Overview
Building a strong foundation in residential performance is the first step toward successful deep energy retrofits. Residential Building Science Fundamentals introduces professionals to essential building science principles and the “House as a System” approach, showing how water, air, heat, and vapour interact to affect home performance.
This micro-credential course explores material selection for climate-resilient construction, strategies for passive heating and cooling, indoor environmental quality, and methods for measuring and reducing operational and embodied carbon.
You’ll engage in 24 hours of learning over three weeks, combining instructor-led virtual sessions with online self-study. Interactive discussions, assignments, and practical exercises help you connect technical knowledge to real-world residential projects.
This foundational knowledge prepares you for the next step on your Deep Energy Retrofit learning journey: SNRG 005 – Residential Deep Energy Retrofit Fundamentals.
This course is ideal if you:
- work in residential construction, renovation, or design and want to strengthen your building science expertise
- are preparing to take on deep energy retrofit projects or low-carbon building work
- need practical tools for assessing and improving home performance
- want to align your work with climate resiliency and sustainability goals.
To be successful in this and subsequent courses for the Deep Energy Retrofit certificate, we recommend that you have any of the following education/training: high school diploma, post-secondary technical diploma or degree, skilled trades training and/or certification.
Any prior or current work experience you have in construction, architecture, engineering or related technical fields will also be beneficial.
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- integrate building science principles and house-as-a-system considerations into residential project planning
- integrate key aspects of Indoor Environmental Quality in residential building designs
- analyze carbon emissions in residential construction by differentiating between operational and embodied carbon, utilizing available tools, and understanding the role of materials in deep energy retrofit envelope upgrades.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
Upcoming dates
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Registration closes seven days before the start date for on-campus, online scheduled, and blended courses, and one day before the start date for online self-paced courses.
After you've completed this course
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account.
Micro-Credential
Aligned to current industry standards, SAIT’s micro-credentials develop practical, real-world skills and include competency-based testing. Earning a SAIT micro-credential demonstrates to employers you have the required competencies — both skills and knowledge — to get the job done.
Students who successfully complete this course with a final grade of B- (70%) or higher will earn a micro-credential and receive a shareable digital badge.
Costs
Textbook and reading list
Included in the purchase of this course, you'll receive course content accessible online in Brightspace (D2L).
Technology
To be successful in this course, you’ll need:
- Access to your own computer or laptop with standard hardware/software requirements
- Internet access
- Functional webcam and microphone
Financial support
Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants, including the Canada Alberta Productivity Grant.
Applicable certificates
- Certification type
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Certificate of Completion
Train your team
Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.