View Important Policies and System Requirements for this course.

This webinar was co-sponsored by ASCE'sStructural Engineering Institute and ASCE Continuing Education.

Purpose and Background

What contribution can a structural engineer make to the sustainability of a project? Plenty! Structural elements comprise a large percentage of the total materials used in a building; therefore, they contribute a significant amount to a building’s environmental footprint. It is only when the structural engineer truly collaborates with the rest of the design and construction team that some of the truly transformative ideas can be put on the table and considered for implementation. Conversely, there are some structural details that can compromise a project’s sustainability efforts.

You will learn some of the significant sustainability pluses and minuses of the major structural materials. The webinar will explore how structural engineers can assist the rest of the project team on a LEED project including material and resource credits, energy and atmosphere credits and prerequisites, and some possible innovation credits – as well as reviewing the implications of likely upcoming changes to the LEED rating systems. It also discusses the structural basics of structural insulated panels and insulated concrete forms, and compare these systems to traditional “stick” framing or conventional masonry bearing walls, from a structural, economical, and sustainability perspective.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize the benefits of an integrated design approach, with the structural engineer engaged
• Develop a working knowledge of the approximate carbon content of typical structural materials and systems
• Develop a functional understanding of structural insulated panels and insulated concrete forms
• Explain the importance of the structure in a building’s energy efficiency
• Describe the LEED credits for regional and recycled materials

Webinar Benefits

• Become familiar with ways a building structure can assist with a project’s LEED rating
• Prevent the sabotaging of a building’s energy performance by thermal bridging
• Learn why the structural engineer should participate in a project’s sustainability planning – from the initial LEED Charrette
• Add value to a project’s design and construction team beyond structural efficiency
• Identify some pitfalls to avoid in the proper use of structural insulated panel design
• Learn when insulated concrete forms are a good choice for exterior walls
• Become acquainted with alternatives to conventional foundations that can save concrete – and money

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

Structural engineers, primarily those who design buildings, as well as anyone who works with structural engineers or building structures will benefit from this webinar.

Webinar Outline

• Introduction to integrated design
• Sustainable pros and cons of common structural materials
• Carbon footprint of building structures
• Life cycle assessment
• Structures and building envelopes
• Deconstruction and reuse
• LEED: Materials credits
• Alternative structural systems: SIPs and ICFs

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]