High-performance homes don’t happen by accident. They are the result of systems working together – envelope, mechanical, electrical – designed with intention from the start. This course takes you inside those systems, giving you the technical grounding to understand how high-performance residential buildings actually perform. Intended for builders, designers, and other construction professionals, this course builds on industry experience to introduce the key systems and strategies behind high-performance residential construction.
This course is self-guided, intended to be completed in approximately six hours between October 6-27, 2026. The instructor, Steve Norris, has been working in the construction industry in Calgary since 2006, with a special focus on sustainable construction.
At this time this course is being offered free of charge due to funding provided by Natural Resources Canada’s Codes Acceleration Fund. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a recognition badge through Credly.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Recognize house-as-a-system concepts in residential design and construction
- Explain how each of the four building envelope control layers influences energy performance
- Explain how HVAC systems function as an integrated mechanical system in high-performance homes
- Explain the role of electrification in high-performance homes
- Explain the role of energy modeling in the design of high-performance homes
It is recommended you complete SNRG 009 High-Performance Building Fundamentals as a prerequisite (offered September 8 – 22, 2026).