Zonda - Resource Library

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Architects of today face a common task that defies intuition – how to balance building performance and strict carbon targets against cost. Sustainability in design is certainly a worthy and necessary goal, but the amount of options can be overwhelming and the costs prohibitive, especially in the eyes of owners.

How can designers best convince their clients to integrate sustainability into a project? Keeping costs low and backing up decisions with fact-based analysis are solid first steps. Join this 60 minute session for a dive into workflows and case studies with implementable takeaways for your projects.

Over the past two decades the building industry has made significant strides toward building more intentionally and sustainably. Architects have greatly impacted this revolution by embracing innovative technologies that are more energy- and water-efficient, are less toxic to the environment and building occupants, and are more sensitive to how raw materials are extracted and sourced. Another important goal in protecting the climate and natural resources is to move away from a single-use mindset and embed circular economic principles into design and living. Many believe the next step in improving the sustainability and circularity of the built environment is biobased products, including paints, coatings, and sealers.

This course will discuss the environmental impact of petroleum-based coatings; the building blocks and future implications for biobased coatings; and new biobased products for use in wall, trim, floor, and roof coatings.

According to the 2020 NAHB survey, 66 percent of homebuyers indicated they were willing to go green by incorporating durable materials into their homes. There is a continued focus and demand for builders to use products that are gentle on the environment. Learn more about the products that will shape the neighborhoods of the future and why they are necessary.

High-quality architectural stone veneer is a lower-cost, easier to install, sustainable alternative to natural stone. Though traditionally more often used in exterior applications, stone veneer is making its way into more interior applications across a wide variety of industries.

This course will review performance and aesthetic characteristics of stone veneer and how it’s used in different applications. Learners will also explore how stone veneer contributes to biophilic design principles and helps architects specify for changing residential building trends.

Aging is traditionally seen as a negative experience fraught with challenges and limitations. Baby Boomers are changing that narrative and reshaping what it means to age for themselves and future generations. With this shift comes a heightened sense of health, wellness, and desire to stay at home — to live in place. To accomplish that, architects and designers must approach adaptive kitchens to suit the changing needs of older adults as well as multigenerational users. This course will examine active aging; adaptive kitchen design; and connected, smart appliances that are as high-performance as they are functional. The CEU qualifies for continuing education credits that count toward the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB’s) Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential.

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.

The workplace is changing — and not just where people work but how and when. Changing employee preferences and attitudes combined with new health and safety expectations are causing organizations to rethink their office space design and homeowners to take a second look at their home office. Quartz surfaces, most often specified for the kitchen and bathroom, also have wide-ranging applications for workspaces thanks to superior hygienic and performance properties. This course will explore workplace changes; where people are working now and why; how architects can position themselves to reshape the workplace; and the role of quartz surfaces in improving consumer health, safety, and comfort.

Do fireplaces have a role in zero energy projects of our future? The answer is yes, and the optimal solution lies in electric fireplaces. Architects are increasingly focused on Net Zero (NZ), Net Positive (NP), and Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) as a way to reduce the carbon footprint of projects and meet regulatory mandates. Innovative electric fireplace technologies make them a clean heating alternative, providing the look and feel of a real fire without harmful pollutants.

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.

In order to produce a long-lasting, functional structure, any abrasive or erosive forces need to be ameliorated through its design.

This educational unit examines concrete hardening technologies – comparing features and limitations – so the best method can be selected.