Overview
Changes to a home’s building envelope, materials, or mechanical systems can affect energy use, comfort, durability, and performance. Residential building science helps professionals anticipate these interactions and make informed decisions about construction, renovation, and deep energy retrofit projects.
Using the house-as-a-system approach, this micro-credential course explores building science principles, the four control layers, climate-resilient construction, passive heating and cooling, indoor environmental quality, and basic calculations. You’ll examine how water, air, heat, and vapour move through residential assemblies and use tools to analyze operational and embodied carbon, including estimating material carbon emissions.
Over three weeks, you’ll complete 24 hours of online self-study and instructor-led virtual sessions. Discussions, assignments, and practical exercises connect technical concepts to residential projects.
By completion, you’ll be prepared to apply building science principles and indoor environmental quality considerations in residential project planning. You’ll also analyze how material choices affect operational and embodied carbon.
This course is ideal if you:
- work in residential construction, renovation, or design and want to strengthen your building science knowledge
- are preparing for 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 resilience and sustainability goals.
There are no prerequisites for this course.
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 construction and deep energy retrofits.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
Upcoming dates
Select an available section and add it to your cart. When you're ready, proceed to check out to sign into your student account and complete your registration.
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Register early!
- We recommend registering at least three weeks before the course section start date to support course planning and help ensure a smooth start to your course.
- Course sections require minimum enrollment and may be rescheduled or cancelled two weeks before the start date.
- Registration closes seven days before the start date for on-campus, online scheduled and blended courses, and three days 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
SAIT Micro-credentials develop future-ready skills aligned to emerging technologies and industries and include competency-based testing. Earning the SAIT Future-Forward Skills Micro-credential demonstrates to employers that you have the required competencies — combining knowledge, skills and abilities — to stay ahead in a rapidly changing workplace. Learn more.
Students who complete this course with a final grade of A- (80%) or higher will earn the Micro-credential and receive a shareable digital badge that validates their achievement.
Costs
Textbook and reading list
Included in the purchase of this course, you'll receive access to online course content in Brightspace (D2L).
Technology
To be successful in this course, you’ll need:
- Your own computer or laptop with standard hardware/software requirements
- Functional webcam and microphone
- Internet access.
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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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
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.