Refund requests may be made by phone 206.934.5448, by mail, or in person. The refund policy will be applied according to the date the request is received.
In the event the school cancels a class, a 100% refund will be given.
Prior to first class session 100% (less $6.00 administrative fee)
Prior to 2nd class session 100% (less $15.00 administrative fee)
After 2nd session No refund
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SBA Course Outline
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SBA Course Outline
The Sustainable Building Advisor (SBA) course is specifically designed for working professionals who desire to apply sustainability principles to the buildings they design and construct. The course is part of a 12 year old, national curriculum and certification program offered in about 30 locations around North America.
The program runs one weekend a month for nine months on Fridays and Saturdays. Through expert instructors and guest speakers, team projects, site visits to exemplary projects, and access to the latest in green building resources, the SBA course provides attendees the information they need to create buildings that are energy and resource efficient, healthy working and living environments, environmentally responsible and cost effective.
The SBA course provides students tools and resources to accomplish the 
following:
- Identify and articulate key sustainable building practices and goals
- Analyze the costs and benefits of implementation
- Work with designers, architects, builders, operators, and utilities managers to achieve them in their projects
- Apply LEED, Built Green, and other relevant criteria and established guidelines effectively
- Take a leadership position in their organizations and communities in a rapidly growing field
At the end of the course, the students have the option to take an exam to receive the designation of Certified Sustainable Building Advisor. This examination identifies those individuals who have completed the academic program and are able to take their knowledge and skills to their firms and communities.
The CSBA designation differs from LEED AP mainly because it is a larger, more encompassing knowledge base. LEED AP primarily indicates those individuals who have successfully passed the LEED exam based on the LEED. Completing the SBA program also meets the eligibility requirements for those that wish to take the LEED Green Associate exam rating system. While the LEED program is a good start to some sustainable concepts, it isn’t as broad in its teachings as the SBA Program. Because the CSBA credential signifies the completion of the entire educational program and not just an exam, there is no continuing education required to maintain the CSBA designations.
To date over 500 professionals around the region have completed the course and nearly 200 have taken and passed the certification exam. Nationally, 1250 students have graduated from the course and more than 850 have passed the professional exam
The United States Green Building Council has approved this course as a 400 Level - Mastery course for 100 Continuing Education hours.
The SBA Program has also been accepted by the American Institute of Architects and other professional institutions for continuing-education hours.
O’Brien & Company is the oldest green building and sustainability consulting firm in Washington State. The firm has provided technical expertise to hundreds of local green buildings; informed local sustainability policy and programs; and is on the cutting edge of developing trainings that green building professionals need. The Sustainable Building Advisor class is led working professionals who know what it really takes to make green buildings happen on the ground. Instructors come from O’Brien & Company’s expert staff and from other local firms from a variety of disciplines. All the course instructors are selected not only for their professional experience but for their ability to create engaging classroom experiences.
This year, Principal Elizabeth Powers and Project Associate Kelly Kirkland will co-lead the course for O’Brien & Company.
Elizabeth A.D. Powers, CSBA, LEED AP BD+C
As a Principal and part-owner, Elizabeth manages many aspects of O’Brien & Company’s consulting and education services. She is the Principal-In-Charge on three dozen LEED and sustainable building projects for the company, as well as two Sustainable Sites Initiative Pilot Projects. She uses the knowledge she’s gained from sixteen years in the field and her skills motivating people to facilitate an integrative process, using the IP standard being developed by the American National Standards Institute. She helps projects develop green building performance benchmarks, and provides technical and research assistance in sustainable site development, green building materials, and sustainable construction practices.
Elizabeth believes in the integral connection between creating a sustainable built environment and education. She advocates for and has lead development of green building education programs for many projects, contributed to O’Brien & Company’s work on the Living Building Education Imperative and is furthering her own education by completing a degree in Landscape Architecture. This is Elizabeth’s third year as a Lead Instructor for the Seattle Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate Program at Seattle Central Community College. She taught the sustainable construction unit for the previous 9 years.
Kelly Kirkland, CSBA, LEED AP O+M
Kelly has been working on environmental and sustainability issues since 1999. She currently leads O’Brien & Company’s educational service area which develops curricula for educational institutions, workforce training programs, and private clients on sustainability of the built environment; teaches classes and workshops; and creates educational products. Kelly uses her concise communication style to write articles and give presentations for clients on green building topics. She also works with governments and organizations on the development of programs, policies, and plans for to support sustainable design, construction, and operations. She is particularly focus on the operational side, including management of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance projects. Another example is the development of implementation tools and web sites for efforts like the Washington Green Schools program. She completed the SBA course and earned her CSBA in 2007 and has co-lead the class for the last 4 years.
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