Washington State University will soon begin offering a new online master’s program aimed at providing students with a foundational understanding of environmentally friendly construction practices.
The Master’s in Energy Conscious Construction program, launching this spring, will train students in the design of more efficient and less carbon polluting homes for the future. Washington state’s residential buildings account for 23% of the state’s energy consumption, and emissions from these buildings are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. The state of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, which took effect last year, has set a cap on carbon pollution which applies to the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The master’s program will offer a series of 10 courses and online learning modules. Students will earn a total of 30 credits through the program, following either a one-year or two-year path. The program, housed in the School of Design and Construction and offered through WSU Global Campus, is for students as well as for working professionals.
“Washington’s residential buildings consume nearly 25% of all the state’s energy, and building-related emissions are the state’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Washington state is committed to reducing the built environment’s impact on the natural environment through a progressive energy code and other initiatives such as the Climate Commitment Act and the Cap-and-Invest Program. The ECC programs cover competency gaps that prepare students for a future in alignment with the state and broader region initiatives,” said Omar Al-Hassawai, associate professor in the School of Design and Construction who developed the program.
The program recently earned a Department of Energy Zero Energy Design designation which recognizes the program’s commitment to sustainable design practices. Awarded by the DOE’s Building Technologies Office, the designation distinguishes programs that teach zero energy design best practices. WSU’s program was one of 14 educational institutions across the U.S. to receive the designation this year.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply on the School of Design and Construction website or contact Al-Hassawi with questions.
