CEU Courses

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are the gold standard for product transparency related to potential environmental impact. The built environment is a key contributor to embodied carbon in our world. However, the lack of environmental product information is a barrier to sustainable design. Understanding how these documents are created and what environmental data they contain will help designers make informed product decisions.

Shading is an important piece of any sustainably-designed project. It gives the occupants of the building control of their environment from the discomfort and energy waste that can occur from glare and solar heat gain, while maintaining views and access to daylight.

A Holistic Approach to Shade Fabric Selection seeks to elevate the importance of shade fabrics from that of just a window covering, to instead, a necessary architectural asset. The course teaches the importance of specifying architectural glass and solar control solutions together as a complete glazing system. Ultimately affecting façade aesthetics, occupant comfort, and the thermal performance of a building.

Understanding the basic material compositions, production processes, and testing methods of shade fabric will help designers select a shade fabric that meets the sustainable demands of a project. The Mermet USA plant tour shows attendees every step of the woven shade fabric production process including raw materials, weaving and coating, to fabric testing in a hands-on learning experience.

This course will explain the evolution of fenestration specification strategies from performance, aesthetic, and occupant comfort angles. The presentation will focus on the importance of specifying shades from a project’s initial planning in order to exceed code, save costs and maintain building design intent.