SUST10002 - Circular Economy for the Built Environment
Course Description
In the face of rising energy costs and increasingly stringent building codes, the performance of the building envelope has become the cornerstone of any successful construction project. This course presents the keys to turning this requirement into a competitive advantage. Over 15 hours, participants will master the fundamental principles that govern a high-performing building envelope. The training covers core building science strategies, including continuous thermal insulation, the elimination of thermal bridges, airtightness control, and moisture transfer management. It also breaks down the physics of the envelope to equip professionals with the tools to design high-performance wall and roof assemblies.
This micro-credential introduces learners to circular economy strategies for reducing embodied carbon in residential construction and retrofits. Through a blended delivery model that combines online learning with hands-on, in-person experience, learners develop the knowledge and necessary knowledge and practical skills needed to make lo-carbon material and design decisions. The course emphasizes real-world application using case studies and immersive learning in Mohawk College’s Circular Design Lab, with a cumulative individual designed project focused on minimizing carbon emissions and maximizing material circularity.
What You'll Learn:
- Define embodied carbon and circular economy principles in the built environment
- Explain the role of material selection in reducing embodied carbon
- Analyze case studies demonstrating low-carbon and circular design strategies
- Apply tools and resources to calculate embodied carbon impacts
- Design a home build or retrofit that minimizes embodied carbon and maximizes circularity
Micro-credential Partners:
Delivery Information:
- Program begins September 30, 2026 and ends March 12, 2026
- Delivered in a hybrid format:
- 6 hours online
- 2 hours asynchronous (opens September 30)
- 4 hours synchronous lectures (October 22 OR 29)
- 14 hours in-person and lab component, which will include:
- In-person 4-hours (2 sessions options: Tuesday, November 17 (5 to 9pm) OR Friday, December 11 (9am to 1pm)
- January to February will be in-person drop-in lab hours (8 hours)
- Final presentations online/in-person event in early March (completion of course materials by March 12, 2027).
- 6 hours online