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Material Chemistry and Sustainable Building

Parsons School of Design, The New School

Material Chemistry and Sustainable Building

This course is part of Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building Specialization

Instructors: Alison Mears AIA, LEED AP

2,223 already enrolled

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

14 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

14 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Develop a scientific understanding of toxic chemicals in building materials and their impact on human health
Explore chemical innovations in healthier and more sustainable building materials
Apply strategies for reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in the built environment

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments¹

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Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This course covers a wide range of concepts related to toxicology and the chemistry of healthier materials. You learn about toxic substances in the built environment, the impact of specific chemicals on human health, unsatisfactory substitutions, and barriers to change. Finally, you examine ways to remove chemicals of concern in common building products. This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of chemistry in the built environment. This course is intended for anyone, but experience in design, architecture, or a similar field will be beneficial.

Module details

Welcome to Chemistry of Building Materials and Human Health. In this module, we'll learn about the essentials of chemistry, materials, and human health. We will analyze the implications of toxic chemicals in the built environment. By the end of this week, you will know how Green Chemistry can be used to create healthier materials. Let's get started!

What's included

11 videos6 readings1 assignment4 discussion prompts

11 videosTotal 46 minutes

Introduction to Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building3 minutes
Introduction to Material Chemistry and Sustainable Building1 minute
Introduction to Chemistry of Building Materials and Human Health1 minute
The Essentials of Chemistry, Materials, and Human Health4 minutes
Chemistry and Biofabrication in Design5 minutes
Global Risks and Regrettable Substitutions6 minutes
Barriers to Change: A Case Study of Flame Retardants8 minutes
Introduction to Green Chemistry4 minutes
Green Chemistry and Design4 minutes
Green Chemistry: Q&A with Dr. John Warner8 minutes
Chemistry of Building Materials and Human Health Conclusion1 minute

6 readingsTotal 135 minutes

Welcome and Course Methods10 minutes
Course Presenter Profiles5 minutes
Key Terminologies and Concepts30 minutes
Examples of Healthier Materials Chemistry30 minutes
Toxic Histories: The Flame Retardant and Stain Resistant Industries30 minutes
The Green Chemistry Challenge30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Chemistry of Building Materials and Human Health: Summative Assessment30 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

Introductions10 minutes
Chemical Innovation for Healthier Materials10 minutes
Impacts of Toxic Chemicals in the Built Environment10 minutes
Green Chemistry and Healthier Buildings10 minutes

Welcome to Toxicology of the Built Environment. In this module, we'll learn about the principles of toxicology and how to evaluate the toxicology of chemicals. You will gain an understanding of how hormone disrupting chemicals pose a specific risk in the built environment. We will see why this is especially important to consider in the context of vulnerable populations. Let's get started!

What's included

7 videos4 readings1 assignment3 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 28 minutes

Introduction to The Toxicology of the Built Environment1 minute
The Essentials of Toxicology6 minutes
Evaluating Chemicals for Toxicity5 minutes
Characterizing Risk: Assessing Hazard, Exposure, and Dose-Response5 minutes
Toxicology and Vulnerable Populations5 minutes
Hormone Disruptors in the Built Environment5 minutes
The Toxicology of the Built Environment Conclusion1 minute

4 readingsTotal 120 minutes

The Toxicology of Building Materials30 minutes
Characterizing Risks30 minutes
Future Generations at Risk: Dr. Shanna Swan30 minutes
Case Studies in Healthier Life Cycles30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

The Toxicology of the Built Environment: Summative Assessment30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

How Toxicology Informs Design10 minutes
The Implications of Toxic Materials10 minutes
Mitigating Consequences for Humanity10 minutes

Welcome to Understanding Chemicals of Concern and Driving Change. In this module, we'll learn about chemical classification for safety, the specific classes of chemicals of concern, and how to take action through tools for evaluating materials and chemicals. We will then explore how to reduce exposure to the chemical classes of concern. You will discover how to screen and evaluate chemicals in building materials. Let's get started!

What's included

8 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review3 discussion prompts

8 videosTotal 34 minutes

Introduction to Understanding Chemicals of Concern and Driving Change1 minute
Insights from Chemical Classification3 minutes
Lessons Learned: A Case Study of Asbestos in Building Materials7 minutes
Introduction to Chemical Classes of Concern7 minutes
Additional Chemical Classes of Concern: Formaldehyde-Based Binders and Nanochemicals6 minutes
Tools for Screening and Evaluating Chemicals in Building Materials5 minutes
Understanding Chemicals of Concern and Driving Change Conclusion1 minute
Material Chemistry and Sustainable Building Conclusion2 minutes