Course Overview
This course covers the fundamentals of Net Zero energy/emissions and Passive House buildings, with focus on wood-frame construction. The course will help learners develop their knowledge of international, national and provincial zero energy/emissions buildings codes and standards. Students will also develop an understanding of net zero energy/emissions buildings principles, science, systems, materials and cost. The course presents multiple case studies and provides a strong foundation for subsequent zero energy/emissions building courses. Key topics include: BC Building Code’s Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code, Net Zero, Zero Carbon and Passive House standards, operational and embodied carbon, energy efficiency performance metrics, building science, integrated design, introduction to low-TEDI and airtight enclosures, introduction to net zero mechanical and electrical systems, and costing. This course is offered online with live virtual lectures and self-paced learning in the BCIT Learning Hub.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
2.0
Domestic fees
$417.95 - $542.64 See individual course offerings below for actual costs.
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Compare the BC Energy Step Code, near Net Zero Energy building, Zero Carbon, and Passive House standards.
- Describe the integrated design and construction processes associated with zero energy/emissions and Passive House projects.
- Describe the 6 principles of high-performance buildings and the "envelope-first approach" to near Zero Energy Buildings.
- Explain the fundamentals of building science as it relates to heat, air, and moisture transmission.
- Understand emerging issues related to materials and assemblies.
- Describe the common mechanical and electrical systems found in Net Zero Energy and Passive House buildings (heating, cooling, domestic hot water, ventilation with heat recovery).
- Explain the approaches to evaluating costs and decision making for Net Zero Energy and Passive House buildings.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2022
Related Programs
Fundamentals of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings (XZEB 1001) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Construction and the Environment
- Essentials of Net-Zero and Passive House Construction
Microcredential Part-time
- Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction
Microcredential Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of XZEB 1001 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 49295
Dates
Sep 10 - Oct 29 Loading
- CRN 49295
- $417.95 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10 - Oct 29 | Thu | 18:00 - 21:00 | Online |
Duration
8 weeks
Instructor
Josh Vanwyck
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Instructional sessions are delivered through a live interactive web-lecture through online course portal (BCIT Learning Hub) by industry subject matter expert instructors. Additional independent learning is completed in the online course portal. This course is eligible for students to receive funding through the StrongerBC future skills grant at www.bcit.ca/financial-aid/strongerbc-future-skills-grant/. Students will register for the course themselves and then apply for the StrongerBC future skills grant to cover payment (if eligible).
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
Winter 2027
Below is one offering of XZEB 1001 for the Winter 2027 term.
CRN 90755
Dates
Jan 05 - Feb 23 Loading
- CRN 90755
- $542.64 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 - Feb 23 | Tue | 18:00 - 21:00 | Online |
Duration
8 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Instructional sessions are delivered through a live interactive web-lecture through online course portal (BCIT Learning Hub) by industry subject matter expert instructors. Additional independent learning is completed in the online course portal. This course is eligible for students to receive funding through the StrongerBC future skills grant at www.bcit.ca/financial-aid/strongerbc-future-skills-grant/. Students will register for the course themselves and then apply for the StrongerBC future skills grant to cover payment (if eligible).
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.