Decarbonizing Buildings

Enrollment options

Teacher: Geoffrey King
Teacher: Smita Thomas

Course Overview

Decarbonizing Buildings - You might have heard US Energy Secretary Granholm say that the path to a zero-carbon economy goes right through our buildings! Why do you think she said that? Because the buildings sector has an outsized impact on global emissions.

The good news is that buildings also have the most potential for carbon reduction.

This course will explore where that potential lies in the buildings sector. If you are a professional who wants to engage with decarbonization in commercial and residential buildings ― whether you are a policy advisor or government official; a green building professional, architect, or real estate developer or financier; an educator, or a graduate student beginning your journey — you will come away from this course with actionable knowledge that you can begin applying immediately.

The course will empower you to feel comfortable with foundational knowledge about creating green buildings, starting with:

• Do buildings really emit carbon?

• What is carbon anyway?

To:

• How would we upgrade our construction methods and existing building stock to become resilient and zero carbon when our grid is so dirty?

And ending with:

• What roles can you play in this critical movement based on your unique skillset to save the endangered human habitat?

Independent of any rating frameworks, this type of knowledge is highly transferable. If you wish to gain a solid footing in these fundamentals of carbon and decarbonization in buildings and related key concepts, and a broad understanding of the ecosystem that works interconnectedly to enable green buildings, then this course is for you.

Online and self-paced

3 months to complete.
10+ hours of recordings.
Webinars with the instructor.
GWU Environmental and Energy
Management Institute Certificate.

Price: $550

Meet the Instructor:

Smita Chandra Thomas is the founder and principal of DC-based consulting practice Energy Shrink, LLC, and also serves as a senior green building consultant to IFC (World Bank). Dedicated to measurable decarbonization, Ms. Thomas is a subject matter expert in green buildings at the cutting edge. She has a master’s degree in building science, is a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) and Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), and is a published author, blogger, and speaker. Smita is also an active member of the Greater Washington energy professionals community. See her full bio at the Energy Shrink website:

www.energy-shrink.com