Learn about sustainability, how it relates to the built environment, and how buildings contribute to climate change.
The ways in which buildings can be made more energy efficient and greener through recommissioning, retrofitting, renewing, and other technologies and initiatives will be examined in this course.
Basic energy calculations and terminology will be introduced along with potential strategies for energy use reduction. An awareness of regulations, local policies and sustainability standards will be emphasized with a view to future planning and retrofitting.
Prerequisites
Missing prerequisites?
Learn more about VCC's academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
What you will learn
- Overview of sustainability, including corporate social responsibility
Climate change and emissions (sources, units, net emissions)
Basic energy calculations and heat gain/loss (e.g. solar, ventilation)
Energy efficiency standards (e.g. policies and regulations)
Energy Use Index (EUI) and benchmarking
Carbon footprint, energy audits and saving measures
Building inputs and outputs, enclosure control layers
Health and wellness of occupants and rating systems (e.g. Fitwel and International Well Building Institute)
Sustainability standards
‘Green retrofitting’, e.g. heat recovery, low carbon electrification, ZEV infrastructure
Waste management
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
| CRN# | Duration | Delivery | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22482 |
July 14, 2026 to July 24, 2026 |
Lecture/Practical | VCC Downtown Campus | See full schedule |
Online courses listed without scheduled meeting times can be completed on your own schedule.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.