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 June 16-30, 2026. Connect with the instructor, Steve Norris, and other course participants through optional office hours via video conferencing on June 18 and June 25, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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 May 26 – June 9, 2026).