The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its EnergySmart Schools program, is offering a no-cost, 2-hour, Web-based training course that helps building professionals implement the recommendations in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings. Members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) who complete the course and pass the quiz can earn 2.0 AIA/Continuing Education System learning units with credits for health, safety, and welfare as well as sustainable design.

The course, which can be taken at a user's convenience, includes a recorded webinar that was presented to more than 1,100 attendees on April 16. Paul Torcellini and Shanti Pless, from the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, provide an overview of the guide, including recommendations to achieve 30-percent energy savings over the baseline standard in building projects. The 90-min presentation is followed by a 30-min question-and-answer session. Directions on how to receive AIA/CES learning units are displayed at the end of the webinar.