GREEN BUILDING CLASSES - As seen in "Santa Fe New Mexican, The Santa Fe Reporter,
Green Fire Times"

Sustainable Technologies Center - Santa Fe Community College

These very popular classes in green building practices have been taught at Santa Fe Community College by ADC Network since 1997. As they have evolved and advanced many students now call them "Master Classes" in that they prepare people to design and build smartly and sustainably. Classes are moderated and taught by Dan Clavio and Robin Dorrell; experts in each field are brought in to present and help teach each class. Classes are presented for home owners, those who are planning to build a new home or commercial project, remodel their existing home, and for professionals in the field, such as builders, designers, architects, real estate agents, lenders and appraisers. The series presents an overview of numerous key topics in the Green & Sustainable Home Building field, focusing on one area in each class.

ADC is a network of design and building professionals serving clients in New Mexico and througout the Southwest. ADC connects people with architects, home builders, general contractors, solar and water management contractors, landscape architects and interior designers dedicated to excellent design that promotes smart and affordable construction / remodeling with conservation-minded energy and water systems.

2012 SPRING SEMESTER AT SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Please call the college at 505-428-1251 to register for classes and ask about the 20% discount for registering for the Home Building and Design Series

Click here to register for the Spring - 2012 classes at SFCC

If you live outside of Santa Fe, NM - starting in the summer of 2012 you will be able to take these popular classes online at www.GreenBuildingLearningCenter.com

Testimonials about ADC Classes
Note: Links are provided to other sections in ADC's website pertaining to the class topic.

Register for the series of five classes and receive 20% percent off the combined fees.
“Green and Sustainable Home Building and Design Series”
Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, starting February 7th for 6 weeks, CRN# 30435

The series includes: Introductin go Green Building, Great Southwest Design in an Energy-Efficient Home, Energy-Efficient Remodeling, Renewable Energy Systems: Using the Sun, and A Guide to Successful Building. Classes are taught by Dan Clavio and Robin Dorrell along with experts in each field. Classes are presented for those who are planning to build a new home or remodel their existing home as well as professionals in the field, such as builders, designers, architects, real estate agents, lenders and appraisers.

“Introduction to Green Building” – Build “green” and save money while saving the planet.
February 7th, 2012 Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 30436

Building better, “greener” and more energy efficient buildings is easier than you may think. This class provides an overview of Green Building for owners, builders and designers who want to improve the quality of their homes and achieve higher energy efficiency while reducing their impact on our the environment. The class reviews current issues, concepts, strategies, goals, programs and language in the field, including: "Carbon Neutral" or "Zero Energy” homes, "LEED" and "Build Green" programs, “HERS” ratings, and energy efficiency strategies. We review the major components of green building and discuss financial incentives and regulations.


Great Southwestern Design and Passive Solar Principles
February 21, 2012 , Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 30437

Explore the design principles that will help you create a beautiful and functional home affordably. Showing examples from New Mexico and around the world, this class will familiarize you with important design considerations, showing how mass and massing, light and shadow, layering of space, texture, indoor-outdoor space, and color all contribute to achieving architecture that is efficient, functional and aesthetically pleasing. We review passive solar design principles that can significantly reduce energy consumption through natural heating and cooling. We also provide an overview of Southwestern architectural design elements and styles.
Energy Efficiency | Elements of Southwest Architecture


Alternative Building Methods and Materials – From mud to modern: adobe, Passive House System, ICFs, AAC, straw bale and beyond
February 28, 2012 , Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 30438

Learn about the variety building methods and materials used for wall systems and how they relate to green building and energy efficiency. We will review adobe, straw bale, pumice-crete, ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms), AAC (Aerated Autoclave Concrete), “Passive House” and advanced framing techniques. You will learn the pros and cons of these building methods, how they are priced and used in construction, whether modest or high-end, and how each material relates to the important dynamic of Mass vs. Insulation. We also briefly review rammed earth, timber frame, straw clay, and “Earthship” buildings.
Energy Efficiency | Fire-Wise Construction


Water Harvesting and Recycling - Save, store and re-use water for your home and landscape.
March 6, 2012, Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 30439

Conserving and managing our precious water resources are crucial to living in New Mexico. We show you how water harvesting and recycling systems can reduce your water usage and your water bills. We review current practices for using and managing storm-water, including roof-top capture, passive systems, cisterns, pumice wicks, and infiltration strategies. We also show how easy and cost-effective it is to use your household “gray water” (from showers and washing machines) to irrigate your landscape, plus strategies for dealing with highly-polluting septic tanks and leach fields, making this “black water” safe and usable for irrigating your landscape.
Water Harvesting


Renewable Energy Systems -- Using the sun to save money and “energize” your home
March 13, 2012, Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 30440

Learn about Renewable Energy systems for generating heat and electricity for your home. These systems will reduce your energy costs, decrease your “carbon footprint” and make you less dependant on public utilities. We review Solar Electric (Photo-Voltaic or PV), Solar Thermal (solar water heating and radiant heating), “small” Wind, GeoThermal (or Ground Source Heat Pump, for heating and cooling), and Passive Solar (natural heating and cooling). We discuss system designs and how to incorporate them into existing buildings (retro-fits), as well as planning for new construction. We provide an overview of the costs and financial incentives of these systems.
Energy Efficiency | Elements of Southwest Architecture


Remodeling for Energy Efficiency – Lower your utility bills and save money when you remodel your home.
March 27, 2012 , Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, 1 night, CRN# 31407

In this new class we explore strategies for energy-efficient remodeling and how to get the most “bang for your buck” when you remodel. We look at the key components and systems of home remodeling projects, such as windows, walls, roofs, heating and insulation, as well as advances in building technology and materials. Learn how to tighten up the “building envelope” while dealing with venting and combustion issues that are so important to your health and safety. Find out what mistakes to avoid, the cost of various improvements, and what green builders, energy raters, and other experts suggest.

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A Guide to Successful Building – Be prepared to have a great experience building your new home
Summer 2012
Familiarize yourself with the design and building process and learn how to work with architects, designers and builders for a successful building experience. This class reviews the systems, processes, details and strategies you need to help you stay within your project’s budget and manage your home building project effectively. Topics and issues include: calculating hard and soft building costs; budgets and the benefits of early price-checking to stay on budget; how to find the right architect and builder for your project; project process flow chart; and the schedule of values for a building project. We also review some sample sets of construction drawings.

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