3D Visualization has revolutionized the way buildings and spaces are designed, constructed, operated and maintained. Evaluating how and where to employ it efficiently and successfully is an emerging in-demand skill set. The 3D Visualization for the Built Environment microcredential will provide you with skills development in Building Information Modeling (BIM), 3D Rendering Tools, GIS, Digital Twins and Virtual Reality/3D Printing applications for design, presentation, construction and ongoing operations and maintenance of buildings and spaces.
This training provides an in-depth exploration of topics such as building science, the impact of climate change on homes, evaluating existing buildings, and planning and executing a deep energy retrofit. Participants will learn best practices for retrofitting, avoid common pitfalls, and analyze real-world case studies of successful projects. There is no pre-requisite for the first course.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
This three-day course introduces the core principles of building science, emphasizing how residential buildings function as integrated systems. Participants will explore heat transfer, air leakage, moisture control, and strategies to protect the building envelope through theory, case studies, and practical examples. Topics include air and vapor barriers, condensation, energy performance, and the role of integrated design in creating high-performance, low-carbon housing. Designed for professionals in construction, renovation, and retrofitting, the training provides a strong foundation for building durable, energy-efficient homes suited to the Canadian climate.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
The Essentials of Community Energy and Emissions Management microcredential offers a comprehensive and practical approach to understanding and implementing energy-efficient and clean energy solutions in communities. On-site renewable energy, zero-emission energy-efficient buildings, and zero-carbon transportation are the key themes of this program. This microcredential centers on learning how to create a Community Energy and Emissions Management Plan (CEEP), providing the foundational knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of energy use and emissions in community planning and management.
This microcredential is ideal for professionals in the fields of urban planning, engineering, environmental science, and public administration. It is also beneficial for individuals looking to enhance their expertise in sustainable community development and energy management.
The Essentials Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals who want to gain the skills and knowledge to construct high-performance buildings to meet the BC Energy Step Code, Net-Zero Energy, and Passive House standards. Every industry practitioner will benefit from an applied understanding of the unique requirements of Net-Zero and Passive House design and construction.
The microcredential contains the essentials needed for understanding building enclosures, electrical and mechanical systems, and processes and considerations for these new codes and standards. The microcredential consists of four courses using practical examples of wood- framed construction from seasoned industry leaders. An optional hands-on lab course is available for those interested. This program is delivered online and is offered on a course-by-course basis.
Upon completion, learners will have:
This two-day training explores how to effectively manage the movement of moisture, air, and heat to produce exterior wood-frame walls for new, low-rise housing that are affordable, energy efficient, and durable. Through a blend of classroom instruction, live demonstrations, and hands-on construction of mock-ups, participants learn practical detailing, material selection best practices, and proven wall construction techniques that reduce risk, prevent costly call-backs, and meet or exceed new code requirements.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
This three-day (24-hour) training equips renovators and contractors with the knowledge and tools needed to guide homeowners in making effective retrofit decisions. Participants will learn how to evaluate a home to identify the most impactful retrofit opportunities, design retrofit solutions that maximize energy savings, comfort, and durability, and ensure that the execution phase is both practical and effective. Given the increasing challenges of housing affordability, this course emphasizes strategies that help renovators and homeowners achieve the greatest long-term value from their retrofit investments.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
The Improving Your Home’s Energy Efficiency microcredential introduces participants to building science fundamentals, focusing on heat, air, and moisture flow. Learners explore insulation and air-sealing techniques, material selection, and the performance of energy-efficient windows, doors, and basic HVAC systems, along with an overview of National Building Code requirements. Training is offered in two formats: a 15-hour online asynchronous course for up to 20 participants, and a 15-hour, two-day in-person workshop at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Prince Albert campus, offered four times for up to 80 total participants. The in-person option emphasizes hands-on experience, interaction, collaboration, and real-time feedback in a structured learning environment using carpentry facilities. The program targets trades professionals, particularly HVAC technicians and carpenters, seeking to enhance their energy-efficiency and building science skills.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
This microcredential introduces participants to the construction trades sector, focusing on the essential principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Participants will learn to value the varied backgrounds and perspectives that team members bring to the job site and develop skills to identify and mitigate biases that can affect team performance. Through self-reflection and the examination of real-world examples and EDI initiatives, participants will gain the tools necessary to lead by example and cultivate a culture of belonging and allyship. This course combines face-to-face and online learning in a blended model.
This training supports learners in all trades to prevent, analyze, and fix issues with the building envelope that affect energy efficiency. Collaborative communication and respectful work are essential to the concept of house as a system, where all trades work together during the construction of a home to create the most energy-efficient product. The training will introduce solid building science with the intent of making tradespeople more informed about the importance of their work and how that work affects the other trades and impacts the performance of the home as a whole.
Employees in trades such as construction, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, will gain skills and knowledge regarding energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. This upskilling opportunity will ensure employees have the necessary skills and abilities to perform their duties in an energy efficient and net zero environment.
This microcredential seeks to introduce students who have construction experience to the mass timber industry, and explore some of the fundamental features and tools associated with mass timber construction. The 5.0-credit microcredential is designed to provide students who have a background in construction with an introduction to the burgeoning more specialized field of mass timber construction. It will be of interest to carpenters, ironworkers, quantity surveyors, estimators, construction managers, 3-D modelers, developers, manufacturers, and designers. Virtually anyone within the construction field with an interest in expanding their expertise to mass timber.
This microcredential is relevant for tradespeople, such as Carpenters and Ironworkers, as well as those who design construction projects, such as Architects, Estimators, Digital Modelers and Engineers. It is relevant for those who plan projects (owners, developers, construction managers) and those who have other related connections like Building Officials. The connecting thread is construction, and the application is across the spectrum of roles.
In this 30-hour online course, Mass Timber Products and Systems, you’ll explore the fundamentals of mass timber manufacturing, building systems, and their real-world applications. This instructor-guided course is ideal if you work in forestry, manufacturing, construction, skilled trades, project management, or engineering and design, and want to expand your understanding of mass timber to help you identify, select and integrate various mass timber products and systems into current or future projects. Complete this prerequisite course, the second Sustainable Mass Timber Construction course, and the third Technology in Mass Timber Design and Construction course to earn SAIT’s Sustainable Mass Timber Construction and Design Certificate of Completion. Receive a SAITMicro digital badge if you meet the earning criteria for this microcredential.
Residential Building Science Fundamentals introduces professionals to essential building science principles and the “House as a System” approach, showing how water, air, heat, and vapour interact to affect home performance. This microcredential course explores material selection for climate-resilient construction, strategies for passive heating and cooling, indoor environmental quality, and methods for measuring and reducing operational and embodied carbon. Building a strong foundation in residential performance is the first step toward successful deep energy retrofits.
Learners will engage in 24 hours of learning over three weeks, combining instructor-led virtual sessions with online self-study. Interactive discussions, assignments, and practical exercises help you connect technical knowledge to real-world residential projects.
In this 24-hour online course, Residential Deep Energy Retrofit Fundamentals, you’ll build on foundational building science to explore deep retrofit strategies, homeowner motivations, and cost/benefit trade-offs. Learn to plan integrated upgrades including electrification, resilience measures, and envelope/mechanical coordination, while engaging collaborative design and stakeholder alignment. This course is ideal for renovation professionals, energy advisers, designers, and trades interested in advancing retrofit planning skills.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
This two-day course equips window installers and related trades with the knowledge and skills to deliver high-performance installations. Through classroom instruction, live demonstrations and hands-on experience, participants learn how to select windows and apply proven installation methods for low-rise, wood frame construction. White the course primary focuses on new construction; it also addresses the challenges of window replacement in older homes.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
The Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals in the construction industry, or those who have recently completed a related construction program, who are seeking to gain the skills, knowledge, and tools unique to supervising construction on Net-Zero, Net-Zero-Ready, or Passive House construction projects.
Whether they want to coordinate and supervise smaller teams and sub-trades on smaller projects (Part 9 buildings) or work with larger teams on complex projects (larger Part 9 or Part 3 wood-frame buildings), learners will develop their ability to manage compliance with the performance requirements of BC Energy Step Code and Net-Zero Energy and Passive House standards and prepare for the upcoming changes to the National Building Code.
The microcredential consists of five courses that build upon each other in knowledge and focus on practical examples in wood-frame buildings. Upon completion, learners will have:
In this 30-hour course, participants will learn about sustainability, how it relates to the built environment, and how buildings contribute to climate change. Participants will also explore how buildings can be made more energy efficient and greener through recommissioning, retrofitting, and renewal. The course introduces basic energy calculations and terminology along with strategies for energy use reduction and awareness of regulations, policies, and sustainability standards for future retrofits. Key topics include carbon footprint analysis, building enclosure control layers, occupant health and wellness rating systems, waste management, and green retrofitting strategies such as heat recovery and low-carbon electrification.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
In this 30-hour online course, Sustainable Mass Timber Construction, you’ll explore sustainable forestry practices, mass timber production, and the supply chain. Learn to assess environmental impacts through life cycle analysis and manage every phase of a mass timber project—from design to close-out—with a focus on project management and safety. Instructor-supported, this course is for professionals in construction, project management, sustainability, or building compliance who want to adopt sustainable mass timber practices. Complete prerequisite course, Mass Timber Products and Systems, this course, and the third course, Technology in Mass Timber Design and Construction, to earn SAIT’s Sustainable Mass Timber Construction and Design Certificate of Completion. Receive a SAITMicro digital badge if you meet the earning criteria for this microcredential.
