Fall 2009

Green Building: Materials & Indoor Air Quality

In a finite world we need a set of guidelines to help us make the choices necessary to reduce our ecological and carbon footprints. In the first session we discuss the many considerations pertaining to materials selection, including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We discuss the materials used as primary structural systems within the building envelope (roofing, siding/cladding, insulation, windows/glazing and moisture control) and at materials used within buildings (wall and ceiling finishes, flooring systems, cabinets and casework, adhesives and sealants, paints and stains). In addition, the EPA reports that the air inside buildings can be many times more polluted than the air outside buildings. In the second session we discuss the problems, health and atmospheric risks associated with building materials and building construction: molds, VOC's, formaldehyde, CO, CO2 and others. We also address source control, ventilation, monitoring practices, and construction IEQ management.

Prerequisite(s):Registration deadline: Wednesday, Nov 18

ENSP800; 14 CEUs; $350

Instructor: John Shurtz

John Shurtz, lead instructor, is president of Green Builders of Marin and has been a building professional for over thirty years, John serves as a green building consultant to developers, architects, businesses and homeowners and helped develop Build It Green's "Home Remodeling Green Building Guidelines" and the "Certified Green Building Professional" class. He is a founding Board Member of the USGBC-Redwood Empire Chapter and of the Environmental Education Council of Marin. John taught for the Solar Living Institute, at Build It Green trainings, BIONEERS and at many other organizations. He is on the Board of Directors for Next Generation and the North Bay Green Builders' Guild. John has received awards for sustainable business practices and community involvement from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Carole Migden, Assemblyman Jared Huffman and Congressman Mike Thompson.

  • 2 mtgs: Nov 21 & Dec 19, 8:30am-4:30pm
  • Darwin 103
  • ENSP800; 14 CEUs; $350
  • class# 3765