Welcome to The Conservatory of Advanced Green Building Knowledge
Check back frequently for additional courses
FSC Certified Wood: Protecting our Forests
Building with FSC Certified Wood is a simple and important action you can take as a responsible buiding professional. Learn why FSC certification is critical along with many helpful tips on specifying, sourcing, and documentation requirements
This course is approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by the MN Department of Labor & Industry.
Cost: $20 per individual or $30 per individual requesting continuing education credit
Presenter: Rick Wald, Certified Wood Products, Inc.
Geothermal Energy: Ground Source Heat Pump Basics
This 2 hour class will cover geothermal basic theory and design principles. Understanding site requirements and knowing what to look for will be covered. System efficiency will be discussed, explaining why some systems work better than others
Presenter: Jim Cusack, UMR Geothermal
Course date and time to be determined. Email
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to be put on the waiting list.
Geothermal 101 for Homeowners and Builders
This 1 hour class will provide an introduction to geothermal ground source heat pumps, discussing how they work, efficiency, tax credits and rebates, and economics. Homeowners and builders will learn what makes geothermal systems different, and why they should be considered.
This course is approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by the MN Department of Labor & Industry.
Cost: $20 per individual or $30 per individual requesting continuing education credit
Presenter: Jeff Petersen, WaterFurnace International
Green Building Principles + Energy Efficient Application
Gain a brief overview of the 5 principles of residential green building and remodeling, talk through a case study of a real life MN GreenStar certified project and dive into prioritized examples of practical energy efficiency improvements.
This session is approved for 3 contractor CEU's (including energy) by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Cost: $39 General Attendance, $67.50 MN GreenStar Members requesting continuing education credits, $75 non-members requesting continuing education credits
Presenter: MN GreenStar
Green Homes for Realtors 101
This 4 hour workshop will focus on green trends in home buying and building, representing the green client and marketing a green home as well as the Minnesota GreenStar building and remodeling certification program. Learn about recognizing green features in a home, the value of building and remodeling green and more.
This session is approved for 4 realtor continuing education credits with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Cost: $125 per individual or $100 for MN GreenStar members
Presenters: Todd Bjerstedt, McDonald Remodeling; Samantha Strong, Metamorphosis Design-Build
MN GreenStar Project Registration Workshop
For whom: Building Professionals-General Contractors, Architects, Realtors, Trade Professionals, Homeowners
Minnesota GreenStar is the premier residential green remodeling and new home standard and certification program in the state. Built by Minnesotans for Minnesotan’s, MN GreenStar can help you win more business AND create homes that are more durable, healthier for the occupants and better for our environment.
This 8 hour workshop will help translate green principles into practical building practices. It will include interactive sessions to complete a mock MN GreenStar certified project checklist and will help differentiate your company as a leader in the industry.
The training fulfills the mandatory requirement to register a MN GreenStar project, is approved for 8 contractor CEUs (including energy) and 8 realtor CEs; and provides additional project points for participating design professionals.
Cost: $250 per individual or $225 for MN GreenStar Members
Presenters: Cindy Ojczyk, Verified Green; Pat O’Malley, Building Knowledge
Promoting Sustainable Development - Influencing Landscape and Building Approaches to Benefit Residential Ecosystems
Green Is Good for Your Green ($)- How Proper Site Orientation, Existing Landscapes and Native Plants Can Benefit Your Bottom Line
Specifically designed with survey feedback from MN GreenStar and BATC professionals, this seminar covers a substantial number of residential site and landscape issues. From pre-development decisions such as structure placement and tree retention to final design concerns including water usage and landscape materials, the program addresses many of the MN GreenStar manual site requirements. Soil issues, native vegetation, climate impact, plus a cause and effect exhibit are part of the course offering. The program is presented in a fun and interactive format and attendees will receive a binder of useful references. Included will be homemade goodies to start the day, hands-on landscape examples, plus a round table discussion of survey requested topics.
Cost: $39 per individual or $35 for MN GreenStar Members
Presenter: Prentice Beadell, M. Ag.
Residential Building Codes for Green Homes
This 90 minute program addresses building code issues related to the design and construction of green residential dwellings, including structural, energy, exterior envelope, alternative materials, and ICC Evaluation Service reports (product evaluation) and ICC SAVE program (Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation).
This course is pending approval for 1.5 hours of continuing education by the MN Department of Labor & Industry.
Cost: $30 General Attendance, $50 MN GreenStar Members requesting continuing education credits, $55 non-members requesting continuing education credits
Presenter: Peter Kulczyk, International Code Council
Responsible Materials: Certified Wood for Green Building
Provide information and guidance related to the MN GreenStar and LEED standards on wood products and the use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified materials
This course is approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by the MN Department of Labor & Industry.
Cost: $20 per individual or $30 per individual requesting continuing education credit
Presenter: Kathryn Fernholz, Dovetail Partners
Spectrally Selective Coatings for Energy Efficient Windows
This is a 1-hour presentation of various Low E coatings available on the market today for use in commercial and residential windows and doors, with an in depth look at how each designed coating affects the solar light spectrum and therefore the heating and lighting of a building.
This course is approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by the MN Department of Labor & Industry.
Cost: $20 per individual or $30 per individual requesting continuing education credit
Presenter: Ken Modeen, Marvin Windows
To see the current course schedule, click here.
FUTURE COURSES
Please email
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to be placed on the waiting list for the following courses.
Build Forward: The Application of Sustainable Design
This one hour course builds upon the material presented in ‘Think Forward’ by showing builders and homeowners how to turn sustainable design concepts into building practices. An introduction to zero energy houses and passive houses will also be included.
Presenter: Sean Morrissey, Morr Construction
Clearing the Hurdles to Find Green Building Products
While it was difficult at one time to find products for Green building, manufacturers have rallied to provide products to meet changing industry needs and the growing options for Green building certification. The problem has now shifted from lack of products to understanding what products fit into Green building programs and why. Attendees will learn how to sort through marketing spin and Green washing. Resources for finding products with Green attributes will also be discussed.
Presenter: Cindy Ojczyk, Verified Green
Comparing Green Building Programs: MN GreenStar, LEED for Homes, and MN Green Communities
Panel Discussion with representatives from "the big three" green building rating systems. Discussion of similarities, differences, when each are appropriate to use.
Presenters: MN GreenStar, USGBC - Mississippi Headweaters Chapter, Minnesota Green Communities
Drinking Water: How it affects our health and impacts our environnment
How does water quality impact us everyday?
This course will include essentials for understanding how water affects health, forms of safe drinking water and the need to purify water. A history of water, the environmental impact from bottled water and green facts related to water consumption. Also this presentation will touch on options to improve water and how water fits with Green Thinking.
Presenter: Richard Grassie, Richard’s Custom Water Systems
Electric Baseload: A Thousand Tiny Bites
Electric baseload refers to consumption of devices using electricity year round. While refrigerators, water heating and lighting are key, this session focuses on power and energy use at various settings for some of the fastest growing residential plug-loads—information technology (IT) and TV/entertainment. The impact on emissions, the importance of occupant choices and resources to support savings are included
Presenter: Rana Belsche, Conservation Connection Consulting
Green Kitchens: Lighting to Countertops & Everything in Between
Remodeling a kitchen using Green strategies can have great impact on the home if thorough consideration is given to the role of the kitchen in the system of the house. Discussed will be the unique opportunities and potentially dangerous conditions that can be created through this type of project. Project case studies will bring the information to life. Elements will include combustion spillage, demolition concerns for salvage, reuse, and recycling, considerations for kitchen exhaust and make up air, lighting solutions, product and appliance selections, and more.
Presenter: Cindy Ojczyk, Verified Green
Green Remodeling for the "Do-It-Yourself" Homeowner
This class will review the benefits and advantages of going green, taking you through the steps needed to complete a project that is qualified to earn MN GreenStar certification. A certified kitchen remodel case study will be presented for a better understanding of the certification process, and to show the final result. The presenter is a homeowner and Interior Designer who remodeled her own kitchen and achieved MN GreenStar silver certification.
Presenter: Marlene Hernick, MOH Design, MN GreenStar Certified Project Homeowner
High Performance Foundations and Basements for Cold Climates
This course will cover best practices and challenges of building or remodeling a basement in the Midwest. History and site preparation, below grade water management, basement insulation options, and soil gas (Radon) systems will be covered in depth to give participants an understanding of high performance basements.
Presenter: Richard Stone, Extension Educator in Housing Technology, University of Minnesota
Save Energy and Stay Healthy this Winter: Building Science for Homeowners
This course will provide an introduction to building science principle (energy-efficiency, moisture control and indoor air quality). Topics covered will include: inexpensive actions homeowners can take to improve the efficiency and function of their homes, more expensive actions that will provide huge savings, and available tax credits.
Presenter: Bruce Nelson, Minnesota Department of Commerce
Think Forward: An Introduction to Sustainable Design
Description: This one hour course provides builders and homeowners with general knowledge of sustainable design through an overview of fundamental concepts and examples. Green building certification programs and the true cost of building sustainably will also be discussed.
Presenter: Sean Morrissey, Morr Construction
Tracking Home Energy Performance
How to use tracking tools to manage energy use by monitoring trends, setting investment priorities, assessing how energy-related improvements in the home are performing.
Presenter: Lara Greden, Luzia, Inc.
Water Conservation and Site and Community Impact
Two Green strategies are combined in one session to help attendees understand the importance of each, how they interact, and how they differ. Topics include: trade off in structural plumbing, fixture selections, gray water systems, piping options (pros and cons), landscaping for water capture, advanced irrigation strategies, the role of a permeable site on community impact, landscaping for storm water management, locally sourced products, heat island effect, and more.
Presenter: Michael Anschel, Verified Green
Water Improvement for Builders
Importance of water improvement when building/remodeling; understanding water treatment technologies - focus on purification and filtration; proper integration of water treatment to maximize pure water’s usability, desired flow rates, client satisfaction and confidence, required follow-up; legally safe vs. totally safe
Presenter: Richard’s Custom Water Systems
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