Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Wildfire Defense Education and Tours Program by USGBC California aims to raise awareness by offering topic-specific resource guides and expert guidance. This initiative empowers our community, property owners, designers, and managers to take proactive measures to reduce wildfire risks and minimize associated losses.
The growing fire seasons pose severe and potentially life-threatening consequences. There are actionable steps that everyone can take to safeguard their properties, mitigate fire risks in the region, and enhance the city’s resilience. Architects, builders, developers, urban planners, and landscapers all have crucial roles to fulfill.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Health, Materials, Water, Place
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Passive House Consultant US (CPHC)
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
Lessons Learned:
1. Understand the importance of home hardening to protect home health against the long-term effects of wildfire smoke exposure.
2. Analyze and implement defensible space measures to ensure resiliency and the safety of property and surrounding area during wildfire season.
3. Introduce resilient urban living practices to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and protect the welfare of future generations.
4. Articulate the need for woodland-urban interface management strategies to balance the benefits and risks of living in close proximity to nature in wildfire-prone areas. While building resiliency.
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/intro-to-wildfire-home-defense
Speaker
Elizabeth graduated in Environmental Studies from Temple University. Elizabeth worked under Joanne Donahue, the Manager of Land Restoration at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education cultivating native plants and removing invasive species from Penn’s Native Acre. Elizabeth also designed and installed an educational sensory garden for students. Elizabeth also worked in the West End of Outdoor Horticulture at Longwood Gardens, where she oversaw the orchard, Migratory Bird Sanctuary, vegetable garden, idea garden, trial garden, children’s garden.
Since moving to California, Elizabeth was the Program Manager for Eco Urban Gardens. She developed and implemented the Farm to Table and Farm to School programs. Elizabeth combines her passion for regenerative landscape and urban design with the impact on community health and environmental justice. She has a Docent Naturalist certification from Eaton Canyon Nature Center and has volunteered for the LA County Arboretum and California Native Plant Society.
The Wildfire Defense Education and Tours Program by USGBC California aims to raise awareness by offering topic-specific resource guides and expert guidance. This initiative empowers our community, property owners, designers, and managers to take proactive measures to reduce wildfire risks and minimize associated losses.
The growing fire seasons pose severe and potentially life-threatening consequences. There are actionable steps that everyone can take to safeguard their properties, mitigate fire risks in the region, and enhance the city’s resilience. Architects, builders, developers, urban planners, and landscapers all have crucial roles to fulfill.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Health, Materials, Water, Place
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Passive House Consultant US (CPHC)
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
Lessons Learned:
1. Understand the importance of home hardening to protect home health against the long-term effects of wildfire smoke exposure.
2. Analyze and implement defensible space measures to ensure resiliency and the safety of property and surrounding area during wildfire season.
3. Introduce resilient urban living practices to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and protect the welfare of future generations.
4. Articulate the need for woodland-urban interface management strategies to balance the benefits and risks of living in close proximity to nature in wildfire-prone areas. While building resiliency.
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/intro-to-wildfire-home-defense
Speaker
Elizabeth graduated in Environmental Studies from Temple University. Elizabeth worked under Joanne Donahue, the Manager of Land Restoration at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education cultivating native plants and removing invasive species from Penn’s Native Acre. Elizabeth also designed and installed an educational sensory garden for students. Elizabeth also worked in the West End of Outdoor Horticulture at Longwood Gardens, where she oversaw the orchard, Migratory Bird Sanctuary, vegetable garden, idea garden, trial garden, children’s garden.
Since moving to California, Elizabeth was the Program Manager for Eco Urban Gardens. She developed and implemented the Farm to Table and Farm to School programs. Elizabeth combines her passion for regenerative landscape and urban design with the impact on community health and environmental justice. She has a Docent Naturalist certification from Eaton Canyon Nature Center and has volunteered for the LA County Arboretum and California Native Plant Society.


![Down to Earth Affordable Housing – Natural & Low Energy Builds
In 2023, Habitat for Humanity Gunnison Valley (HHGV) received the Green Builder Home of the Year Award Overall Grand Winner. That illustrated how big benefits can come in small packages. Cillian Liam Barrett, founder of Hearth Home Design/Build construction homes for HHGV in Colorado will discuss the homes in detail and show how emphasizing sustainability is a way for local families to obtain affordable housing. Cillian will also explain how similar principles were incorporated into a home on Hopi land in northern Arizona. These homes are grounded to the earth, incorporate materials that are earth-friendly, and incorporate passive heating and cooling design principles. Learn about his strategies and those incorporated into other affordable housing across the country. (The course assumes that the attendee will have a grasp of basic building science such as the homes envelope, R-values, insulation, HVAC basics, air tightness, and passive solar.)
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Health, Materials, Water, Place
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Passive House Consultant US (CPHC)
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
Lessons Learned:
1. **Understand** that sustainable housing designs promote health by utilizing earth-friendly materials and passive heating and cooling principles to create a healthier living environment for occupants.
2. **Analyze** how proper orientation and architectural features of a home enhance safety by reducing risks associated with extreme temperatures and power outages.
3. **Introduce** affordable housing solutions that emphasize energy efficiency, which ultimately supports the welfare of families by lowering living costs and improving overall quality of life.
4. **Articulate** the importance of stable interior temperatures achieved through strategic design, as it significantly contributes to the occupants comfort and welfare during varying climate conditions.
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
https://greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/down-to-earth-affordable-housing-natural-low-energy-builds
Speakers:
Cillian Liam Barrett, Designer/Builder: Cillian, principal of Hearth Design Build, was born and raised in Ireland where he was trained as an Architectural Technician. He has lived and worked in the US since 2007 in the construction and architecture industry in California, Alaska, Vermont, Utah, Hopi Land [Arizona], and Colorado. His company offers ecological, social, and economically responsible creative living solutions.
Moderator: Debbie Coleman, Architect, AIA: Debbie founded Sun Plans which provides passive solar house designs and custom home design services throughout the U.S. She authored The Sun-Inspired House and has designed hundreds of homes incorporating passive heating and cooling strategies. Her work has been published in Fine Homebuilding, Mother Earth News, Home Power, and Solar Today. (For ASES, American Solar Energy Society, Debbie is on their board of directors and the Chair of the Solar Buildings Division. For GHI, GreenHome Institute, Debbie is on their board of directors and the Education Committee.) Down to Earth Affordable Housing – Natural & Low Energy Builds](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZU8u2k7q_jY/mqdefault.jpg)







