Bellows Free Academy’s Technology Education Department offers a program consisting of five basic courses and four advanced courses.

The environmental studies program at Bennington, like all areas of study, draws upon the College’s faculty to provide an interdisciplinary perspective at how environmental issues impact the natural and social worlds. How do ethics, politics, and economics overlap with environmental issues? How do aesthetic and artistic perspectives shape our relationship with nature? The core environmental questions are not only or even necessarily scientific—they are social and policy-driven and are integrated across the entire College.

Beyond the classroom, the environmental studies program supports student research and Field Work Term internships, facilitates campus-based sustainability initiatives, and works to expand relationships with local environmental consortia and other institutions. The campus Sustainability Committee, which accepts and reviews proposals for projects like the organic Student Garden, allows students to tackle environmental problems on a local scale.

This two day workshop trains building professionals in the art of solar hot water design and installation. Day 1 introduces domestic solar hot water systems, component details, design considerations and installation. Day 2 focuses in on solar space heating potential, advanced system components, software applications for the trade, economic paybacks and incentives. This course is aimed at builders, plumbers, architects and engineers interested broadening their services to clients by offering solar hot water services.

This 4-part, online training program, designed for architects and builders, provides methodologies for how best to design and manage assembly details and achieve superior performance — while avoiding expensive pitfalls.
Eligible for AIA, LEED, BPI and NARI continuing education units.

The PEAC program is designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in pursuing careers that encompass the design, engineering and construction of commercial and residential buildings.

Included in the curriculum is the study of manual and computer aided drafting, surveying to include topographical and boundary details, architectural design concepts and building construction principles and practices. Students will select small projects to design and build for area nonprofit agencies. Through classroom activities students will explore career opportunities and post secondary options.

In this program students will also develop professional portfolios to present to colleges or future employers. They will: gain competency in computer aided design and drafting, work with mentors who are professionals in the engineering, architectural and construction fields, interact with area planning and zoning commissions, build a professional portfolio, produce a boundary survey map including contour drawings, learn construction practices and inspection guidelines, study the effects of natural and man-made forces on structures, explore post secondary options.

This program integrates several scientific disciplines to provide students with a strong framework from which to analyze environmental problems and develop effective, sustainable solutions. Students earning a BS in Environmental Science will pursue careers in government, industry and the non-profit sector. In addition, this program prepares students to enter graduate degree programs in related environmental science fields such as toxicology, environmental health, hydrology, systems ecology, plant ecology, conservation, and numerous other possible options.

The Department of History, Geography, Economics and Political Science (HGEP) is an innovative and interdisciplinary department that offers several liberal arts programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers and to act knowledgeably and effectively in the world:

• Economics (major-by-contract, minor)
• Environmental Studies (major-by-contract, minor)
• Geography (major-by-contract, minor)
• Global Studies (major, minor, certificate)
• History (major, minor, honors)
• Political Science (major, minor)
• Social Studies (major)

These programs educate students to identify, interpret, and constructively engage the many forces that influence humanity and shape the history and future of the world. Students develop excellent skills in reading critically, writing clearly, thinking analytically, researching effectively, and arguing persuasively, and thus are well prepared to teach, to earn a higher degree in graduate school, and to embark on a myriad of careers in the public and private sector.

Weatherization Skillshops give people with basic building and home repair skills a solid building science background and the skills needed to make specific energy-saving home improvements. You can learn core fundamentals through how-to demonstrations and hands-on skill building to begin improving building efficiency on your own.
Make your home more comfortable, reduce your fuel use, and save money! Attend a Skillshop and learn the advanced skills you need to tackle many energy improvements in your home.

Designed to build off the successful Button-Up program, Weatherization Skillshop is a statewide educational program created by the Central Vermont Community Action Council and funded through Vermont’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, with the goal of helping Vermonters understand how to improve energy efficiency in their homes, and to address non-complex weatherization problems.

These days, most people will express concern about the environment, but there are only a handful of people who will devote their lives to making sure it’s protected. Worried about climate changes? Water issues? Fracking?

One of the only degree programs of its kind in the country, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy program gives you the knowledge and skills to join the growing group of environmental professionals who are making policy decisions about these and other complex issues and multi-dimensional problems that affect the world we live in.

Take advantage of the unique learning opportunity offered by being located in Vermont, one of the most environmentally progressive states in the country, and at Champlain College—which has won numerous awards for being on the leading edge of sound environmental practices in higher education.

Unlike a typical program in environmental studies, the Environmental Policy major is focused less on theoretical aspects and more on the action-oriented practicalities of what you can do to envision bold solutions and change things for the better.

This major will give you concrete, hands-on tools—and experience applying them—that will set you apart when it comes to market your degree to a potential employer. This major zeros in on:

Human behaviors
Practical approaches to promoting change
Policies, politics and practices
Systems thinking
Initiatives and innovations surrounding environmental issues
American & international lawmaking
Environmental scientific research & innovation

Construction Technology is a multi-period, two-year program focusing on residential home construction. The main topics covered are:
Transits and leveling, foundation, floors, walls, roofs, drywall, electrical wiring, plumbing, stairs, post and beam, cranes, plan reading, windows and doors. Students construct “mock-ups” of all the various components of house building. Outside jobs are taken as they present themselves.

CCV offers a Sustainable Building Technology focus area within its Environmental Science Associate’s Degree Program. The Environmental Science program is designed to prepare students for employment in areas of the environment or for transfer to a four-year institution of higher learning.

Students choose a focus area geared toward conservation/preservation of natural resources, energy efficiency, or environmental literacy. In this multidisciplinary program, students will learn to relate underlying scientific theory to environmental considerations affecting our everyday lives. Students will gain an understanding of environmental problems and obtain the knowledge and skills to begin developing solutions

The course Solar Energy will teach you to design a complete photovoltaic system. The course will introduce you to the technology that converts solar energy into electricity, heat and solar fuels with a main focus on electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) devices are presented as advanced semiconductor devices that deliver electricity directly from sunlight. The emphasis is on understanding the working principle of a solar cell, fabrication of solar cells, PV module construction and the design of a PV system. You will understand the principles of the photovoltaic conversion (the conversion of light into electricity). You will learn about the advantages, limitations and challenges of different solar cell technologies, such as crystalline silicon solar cell technology, thin film solar cell technologies and the latest novel solar cell concepts as studied on lab-scale. The course will treat the specifications of solar modules and show you how to design a complete solar system for any particular application. The suitable semiconductor materials, device physics, and fabrication technologies for solar cells are presented. The guidelines for design of a complete solar cell system for household application are explained. Alternative storage approaches through solar fuels or conversion of solar energy in to heat will be discussed. The cost aspects, market development, and the application areas of solar cells are presented.
After completion of the course, you will be able to:
a) explain the various concepts to convert solar energy in to electricity, heat and solar fuels
b) explain the physical working principles of photovoltaic conversion in solar cells
c) recognize and describe the various solar cell technologies, their current status and future technological challenges
d) analyze the performance of solar cells and modules
e) design a complete photovoltaic system for any particular application on paper
To celebrate this first MOOC on Solar Energy the best student of the course will be invited to the Delft University of Technology for a Delft Solar Energy Center course of one week, to get hands-on lab experience with all the concepts taught in this Solar Energy course.

Through our two-year Echoing Green Fellowship program, we provide start-up capital and technical assistance to help new leaders launch their organizations and build capacity of their social enterprise. We offer:

• A stipend of $80,000 for individuals (or $90,000 for 2-person partnerships) paid in four equal installments over two years
• A health insurance stipend
• A yearly professional development stipend
• Conferences led by organizational development experts
• Access to technical support and pro bono partnerships to help grow your organization
• A community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders, including the Echoing Green network of nearly 500 alumni working all over the world

Efficiency Vermont presents RELIGHT, a program designed to encourage commercial customers to enlist the support of lighting design professionals on lighting retrofit projects.

Lighting design professionals can not only provide expert advice on lighting equipment and design, but can also guide a business to the maximum energy savings possible during a lighting upgrade. Financial incentives provided by Efficiency Vermont as part of the RELIGHT program are intended to reduce the cost of working with a lighting designer.

Lighting retrofits have been successfully completed for years, resulting in significant energy savings. However, simple one-for-one retrofits that match new lighting equipment to the layout and light level of a previous lighting installation may not always achieve the maximum energy savings possible. Past Efficiency Vermont projects have shown that lighting designer involvement can increase energy savings by an average of 40% compared to standard one-for-one retrofits.

Beyond increased energy savings, redesign often also improves project economics and customers’ lighting quality—uniformity, light level, and color—appropriate to the application.

An update to Vermont’s residential energy code recently took effect. This training is designed to help you stay up to date on these changes.

The 2011 VT Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES) was officially adopted on July 1st, 2011. Due to a legislative amendment, the 2011 RBES update became effective three months after official adoption (Oct. 2011) and “shall apply to construction commenced on and after the date they become effective.”

Efficiency Vermont is promoting free trainings for architects, builders, contractors and realtors on the 2011 Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (VT-RBES). See link below for locations and dates of upcoming trainings.

Free trainings on the new Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) are being scheduled by Efficiency Vermont.

New revisions to the CBES were adopted by the Vermont Legislature on October 3, 2011. Revisions take effect January 3, 2012 and “Shall apply to construction commenced on and after the date they become effective.” The CBES applies to all new commercial construction, including additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs.

Free trainings on the new Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) are being scheduled by Efficiency Vermont.

New revisions to the CBES were adopted by the Vermont Legislature on October 3, 2011. Revisions take effect January 3, 2012 and “Shall apply to construction commenced on and after the date they become effective.” The CBES applies to all new commercial construction, including additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs.

Everblue is the worldwide leader and the only nationally accredited training organization focused exclusively on clean energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, and green building training, education, and curriculum. Everblue’s constantly updated and engaging programs give you everything you need to learn new skills, earn a certification, or advance your career.
Our customers and partners include small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, multi-national companies, non-profits, trade associations, workforce development boards, government agencies, and private students.
Everblue Course Catalog:
LEED Training & Sustainability
• LEED Green Associate Most Popular
• LEED Project Experience
• LEED AP Building Design & Construction
• LEED AP Operations & Maintenance
• LEED Credential Maintenance
• Certified Sustainability Manager
BPI Certification & RESNET HERS Rater
• BPI Building Science Principles
• BPI Building Analyst Most Popular
• BPI Envelope Professional
• BPI Building Analyst Recertification
• BPI Envelope Professional Recertification
• BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Professional Recertification
• BPI AC Heat Pump Professional
• BPI Heating Professional
• BPI Multifamily Building Analyst Professional
• BPI Insulation & Air Sealing Technician
• RESNET HERS Rater
• RESNET Combustion Safety
• ENERGY STAR Version 3
• 2012 International Energy Conservation Code
• DOE Challenge Home
• Commercial Building Energy Auditor
• NATE Certification Training
Solar Energy & Wind Training
• Solar PV Associate
• Solar PV Installer Most Popular
• Solar Sales Professional
• Solar Heating Associate
• Basics of Wind
Continuing Education & Advanced Training
• Annual Training Membership
• Green Building & Sustainability Certificate
• Commercial Building Performance Certificate
• Residential Building Performance Certificate
• Renewable Energy Certificate

BA in Sustainability
Goddard College

The BA in Sustainability Program supports students in gaining the knowledge, skills, and vision essential to understanding our place in the ecosystem, navigating the transition to a sustainable society, and creating resilient lives and livelihoods in partnership with nature.
Students begin their self-directed learning through Foundation Studies in the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability, environmental justice, and an active engagement in creating a sustainable life. They then choose a Focus of Studies in sustainable agriculture, energy, economics, or communities, or a combination of these areas, and design an experiential learning activity such as an internship or community project to gain practical experience in their study area. Students are challenged to understand the underlying thinking and patterns that have led to an unsustainable society and to implement new ways of living that restore our relationship with the Earth.

The low-residency MA in Sustainable Business and Communities Program is a 48-credit graduate program. Students can also choose to pursue a one-year, 24-credit certificate of graduate study. The MA in Sustainable Business and Communities Program views the concerns of social responsibility, sustainability, and social justice as inextricably linked. Communities around the world continue to become increasingly interconnected around issues of human rights, the distribution of wealth, climate change, and ethical leadership. The allocation of resources, the drive of the world’s people for self-determination, and the long-term vitality of the planet require new and innovative solutions to these social, political, economic, and environmental issues.
Studies within the program support students in their aspirations to be effective agents of positive social change as entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, leaders, managers, community organizers, environmental stewards, and social justice advocates. Students in the program acquire skills needed to create and lead just, sustainable, and socially responsible organizations and communities. Students in the program develop and carry out an individualized plan of study built around their chosen area of focus and an in-depth topic of inquiry. Students work in close partnership with their faculty advisor to design the work of the semester. This approach to student-centered study assures that each student’s academic work is deeply engaging and meaningful to their lives and learning objectives.
Faculty members in the MA in Sustainable Business and Communities Program work closely with students throughout their studies. Program faculty members are actively engaged in their fields, supporting students with in-depth theoretical understanding of their areas of inquiry and practical experience in diverse real-world applications. In addition to offering richly varied personal and professional backgrounds and a passionate interest in their subject areas, program faculty members provide one-on-one mentoring that is engaging, affirming, constructively challenging, and meaningful for students.

The Certificate for Advanced Graduate Study in Sustainable Business and Communities supports students in their aspirations to be effective agents of positive social change as entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, leaders, managers, community organizers, environmental stewards, and social justice advocates. Students in the program acquire skills needed to create and lead just, sustainable, and socially responsible organizations and communities.

The certificate program helps people learn and work in areas of socially responsible business, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development.

Green Mountain College’s sustainable business program will show you that gaining a competitive advantage goes hand in hand with sustainability and social justice. It’s often called the “triple bottom line approach” (people, planet, profit) which looks at business success in economic, environmental and social terms.

If you are a person who gets excited about the idea of building your own enterprise, you’ll need strong business skills to translate that vision into a reality. At GMC, we place a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship. Our program will give you a solid foundation in finance, accounting, marketing, organizational leadership and ethics.

By combining their experiences in the classroom and through hands-on renewable energy and sustainable design projects, students in this concentration will integrate innovative design and fabrication skills and knowledge with an interdisciplinary, liberal arts perspective to prepare them for further studies and/or careers in sustainable design and renewable energy.

Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the social and environmental challenges of current domestic and global energy systems, and the solutions and regulatory reforms needed to create a sustainable energy future.
Students will understand and be able to apply ecological design principles to the built environment and will be prepared for further study and careers in renewable energy and sustainable design.
Students completing the concentration in sustainable design and energy automatically are awarded the REED Certificate.

The Green Mountain College MSES program is one of the only MSES programs designed for distance learning, and is offered by a college that has been focused on environmental issues and sustainability for more than a decade.

At Green Mountain College, they’ve focused on teaching about the environment for over a decade. The distance MSES program, fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), is one of the only of its kind in the nation, and is designed to help working professionals develop expertise in environmental issues, then put it to work in their own communities.

Unlike other graduate programs, the GMC master’s degree combines the best of online learning with intensive locally applied experience. They call it a bioregional approach to distance education. Rather than learning about environmental studies solely through examples in a textbook, students in each of the courses use their local ecosystems as laboratories in which to experiment with new concepts and skills.

Students choose between three concentrations—conservation biology, writing and communication, and self-design—and graduate as experts in the workings of their own bioregions. This emphasis on practical application of knowledge prepares students for professional work, whether they are just launching a career or looking for growth in an established position.

MSES students graduate with the knowledge and confidence to become leaders. They join a cutting-edge community ready to make a difference.

This online MBA degree program in Sustainable Business offers an in-depth exploration and application of sustainable business concepts and practices for today’s business climate. Green Mountain weaves sustainability throughout their entire MBA curriculum and emphasize the development of skills and knowledge needed to achieve and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Sustainable MBA Program consists of 13 courses that total 37 semester credits.

A new generation of researchers, architects, engineers and builders is looking at the built environment in a whole new way. Excessive energy use and resource consumption are prompting these pioneers to reexamine how we design, renovate and build our homes and workplaces. If you are looking for opportunities in the emerging green economy, renewable energy and ecological design present exciting new playing fields. Green Mountain College’s new Renewable Energy and EcoDesign certification will help open doors.In the fall of 2009, Green Mountain College introduced the Renewable Energy and EcoDesign (REED) certificate, an undergraduate program designed to help students explore the renewable energy and green building fields. It reflects the same characteristics as GMC’s award-winning Environmental Liberal Arts curriculum: the program is field-based and interdisciplinary.

GMC undergraduates can complete the REED program during their four years and still fulfill all the requirements for their major and minor programs. REED is open to students in any major. Students don’t have to be on track to enter graduate school in design or engineering, although the REED certificate will help them get there. REED provides all students with a great foundation in understanding sustainability issues associated with energy and the built environment. Upon graduation, a REED certificate on your resume will show that your rich interdisciplinary education included background in sustainability, energy and design, assisting you in your job search or your pursuit for a graduate degree.

Students entering this program will be introduced to the variety, complexities and global opportunities in the fields of Heating and Refrigeration/Air Conditioning. Home and commercial system designs and components will be covered in depth, with the use of industry accepted training materials usually only available at technical colleges.
The program is now offered on a 2 yr. basis with single, a full year devoted to either: Heating or Refrigeration/Air conditioning, and then switching the main discipline the following year. Students can attend for 2 years or just choose the topic running during their junior or senior years that is of interest to them. Each year also includes studies in safety, electricity, copper and steel pipe installation, plumbing and specialty tool usage.

Two industry certification exams are available as well. The Act 608 safe refrigerant handling certification, in conjunction with the EPA is offered to students in Refrigeration/Air Conditioning. Secondly, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) Bronze certification exam is offered during the Heating cycle of the program of studies.

The Construction Technology curriculum provides students with training in all phases of residential construction. Students participate in the construction of a full modular house. Students receive instruction in the safe and proper operation of tools and power equipment, reading construction plans and specifications, and the application of math skills. They also receive practical experience in structural framing techniques, window installation, siding, and roofing.

These skills are utilized as the student progresses through the shell construction of a single family residence, floor framing, wall framing, roof framing and roofing. During the second semester students complete construction of the residence which includes siding, doors, windows, insulation, drywall, interior trim, mechanical system (plumbing) and electrical systems. Estimating and scheduling skills are refined and practiced. An introduction to commercial construction methods and materials completes the experience.

The Electrical Technology program provides leading edge technical training, which will prepare students for career opportunities in the electrical industry.

The curriculum offers technical training to acquire knowledge and skills related to the design and installation of electrical equipment, materials, devices and lighting fixtures for the Construction Technology Program. Hands on laboratory experiments will offer the necessary experience for safe use and operation of electrical hand and power tools. Technical training includes the study and implementation of alternate energy sources and electrical codes and standards. The program offers basic concepts and principals of electricity, magnetic circuits, programming programmable logical controllers, blueprint reading, as well as interpretation of the related residential, commercial and industrial electrical code(s) and standards. Students will be instructed with state of the art technology along with test and measurement instruments including industrial solid state device and measurement instruments including solid state device and controls, digital and analog devices, and switching logical circuits.

All students will test for the Vermont Apprenticeship I Certification.

EAD is a two year program that introduces students to basic mechanical and architectural design curriculum. The curriculum begins with basic hand drafting techniques and follows with exploration into computer aided drafting programs, (CAD) using AutoCAD and Solidworks software. Problem solving and design skills will be explored as students learn to navigate building, mechanical and product design, with a few of the designs documented and built in class.

Second year students have a choice of concentrating on their area of interest in either mechanical or architectural related fields. If a placement can be found, students will have the opportunity to work in a co-op placement of their choice at a local business in order to acquire “on the job” experience.

The National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes— without driving up the cost of construction. Classwork leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers, from the organization leading the charge to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.

This 32-hour (4 day) course covers the fundamentals, design and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and involves actual hands-on work with PV systems and equipment. It is targeted toward electrical contractors, journeymen, instructors and apprentices wishing to learn more about PV systems technology and exciting new opportunities this field.

This program is intended to develop system-knowledgeable professionals in the electrical industry to support the tremendous need for qualified contractors and skilled installers to promote the safety, quality and success of PV system installations.

Students may choose from two majors within the environmental science program: The Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Environmental Science or the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science/Natural Resources.

Lyndon State College offers a comprehensive major in sustainability studies preparing students with a solid foundation in the fundamental science, the practices, and the technologies needed for human civilization to live in harmony with and to preserve the natural environment for future generations.

This program centers around four closely interrelated areas: Energy, Food, Water, and Environment, plus a number of Interdisciplinary Topics.

A Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences provides graduates essential training to become environmental consultants, scientists, and regulators. By employing the significant experience of the department’s faculty in the fields of research, consultation and governmental regulation, students are trained to become environmental leaders.

Incubator without Walls at Lyndon State College is the leader in developing the skilled work force that powers Northeast Kingdom economic growth. We provide a wide array of programs and services designed to prepare individual students and businesses for success in the workplace and the regional economy.

The Marlboro MBA provides you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to manage for sustainability. To succeed, organizational leaders must understand the impact of management practices on their business and the environment, the workforce, local cultures and profits. At Marlboro College, this multiple-bottom-line philosophy is integrated into all our MBA sustainability courses, from accounting and finance to business law, economic theory and renewable energy education.

The Marlboro MBA in Sustainability is taught in person and online, with students and faculty coming together for three days each month at the downtown Brattleboro, Vermont, campus of the Marlboro College Graduate School. Faculty members work with students on addressing real-world problems. The learning community created during these face-to-face sessions continues online, using collaborative learning tools drawn from the Graduate School’s decade of experience in delivering low-residency master’s programs to working adults.

Over the course of two years and 20 intensive weekends, full-time MBA sustainability students earn 60 credits.The Marlboro MBA offers the curriculum, the philosophy and the academic track record to challenge intellects, inspire imaginations and prepare for the future.
Sustainability is increasingly used as a unifying concept to help us grasp such varied topics as global warming, fossil fuel prices and scarcity, trends in wealth and income levels and distribution, diversity, renewable energy education and social justice. It is increasingly cited as cities, towns, and regions in advanced industrial nations ponder their futures in a competitive, uncertain world. A companion concept that came into use in the late 1990s is the “triple bottom line.” It suggests that balanced social, environmental, and economic performance by companies contributes to the sustainable development of the communities and regions where they operate, and is of strategic importance to their long-term performance. Now, especially in view of concerns about global warming and peak oil, some argue that evolving public policies and social movements will accelerate requirements that companies and other organizations operate in more sustainable ways.

To the faculty at Marlboro, the term “environmental studies” is synonymous with “human ecology.” That is, it is a study of the way that humans interact with their environment. Such a broad definition suggests that an interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary approach is warranted, and indeed, students should study the environment from the special perspectives and knowledge of the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The integration of the various disciplines into a coordinated approach to environmental questions is the challenge of this field.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

The study of economics provides insights into how the world works. It teaches students a way of thinking, which when combined with training in qualitative and quantitative reasoning, and good judgment, provides an excellent foundation for just about anything that students may do after college.The Department of Economics provides a varied selection of courses from introductory principles to a rigorous senior research seminar in which students pursue an independent research project to qualify for departmental honors. Students also collaborate frequently with faculty on research projects leading to scholarly publications. The economics major thus provides the student with an excellent background for graduate work and employment in various fields, including economics, business, law, government, education, and international finance.

Architecture and Environmental Studies are natural companions.  It is impossible to design good buildings without understanding their relationship to natural systems.  It is also impossible to understand the natural environment without knowing how human intervention affects it – both positively and negatively.  As man and nature begin to recognize their interdependence, the study of environment takes on a whole new meaning.  Architecture and the Environment encourages students to explore these relationships from a variety of perspectives.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Environmental solutions cannot come from one type of knowledge or way of thinking, not just from politics or chemistry or economics or history. They will come instead from leaders, thinkers, and innovators who can draw skills and knowledge from multiple fields of knowledge and work with teams of thinkers from every corner of the campus and the globe.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Two-thirds of all environmental studies majors also study abroad for one semester at schools and programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia.

Our students take courses from across the curriculum to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the human relationship to the environment. Each major chooses one focus out of thirteen in which to focus about half of their coursework within the major. The thirteen foci include: policy, architecture, chemistry, economics, creative arts, literature, geography, conservation biology, nonfiction writing, human ecology, history, geology, and religion/philosophy.

Students learn responsible conservation and global stewardship through organic horticulture, green space development in landscape design, organic pesticide application, aquaponics, hydroponics, and passive solar design alternative energy.

This program provides an introduction to use of Infrared Thermography as part auditing a building for installation of weatherization measures, heat theory, building thermal issues, imaging equipment.

Students learn energy auditing viewing building as a whole system promoting energy efficiency. The purpose of the training is to diagnose and resolve issues. Curriculum covers: Principles of Energy and Building Science, Buildings Systems, Energy Audit Process, Building Shell and Thermal Envelope, Airflow Basics, Moisture Management, Air Quality, Combustion Safety and CO Monitoring, Diagnosing Common Building Problems, Blower Door Testing

This program is the next step for students with basic building analyst certification and covers intermediate building science, building envelope systems and their interaction with other building systems, measurement and verification of building performance, BPI Standards and project specifications, Optimizing building envelopes, professional ethics and conduct.

Participants in this program will study principles of air leakage, pressure differences, air sealing, mechanical exhaust devices. Program includes classroom and lab with equipment and field analysis for finding and measuring air leakage using the Blower Door.

Paper or plastic? Hybrid or conventional vehicles? Which is better for the environment? To answer these questions, one must take a holistic systems view using a quantitative approach known as life cycle assessment.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a fundamental method for assessing the environmental impacts of products and technologies from a “cradle to grave” systems perspective. It is an essential tool for anyone who performs environmental analyses or uses the results of such analyses for decision making.

The course will provide an introduction to LCA methods and applications. Students taking this course will emerge with a solid understanding of why an LCA systems perspective is important, basic skills for sound application of the LCA method and proper interpretation of its results, and an appreciation for the strengths and limitations of LCA in practice. The course will cover the four major steps in LCA: (1) goal definition and scope; (2) life-cycle inventory compilation; (3) life-cycle impact assessment; and (4) interpretation and management. The course will include a hands-on modeling project, which the students will perform in parallel to the lectures to reinforce learning objectives and to gain experience in LCA application.

he environmental science program at Norwich provides an interdisciplinary education applicable to a broad range of interests and career paths related to the environment.

Each student develops his or her specialization by selecting a minor within a traditional academic discipline. The result is a broad range of emphases that allow students to match employment opportunities with personal interests.

Students are offered abundant hands-on experience in problem solving. Many courses include ongoing studies of active environmental problems. Norwich University is located in the valley floor of the Dog River and is surrounded by wide biological and geological diversity within walking distance. This setting lends itself to our program’s emphasis on outdoor fieldwork. All Environmental Science students take a pair of capstone courses involving participation in original research, often coordinated with faculty research and involving travel.

The modest size of the program ensures its personalized, family atmosphere, with attentive advising from a faculty of professionally engaged academicians. Students have access to an exceptional variety of equipment and facilities of all the science and engineering programs.

Norwich University’s unique online Master of Civil Engineering program was specifically designed for working professionals, and can be completed in as few as 18 months. The program relieves you of the constraints of traditional classroom education by providing all class interaction via a virtual classroom. Norwich created the program based on ASCE recommendations to help you to:

Enhance your technical knowledge, while developing your project and business management expertise
Acquire knowledge specific to your area of interest in structural, geotechnical, construction management, or environmental/water resources engineering
Participate in a learning model that combines relevant theory with real-world application for immediate results
Experience a supportive learning environment through market-leading support from faculty
Learn from an institution whose core values – challenge, rigor, structure and discipline – derive from the influence of a long and proud military history

Civil engineering is perhaps the oldest of all engineering disciplines and the first to be recognized and developed as a field of study. This field encompasses planning, design, construction and maintenance of structures, which often includes altering the natural geography to meet human needs. Civil engineers design and build suspension bridges, dams, tunnels, skyscrapers, the Interstate highway system, airports, ports, shopping centers, residential developments, water delivery and purification facilities and irrigation systems.

Whether you work for a private engineering firm, construction firm, government agency or industry, there are many areas in which civil engineers can focus. A few of the major specialties include:
– Structural (buildings, bridges, tunnels)
– Geotechnical (retaining structures, foundations)
– Water and wastewater (water supply, sewage disposal)
– Hydrology (river control, drainage)
– Transportation (highways, airports, railroads)
– Environmental (hazardous waste, air pollution, water quality)

STEM Academy is designed to prepare students for employment and post-secondary education by providing a scenario-based curriculum focusing on innovative design, community service, and workplace standards while improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics proficiency. STEM Academy offers students flexible pathways to achieving a Certificate of Completion by providing an integrative and collaborative standards and competency based curriculum. STEM Academy Completers will experience scenario-based design problems which apply scientific inquiry, innovative technology, the STEM Design Process, and mathematics. Successful STEM Academy Completers will produce portfolio-quality work demonstrating employment and post-secondary readiness.

To receive a Certificate of Completion in STEM Academy, a student must successfully complete a minimum of four STEM semester courses, including at least two 200-Level courses. Available courses include:

STEM 100 – INTRODUCTION TO STEM
STEM 101 – INNOVATION OF STEM
STEM 110 – FOUNDATIONS IN ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURE I
STEM 111 – FOUNDATIONS IN ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURE II
STEM 210 – ENGINEERING DESIGN
STEM 211 – ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
STEM 220 – GREEN BUILDING & WOOD FRAMING
STEM 221 – RENEWABLE ENERGY & SOLAR THERMAL/PV
STEM 230 – PRECISION MEASUREMENT & CNC PROGRAMMING
STEM 231 – METAL FABRICATION, WELDING & MACHINING

Students in the program participate in every phase of construction through the building of a modular house, using the latest building techniques with an emphasis on energy efficient construction.
Renewable Energy: This program provides training for the renewable energy industry. Students learn how to create electricity from the sun. Topics of study include photovoltaic, thermal, solar, wind, and hydroelectric. Students will study basic electricity and how solar cells work, and have hands-on experiences with renewable energy systems.
Green Building: Students will explore climate change as it relates to building structures and renewable energy systems. An energy-efficient building will be constructed in class. Through the building process, students will learn advanced wood framing techniques, weatherization, radiant heat and solar orientation of buildings. Building trade skills such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and green home design will be explored.

forestry-08Fall Semester (Soil, Water, Recreation and Heavy Equipment Operation): Sustainable use of our soils and water resources is the backbone of semester 1. Some areas covered include: soil and water testing; land judging, wetlands and waterfowl, conservation practices, environmental laws, and fisheries (Aquaculture). Learn to safely operate and maintain construction equipment (backhoe/loader; dozer; excavator; skid steer; dump truck and trailer; laser level; chainsaw). Add to your skills in remote sensing, GIS, GPS, computer technology, landscape surveying, topographical and aerial photo interpretation, print reading, environmental laws and permits. Business management, leadership and recreation skills are practiced through the FFA organization. The class competes in the Vermont Land Judging and Winter Forestry Career Development Events.

forestry2Spring Semester (Forestry, Wildlife and Equipment Operation): Wise use of our forest resources for timber, water, wildlife, recreation and wilderness is the focus of this semester. learn to produce quality maple syrup and maple products, Christmas trees, lumber and fish. Learn about the ecosystem for forest and wildlife habitat management for deer, bear, grouse, turkey, non-game species. Harvest timber safely using “Game of Logging” technology. Learn business practices in computer recordkeeping, contracts, and marketing. Expand safe equipment operation (see above). Compete in the Vermont Envirothon and Forestry Career Development events through the FFA leadership skills training program.

Join internationally-acclaimed researcher and award-winning educator Richard Alley in an exploration of the role of energy in our environment and our future. Energy use has done great good for humans by giving those in the developed world the equivalent of 100 energy “serfs” to do our bidding, making up roughly 10% of the economy, and powering most of the economy. However, the unintended consequences of energy use are affecting people around the world and changing the climate in ways that will make life much harder. Numerous options exist for development of a sustainable energy system that provides a stronger economy, more jobs, and greater security that is more consistent with ethical principles. The course explores these issues. “Energy, the Environment, and Our Future” will combine student-centered instructional materials and film clips from the PBS TV series Earth: The Operators’ Manual, also hosted by Richard Alley, to tell the history, present, and possible futures of human energy use.

Do you have an interest in alternative energy? Would you like to understand how do we get and use power from the sun, wind, and other alternative sources? Would you like to learn how to convert a diesel engine to bio-diesel? This program will help you use your creativity and technical skills to explore how to solve problems. Not mechanically inclined? That’s OK, we’ll teach you. Know some of today’s mechanics and other technology? This program will help you expand your skills to be highly marketable in a variety of fields including vehicle repair and transportation, agriculture, forestry and land-use, building technology and more.

The Power & Sustainable Technology program offers a focused study of energy production, renewable resources, and system efficiency. You’ll use scientific and project-based methods to solve pressing local and global environmental concerns.

Would you like to become an indoor air quality (IAQ) or green building consultant? Would you like to better understand how to create a healthy home or building by preventing, diagnosing, and resolving indoor environmental problems? If so, the Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE) Online Certification Program is for you.

The Performing Comprehensive Building Assessments (PCBA) Online Training Program will give you a thorough understanding of the building assessment process. This intermediate program focuses on the skills you need to professionally conduct visual building inspections, perform diagnostic testing, determine residential building improvement opportunities, document a home’s performance, prioritize improvements, and prepare a work scope that will guide the homeowner’s decision-making process for making the improvements.

The Building Analyst Quick Start program was developed and written in partnership with nationally recognized building science experts. You’ll learn about the principles of green buildings—from insulation to indoor air quality—as well as how to perform comprehensive building assessments.

Environmentally-friendly materials and energy efficient technology are changing the way buildings are being constructed today. Over the course of a year, participants in this program will acquire a range of skills by building a house for a local family. Areas of study include site layout, cost estimating, construction materials, ethics, energy efficiency, and more.

Get your feet wet
Whether you’re up to your knees in the streams right next to campus or deep in the rainforests of Costa Rica, our diverse courses emphasize hands-on learning. You can study Neurobiology, Tropical Ecology, Animal Behavior, Genetics, Evolution and more. And you can get involved with faculty in their active research programs during both the academic year and the summer.

Not just lab work
Experience matters at Saint Michael’s. As a biology major, you’ll spend plenty of time in the lab, but for starters you might also:

Intern with the Vermont State Medical Examiner’s Office or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Conduct and present professional-level research on aquatic biology, or genetics and evolution, to name just a few subjects
Prepare for graduate schools in areas such as medicine, dentistry, other healthcare professions, and M.S. or Ph.D. programs in a variety of other fields of biology
At Saint Michael’s, you can study Pre-Health, Environmental Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or Biology Education. You can also create your own selection of biology courses

Participants will learn principles of air leakage and how houses perform as influenced by pressure differences caused by air sealing, placement of mechanical exhaust devices, etc. This training includes classroom, hands on lab work with equipment and field analysis for finding and measuring air leakage using the Blower Door, Blower Door software and interpretation of Blower Door results. This training examines methods for determining cost effective and minimum ventilation requirements. Advanced techniques using pressure gauges to determine potential for back drafting and pressure balancing of duct work on forced air distribution systems are discussed.

The Biological Sciences degree program is designed to stimulate intellectual and personal growth through an examination of the fundamental properties of living systems, the application of experimental and descriptive methods of discovery, and the consideration of the social, ethical, and aesthetic aspects of biological knowledge. Both the rigor and flexibility of the program will help students enter employment or post-baccalaureate studies with a competitive advantage, while allowing students to choose an individualized course of study with an emphasis in Ecology and Environment, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or Pre-Professional Studies.

The Biological Sciences degree program will prepare students for careers in the biological sciences, give students the opportunity to pursue graduate degrees in the biological sciences and to provide students with the preparation necessary to pursue professional programs in the medical sciences.

This two-year program is designed to teach students the basic skills necessary to enter the construction field. The program teaches both carpentry and electrical skills. In carpentry, the student will learn blueprint reading and sketching, construction safety procedures, hand and power tool operation, foundations, sub-flooring, framing, roofs, stairs and basic house construction and codes. In electrical, the student will learn cable and device installation procedures, service entrance, light switching, branch circuits, special purpose branch circuits and electrical code. Residential supply and waste plumbing and HVAC systems are also introduced. Over the two-year program, students gain experience and practice through the construction of a marketable house with an emphasis on energy efficiency and ‘green’ building.

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This two-year program is designed to teach students the basic skills necessary to enter the construction field. The program teaches both carpentry and electrical skills. In carpentry, the student will learn blueprint reading and sketching, construction safety procedures, hand and power tool operation, foundations, sub-flooring, framing, roofs, stairs and basic house construction and codes. In electrical, the student will learn cable and device installation procedures, service entrance, light switching, branch circuits, special purpose branch circuits and electrical code. Residential supply and waste plumbing and HVAC systems are also introduced. Over the two-year program, students gain experience and practice through the construction of a marketable house with an emphasis on energy efficiency and ‘green’ building.

This program is certified as meeting the construction industry training standards as established by the Associated General Contractors of America. Successful students earn the AGC Certificate that lists the student’s levels of achievement on 27 specific skill areas. Students also complete their OSHA 10 Certification.

Saint Michael’s College offers both a major and minor in environmental studies. This program is a holistic, interdisciplinary program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. It includes the perspectives of the social sciences, the humanities and the natural sciences.

All students in the program take Introduction to Environmental Studies, Environmental Problems (a research methods class) and the Senior Seminar, featuring a community-engaged learning project; students also select breadth courses in environmental humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences including:

The Construction Technology Program offers a future with great rewards. The program provides skills in light residential construction. Students learn safe and accurate use of hand and power tools, and knowledge of building materials. Program students build with panelization and production methods used in an ever changing environment and industry. Practical experience from frame to finish takes place on and off campus at the residential project where students are building a neighborhood.

At Sterling College we define ecology as the study of the relationships among living organisms, people and the environment, and how those relationships change over time. The Ecology Major provides students with an in-depth understanding of the natural world and the conservation of ecological systems and natural resources. The discipline is experiential by nature and employs a variety of methods to integrate theory and practice. Natural history courses emphasize hands-on observation, identification, description and interpretation of organisms in their natural habitats, investigating the ecological and evolutionary interplay between physical factors and the life histories of organisms. Scientific methodologies such as field surveys and population assessments build upon observation techniques, emphasizing the development of working hypotheses and testing such hypotheses in a variety of settings. Conservation courses integrate an ecological and biological understanding of the natural world into land use and management decisions, thus cultivating a land ethic described by Aldo Leopold as “a state of harmony between [humans] and Land.”

Environmental Humanities at Sterling College encourages students to integrate applied and visual arts, cultural studies, writing and literature to help develop and articulate meaningful relationships with the natural world. Students in Environmental Humanities work alongside faculty advisors and expert practitioners as they balance creative expression, interpretation and analysis through creative processes using an almost limitless range of media—from clay and locally harvested plants to oil paints, animal fiber, and digital media.

Taking an ecological perspective on humanities means that students look at a broad view of the ways humans engage with nature—from regional and global literary traditions to environmental philosophy, and from cultural identity to historical context. From this foundation, students deeply enrich their experience with the creative process, whether locating and using local materials, sketching landscapes throughout our watershed, or developing innovative processes to make paper or fiber projects by adapting traditional techniques.

Essential to Sterling’s Environmental Humanities major is recognizing the relevance of creative work in a broader context—and applying that understanding toward the goal of effecting real change.

Our approach to agriculture is grounded in the principles associated with ecological stewardship of the land. With the assistance of the faculty, students construct their learning experience while engaging in a combination of structured academics, realistic food production challenges on the Sterling College farm and at least one off campus internship. The degree places a strong emphasis on soil health and regenerative agricultural processes. A broad foundation in Biology, Forestry, Plant, Soil and Animal Science prepare students for the techniques presented in plant and livestock production systems. Supporting the major are courses that prepare future farmers and growers with small business management practices, engagement in state and federal agricultural policy and various research opportunities aligned with a student’s emphasis of study. Integrating courses across majors, students are well positioned to enter employment in fields such as agriculture education, agroecology and food systems. Draft horses combined with a small tractor allow students to investigate a true mixed power model for field tillage and forestry management. From their first day on campus, on-farm work opportunities immerse students in the realities of farming in northern Vermont including season extension strategies for vegetable production, raising pastured meats, and the application of the bio-extensive garden model with its heavy reliance on cover crop.

In these times of increasing cultural disconnection of humans from nature, the Sterling College Outdoor Education major invites full participation with the natural and human landscapes through applied learning theory, adventure and environmental programming, and leadership development. Using experience as an essential theme, outdoor education classes emphasize place-based learning and inspire students to develop technical, leadership, and facilitation skills as well as a sound understanding of learning theory. Students will find themselves visiting a Waldorf school, writing risk assessments, canoeing local whitewater rivers, instructing groups on the Challenge Course, and designing and running an after-school program. Students quickly learn that paddles as well as pencils are vital to keeping afloat at Sterling and making a mark on the world. Outdoor education graduates are ready to reconnect people with the natural world whether through rock climbing, public or private education, environmental advocacy, or nature-based education.

The Building Technology Program prepares students to properly and safely operate hand and power tools used in the trade. Students gain basic and advanced skills and essential worker traits needed to gain employment in the construction industry. Eligible students work in either a residential or commercial construction site in a Career Work Experience.
To be eligible for a Career Work Experience, a student must maintain a class grade point average of 80 or better.

Within this program,sStudents are offered a unique opportunity to experience the science, technology and management of a “living laboratory. In existence for over 30 years, this award-winning, fast-paced program combines practical applications for chemistry, physics and biology with skills useful for employment.

Two ‘majors’ of concentration are available. Forestry provides students the opportunity to gain skills in timber management, logging, greenhouse production, and landscaping. Mechanical science includes heavy equipment operation, welding, small power equipment, and electricity. Apprenticeship positions in water technology, electrical and plumbing are available to advanced students who qualify. In addition, each student will have the opportunity to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills as they produce a variety of seasonal food products. Several traditional food products include maple syrup, honey, rainbow trout, and hydroponic vegetables.

Preference will be given to students with effective math and science backgrounds. Students should be able to demonstrate mastery of basic mathematical operations, measurement, fractional and metric conversions, and logical manipulative skills.

Students interested in attending college to major in mechanical engineering, natural resources and environment fields will benefit from this program. Students planning to continue their education in fields related to industrial mechanics, or the management, use, and preservation of land, soil and water will find this program tailored to meet their needs. After an introductory “core” program, during which all students gain exposure to the major areas of instruction, each student will select a “career major.”

Environmental law may be the one institution standing between us and planetary exhaustion. It is also an institution that needs to be reconciled with human liberty and economic aspirations. This course considers these issues and provides a tour though existing legal regimes governing pollution, water law, endangered species, toxic substances, environmental impact analyses, and environmental risk. This course will expose students to legal reasoning, especially from the reading of cases involving real-life environmental disputes.

Take your environmental career to the next level with this inherently multidisciplinary program that examines the natural environment, the human or built environment, and the ways in which the two are connected. This program explores a range of subjects including sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science, economics, planning, literature, art and many others. The Environmental Studies & Sustainability concentration encourages students toward experiential learning, integrating the classroom with the natural world and its surrounding communities.

Recent research in the Environmental Studies & Sustainability program has included Alternative Energy Resources: An Investigation into Inexhaustible Energy Sources, Animals in Captivity: The Evolution of Care and Behavior, Alternatives to Urban Sprawl, Green Design: Theory and Practice, and many more.

This concentration within the Environmental Studies Major emphasizes multiple aspects of sustainability studies as applied to the core infrastructural elements that support ecological, economic, and social well-being. Students gain understanding in the ecological and social processes that inform human choices in relation to energy, transportation, food systems, climate, and waste management. Students develop skills in scientific and social analysis and apply sustainability principles to environmental problem-solving, developing an interdisciplinary grounding in systems thinking and ecological processes.

Green Urbanism is a growing field of research and design; it brings together what we know about the functions of the natural environment and the form of the built environment. The push for the UN Convention of Biodiversity is showing up internationally as urban habitat corridors, green space, and open space planning for cities. And there is there is considerable research on the health and livability of our urbanized places. What is not well developed is the functionality and rationale for energy production from renewable energy, efficiency and co-generation within our urban built-environments.

ECOS Initiative (Environment, Community, Opportunity, Sustainability) goals for Chittenden County align with the State Energy plan:
[We must provide] 90% of our energy needs from renewable sources by 2050.
In the next 20 years we should aggressively address our vulnerable dependence upon oil for a large portion of our heating and the vast majority of our transportation.

The next decade is a time for focusing on heating efficiency as effectively as we’ve focused on electric efficiency in the past decade.
Investments in renewable energy, including Vermont-based projects, will lead us to
greater energy independence, reduced costs for all Vermonters, and good jobs.

BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? This course will assess what energy can be produced in an urban setting by looking at Burlington, as well as another cold climate city internationally.
This program is run as a seminar with student presentations on research and data, field trips, guest presentations, and final project. Final comprehensive project consists of white papers/design manifesto for sustainable policy development.

Environmental sciences majors who select the agriculture and the environment focus track will study the impacts of agriculture on the environment and strategies for minimizing environmental degradation.

 Environmental sciences majors who select the conservation biology and biodiversity focus track will study endangered species and ecosystems, as well as strategies for conserving the diversity of Earth’s life forms.

 Environmental science students who concentrate in the ecological design focus track will study the use of ecological systems to improve environmental quality. 

 Environmental sciences majors who select the environmental analysis assessment focus track will study techniques for measuring environmental impacts and managing environmental data. 

Environmental sciences majors who select the environmental biology focus track will study ecological and molecular analysis of endangered populations, phenomena affecting biological diversity, the interrelationship of organisms and their environments, and conservation genetics. 

Environmental sciences majors who select the environmental chemistry focus track will study analytical methods for measuring and monitoring air, ground, and water pollutants.

Environmental sciences majors who select the environmental geology focus track will study Earth science, geomorphology, and the analysis of ground water.

Environmental sciences majors who select the water resources focus track will study global water supply and human impacts on surface waters.

Environmental sciences majors who select the environmental resources focus track will study environmental processes in air, soil, and water.

Environmental engineers are the technical professionals who identify and design solutions for environmental problems.

Environmental engineers provide safe drinking water, treat and properly dispose of wastes, maintain air quality, control water pollution and remediate sites contaminated due to spills or improper disposal of hazardous substances. They monitor the quality of the air, water and land. And, they develop new and improved ways to protect the environment.

Environmental engineers possess the scientific, mathematical and technical knowledge to identify, design, build, and operate systems that make modern society possible.

In addition, the environmental engineering field and environmental engineering education are multi-disciplinary. They involve traditional engineering components such as mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry and engineering design. But environmental engineering education and practice also involves a range of other disciplines such as biology, microbiology, ecology, public health, geology, meteorology, economics and political science.

At UVM, our graduate students work closely with outstanding faculty who are research active in many areas of the broad discipline of Civil and Environmental Engineering, including:
Airborne Particle Characterization & Processes
Chemical fate and transport
Civil infrastructure materials and modeling
Contaminant Hydrology
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental engineering
Groundwater modeling
Hydrology
Natural and Engineering Systems Modeling
Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Structural Health Monitoring and Diagnostics
Wireless sensor networks for health monitoring of subsurface geo-systems
Sustainable transportation systems
Sustainable energy infrastructure
Geo-energy systems
Heritage structure conservation

Innovative construction techniques merged with community design and planning.
Hands-on experience planning for and working with environmentally friendly materials.
Holistic approach to design that incorporates functionality as well as landscape features and energy flows.
Unique partnership with Yestermorrow Design/Build School.

This interdisciplinary minor in Food Systems gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to understand our complex interdependent food system of food production, processing, distribution and consumption. this is one of the most talked about and in-demand emerging fields and is likely to be key in the coming decade.

The Ecological Agriculture major focuses on applying ecological concepts to environmentally friendly food production. Learn how to produce food in a sustainable and ecologically-sound manner. Gain a solid foundation in the natural sciences and practical experience through our organic farm practicum, internships, and field trips. Nationally there is a growing need for professionals who understand and apply effective principles to agriculture. The Ecological Agriculture major integrates course work in ecology, plant science, soil science, entomology, economics, and policy with an experiential learning internship to create educated professionals.

Endorse a healthier environment with the beauty and utility of plants. Gain professional training in landscape design and plant sciences along with courses in business and liberal arts. Choose trees, shrubs, and lawn grasses that match conditions of the local environment. Design landscapes hat provide environmental services of soil conservation, water purification, and nutrient management. These are among the skills and areas of knowledge you’ll develop as a Sustainable Landscape Horticulturist.

Environmental Studies at UVM consists of a core set of courses all students take following which studies are pursued through one of four colleges or program: College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Education & Social Services
Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources

The Environmental Program at University of Vermont is an undergraduate program only, offering courses and degrees for the undergraduate major in Environmental Studies. However, all of our faculty can and do work with master’s and doctoral graduate students in at least two ways. They can serve as graduate student primary advisors of students in their appointing college unit; and they can serve as members of a graduate committee for students in either their own unit or in other units. Students are accepted through the college units with supporting faculty advisors. Applicants interested in working with Environmental Program faculty can contact them individually to discuss potential research projects.

UVM Environmentally-related Graduate Programs:
Environmental Biology
Environmental Geology
Environmental Sociology
Environmental History
Historic Preservation
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Community Development and Applied Economics
Botany and Agricultural Biochemistry
Botany and Agricultural Biochemistry
(ENVS appointment: Ian Worley)

Today’s MBA student is tomorrow’s entrepreneur. But what does the path look like along the way? Here, we provide students with a direct route to success. The UVM Sustainable Entrepreneurship MBA (SEMBA) not only prepares students for the ever-changing world of business, it gets them out into the real world faster and better equipped. It’s an accelerated program designed to encourage accelerated thinking and doing.

UVM Business School and the Vermont Law School, the nation’s top ranked school for environmental law and policy, will collaborate closely on the Sustainable Entrepreneurship MBA program. Vermont Law School professors will be offering courses for our MBA students on regulatory and policy issues in the environmental and energy sectors. We are also partnering to develop dual degrees, including an accelerated MBA/JD, and an MBA/LLM for foreign students.

Biological Science is for people who love life. The formal study of life is possible only in an atmosphere of academic rigor and intellectual excitement. It requires a desire to explore and discover while finding out what it means to “stand on the shoulders of giants.”

Biological Science is a degree of utmost relevance in today’s job market, with many meaningful and rewarding career options.

Discoveries within Biological Science increasingly provide the basis for cutting-edge advances in technology, pharmacology/biotech, sustainable practices, and complex systems.

Policy development at both national and global levels is impacted by Biological Science in areas such as conservation, bioethics, and public health.

UVM’s Biological Science program is designed to give students access to top-quality instruction, advising, and mentoring through research opportunities while providing maximum flexibility in fulfilling their degrees.

The University of Vermont offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the interdisciplinary Bioengineering Program. The program bridges faculty from the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) and College of Medicine (COM).
Bioengineering research at the University of Vermont focuses on the application of quantitative engineering analysis to the study of biological systems.

The goal of this program is the development and implementation of computational and experimental engineering approaches for describing, analyzing, and predicting the behavior of complex biological systems at multiple scales. We consider scales ranging from the molecular level to the cell, tissue, organ, organism, and population levels. Emphasis is placed on understanding how biochemical, biomechanical and/or other biophysical processes interact and influence emergent properties at these different levels.

Areas of expertise in the program are:

Regenerative Medicine

Tissue engineering
Drug delivery
Musculoskeletal disease
System Biology

Synthetic biology
Gene regulatory networks
Physiological dynamics
Biomechanics

Joint injury assessment and prevention
Pulmonary mechanics
Molecular motors

The field of Forestry is on the threshold of change, and The Rubenstein School is at the forefront as we revolutionize our forestry program through The Green Forestry Education Initiative — defining and demonstrating a new niche for forestry and forest conservation education that emphasizes the integration of sustainable design, land ethics, and real-world learning.

This major is for students who have a sincere interest in, and commitment to, the forests around us. The Forestry Program educates students to excel at planning and implementing sustainable forestry, with an emphasis on the complex social and natural landscapes of the northeastern United States. The program attracts students who want to work outdoors, who love math and science, who learn by doing, and who can embrace both the fundamentals of traditional forestry and the new technology of forestry’s future. The Forestry major provides students with an education in ecologically responsible forestry, emphasizing the complex landscapes of the northeastern United States.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism blends studies of the environment, environmentally-based tourism, and outdoor recreation to train students to become leaders in ecological management practice — and it’s a growing profession. The program stresses the development of recreation and leisure opportunities integrated with the wise use and protection of natural resources. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the integrity of recreation and tourism resources, balancing public and private interests in land, and creating recreation opportunities as a component of planned land use.

In their advanced work, students have the opportunity to emphasize either Private Outdoor Recreation and Tourism or Public Outdoor Recreation as they prepare for professional careers in a variety of outdoor recreation enterprises and agencies.

The Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program focuses on research and management of wildlife, fish and people in the total environment. The curriculum focuses on the biology/ecology and management/conservation of animal populations that range from species common enough to be hunted/fished to species that are endangered. Management strategies may include manipulation of populations directly or indirectly through alteration of habitat. Two program options are available: Fisheries Biology and Wildlife Biology.

Courses emphasize applied ecology and various techniques for bringing populations into balance and provide hands-on experience in labs and field trips. All Wildlife and Fisheries Biology majors complete the same core of courses during the first year. As sophomores, students elect either the Wildlife Biology or the Fisheries Biology option. The curriculum includes summer field courses in ornithology and habitat and population measurements as well as extensive laboratory and field work during the regular year. The four-year curriculum provides an excellent background for many wildlife and fisheries-related positions. But because competition for jobs in this profession is high nationwide, students are encouraged to continue their studies at the graduate level.

Graduate students in the Rubenstein School work closely with faculty who are dedicated to applied environmental research in service of society and have very active research programs. Faculty take an integrated approach to their research projects, work with other faculty teams in the School, and collaborate nationally and internationally with other researchers. The School has nearly 40 graduate faculty members.

Graduate students interact frequently with their “hand-picked” Graduate Studies Committee to discuss the development and progress of their class work and research. Students interact with each other and the School’s administration through the Rubenstein Graduate Student Association (RGSA).

Degrees, Concentrations and Certificates:
Ph.D. in Natural Resources
M.S. in Natural Resources
with optional concentrations in:

Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Science
Environment, Society and Public Affairs
Environmental Thought and Culture
Forest and Wildlife Sciences

With the advent of high resolution satellite imagery, desktop software for GIS and remote sensing, and inexpensive GPS receivers, geospatial technologies are currently on the forefront of a revolution which incorporates huge volumes of data from a multitude of sources tied to a location on the Earth and analyzes that data using new and innovative methods which incorporate relationships in time and space. The application of these technologies is no longer limited to the military and federal government; the applications are unlimited and the market for this technology is booming. Geospatial technologies provide new and evolving expertise for addressing the major environmental issues of our time by transforming data into geographically-referenced information.

A minor in Geospatial Technologies provides knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and spatial analyses. The tools offered by these technologies are essential in the acquisition, integration, and analysis of geographically-referenced data and applicable to a wide array of environmental issues at local to global scales. Complementing their major field of study, an enhanced understanding of geospatial technology will provide students with the expertise necessary to meet the demands of their diverse careers in the global workplace.

Goal: To offer first-year students in the College of Arts and Science interested in studying the Earth and environment an opportunity to do so outside of the traditional venue of large introductory classes.

The basics: Four classes in the Geology, Geography and History Departments with residentially-based activities foster the development of interactions among students and faculty that share a common academic interest.

Classes: In ISEE you will enroll in two introductory courses per semester that will expose you to the basic principles of how the Earth works. These classes, and discussions with faculty and guest speakers in the residence halls, will provide you with insight into the variety of different questions and methodologies that the various academic disciplines use to study the Earth and environment.

Insights: Early in their academic training it’s often hard to understand how the perspectives of a geologist may be similar to, or different from, those of a geographer. Do they ask the same questions when they look at the world around them? Do they collect the same data? The ISEE program will teach you important skills that professionals use in collecting data about the Earth around us, and help you place this information in context.

Program size: Limited to twenty students. You must apply and be accepted into the program in order to enroll.

Residential Component of Program

The ISEE program is located in the new South Quadrangle residence hall, home of the environmental residence learning community, “The GreenHouse.” You will live in single and double rooms clustered together with other ISEE students and enjoy the benefits of the program/residence activities focused on environmental issues.

Core Courses
ISEE is part of the College of Arts and Sciences Teacher Advisor Program (TAP). This ensures that you will be taking a small seminar class (20 students) in which the faculty instructor will also be your academic advisor. You will enroll in two core courses in the fall and two in the spring, plus your chosen electives and recommended courses.

he School of Business Administration boasts a demanding curriculum, both undergraduate and graduate, that promises to develop strong quantitative, conceptual analysis, and technology skills. Students expand their classroom experiences working together and with faculty on applied projects in real business settings. Learn more about student opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Themes
The Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration provides a distinctive focus on three strategic themes:

Global Business
Sustainable Business
Entrepreneurship
Students who complete our undergraduate program receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with an Interdisciplinary Theme in one of the three areas.

Four Concentrations
In addition to the three strategic themes, students have the opportunity to select one of the four business concentrations to enhance their industry knowledge:

Accounting
Finance
Marketing
Business Analytics
Students will expand their experience by working together and with faculty on applied projects in real business settings. Alumni and other professionals are frequent visitors to class, as well as sponsors of internships and panel presentations. In the junior and senior years students are required to participate in a seminar speaker series to enhance personal and professional development.

The UVM Global Studies Program, one of eight areas of study within the Global and Regional Studies Program, is an interdisciplinary field whose primary focus is globalization, which are the social, political, economic, natural, and cultural relationships that extend beyond the boundaries of nation-states. Global Studies explores issues that increasingly affect all societies.

In addition to our M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, the University of Vermont Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Graduate Program has an Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) for undergraduate UVM students majoring in either Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering – with just one additional year of coursework and research, students can jump start their engineering careers by obtaining their M.S. degree. Interested undergraduate students should explore information on the AMP in the Fall of their Junior year at UVM by contacting the Graduate Program Coordinator and our AMP webpage located at the School of Engineering website.

The University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources offers a Masters of Science degree in Natural Resources. Many Rubenstein School graduate students do a general natural resources masters program outside the concentration model, although students are encouraged to focus in one of the following four concentrations for greater marketability of their degree.

Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Science
Environment, Society and Public Affairs
Environmental Thought and Culture
Forest and Wildlife Sciences

The Rubenstein School is a multi-disciplinary academic unit that strives to integrate disparate disciplines to create knowledge and develop solutions to a broad array of environmental issues. Faculty expertise includes forestry, wildlife biology, recreation management, environmental philosophy, sociology, policy, planning, economics, conflict resolution, and environmental sciences. In addition, interdisciplinary fields like ecological economics, ecological design, conservation biology, and ecological planning find their home in The Rubenstein School.

The University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Natural Resources. The Rubenstein School is a multi-disciplinary academic unit that strives to integrate disparate disciplines to create knowledge and develop solutions to a broad array of environmental issues. Faculty expertise includes forestry, wildlife biology, recreation management, environmental philosophy, sociology, policy, planning, economics, conflict resolution, and environmental sciences. In addition, interdisciplinary fields like conservation biology, ecological economics, and ecological design find their home in The Rubenstein School. Doctoral students can earn Certificates in Ecological Economics or Ecological Design as part of their Ph.D. program.

Transportation is a transdisciplinary field of study that broadly examines the movement of people and goods over space as well as the economic, public health, environmental and social impacts of those systems. Local, regional and global transportation systems are vital to building community, the economy, and quality of life. Transportation designs, programs and policies impact the environment, energy, culture, equitable mobility between regions and groups, as well as quality of life. Critical transportation system issues and problems in the 21st century will require interdisciplinary teams to design innovative solutions. The overall goal of STSP Certificate is to establish a baseline of transportation system knowledge and to develop advanced critical thinking around interdisciplinary partnerships addressing problems in transportation and mobility.

UVM envisions three important outcomes of the study and application of sustainable transportation system.

(1) Knowledge; wherein UVM employs original data gathering, analysis and modeling to gain fundamental insights regarding how humans make travel decisions and how transportation systems function,
(2) Innovative Solutions; wherein UVM explores how combinations of policy, education, design and technology intersect to advance new or improved systems of mobility and access, and
(3) Informed Decision-Making; wherein UVM provides transportation research results, education and outreach to inform the development of sustainable transportation policies.

Ecological economics is a transdisciplinary field of study that broadly examines the relationships between ecological and economic systems. It differs from both conventional economics and ecology by emphasizing environment-economy interactions.

Ecological economics is based on the assumption that the economy is a subsystem of a larger ecological life support system. Understanding this relationship is central to meeting humanity’s current environmental challenges, as well as building a sustainable future. Ecological economists strive for an ecologically sustainable, socially equitable, and economically efficient future.

Ecological Design is the process of integrating humans with the rest of nature in order to create a sustainable and desirable future. The term Ecological Design has often been used to refer to the process of designing the built-environment to better reflect ecological principles and processes. But it goes further than that. Ecological Design needs to happen at many spatial and temporal scales — from individual buildings to regional watersheds, from rural villages to global megacities, from physical relationships to intellectual development, it encompasses human intervention at all levels.

Ecological Design sees all systems as complex, adaptive systems, whether they contain human actors or not. Ecological Design therefore takes a systems approach. This perspective is essential if one hopes to reintegrate humans with the rest of nature and begin to heal the ecosystems we co-habit. Ecological Design employs transdisciplinary integration, cooperative energy, creative synthesis, and true participatory problem-solving to understand and resolve increasingly complex issues.

Ecological Economics is a transdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between ecological and economic systems while working to solve humanity’s current environmental challenges. It is based on the understanding that the economy is a subsystem of a larger ecological life support system, and it strives to create an ecologically sustainable, socially equitable, and economically efficient future. The Certificate is a problem-based, interdisciplinary program focused on developing a practical framework for integrating economic and ecological systems. Students will acquire a theoretical and pragmatic basis to carry these skills into the world of practice.

Green Building is a field of expertise encompassing the design and application of renewable energy, natural building materials, and ecological landscapes into building design and community development. Students completing UVM’s Vermont Residential Green Building Course will learn about sustainable building tools and strategies, including Vermont Builds Greener Program, LEED for Homes and The NAHB Green Building Program. LEED is a registered trademark and the nationwide rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council. The program, led by Chuck Reiss, of Reiss Building and Renovation, and Building for Social Responsibility, is geared toward working professionals, offered as an accelerated program over three weekends (Friday-Saturday).
Note: This course does not prepare participants for the USGBC’s Green LEED exam.

This online course explores the causes of conflicts involving environmental concerns, without presuming that environmental disputes are necessarily a cause of conflict -indeed they may be a part of the solution to wider regional conflicts. The emerging field of environmental conflict resolution has its roots in various disciplines such as political science, economic game theory, systems analysis, sociology and anthropology. The study of conflict versus cooperation also has an important basis in natural science, particularly in evolutionary biology and ethology.

The aim in the first part of the class is to explore theories of conflict and cooperation from various disciplinary perspectives to glean common lessons that may be applied to “real-world”cases. The second part of the course will focus on the practice of conflict resolution and various approaches to resolving conflicts and their relative applicability in different parts of the world.

This five-day, intensive summer program is designed to help you transform your campus into a powerful catalyst, model, and engine of positive and lasting change – a driving force that leads society by design to a sustainable and desirable future. The program can be taken for professional development or college credit.

We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity faces significant challenges and opportunities to redirect our course toward a sustainable and desirable future. Colleges, universities, and other institutions must play a critical role in this transformation, not only by training and educating future leaders and supporting researchers in the quest for applied solutions, but also by serving as models of innovative practices and sustainable systems, campuses, and communities. This week long program offers participants the opportunity to focus on this important challenge, expand their professional network, and learn from leaders in the field at UVM’s award-winning green campus. The program will be led by Debra Rowe, President of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, Co-Coordinator of the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium, Senior Advisor for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Senior Fellow of Second Nature, and Professor of Sustainable Energies and Behavioral Sciences at Oakland Community College and the Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology.

Corporations, governments and community activists struggle to find common ground in resource-based conflicts that often become intractable. An impasse on environmental conflicts can hinder the implementation of potential conservation priorities as well as economic development opportunities. While recognizing the importance of constructive confrontation in cases of social justice, this module aims to consider how to most efficiently engage in environmental diplomacy. When should other options, such as legal action or sanctions be considered? How can agreements be negotiated between parties which have differing environmental values and assumptions about ecological science? The goal of this program is to familiarize participants with emerging international diplomatic processes around environmental concerns, and the means by which agreements can be reached when dealing with a complex set of values and stakeholders.
Participants will cover a broad range of topics in this module, from international environmental law, to mediation and conflict resolution skills. Several case examples developed through the Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security at UVM will also be used during the training program.

The workshop provides an introduction to USGBC, green building principles and the basics of LEED. Learn about green building motivators, best practices, incentives, and intentions of LEED concepts and terms for each LEED credit category. Above fee is a suggested price. Prices vary by location and delivery partner. Select the “Purchase Info” for more information.

Who should attend:

This course for those new to green building and looking to learn the basics of green building and LEED Green Building Rating System.

Objectives

Describe green building and the role of USGBC and LEED
Recognize the intents of each LEED Credit Category
Explain key sustainability terms and concepts
Identify green building best practices
Examine cutting-edge examples of green building
Explain cost considerations
Recognize your role in green building

Modules from the in-person Lens of the Market workshop, created with funding from the National Science Foundation (CHE #0926490). This workshop is intended to introduce scientists and engineers to a “lens of the market” perspective… to provide you with an opportunity to figure out if you want to use this lens of the market in conjunction with your research lens. Why? In order for you to better determine how the commercial world might benefit from your research. OUR goal with Lens of the Market is to help you develop innovations that can and will be used to help solve important problems for people and the planet.

Please join Dr. Judith Giordan, Principal of ecosVC and Senior Advisor to the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) and Mr. Joseph Steig, Venture Development Manager of NCIIA, on this whirlwind journey to understand how you can use the Lens of the Market and the Lens of Research to link your research to innovations and applications that address specific markets.

Students & Recent Graduates- looking for a new and interesting workplace experience – paid internships with local businesess or organizations. VBSR has successfully connected over 230 talented students and recent graduates with successful Vermont businesses over the past few years.

VT Registered Apprenticeship is an employer-sponsored training program that includes both supervised work experience and related instruction. There are nearly 700 active apprentices in Vermont in over 25 different occupations.

Employers participate in Registered Apprenticeship by “sponsoring” individuals as apprentices. The employer sets a progressive wage scale, agrees to provide supervised OJT, and helps financially support the related instruction component of the program.

Related instruction in apprenticeship can be delivered in a variety of formats. In plumbing and electrical, most apprentices attend classes through Vermont Technical College at a number of sites around the state. In other occupations, students may attend classes delivered by the company. Union sponsors provide related instruction through classes at union training centers.

Get the knowledge to excel as a green professional in the new economy. Acquire an introduction to sustainability and how it lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of the green building process. Participants who successfully complete this course are eligible and prepared to sit for the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate exam.

For anyone who wants more than a basic understanding of sustainability and green building concepts, including those with a stake in their company’s building practices, those directly involved in green building projects, and those pursuing the LEED Green Associate professional accreditation. LEED is a third-party certification program and nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

This interdisciplinary program focuses on environmental law, policy, ethics, and science. Current MELP students are lawyers, scientists, teachers, government employees, and other professionals who want to broaden their expertise and make a difference in the world around them.

Developed for post-JD candidates who want to become involved in and knowledgeable about environmental advocacy, this degree offers you the skills that prepare you to effectively use the law, policy, ethics, and science to address today’s pressing environmental issues. Learn to do more with your law degree and work to create environmental change.

The Master of Energy Regulation and Law degree program (MERL) focuses on law and policy governing energy use, production, and transmission. Students gain practical training in public advocacy and writing for a legal policy audience, opportunities for independent research with support from faculty, and externships at organizations around the country and the world.

The Certificate in Climate Law addresses emerging U.S. and international law governing mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
The certificate requires a minimum of 15 credits of coursework and experience or writing in the area of climate and environmental law.

Earning a certificate in Energy Law from Vermont Law School demonstrates a committed focus on, and mastery of, energy issues with an environmental awareness. Program graduates are well prepared to play a strong role with an energy commission, a law firm with an energy practice, or an advocacy group focusing on these issues.
The Certificate in Energy Law requires a minimum of 15 credits with a grade of B or above in designated courses.

Vermont Law School offers students the opportunity to earn both a JD degree and a Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL) degree in three years, the period of time traditionally required to earn the JD degree alone. To earn both degrees on this accelerated schedule, JD/MERL students are permitted to count up to nine credits of energy and environmental course work toward both degrees. In addition, MERL students take classes in the VLS Summer Session and/or pursue an externship during the summers after their first and second years.
The JD/MERL degree program responds to the rapid growth of the alternative energy sector as well as the environmental problems associated with traditional energy production. The emergence of a smart electric grid and the prospects for electrifying the transportation sector are revolutionizing the energy field. The JD/MERL program provides students with practical training in public advocacy and writing for a legal policy audience, opportunities for independent research with support from faculty, and externships at organizations around the country and the world.

The LLM in Energy Law degree program is designed for students who have already earned a law degree and wish to pursue intensive study and training in the field of energy law. The program is open to students who have graduated with a JD degree from a U.S. law school as well as students who have received a law degree from another country.
The LLM in Energy Law program focuses on essential skills, knowledge, and perspectives that will make graduates “job-ready” to manage companies engaged in energy production, distribution, and conservation or to lead non-profit energy advocacy groups. Our graduates excel with a diverse range of employers, from leading law firms to government agencies like the EPA and FERC, from China to Hawaii.

Vermont Technical College, in partnership with ed2go (formerly Gatlin Education Services), offers and online open enrollment program designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire a professional level position as an HVAC Technician.

Vermont Technical College’s online programs are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, who work to provide you with an effective web-based learning experience. Instructors/mentors are actively involved in your online learning experience. They respond to any questions or concerns, as well as encourage and motivate you to succeed.
Each program includes a set of lessons and evaluations; grades are a combination of the instructor/mentor’s evaluation of students’ work and computer graded tests.

Electrical systems as diverse as computers, cell phones, smart grid and wind turbines are everywhere in our lives and employ similar underlying principles. Graduates in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) are well prepared to work on these systems and many others. These graduates will be key players in the development of sustainable technologies that will transform the way we think about energy in the coming decades.
Vermont Tech emphasizes both classroom and laboratory experience. Theory learned in the classroom is reinforced by laboratory exercises in EET classes. Laboratories are equipped with instruments, power supplies and controllers used widely in the industry. There are analog and digital laboratories at both the Randolph and Williston sites where the EET degree is offered.

Graduates of the EET program are able to work in any number of challenging positions. As engineering technicians, they may participate in such varied activities as research, development, design, production, or manufacturing of complex electrical, electronic, or electromechanical products. Testing, quality control, marketing, installation, and customer service are among the job opportunities available.

In today’s vast global marketplace of emerging products, nearly every new invention either includes mechanical and electrical components or relies on them in the manufacturing process. Traditionally, the companies engaged in design and manufacturing form teams, usually made up of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineers and technicians. Each team member contributes specific expertise as needed at various stages of the project, but often with little insight into the requirements of the other disciplines. As a result, the process as a whole is less efficient than it might ideally be.

Vermont Technical College’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program bridges this gap with an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving in a design and manufacturing environment where the challenges are both mechanical and electrical. Program graduates are prepared to bring this broader understanding to the design, development, manufacturing, and technical support of emerging products, integrating and improving both the product and the process.

The bachelor of science program is a 2+2 program that builds on the associate’s degree program with additional coursework in mathematics, control systems, servers, and more advanced engineering concepts. Graduates of the bachelor’s program can expect greater opportunity for career advancement in the field of electromechanical engineering.

Sustainable Design and Technology is a cross-disciplinary program grounded in the belief that students who understand the fundamentals of technology, business, and the regulations that govern both can be effective agents for sustainable change. The program seeks to create graduates committed to using technology to grow a sustainable economy; act as stewards of our environment and resources; and educate others about the benefits of a more sustainable college and community.

The 2+2 curriculum emphasizes application of technology in service of sustainable goals and an understanding of the fundamentals of business, regulation, and permitting. Students will enter on one of three tracks: Renewable Energy, Green Buildings, or Green Sites.

The Renewable Energy track focuses on traditional and alternative means of producing, using, and conserving energy. Green Buildings involves the creation and renovation of residential and commercial buildings that conserve energy without sacrificing function and design and are built with sustainable materials, with a goal of LEED certification. Green Sites focuses on responsible design, engineering, and creation of building sites (residential and commercial), roads, farms, and water systems in order to minimize environmental impact, improve quality of life, and promote an ethic of stewardship of the land and our natural resources.

Program graduates are prepared to work both traditional business and those using sustainable technologies or environmentally friendly business practices. Graduates may work as project managers and technical staff who can help conventional businesses flourish in Vermont and other environmentally friendly and regulated states. Graduates will pursue a wide range of career opportunities based on their technical backgrounds, work experience, and internship experiences.

For non-traditional and incumbent students entering the program with work experience, this bachelor’s degree affords greater opportunity for career advancement with the skill needed to succeed in business environments. Individuals who run companies, small to large, in the maintenance, design/build, or construction/installation fields should find this program to be relevant and valuable. SDT graduates will also be prepared to pursue post-baccalaureate education in business, environmental law studies, or related technical fields.

Participants will learn principles of air leakage and how houses perform as influenced by pressure differences caused by air sealing, placement of mechanical exhaust devices, etc. This training includes classroom, hands on lab work with equipment and field analysis for finding and measuring air leakage using the Blower Door, Blower Door software and interpretation of Blower Door results. This training examines methods for determining cost effective and minimum ventilation requirements. Advanced techniques using pressure gauges to determine potential for back drafting and pressure balancing of duct work on forced air distribution systems are discussed.

This 2 day training is designed to introduce participants to using Infrared Thermography as part of auditing a building for installation of weatherization measures. Participants will gain an understanding of heat theory which is the basis for using infrared thermography to diagnose building thermal issues. Participants will become generally familiar with various types of imaging equipment, be better able to understand the conditions required to successfully perform building audits, and have the opportunity to use various types of IR equipment in several buildings. All of this will enable participants to more fully incorporate this technology into their work situations.

Using a backdrop of degree day theory, participants will learn home energy auditing techniques and apply them in lab exercises. Concepts of building science, infiltration theory, approved retrofit lists and codes will be used to explore building energy savings and potential payback.

Techniques used will include blower door guided air leakage tests, energy bill analysis, IR camera use in auditing, heat systems testing and analysis, health and safety checks, material estimating, measuring and working with field data collection forms.

Training will familiarize participants with fundamentals of common residential gas and oil central space heating systems. Training includes a discussion of the combustion process, chimneys, appliance types, operating and safety controls, electricity and fuel delivery. Participants will be trained to perform tests particular to all types of gas-fired and oil-fired systems and to recommend retrofits. Besides topics of combustion analysis, safety controls, vent safety, carbon monoxide measurement, and heat rise measurements, the treatment of on and off-cycle losses will be covered for oil and gas fired units.
BPI continuing education credits available for BPI Professionals.

Using a backdrop of degree day theory, participants will learn home energy auditing techniques and apply them in lab exercises. Concepts of building science, infiltration theory, approved retrofit lists and codes will be used to explore building energy savings and potential payback. Techniques used will include blower door guided air leakage tests, energy bill analysis, IR camera use in auditing, heat systems testing and analysis, health and safety checks, material estimating, measuring and working with field data collection forms.

Participants will learn principles of air leakage and how houses perform as influenced by pressure differences caused by air sealing, placement of mechanical exhaust devices, etc. This training includes classroom, hands on lab work with equipment and field analysis for finding and measuring air leakage using the Blower Door, using Blower Door software and interpretation of Blower Door results. This training examines methods for determining cost effective and minimum ventilation requirements.
Advanced techniques using pressure gauges to determine potential for back drafting and pressure balancing of duct work on forced air distribution systems are discussed.

This three day training gives participants a more in?depth understanding of heat theory which is the basis for using infrared thermography to diagnose buildings thermal issues. Participants will become competent in the use of various types of imaging equipment, be fully able to understand the conditions required to successfully perform building thermal surveys, and have an opportunity to use various types of thermal imaging equipment in several building situations. This will enable participants to fully incorporate this technology into their auditing and inspection work and allow the monitoring of work quality for both residential and small commercial buildings. Prerequisite: IR Camera Basic

This two day training is designed to introduce participants to using Infrared Thermography as part of auditing a building for installation of weatherization measures. Participants will gain an understanding of heat theory which is the basis for using infrared thermography to diagnose building thermal issues. Participants will become generally familiar with various types of imaging equipment, be better able to understand the conditions required to successfully perform building audits, and have the opportunity to use various types of IR equipment in several buildings. All this will enable participants to more fully incorporate this technology into their work situation.

This training includes instruction related to job site organization, safety awareness, day to day project management, proper material selection and application, inspection and measurement at job sites, using blower door technology to take measurements and interpret results, taking combustion appliance measurements (worst case draft) related to safety and implementation of safety measures, understanding of local codes, and providing on?site training of Installers as needed as well as confirming the work is completed in proper form.
Prerequisites: Installer, IR Camera Basic, Blower Door

The Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, the Technology Extension Division at Vermont Tech, and the Center for Sustainable Practices at Vermont Tech have launched several distinct weatherization certificate trainings aimed at improving and enhancing Vermont’s weatherization workforce.

Graduates of the program will meet the growing demand from lending institutions for qualified inspectors who are capable of certifying that weatherization efforts supported by loans are both completed and effective based on the original specifications offered by the contractor. Certified inspectors examine the work completed by weatherization contractors to determine whether the end result accomplished what was initially proposed.

Ready to jump into the renewable energy field? VT Tech Green Trainings offers courses that add valuable skills to your knowledge base, increasing your opportunities in the growing green energy field.

Today, VT Tech’s trainings focus on introductory classes that teach the basics you need to get started. In the future, VT Tech’s offerings will expand to include more advanced classes that get you on your way to designing and installing residential systems. And industry-recognized certifications will be available every step of the way.

VT Tech Green Trainings teach the skills you need to increase your expertise, expand your work opportunities, and keep your professional edge. Regular course rotation, evening and weekend options, and convenient training sites around Vermont mean you can get the training you need in a way that meets your schedule and budget.

From brief focused courses to longer intensives leading to high-level certifications, VT Tech Green Trainings is growing to serve a range of students and professions. Many of our courses also offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to help you maintain certification and stay current in the field.

Getting calls to bid on large weatherization projects but don’t feel like your whole crew has the skills to do the job? Want to learn how to “see” what’s inside a structure, assess its energy efficiency, and undertake a retrofit?

VT Tech Green Trainings run the gamut, from focused two- and three-day courses that get you up to speed in a critical skill area, to longer intensive trainings that lead to specialized Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifications for the weatherization/home performance field.
VT Tech Green Training’s expert instructors and applied learning approach give you the tools and know-how to help you be more effective on the job—whatever your level of experience.

VT Tech Green Trainings teach the skills you need to increase your expertise, expand your work opportunities, and keep your professional edge. Regular course rotation, evening and weekend options, and convenient training sites around Vermont mean you can get the training you need in a way that meets your schedule and budget.

From brief focused courses to longer intensives leading to high-level certifications, VT Tech Green Trainings is growing to serve a range of students and professions. Many of our courses also offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to help you maintain certification and stay current in the field.

As the number of electric drive vehicles on the road grows, so will the need for auto body repairs to accident-damaged vehicles. Understanding how to evaluate and repair damaged components in the high voltage and propulsion systems will be increasingly critical skills for technicians in the shop.

This one-day training includes:
A brief overview of electric drive vehicle identification, design, and operation.
A hands-on laboratory portion to cover component identification, location, service, repair, removal, and re-installation.
Diagnostic testing for determining when components need to be serviced or replaced. Cost: Free! This training is offered to car dealers and service personnel.

VT Tech Green Trainings:
Vermont Technical College

The market for hybrid-electric and battery-electric vehicles is growing and the variety of systems is, too. A solid understanding of how they work, vehicle features and components, and why the market is growing is critical for all sales and service personnel.

This one-day training is designed to cover all the basics. With both hybrid-electric and battery-electric vehicles on-site, participants will receive:
Hands-on training through vehicle examination to identify features and components of the electric drive system.
Instruction on the warning systems, safety features, operations and function of the vehicles.
Cost: Free! This training is offered to car dealers and service personnel.

This seven-week pre-apprenticeship is a terrific entry into the field for women who want to get a ‘step up’ on their learning before making the longer-term commitment of a full apprenticeship for the electrical or plumbing fields. In partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Plumber and Pipefitters Union (PPU), the Vermont Department of Labor and Vermont Green, VT Works for Women can offer its participants a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to the technical skills of both trades. In addition, participants will receive classes in employability skills and trainings related to these career tracks such as OSHA 10, CPR/First Aid, cover letter and resume work and applied math.
Successful graduates of the program will be eligible for direct entry into the PPU and for a direct interview into the IBEW. Vermont Works for Women assists graduates for up to a year as they seek positions in the field or navigate their new jobs. See link below for additional information and eligibility guidelines.

Windham Regional Career Center’s programs are organized into career pathways with suggested high school courses to support student interests. Learning may occur outside a traditional classroom or lab setting through projects; field trips; work-based learning and community-based activities. Students should be prepared for this project-based learning in order to achieve adequate proficiency and competence in this occupational program.

The Building & Construction Trades Pathway program is achieved by successful completion of the four components of the Construction course offerings. WRCC encourages students to enhance their pathway with a related Apprenticeship under the mentorship of one or more of our numerous community partners for further studies in specific topics.

Yestermorrow’s six-week Natural Building Certificate is a unique course of study providing hands-on exploration of earthen and natural elements and the means by which they can be used to create structures and shelter. From the design and planning stages through the finishing touches, students will gain comfort and experience working with straw, wood, clay, sand, stone, water, and lime as they design, erect, shape, sculpt, and detail the walls, roofs, and floors that enclose healthy, comfortable, and low-impact living spaces.

The program includes an Introduction to Natural Building, as well as segments on Insulative Natural Wall Systems, Thermally Massive Natural Wall Systems, Natural Plasters, Advanced Plaster Techniques, Earthen Floors, Natural Paints and Finishes, and will conclude with individual practicum projects and presentations. The Natural Building Certificate provides the opportunity to develop a range of natural building skills for owner-builders and aspiring professional natural builders alike.

Our Certificate in Sustainable Building & Design provides students with a solid grounding in sustainable design principles, along with hands-on experience in the design/build process. Ranging from community-scale planning to the details of photovoltaic installation, the Certificate covers a broad spectrum of topics from small to large scale. Balancing theory with hands-on practice, students have the opportunity to explore alternative, innovative, and experimental design and building methodologies and materials. The certificate program is designed for those wishing to learn the art of design/build while developing a strong understanding of the concepts and methods of green design.

The Certificate program includes a three-week Core Curriculum, two additional week-long electives, and four elective weekend workshops. Students enrolled in the Certificate program will also be expected, with the support of an advisor, to participate in a practicum project and presentation after finishing the full curriculum. Through this culminating activity, the student documents his/her theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the area of sustainable building and design in a hands-on manner before a jury of professional architects and builders. The scope, topic, and form of the Practicum and presentation are determined by the student and advisor, depending upon the skills, interests, and focus of the student.

The Undergraduate Semester in Sustainable Design/Build at Yestermorrow will immerse up to 16 students in the hands-on collaborative process of designing and building an architecturally innovative high performance building. Under the guidance of Yestermorrow’s expert faculty, students explore the theory of sustainable design and acquire and apply the technical skills required to turn a carefully considered design into a successful structure.

The semester’s interdisciplinary and experiential curriculum will cover topics from aesthetics, to ecology, to affordability. Students live and work near the vibrant Yestermorrow campus and community in the scenic Mad River Valley, home to a rich legacy of architectural experimentation, sustainable enterprise development, and progressive environmental initiatives. The semester program offers highly motivated undergraduates an opportunity to learn and define what sustainability really means and looks like in practice.

The semester’s multidisciplinary curriculum is taught as an integrated whole: lectures, seminars, discussions, studio explorations, and job-site work are designed to reinforce and complement one another while informing the group design/build project. Students work together in a studio environment with the project as the focal point. The classroom is much like a professional atelier, except that the instructors-—as mentors—are there to facilitate the student’s creative vision.
Students are enrolled in 15 credits per semester; academic credit is granted through University of Massachusetts Amherst’s department of Continuing and Professional Education.

Yestermorrow is pleased to partner with Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) and offer the complete nine-day Passive House Consultants Training program. The Passive House concept represents today’s highest energy standard with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%. In the realm of super energy efficiency, the Passive House presents an intriguing option for new and retrofit construction in residential, commercial, and institutional projects.

The Consultants Training Program covers the content and exercises that teach the principles and tools of passive energy design and consulting. The course will train the participant to put a measurable and verifiable extremely low energy metric and holistic systems design into practice to create highly comfortable, very low energy buildings with exceptional indoor air quality at an affordable cost. Energy, design, engineering, construction, and other related professionals will be provided with the skills necessary to design and consult on certifiable building projects that meet the Passive House building energy standard for all climate zones of North America.

The first half of the program focuses on basic low energy design practices, theory of heat transfer, the software tool Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and its methodology to calculate the specific energy performance of single- and multi-family residential houses. The second half addresses mechanical systems design, Passive House retrofits, non-residential buildings, quality assurance, and economic feasibility. After passing a final exam (offered on the final afternoon of the program), participants earn the professional designation Certified Passive House Consultant (NaCPHC). Participants will need to bring a laptop, purchase a copy of the PHPP 2007 software/handbook and have basic Excel knowledge.

No modern building can function properly if the design program and construction detailing fails to account for the thermal and moisture dynamics of the building envelope and its relation to the internal and external environment. This workshop will be an in-depth building science investigation of hygro-thermal issues – including steady-state heat loss, internal and external heat gains, wind & solar radiant impacts, temperature gradients within the building envelope and the effect of relative humidity, air convection and mean radiant temperature on human comfort. This will be the context to explore the often misunderstood issues around indoor and outdoor moisture, moisture migration through the building envelope, moisture storage (or buffering) capacity of materials, effects of relative humidity both inside the building and within the thermal envelope, and moisture control methods that minimize mold, rot, corrosion and warpage while optimizing durability of the structure and human comfort.

The cutting edge of design and construction involves enhancing the performance of our buildings to ensure that they last longer, use less energy, and are healthier and more comfortable to inhabit. As we push this edge further, we learn more about the physical phenomena that affect our buildings and how to design in accordance with the laws of physics and the forces of nature. In this workshop we will explore the field of building science to inform best practices for design and construction of the built environment. With a primary focus on moisture and thermal dynamics, we will identify typical weaknesses and develop strategies for improvements of various building envelopes and mechanical systems. Through lecture, case study, hands-on testing, demonstration, design exercises, and design review, students will not only learn the science behind building performance but have the opportunity to apply their knowledge.

This hands-on program covers the basic science of composting with various feedstocks optimized to produce large amounts of heat, using a simple but proven approach of embedding a heat-exchanger into a large mass of aerated saw-dust, wood-chips and/or bark-mulch. Course materials and system designs are based on the pioneering work of the non-profit network at CompostPower.org and French inventor Jean Pain. Students will learn about the history of this concept of the “Jean Pain Method” and the early results of CompostPower’s experiments in Vermont, while building a Compost-Power system that will be used to create steady base-load heat for domestic hot water, process heat, space-heating or greenhouse-heating depending on the host-site. An overview of HVAC-plumbing-integration or a field trip to an operating system will also be included.

As the adverse impacts and rising costs of fossil fuel use become increasingly apparent, residential-scale renewable energy options are more appealing than ever. But how do homeowners determine the strategy that makes the most sense for their specific situation? This program provides an overview of the most efficient and practical systems: passive and active solar, wind, microhydro, geothermal, biofuel, and biomass. Students will learn the principles, methods, and equipment associated with these renewable energy systems. Students will also learn to perform preliminary needs, site, and economic assessments; utilize their local incentives and resources; and determine the strategy that best suits their home site and requirements.

Do you want to slash your fossil fuel consumption? This workshop will enable students to begin replacing fossil fuel with renewable fuel in a variety of applications. The heart of this intensive program is the adaptation of diesel engines to operate on straight vegetable oil. Students will perform all major operations in the design and construction of a heated fuel system, including electrical wiring, fuel filter and tank installation, coolant plumbing and controls. Lecture and discussion will cover biofuel home heating, electrical generation and transportation. We will explore briefly biodiesel use and production, ethanol, methane, and locating/ growing fuel sources. There will be the opportunity for up to three students to adapt their own vehicle during the workshop — please contact the instructors at least 6 weeks prior to course starting date to arrange materials (at an additional cost).

Solar hot water systems provide one of the most cost effective means to reduce reliance on petroleum-based and carbon producing energy sources. This workshop will provide homeowners and aspiring professionals the opportunity to be actively involved in the design and installation of a solar hot water system that is appropriate for their needs.

Through lecture and site visits, students will learn the fundamentals of solar thermal technology, the types of available systems and components, and the basic elements of site evaluation and design. Incentive programs, code compliance, and financial analysis will also be discussed, and students will perform a hands-on installation of a small solar hot water system on a mock roof. Each student will leave the class with the knowledge necessary to assist licensed solar and plumbing professionals in designing and installing an appropriate solar hot water system for their home.

This intensive training will provide homeowners and aspiring professionals with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions regarding the design and installation of a solar electric system, as well as the skills necessary to be actively involved in the system’s implementation. The course will start by introducing the fundamentals of photovoltaic technology, the types of solar electric systems and components, and basic elements of site evaluation and design. Students will tour several residential PV systems, discuss incentive programs and code compliance, and perform financial analysis. Participants will complete a hands-on installation of a small solar electric system on a mock roof. And finally, instructors will help course participants size and select equipment for their own solar electric systems. Each student will leave the class with the knowledge necessary to assist a licensed solar professional in designing and installing an appropriate solar electric system for their home.

This program will teach the design, construction and effective utilization of greenhouses. A survey of structural principles, material limitations, macro/micro environmental design principles, enclosure options, and existing greenhouse archetypes will be discussed in the classroom and in the field as students tour area greenhouses with opportunities for hands-on building and learning. This training will also consider how a greenhouse enclosure can be integrated into, and influence, the interior spaces of existing buildings. Students will get an overview of the environmental principles and guidelines that designers employ in designing buildings that benefit from the natural energies that are ambient in our world. The training begins with an understanding of how the sun’s orientation from dawn to dusk contributes to the solar passive heat gain with respect to the location and orientation of a greenhouse, and concludes with the basic understanding of assembling a home built greenhouse.

The relationship between good housing and good health is an often overlooked aspect of the sustainability movement. But a home cannot be sustainable if it contributes to the ill-health of its inhabitants. This workshop is a comprehensive and holistic exercise that prepares participants to site, design, build and operate a healthy home, or to inspect and remediate problem situations in already existing homes. We will explore both conventional and unconventional perspectives enabling you to create healthy, supportive and productive environments, free from allergens, toxins, and hazards that can cause everything from asthma to learning disabilities to cancer. Myths and misconceptions will be replaced with prudent avoidance and healing design. The program is for people who have environmental health concerns (or want to avoid them), as well as for design and building professionals striving to create holistically green structures.

Learn the basics of design and construction for Zero-Energy Building (ZEB) and Near ZEB for new construction & existing homes and buildings. These “green” buildings not only reduce our carbon footprint by saving energy, but are also extremely comfortable, quiet, healthy, and affordable when planned correctly. Participants will gain an understanding of what it means to set ZEB Energy Use Goals for projects, how to plan for achieving ZEB goals without reducing function, and how to achieve ZEB construction at the lowest cost.

This 2-day workshop will cover the fundamental subjects for achieving ZEB, including principles of life safety, fundamentals for healthy homes, principles of heat loss/gain, principles of insulation performance, principles of pressure plane integrity (air-leakage control), and the use of modeling tools and methods for determining paths to success. Discussions will include: functionality and durability; construction assembly choices that impact efficiency and cost; how design layout impacts HVAC systems’ cost and plumbing costs; solar gain impact on buildings’ inside living spaces; bulk water management; moisture management; fresh air management; and how capital investment will eliminate annual expenses to achieve a “return on investment” that is a net or positive cash flow from day one.

There are about 125 million existing homes in the U.S. representing the most significant and yet challenging opportunities to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint. But how do we approach green remodeling differently than new construction? This 2-day workshop, led by green building expert Peter Yost, will use the new web-based tool,

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, to make the comprehensive case for green remodeling. This will be a “soup-to-nuts” approach to green remodeling, covering all of the essential principles of building science on projects ranging from weatherization to gut rehab to deep energy retrofits. Day 1 will focus on green remodeling principles and the tools available to employ them. Day 2 will be driven by case studies (including the 8-year deep energy retrofit of Peter’s own 100-year old home) and YOUR projects; bring plans, photos, drawings, etc. to bring green remodeling home!

As urban populations worldwide continue to grow amidst the convergent crises of energy depletion, climate change and economic uncertainty, it is critical that we redesign our cities to provide for more of their residents’ needs. This 2-day workshop focuses on practical skills usable by urban communities to achieve greater local access to, and control over, life’s essential resources.

We will introduce simple and affordable techniques for soil building, bioremediation, rainwater harvesting, intensive food production, microlivestock and aquaculture, small scale autonomous energy production, DIY air purification, and other infrastructure retrofits. We’ll look to existing urban farms, urban homesteads, and other examples of urban permaculture to explore the ways we can design and establish our homes and communities as ‘human ecosystems’ that are not only less fuel reliant, but also beautiful, productive, ecologically regenerative, and wholly nourishing.

The Internship Program is dedicated to provide a unique educational experience volunteering and living as part of the Yestermorrow community. Program participants — in six-month and twelve-month sessions — learn basic design/build and non-profit administrative skills by means of hands-on experience, and at the same time are able to take a variety of courses offered by talented faculty from all over the country. The Interns provide Yestermorrow with critical support in the day-to-day operations of the School while participating in hands-on learning opportunities both in and out of formal classes. The interns each contribute approximately 40-45 hours of labor per week in exchange for housing, meals, and classes.