Steven Winter Associates

Zero carbon training program nets positive results

Overview

Steven Winter Associates (SWA) partnered with State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz to develop a suite of net zero carbon trainings for both new construction and building retrofit projects based on Passive House principles. Passive House building standards focus on highly insulated building envelopes, airtight construction, elimination of thermal bridging, and balanced ventilation. The training was made available to faculty, students, and staff at SUNY campuses and other public and private colleges and universities, as well as partners involved in enhancing the operation, retrofit, and construction of high-performance buildings. The training supports SUNY’s response to New York State Executive Order 88 that directs State agencies and authorities to improve the energy efficiency of State buildings and meet Directive 1B-2: Net Zero Carbon New Buildings and Deep Energy Retrofits of Existing Buildings set forth by the SUNY Chancellor in 2018.

Targeted Training

Supported by NYSERDA, SWA developed and delivered a series of virtual training modules related to net zero energy buildings. Several organizations including Passive House Institute (PHI), American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) accepted the training for continuing education units for designers, consultants, and tradespeople. This extensive training targeted specific and diverse audiences, including students, construction project managers, building operators, and specific subcontractors, with a focus on large-scale buildings and construction techniques and systems.

View Zero Net Carbon Training recordings

Partnership

SUNY New Paltz, a public university in New Paltz, New York, was a vital partner, seeking to fill a training gap shared by numerous higher education campuses and building types statewide. The university’s partnership, marketing, and enthusiasm yielded a steady group of attendees in the eight-part virtual training series. Building Media Inc. is a developer of innovative online learning management programs and e-Learning courseware, built exclusively for the construction community. The company worked with SWA and SUNY to design and record course content for future use as a resource.

Results

The training modules begin with an introductory session, then provide a variety of profession-specific courses that conclude with strategies on quality assurance for successful projects. Topics range from refrigerant management to air barrier development. To date, 538 attendees have participated in the training that provides condensed, usable, and focused topics for professionals directly involved with designing and operating buildings.