagination of architects and designers because it is possible to maximize wall or roof daylighting while minimizing energy loss, with consequent savings in the running costs of heating, air conditioning, and artificial lighting. This course explores the fundamental connection between light and health by examining how translucent structural sandwich panels deliver glare-free, diffuse daylight deeper and more evenly into spaces with maximum thermal efficiency.

ONGOING - FREE

Recycled rubber flooring is an environmentally responsible material that outlasts many types of traditional commercial flooring products when exposed to normal foot traffic stress. Interior and exterior recycled rubber surfacing products are explored in terms of their sustainable design benefits and applications. The program includes discussions on rubber manufacturing, postconsumer tires, and green building certification systems.

ONGOING - FREE - 1 hour

Understanding a product’s life cycle impact is central to the selection of materials for any green building. High pressure decorative laminate (HPDL) manufacturers have initiatives in place to reduce waste, energy, and virgin materials in its production. This course introduces HPDL, its performance characteristics, fabrication techniques, and manufacturing processes and the processes and ingredients that make it a sustainable decorative surfacing solution for commercial and residential applications.

This course examines high-performance composite fencing systems and their growing importance in sustainable and resilient design. Learners will explore the manufacturing process, including the materials and technologies involved, and how these systems surpass traditional wood, vinyl, and masonry fencing in durability, maintenance, and environmental performance, including contributions to SITES® v2 goals. The course examines the core standards, performance criteria, and installation considerations designers need to make informed decisions about fencing in residential, commercial, and institutional applications.

This presentation provides an overview of sustainable materials for the bath, including production, performance, maintenance, and frameworks for assessment, and focuses on recycled copper, sustainably made concrete, FSC®-certified bamboo, and reclaimed wood.