Zonda - Resource Library

Slate has been used for centuries as a long-lasting building material, and its natural beauty is unsurpassed. Today, rainscreen cladding systems have been developed to adapt natural slate to new architectural demands for sustainable building design approaches.

This course explores the energy efficiency and moisture management benefits of a rainscreen system in combination with the durability and versatility of slate. The different designs and fastening systems are reviewed, and case studies demonstrate the advantages and possibilities for sustainable and beautiful slate projects.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. We live in a world of limited resources, and the AEC industry not only has a large impact on the use of those resources, but also the overall health of our planet. As designers, it is important to consider the impact of the project not only on the environment, but also on the health of its occupants.

In this course, we’ll discuss how to better identify and reduce a design’s carbon footprint using Building Information Modeling (BIM). Specifying high-quality, sustainable materials for interiors can not only lead to longer product life cycles and better energy management, but also benefit the overall health of the occupant by limiting the use of toxic substances and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We’ll demonstrate how BIM gives the designer more control over a building’s level of sustainability – such as generating embodied carbon calculations – and gives the designer more opportunities to enhance the aesthetics and occupant comfort by using a systems approach.

Creating spaces that embrace nature have both physical and mental health benefits. These benefits enhance the occupants experience in an indoor space creating the ambiance of outdoor living. In this course, we will discuss how the exposure to nature through living green walls contribute to LEED, WELL, and other green rating systems. We will cover common places where you might find living green walls, and where exposure to nature can make a dramatic difference, including offices, hotels, retail shops, and healthcare. This course will examine different types of living green walls available, how systems are designed, installed, and maintained. In addition, the course will look at the latest large scale green wall technology and how it can be applicable to a variety of applications.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. The use of metal roofing and wall cladding can help lower operating carbon emissions and make a building more energy efficient, which will positively affect the health, safety, and welfare of a building’s occupants.

There are many ways to achieve this, including the use of cool roof paint technology and above sheathing ventilation for metal roofing, metal roofing panels as a solar ready platform for photovoltaic systems, and solar air heating metal wall cladding.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Our instructors will take you through an in-depth explanation of the science behind terra cotta wall cladding and rainscreen technology. You will learn about the benefits of utilizing terra cotta as cladding as well as how they are manufactured and installed.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Concrete masonry is commonly used for structural and architectural walls in buildings. Knowing the full extent of its applications and capabilities is import for designers to make resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective buildings.

The intent of this course is to provide a general overview of the properties and performance characteristics of concrete masonry walls. Attendees will learn about how to take advantage of and maximize the features and capabilities of concrete masonry units.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Water heating is a major energy end-use in commercial buildings, and is very significant in certain commercial building types. Many commercial building owners and operators have a critical need for water heating systems which are reliable, able to meet varying levels of demand, energy efficient, and able to fit within a building’s space constraints in order to maintain their business operations.

Propane tankless water heaters are a flexible and energy efficient technology which provides these attributes in many commercial applications. This course will explore how commercial buildings use energy and the potential application of propane tankless systems to provide a solution for water heating needs.

With homeowners spending more time at home and wanting to extend their living spaces into the outdoors in the new normal resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, it shouldn’t come as much surprise that the pool, hot tub, and spa industry is experiencing record sales, as well as demand for longer swim seasons. And commercial pools and related amenities aren’t far behind.

Learn how pool builders and designers can utilize propane heaters to support this trend.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Zero-energy school construction is a growing trend across the country. A combination of advanced energy-efficiency strategies, affordable solar power, combined with innovative concrete exterior wall assemblies is making it possible. Systems like insulating concrete forms and tilt-up construction combine strength and durability of reinforced concrete with the energy efficiency of continuous rigid insulation.

This presentation describes zero-energy strategies along with details on how to take advantage of the high R-value, thermal mass, with lower air infiltration concrete envelopes can provide, to offer school districts both lower first costs and long-term operating savings. Project examples are shared to demonstrate the proven performance benefits now being realized nationwide.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. This course explores the intersection of sustainable building practices and educational environments. Through the lens of recent mass timber projects, including the Evergreen Charter School, the course examines how mass timber construction can address key challenges in K-12 education, such as facility inequity, student well-being, and sustainability goals.

Participants will gain insights into how mass timber supports healthier learning environments, reduces embodied carbon, and offers cost-effective alternatives to conventional construction materials like concrete and steel. The course emphasizes how buildings can serve as an integral part of the educational experience, fostering community engagement and promoting long-term resilience.