Earth Advantage’s SHP class is the premier educational opportunity for green building professionals or those that want to be. The SHP experience helps designers, builders, project managers and subcontractors integrate cost-effective energy-efficiency features into their projects, and then sell them to new home buyers. With support from the City of Eugene, Eugene Water & Electric Board and Lane Community College, the course fee has been substantially reduced for 2016. 
The class provides a science-based framework for understanding green building practices. The best part of the class is the way that students share their knowledge and experience with each other. I, myself, get quite an education in the process.

The next SHP class begins in January 2016 and ends in June. Follow the link below for specific dates. The class meets 12 days over that time, and includes visual lectures, practical exercises, homework, quizzes, a final project and a comprehensive exam. This is solid, college-level content with a down-to-earth, practical emphasis. Continuing education credits are available for architects, contractors, appraisers, and real estate brokers. 

The curriculum covers these topics:

Module 1: Green Building Intro & Integrated Design               

Module 2: Building Science Fundamentals                                

Module 3: High Performance Building Envelopes                     

Module 4: Mechanical Systems and Performance Testing        

Module 5: Health, Materials, and Water                                      

Module 6: More Integrated Design, Final Presentations and Exam               

The standard fee for Eugene SHP have been reduced by $600. Additional discounts are available for Eugene residents, EWEB customers, Earth Advantage builders, Lane County HBA members, Certified Sustainable Building Advisors and others. The class is approved for Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally training reimbursement, too. 

If you register and pay your fee before January 10th, you’ll be eligible for a an additional $100 early-bird discount. There will never be a better time to take SHP in Eugene. 

SHP was developed in 2010 and has been presented in Portland and Bend annually since then. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of the greenest homes in  Oregon have been designed or built by accredited Sustainable Homes Professionals (SHPs). These builders, designers and subcontractors have produced homes that achieved advanced standards including Living Building Challenge, Passive House, LEED for Homes, Earth Advantage Platinum as well as net-zero energy. 

A full list of certified SHPs can be seen at the Earth Advantage website with a “Find a Professional” search. These building professionalsare leading the local housing industry toward greater sustainability by adopting practices in their own projects and sharing their ideas with other members of the industry. 

To register, go to:

http://www.earthadvantage.org/education/sustainable-homes-professional-shp