Zonda - Resource Library

Most people don’t consider vinyl an eco-friendly building product, but data shows it actually is. See why it is a great choice for all your siding projects.

Ensuring facilities have a backup power source for resilience and redundancy is gaining traction as a goal by organizations everywhere.

In this Studio Session with ARCHITECT's Editor-in-Chief watch to learn how the energy and engineering team behind an Army National Guard project specified micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems to cut energy costs and carbon emissions while improving resilience.

Achieving optimal comfort requires focusing on design principles and selecting materials that address acoustics, indoor air quality, daylighting, cleanability and more — everything occupants see, hear, and feel. Some of the most significant contributors to the aesthetics and performance of interior spaces are ceilings and walls. Today’s architectural ceiling and wall solutions are sophisticated products that play an enormous role in occupant comfort. This course will explore how architects and designers can improve occupant health and well-being through the use of acoustic ceiling and wall systems in the built environment (more specifically in offices, classrooms, and healthcare facilities, where people spend a great deal of time).

Zero net energy (ZNE) construction represents a vast opportunity for builders and contractors. So what is a zero net energy home? In the simplest terms, a ZNE home produces as much energy as it uses, most commonly using efficient construction methods. Achieving ZNE performance involves a whole-building design approach to consider all of a home's systems — the building envelope, mechanical systems, and lighting and appliances — in an integrated way.

This e-book collects our most valuable resources on ZNE projects to help you define what ZNE means for you and examine factors such as energy prices, net metering policies, solar resources, incentives, and budget. You’ll see that getting to zero doesn’t mean giving up desirable and high-performance gas systems.

Webinar On-Demand: This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. This course discusses the interconnectedness between planetary health and human health and the importance of a holistic systems-wide approach towards regeneration. There is an increase in revelations around the impact of biodiversity loss, climate change and human health which is supported by data and research. By using scientific evidence supported by data and facts, it is important to understand the true connection between our ecosystems, climate, built environment and community. Using examples of tools specifically in the building industry, we will look at how these are being used to make informed decisions and develop strategies for long-term positive impact. Additionally, the course focuses on understanding what elements architects should, designers, specifiers focus on while making decisions about products.

This course will examine the rapidly expanding warehouse vertical and identify opportunities for using propane in these buildings. Many warehouses are built in rural areas because there are fewer space constraints to accommodate these large facilities, and land is less expensive, but these locations are sometimes not serviced by natural gas pipelines.

We will discuss the challenges of designing warehouses and distribution centers in rural areas, especially those that do not have natural gas service, and how propane can help meet energy and resiliency needs. In addition, this course will explore the many applications for propane in warehouses and distribution centers and case studies where propane was used in warehouse facilities nationwide.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. When looking at the environmental impact of a building, it is important to assess every stage of the environmental life cycle, from material extraction and product manufacturing to building operations and maintenance through to end-of-life.

Concrete offers many environmental attributes that help reduce the overall environmental life cycle impacts of a building. This session explores how life cycle assessment can be used to measure and lower the environmental impacts of buildings.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a live webinar in April 2022. If you are like most in the AEC community, you understand the “nuts and bolts” of steel design and construction. But have you considered how your structural steel is made? Where and how it is produced can have a profound impact on your project’s cost, schedule, and sustainability story. This webinar explores how steel is being sustainably produced in the United States, and why a domestic supply chain is important for minimizing project risk and achieving optimal positive project outcomes. Information current as of recording date and subject to change. The most up to date data can be found here: https://nucor.com/

Webinar On-Demand: This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. The course offers detailed information about modern redwood timberland management approaches that contribute to the species’ long-term sustainability as a building material. The course also provides insight into how third-party certification helps the redwood industry communicate environmental stewardship. The course details how wood is created through the process of photosynthesis and how carbon is sequestered long-term in wood products, drawing a connection between sustainably sourced redwood lumber products and the ability to achieve carbon-neutral standards. Lastly, the course defines redwood grades and performance characteristics and describes how these properties achieve building code acceptance.

Sustainability, the ability to maintain a certain level of performance, for a determined amount of time. In this course, we will examine the 3 pillars of sustainability including the impact on the planet or environment, economic impact, and social acceptance. In addition, the course will explore the concept of resiliency and how building materials must be resilient to be sustainable.

Finally, the course will look at how cladding plays a role in these concepts by considering whether or note the material supports a minimal impact to the environment and a defense against elements - such as wind, rain, moisture, and UV rays - that could leave the structure intact with minimal maintenance.