More than 50% of the world population now lives in cities, and we spend 90% of our lives indoors. With climate change already knocking on our door, it is integral for us to create sustainable solutions in our urban spaces. We need to start imagining the future we are pushing towards and asking questions about how we can achieve vibrant communities that are regenerative, economically-responsible, and socially-just: Who would our streets be built for? Where would our food be grown? What would we call “waste”?
This course will focus on providing a broad overview of green architecture and urban development, engaging with the technical, politico-economic, and socio-cultural aspects of the subjects. Also, the goal of this class is to equip students to earn their LEED Green Associate accreditation through providing the tools to study for the exam. Students will be able to explain and understand the fundamental aspects of the LEED rating system, present their understanding of course topics to others, relate knowledge from outside sources to in-class subjects, and differentiate between solutions that are “good” or “less bad” for the environment.
We will have weekly, one-hour lectures and homework assignments designed to facilitate conversation and help you study for the LEED GA exam. We hope you will join us!