The ideal learning package for green and/or sustainable knowledge
CaliforniaGeo 6-25-17
Short-term learning has exploded in the last 25 years. Conferences still exist, but tighter budgets for business related learning and renewal has been met with targeted seminars. It’s get in, get it, and get out. It’s like E. Scrooge meets Cliff Notes. Seminars have been joined by the Internet-based webinar. Distance, overnight stays and general travel wear and tear are eliminated while the participant can monitor and/or participate from home or work with a good Internet service connection. Read on for the ideal package for green and/or sustainable knowledge.
While everyone seems driven to get more in a shorter time and pay less in time and trouble, what might be the ideal seminar or webinar? In the category of green buildings and sustainable materials and resources, what would that look like?
The Ideal—
For the person who wants to grasp what maximum green or sustainability can be in this society, CaliforniaGeo suggests the following webinar or seminar.
Track A- (Sustainability) This would be targeted at mechanical engineers, architects, consultants, advocates and policymakers. This track would feature the integration of greener building materials and equipment. It would show how one can design for “invisible green,” where the building looks and feels totally conventional—but uses far fewer resources.
Knowing the “what” of green does not necessarily answer the “why” or the “how,” so techniques to advise and educate general contractors, the public, or customers would be included. This covers talking the walk of green and showing others how to do the same. How does one discuss sustainability options with those who know little about it? Without it, that new zero net energy commercial building might not happen. A lot about how fast sustainability spreads is embodied in statutes and regulations originating with legislatures. How far should they go, and how quickly should that path be?
Track B- (Best Practices) These cover an assortment of techniques that have proven effective for other practitioners to achieve green and sustainable goals.
These can be refinement of the sequential path of design, permitting, construction, inspection, and commissioning of the building(s). Anyone does better at navigating toward the ideal destination when they have a perfected road map proven useful for others. Based on the building site and climate, what structure orientation is best, should shade trees be sacrificed for favoring the collection of solar electricity? There are a few ways to head for zero net energy if desired.
Additional input for webinar design (or for presenting) can come from professionals with an adequate portfolio of helpful experience. These could be organizations like ASHRAE, and state associations of building officials, energy regulators, architects, engineers, contractors or serving utilities.
Webinar content that includes the approaches of multiple states may be helpful to legislators needing to send a market signal to practitioners via new or amended statutes, policy development, or regulations. The result of best practices produce the most efficient and effective buildings and residences. This is demonstrated by a generous sharing of case studies (with performance data) where these techniques have been employed.
Results—
If Tracks A and B are carried out successfully, more of the public will come to see that green and sustainable buildings are here to stay and that there’s noting overly complicated about getting them built. Greater acceptance by the general public will lead to more action for efficient buildings, and a chain reaction-based increase may result. And of course if geo heat pumps are the preferred heating and cooling method, you’d need only a modest solar PV array to achieve carbonless zero net energy.