Smart remodeling curriculum

Smart remodeling: it begins and ends with performance

Faculty from the University of Minnesota’s Cold Climate Housing Program and the Center for Sustainable Building Research developed an 8-hour training curriculum for remodeling professionals on building performance and building science and their particular application to the green remodeling process. Ten day-long workshops have been conducted throughout Minnesota since spring 2010. Smart Remodeling: It Begins and Ends with Performance.

Evaluation of the first four Smart Remodeling Workshops was conducted by Merit Consulting Solutions. The consultant developed a survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, using a retrospective pretest format, in consultation with MPCA green building specialists and the workshop faculty. The paper survey was administered at each site to all workshop participant

Results of the survey show the workshops were successful in creating intended behavior change among the participants. Generally speaking, most participants started the training as unlikely to engage (or unsure about engaging) in Smart Remodeling practices and ended the training with the intention to change their behavior and adopt many of the Smart remodeling practices presented in the training. For more information, see  Smart Remodeling Workshop Evaluation.

A follow-up survey of 2010 Smart Remodeling workshop participants was conducted in the summer of 2011 by Catalyst Consulting Group, LLC. The purpose of the survey was to ascertain if pollution prevention practices that were taught in the workshop are being implemented in the field. Overall, it was discovered that the workshop did influence many attendees to make positive changes in their work practices that ultimately result in less polluting, more energy-efficient and healthy homes. For more information, see
Smart Remodeling Year 2 Follow-up Report.