Green at the Workplace, Going

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.

Lesson 1
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.

Lesson 2
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.

Lesson 3
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.

Lesson 4
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.

Lesson 5
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!)

Lesson 6
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.

Lesson 7
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.

Lesson 8
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.

Lesson 9
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.

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.

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.

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.