Regenerative Landscape Design: Solar Heating & IAQ
Shelters today are heated and cooled with mechanical systems fueled with nonrenewable resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas. As fossil fuels dwindle and the carbon dioxide that results from their combustion is added to the overabundance of carbon dioxide in the air, we are compelled to seek alternatives to energy-intensive active heating and cooling systems. This 2-hour interactive online course introduces terms and processes that will enable you to begin incorporating passive solar energy use into shelter design. The process of using surface reflectivity is discussed as a means of reducing energy use in residential shelters. This course wraps up with a discussion of indoor air quality and how to reduce exposure to harmful toxins by using plants.
There is a test included at the end of each section of this course. You must have Flash Player Version 7 or higher to view some parts of this course. We also recommend you view this course in Internet Explorer.
Why Take the Course
At the conclusion of this course, you will:
- Know how solar radiation from the sun is distributed, how the heat transfer process works and what methods can be used to collect it for heating uses
- Be familiar with building materials and their sustainability for storing heat
- Understand how to conserve energy by using reflective surfaces on the roofs and walls of smaller, residential-scaled shelters
- Recognize the effects and sources of polluted indoor air and how to use plants to reduce toxins
