Building Science Fundamentals

CEUs: 0.4 ICC

Building science is the study of interactions within a building that impact efficiency, comfort, building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health. Building Science Fundamentals provides a high-level overview into this field of study. With this course, you will have a thorough understanding of basic building science in the areas of building envelope, heat transfer, moisture transfer and air transfer. You will learn some of the terminology, how energy is used in a residence, and what components make up a building envelope. You will also learn about the flow of heat, air, and moisture through the building envelope and how those energy flows impact the building and its occupants.

--- For those interested in certification as a LEED Qualified Energy Rater ---

The course is approved for four hours of training for students who wish to be LEED Qualified Energy Raters. You will receive a thorough understanding of basic building science in the areas of building envelope, heat transfer, moisture transfer and air transfer, and will gain 1 CEU in each section for a total of 4 CEUs. It is designed to provide a portion of the training required by the USGBC for those wishing to become a LEED Qualfied Energy Rater for projects located outside of the United States and Canada. A LEED Qualified Energy Rater can perform the HERS Rater or qualified energy rater tasks for these projects.

Once you have completed this on-line portion of the training, as well as its companion eight hour course (Air Sealing and Insulation Inspections), you will enter an apprenticeship where you will gain experience performing energy inspections and testing on at least two building projects with a similar scope of work as the LEED Projects you plan to undertake. If the projects will include blower door and duct testing, you must also gain hands-on experience with the tools and perform testing and verification under the guidance of a LEED for Homes Provider. Your experience will be documented and your certification completed by the Provider.

Registration Fee: $80.00

Course Outline

Module 1	The Building Envelope and the Language of Energy
This module will define the building envelope and cover some history of home construction and how the building envelope has changed over the years. We will also dive into some terminology and energy terms.
Unit 1	Building Science Fundamentals - Course Materials
Unit 2	Residential Energy Use
Unit 3	Residential Energy Use Quiz
Unit 4	Building Envelope Terminology and History
Unit 5	Building Envelope Terminology and History Quiz
Unit 6	The Language of Energy
Unit 7	The Language of Energy Quiz
Module 2	Heat Transfer, Air Transfer, and Moisture Transfer through the Building Envelope
Heat, air and moisture are always moving or transferring from one place to another. Air can transport heat and moisture and impact the durability of a building. Heat transfer can impact air movement as well as cause moisture vapor to become bulk moisture. These three elements impact and affect each other and play a large role in our understanding of building health, safety, comfort, and durability. This module explores all these concepts.
Unit 1	Building Science Fundamentals - Course Materials
Unit 2	What is Energy?
Unit 3	What is Energy Quiz
Unit 4	Heat Transfer
Unit 5	Radiant Heat Transfer
Unit 6	Heat Transfer Quiz
Unit 7	Heat Transfer Practice
Unit 8	Air Flow
Unit 9	Air Flow Quiz
Unit 10	Moisture Movement and Human Comfort
Unit 11	Moisture Movement and Human Comfort Quiz
Module 3	Building Science Fundamentals Summary
In this module we will put it all together and see how the concepts learned all interact with each other. Students will make observations regarding heat/air/moisture flow impacts and their relationship to comfort, durability and indoor air quality.
Unit 1	The Tell-Tale House
Unit 2	Heat, Air and Moisture Flow Impact Observations
Unit 3	Final Exam: Building Science Fundamentals
Unit 4	Building Science Fundamentals Course Feedback