Learn how to position your business as a responsible environmental leader in a world of green consumers and carbon-conscious regulators. In this course, you'll discover how to save energy, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint, all at the same time.

First, we'll talk about how you can trim your energy costs without reducing your productivity by making your lighting, HVAC, and building control systems more efficient. After that, we'll explore ways to cut your water bill and look at waste reduction strategies that can save you money while helping you move toward a sustainable business model. We'll also delve into transportation and shipping, examining the benefits of alternative fuels, hybrids, and all-electric vehicles.

Next, you'll get a primer on renewable energy and learn how to integrate wind and solar power into your energy use plan. You'll also learn about buying green power, carbon offsets, and renewable energy credits. And finally, you'll get the information you need about LEED accreditation and how to measure and manage your carbon emissions in order to comply with any eventual carbon tax or cap-and-trade system.

Throughout the course, you'll examine real-world examples of energy-saving solutions and find out how to calculate the costs, benefits, and paybacks of these projects. You'll also learn how to communicate the environmental benefits of your actions to your customers and your business partners, transforming your business into a leader in the green economy.

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Syllabus:

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

In our first lesson, you'll discover the reasons why going green makes sense for financial as well as environmental reasons. You'll also learn the difference between conservation and efficiency and find out why creating a green workplace doesn't mean sacrificing comfort or productivity.

Friday - Lesson 02

Today you'll find out how to calculate the energy and dollar savings of any green projects you're thinking of undertaking. In addition, we'll talk about energy efficiency initiatives that can dramatically cut the costs of your green projects.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

The easiest green projects are lighting changes, so what better place to start? In today's lesson, you'll find out why CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs) are better than incandescent bulbs and easier on your balance sheet. In addition, you'll learn how to make your overhead fluorescent lights cheaper and more efficient. Finally, we'll delve into the pros and cons of CFLs, so you'll have the whole picture when it comes to green lighting technology.

Friday - Lesson 04

Green lighting starts with replacing bulbs or fixtures, but it doesn't end there. In this lesson, you'll learn about the additional energy and money savings you can achieve with timers, de-lamping, and occupancy sensors. We'll also talk about the cheapest source of lighting—daylight—and how you can make much better use of it. And last, we'll look at the future of lighting: the light emitting diode, or LED.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

HVAC means heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—and if your business is typical, it's where the bulk of your energy bill goes. Today we'll talk about how your HVAC system works and look at smart ways to cut costs without reducing your employees' comfort one bit. (Really!)

Friday - Lesson 06

In this lesson, we'll explore your building from top to bottom as we look at its envelope—the roof, walls, and windows that keep the outside and inside apart. You'll discover ways to tweak each of these elements so you can cut costs and reduce energy waste. We'll even talk about bringing your landscaping into the energy-saving picture.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Cars and trucks help keep our businesses running—without them, our employees couldn't get to the office! But transportation is a big culprit when it comes to carbon emissions, so it's a good place to make green changes. Today we'll compare the benefits of diesel and gas, explore a variety of alternative fuels and energy-saving vehicles, and find out how your workplace schedule affects your employees' carbon footprints.

Friday - Lesson 08

Water is blue, but saving water is a green idea. In this lesson, we'll tour your facilities, from the bathrooms to the air conditioners to the landscaping, and talk about ways to save water (and money) in each location.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

The green movement started with three simple ideas: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In this lesson, we'll look at how you can put these three R's to work in ways ranging from redesigning your packaging to going paperless in the office to using recycled raw materials. And here's some great news: You'll often save money in the process.

Friday - Lesson 10

They look innocent, but those monitors, computers, servers, faxes, DVD players, and vending machines are probably sucking up more of your power than they should. Today we'll explore how to tame power-eating office equipment, take a peek at the smart appliances of the future, and discover methods for slaying the power vampires in your office.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Can you generate your own green power? Yes—and in this lesson, you'll find out just how to do it. We'll look at how to integrate renewable energy sources into your electricity supply, and explore everything from solar power to small wind.

Friday - Lesson 12

In our final session together, we'll talk about more actions and certifications that can help you prove your green credentials to your customers. We'll start by looking at the LEED building standards, move on to RECs and SRECs and carbon offsets, and finish up with a look at emissions inventories, ISO standards, and other up-and-coming green trends.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Brad Bergman.

Brad Bergman has spent his entire career working with low-carbon technologies. He has experience generating both nuclear power and utility-scale solar-thermal power. He has also helped numerous businesses and local governments implement energy-saving sustainability strategies as a demand-side energy management specialist. His formal education includes both Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology, and he holds an MBA with a specialization in Technology Management. Brad currently works as a renewable energy professional and teaches classes as an adjunct professor.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

Student Reviews:

Reviews coming soon! Please check back next month.