Programs & Courses

We offer a variety of microcredentials to individual courses on Net Zero Energy and Passive House construction, Zero Carbon, Energy Modelling and Energy Management, including Building Controls and Building Retrofits.

Our courses are pre-approved for continuing professional development (CPD) with Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) and BC Housing, but are used by many other students to meet continued learning requirements. Learn more about Continuing Professional Development with our courses.

Microcredentials

Short, for-credit, modular programs or courses that help you quickly gain new industry skills and knowledge. Courses include formal assessment, which can be combined towards credit for more comprehensive programs.

They are flexible and do not require acceptance to complete. To take our microcredentials, register for each course individually following any pre-requisite requirements.

The Essentials of Community Energy and Emissions Management microcredential offers a comprehensive and practical approach to understanding and implementing energy-efficient and clean energy solutions in communities. On-site renewable energy, zero-emission energy-efficient buildings, and zero-carbon transportation are the key themes of this program.

This microcredential is designed to be taken across 2 terms and completed within 8 months. Courses are flexibly designed to be delivered online with virtual live sessions and independent work.

Learn more about the Essentials of Community Energy and Emissions Management microcredential.

Course	Course Name	Hours
XZEB 1201	Energy and Emissions Basics	12
XZEB 1203	Introduction to Creating a Community Energy and Emissions Plan	12
XZEB 1205	Introduction to On-site Renewable Energy	6
XZEB 1207	Introduction to Reducing Energy Demand and Emissions in Buildings	6
XZEB 1209	Introduction to Reducing Emissions from Transportation	12
XZEB 1211	Introduction to Project Development and Implementation	12
Total Hours		60

The Essentials Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals who want to gain the skills and knowledge to construct high-performance buildings to meet the BC Energy Step Code, Net-Zero Energy, and Passive House standards.

Learn more about the Essentials Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential.

Course	Course Name	CPD INFORMATION
XZEB 1001	Fundamentals of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits + ESC modules 1 and 2 equivalency
XZEB 1120*	Airtightness and Low-TEDI Enclosures of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits + ESC modules 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 equivalency
XZEB 1129**	Passive House Tradesperson – Envelope Specialization Optional course – Passive House Tradesperson Envelope Badge	6 learning hours
XZEB 1130**	Airtightness and Low-TEDI Enclosures Lab for Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings Optional course – ZEB Envelope Specialist Badge	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits
XZEB 1140**	Introduction to Residential Mechanical Systems for Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	12 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 12 informal / 24 formal credits + ESC modules 2, 6, and 8 equivalency
XZEB 1150**	Introduction to Solar Photovoltaic & Electrical Systems for Zero Energy & Passive House Homes	18 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 18 informal / 36 formal credits
Total Hours		78
+ Optional Course Hours		108

* Pre-requisite: XZEB 1001

** Pre-requisites: XZEB 1001 and 1120

The Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals in the construction industry or those who have recently completed a related construction program and seek to gain the skills, knowledge, and tools unique to supervising construction on Net-Zero, Net-Zero-Ready, or Passive House construction projects.

Learn more about the Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential.

Course	Course Name	CPD INFORMATION
XZEB 1001	Fundamentals of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits + ESC modules 1 and 2 equivalency
XZEB 1120*	Airtightness and Low-TEDI Enclosures of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits + ESC modules 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 equivalency
XZEB 1129**	Passive House Tradesperson – Envelope Specialization Optional course – Passive House Tradesperson Envelope Badge	6 learning hours
XZEB 1130**	Airtightness and Low-TEDI Enclosures Lab for Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings Optional course – ZEB Envelope Specialist Badge	24 learning hours AIBC approved BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credit
XZEB 1146**	Mechanical and Electrical Essentials for Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings	6 learning hours BC Housing: 6 informal / 12 formal credits
XZEB 1171***	Site Supervision of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Construction	18 learning hours BC Housing: 18 informal / 36 formal credits
XZEB 1173****	Applied Project for Site Supervision of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Construction	30 learning hours BC Housing: 36 informal / 72 formal credits
Total Hours		102
+ Optional Course Hours		132

The schedule is designed to take the courses in order by pre-requisite.

* Pre-requisite: XZEB 1001

** Pre-requisite: XZEB 1001 and 1120

*** Pre-requisite: XZEB 1001, 1120, and 1146

**** Pre-requisite: XZEB 1001, 1120, 1146, and 1171 (or be currently enrolled)

The Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Professional microcredential provides the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use LCA in design decisions for works of construction. Developed in partnership with the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, this microcredential consists of four courses delivered online by experienced LCA professionals.

The course delivery is a majority independent work and virtual live lectures. This microcredential is designed to be taken across two terms and completed within eight months.

Learn more about the Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Professional microcredential.

Course	Course Name	CPD INFORMATION
XZEB 1160	Introduction to Embodied Carbon & Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessments	12 learning hours AIBC approved: 12 learning units BC Housing: 12 informal / 24 formal credits
XZEB 1165*	Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessments Using Impact Estimator for Buildings	24 learning hours AIBC: 24 learning units BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits
XZEB 1166**	Advanced Topics in Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment	24 learning hours AIBC: 24 learning units BC Housing: 24 informal / 48 formal credits
XZEB 1169***	Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Final Project	30 learning hours AIBC: 30 learning units BC Housing: 30 informal / 60 formal credits
Total Hours		90

The schedule is designed to take the courses in order by pre-requisite.

* Pre-requisite: XZEB 1160

** Pre-requisites: XZEB 1160 and 1165

*** Pre-requisites: XZEB 1160, 1165, and 1166

Individual Courses

Need CPD credits, or want to learn a particular topic? Take an individual course.

XZEB 1001 – Fundamentals of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings

XZEB 1140 – Intro to Residential Mechanical Systems for Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings

XZEB 1150 – Intro to Solar Photovoltaic & Electrical Systems for Zero Energy & Passive House

XZEB 1160 – Intro to Embodied Carbon & Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessments

XZEB 1180 – Intro to Deep Energy/Emissions Retrofits for Single-Family and Small Multi-Family Homes

CESA 7100 – Energy Modelling for Building Professionals

See the schedule of our upcoming courses

Available Funding

Some of our courses are eligible for funding to cover the cost of course tuition fees.

Learn about available funding

Private Training

Boost your team’s knowledge with our private, customized courses tailored for professionals building design or construction. We offer flexible training options on a variety of topics including BC Energy Step Code, Zero Carbon Step Code, Net Zero Energy, Passive House, energy and emissions management, efficient and low carbon mechanical systems, integrated solar PV and electrical, and zero carbon.

Learn about our private training