Zonda - Resource Library

Findings from the 2023 National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Design Trends Report pointed to the growing importance of function and flexibility in kitchen and overall home design. Homeowners are seeking order, flexibility to accommodate a wider variety of needs, and breathing room in flowing floor plans and outdoor spaces. This course discusses the growing importance of outdoor kitchens, mudrooms, pantries, and spa-like suites, as well as how multigenerational living is changing household structures. The course will demonstrate how these factors are influencing home design and a wide variety of uses for what are traditionally considered “kitchen appliances” but are indeed household appliances that can help add flexibility and function to these spaces.

Architects, engineers, developers, and facilities managers have numerous choices when determining fuel sources for commercial buildings, whether those choices involve the practicalities of space and water heating, the aesthetics of fireplaces, fire pits, and outdoor lighting, or the functionalities of building site energy needs.

Combined with these choices is the ever-increasing need to build and plan not only cost-effectively, but with sustainability in mind. This course will help specifiers compare the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of fuel sources and storage options, as well as examining the flexibility and reliability of propane, so that they can more readily determine which fuel source best meets the needs of individual commercial projects.

It’s a common human reaction; we turn to nature in uncertain times. Nature nurtures, as they say. With the 2020 global pandemic and the limited access to the outdoors it has meant for many, people are looking at their surroundings with new appreciation – and an increased desire for buildings that help them feel good as they spend more time indoors.

While we know that good architecture doesn’t guarantee good health, evidence is growing that a well-designed building can lead to an improved overall sense of well-being for occupants. And, since wood has a natural connection with nature, there is increasing evidence that wood can contribute to the well-being of building occupants when it is left where it can be seen and even smelled. This CEU explores the trend towards architecture designed to improve the well-being of building occupants.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Buildings must be designed to stand up to their natural environment, including high winds, heavy rain events, and freeze / thaw cycles. Increasingly, building systems must also have a positive impact on a building in case of a catastrophic event, such as potential natural disasters. Wood-plastic composite cladding is a great alternative for constructing resilient and sustainable commercial buildings.

The material is highly durable with performance attributes that equate to a longer-lasting, more resilient product than alternative cladding materials. This course will cover the principles of resilient design, the importance of material durability and high performance when specifying resilient materials, and how wood-plastic composite cladding contributes to resilient building design.

Focusing on the future, GE has worked for two decades to advance green building initiatives. Hear what they are working on now and what they offer to help pros advance sustainable building practices.

This course will take a holistic view of roof systems and explore the different categories of underlayment, as well as options that can optimize performance and compatibility with roofing materials. It will also explore performance attributes of different underlayment categories and how superior products can increase energy efficiency, wind resistance, and fire resistance.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is an important technology used to improve indoor air quality in a wide variety of applications, from residences and schools to highly sensitive healthcare facilities. There is a false perception that HEPA air filters sufficiently sterilize air, but studies demonstrate that while filters are necessary, they are not sufficient to neutralize the smallest particulates — UVGI can be a key partner in this battle. This course will review the importance of optimizing indoor air quality for building occupants and how ultraviolet air purification can be used to sanitize surfaces and air, remove odors, and reduce allergens. The course will also examine how to properly engineer an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system to ensure it operates optimally when used in conjunction with ventilation and filtration systems.

Extreme weather events such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and straight-line winds are becoming increasingly common. They have the potential to displace populations and incur billions of dollars-worth of damage. Considering various strategies and best practices, as well as examining a case study involving plywood and OSB sheathing, can help specifiers design resilient homes and mitigate the effects of various extreme weather events.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. The Webinar presentation will cover the impact of networked audio on the home and the people inside it as well as the impact of brilliant sound on people’s experiences. We will also look at the kinds of content customers want to access in order to enhance their home, the hardware that is needed to accomplish networked audio in a clean and simple way, and, easy and innovative solutions for clients to control their experience throughout their home.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Ready to start mastering fees and better understand what they mean for your bottom line? To do so, let’s start at the very beginning—when you receive a request for a proposal.

In this course, you will learn how to define your project scope, develop a Rough Order of Magnitude of construction cost, and estimate your project hours. We’ll finish off with how fees are broken down and explore a simple system to improve your overall project profitability.