Green Infrastructure Training Academy
Welcome to the Green Infrastructure Training Academy (GITA), your comprehensive pathway to professional excellence in sustainability. As a Florida-registered educational institution, we specialize in delivering world-class online certification programs that address the critical sustainability challenges facing today's building infrastructure and real estate sectors. Our curriculum has been carefully designed to meet the evolving needs of both corporate and private sector professionals who are committed to creating a more sustainable future.
Our unique three-tiered certification framework offers twenty-one specialized courses that progressively build your expertise from foundational concepts to advanced specialist-level competencies. Whether you're taking your first steps into the sustainability field or seeking to enhance your existing credentials with advanced certifications, GITA provides the structured learning pathway you need to achieve your professional development goals. Each course combines rigorous academic content with practical, real-world applications that you can immediately implement in your professional practice.
What sets GITA apart is our commitment to accessibility and flexibility. Our entirely online delivery format allows you to advance your career without disrupting your current professional commitments. You'll gain industry-recognized certifications that demonstrate your expertise to employers, clients, and colleagues. Our graduates join a growing community of sustainability professionals who are actively transforming the built environment through innovative green infrastructure solutions. Start your journey today and become part of the movement toward sustainable development that balances environmental stewardship with economic viability.
Our Three-Level Certification Framework
The Green Infrastructure Training Academy has developed a progressive learning model that ensures systematic skill development and knowledge acquisition. Our framework recognizes that effective sustainability education must build upon strong foundations while progressively introducing more complex concepts and applications. This structured approach ensures that every student, regardless of their starting point, can advance confidently through increasingly sophisticated material.
Beginner Level
Seven foundational courses designed to introduce core sustainability concepts, green building principles, and basic environmental systems. Perfect for professionals entering the sustainability field or those seeking to add environmental credentials to their existing expertise.
Requirements: High school diploma
Course credits: 1 credit per course
Investment: $200 per course
Intermediate Level
Seven specialized courses that deepen technical knowledge and introduce advanced sustainability strategies, systems integration, and project implementation methodologies. Ideal for professionals with foundational knowledge seeking to expand their capabilities.
Requirements: Associate degree
Course credits: 2 credits per course
Investment: $300 per course
Advanced Level
Seven expert-level courses including comprehensive project work that culminate in the prestigious SPECIALIST designation. These courses prepare you to lead sustainability initiatives, conduct advanced analyses, and drive transformative change in organizations.
Requirements: Four-year university degree
Course credits: 3 credits per course
Investment: $400 per course
Each level has been carefully calibrated to match the educational background and professional experience of our students, ensuring that course content is challenging yet accessible. The progressive credit structure reflects the increasing complexity and depth of each level, while our competitive pricing makes professional development achievable for sustainability professionals at every stage of their career journey.
Why Choose GITA Certification
In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, sustainability expertise has become essential across industries. Organizations worldwide are seeking qualified professionals who can navigate the complex intersection of environmental responsibility, regulatory compliance, and business performance. GITA certifications provide the credentials and capabilities that today's employers demand, positioning you as a valuable asset in the growing green economy.
Industry-Recognized Credentials
Our certifications are respected by leading organizations in the building infrastructure and real estate sectors. Each certificate demonstrates your mastery of specific sustainability competencies and your commitment to professional excellence in environmental stewardship.
Flexible Online Learning
Study at your own pace without sacrificing your current professional commitments. Our comprehensive online platform delivers engaging content, interactive resources, and expert instruction that fits your schedule, allowing you to balance career advancement with work and personal responsibilities.
Practical Application Focus
Every course emphasizes real-world implementation, providing tools, frameworks, and methodologies you can immediately apply in your professional practice. Our curriculum bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring your learning translates directly into workplace value.
Progressive Skill Development
Our three-tiered framework ensures systematic advancement from foundational knowledge to specialist-level expertise. Each course builds upon previous learning, creating a comprehensive educational journey that develops both breadth and depth in sustainability competencies.
When you invest in GITA certification, you're investing in your future. Our alumni report enhanced career opportunities, increased professional credibility, and the confidence to lead sustainability initiatives within their organizations. The knowledge and credentials you gain through our programs open doors to new roles, responsibilities, and professional networks in the expanding sustainability sector.
Beginner Level
Beginner Level Overview
The beginner level serves as your gateway into the professional sustainability field. These seven carefully designed courses introduce fundamental concepts, terminology, and principles that form the foundation of all sustainability work in building infrastructure and real estate. Whether you're transitioning from another field or seeking to formalize existing knowledge, these courses provide the essential framework for understanding how environmental considerations integrate with building design, construction, and operation.
Each beginner course requires only a high school diploma, making professional sustainability education accessible to a wide range of aspiring professionals. The courses are structured to build confidence and competence progressively, starting with broad conceptual understanding before moving into more specific applications. You'll explore the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability while learning practical approaches to green building, energy efficiency, and resource conservation.
At sixteen hours per course, the beginner level provides substantial instruction while remaining achievable for working professionals. Each course awards one academic credit upon successful completion and requires an investment of two hundred dollars. This accessible pricing structure ensures that financial considerations don't prevent motivated individuals from beginning their sustainability education journey. Upon completing the beginner level, you'll possess a solid understanding of core sustainability principles and be well-prepared to advance to intermediate studies or immediately apply your knowledge in entry-level sustainability roles.
Course B-101
Introduction to Sustainable Building Practices
This foundational course introduces the core principles of sustainable building and green construction. You'll explore how buildings impact the environment throughout their lifecycle, from material extraction and manufacturing through construction, operation, and eventual demolition or repurposing. The course examines the evolution of green building from niche practice to mainstream requirement, helping you understand both the environmental imperatives and business drivers behind sustainable construction.
You'll learn to identify key sustainability strategies including site selection and development, water efficiency, energy optimization, material selection, and indoor environmental quality. The course introduces major green building rating systems and certification programs, explaining how these frameworks guide sustainable design and construction decisions. Through case studies and examples, you'll see how successful projects integrate multiple sustainability strategies to achieve superior environmental performance while meeting functional and economic objectives.
By the end of this course, you'll understand the fundamental vocabulary and concepts used throughout the sustainability field. You'll be able to articulate the benefits of sustainable building to diverse stakeholders and recognize opportunities to incorporate green strategies into building projects. This knowledge provides the essential foundation for all subsequent GITA courses and prepares you to contribute meaningfully to sustainability discussions in professional settings.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-102
Green Building Rating Systems and Certifications
This course provides comprehensive instruction on the major green building rating systems that guide sustainable design and construction worldwide. You'll gain detailed understanding of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), examining its various rating system options for different building types and project scopes. The course explains the credit structure, documentation requirements, and certification process, preparing you to support or pursue LEED certification on actual projects.
Beyond LEED, you'll explore alternative rating systems including BREEAM, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, and WELL Building Standard. Each system emphasizes different aspects of sustainability, and understanding their unique approaches helps you select the most appropriate framework for specific project goals and contexts. You'll learn how these systems compare and complement each other, and when multiple certifications might be pursued simultaneously to address diverse stakeholder priorities.
The course also addresses emerging trends in green building certification, including increased focus on health and wellness, resilience, carbon neutrality, and social equity. You'll understand how certification systems are evolving to address climate change and other urgent environmental challenges. This knowledge enables you to guide clients and colleagues toward certification approaches that align with organizational values and project objectives while delivering meaningful environmental benefits.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-103
Energy Efficiency Fundamentals for Buildings
Energy consumption in buildings represents one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This course introduces fundamental concepts of building energy use, helping you understand how buildings consume energy and identify opportunities for improved efficiency. You'll explore the building envelope, mechanical systems, lighting, and plug loads, learning how each component contributes to overall energy performance and where the greatest efficiency opportunities typically exist.
The course covers both passive and active strategies for reducing building energy consumption. Passive approaches include building orientation, natural ventilation, daylighting, and high-performance envelope systems that minimize heating and cooling loads. Active strategies involve efficient mechanical systems, controls, and renewable energy generation. You'll learn to recognize the synergies between passive and active approaches and understand why integrated design produces superior results compared to addressing systems in isolation.
You'll also explore energy modeling, benchmarking, and monitoring as tools for understanding and improving building energy performance. The course introduces energy codes and standards that establish minimum performance requirements, while also showing how high-performance buildings exceed these baselines to achieve exceptional efficiency. By course completion, you'll be able to identify energy efficiency opportunities in existing buildings and understand design strategies that minimize energy consumption in new construction projects.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-104
Water Conservation in Building Design and Operations
Water scarcity represents a growing challenge across many regions, making water efficiency an increasingly important sustainability priority. This course examines how buildings use water for various purposes including occupant needs, landscaping, cooling systems, and process loads. You'll learn to identify water consumption patterns and recognize opportunities for conservation through fixture selection, system design, and operational practices that reduce demand without compromising functionality or occupant experience.
The course introduces water-efficient fixtures and fittings, including low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads that maintain performance while dramatically reducing water use. You'll explore greywater and rainwater harvesting systems that capture and reuse water for appropriate non-potable applications, reducing demand on municipal water supplies. Alternative wastewater treatment approaches, including constructed wetlands and living machines, demonstrate how buildings can process wastewater on-site while creating amenities and habitat.
Landscape water use represents a significant consumption category in many buildings, particularly in arid climates. You'll learn principles of water-efficient landscaping including native and adapted plant selection, efficient irrigation technologies, and soil amendments that improve water retention. The course also addresses stormwater management strategies that reduce runoff pollution and recharge groundwater supplies. Upon completion, you'll be able to develop comprehensive water management strategies that minimize consumption while maintaining healthy, attractive landscapes and comfortable interior environments.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-105
Sustainable Site Development and Management
The location and development of building sites profoundly influence environmental outcomes and occupant quality of life. This course explores sustainable site selection, examining how site characteristics including access to transit, existing infrastructure, and ecosystem sensitivity affect a project's environmental footprint. You'll learn principles of smart growth and transit-oriented development that reduce automobile dependence while creating walkable, vibrant communities that support both environmental and social sustainability goals.
Site development practices significantly impact local ecosystems, water quality, and urban heat island effects. The course teaches strategies for minimizing site disturbance during construction, protecting existing vegetation and topsoil, and restoring damaged ecosystems. You'll explore erosion and sedimentation control measures that protect water quality during construction, and learn how permeable paving, bioswales, and rain gardens can manage stormwater while enhancing site aesthetics and biodiversity.
The course also addresses ongoing site management practices that maintain environmental performance after construction completion. Topics include integrated pest management, organic landscaping, snow and ice management without harmful chemicals, and light pollution reduction. You'll understand how thoughtful site design creates valuable outdoor spaces that connect building occupants with nature while supporting local biodiversity. By course completion, you'll be able to evaluate sites for development potential and recommend strategies that minimize environmental impact while enhancing the ecological and social value of the built environment.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-106
Indoor Environmental Quality and Occupant Health
Buildings profoundly influence occupant health, comfort, and productivity through indoor environmental conditions. This course examines the multiple dimensions of indoor environmental quality including air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics. You'll learn how building design, material selection, and operational practices create healthy or unhealthy indoor environments, and understand the significant impact that indoor conditions have on occupant wellbeing, satisfaction, and performance.
Indoor air quality represents perhaps the most critical aspect of occupant health. The course explores common indoor air pollutants including volatile organic compounds, particulates, biological contaminants, and combustion byproducts. You'll learn strategies for source control through low-emitting material selection, and understand how ventilation systems dilute and remove pollutants. The course also addresses moisture management to prevent mold growth and the importance of filtration in removing airborne contaminants.
Beyond air quality, the course examines thermal comfort, daylighting, views to nature, and acoustic performance as elements that collectively define indoor environmental quality. You'll explore how these factors interact and understand design strategies that optimize multiple performance dimensions simultaneously. The course also introduces emerging research on biophilic design and its impact on stress reduction, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing. Upon completion, you'll be able to identify indoor environmental quality problems and recommend comprehensive solutions that create healthy, comfortable spaces where occupants thrive.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Course B-107
Sustainable Materials and Resource Management
Material selection profoundly influences building environmental performance throughout the entire lifecycle. This course introduces life cycle thinking, helping you understand environmental impacts from raw material extraction through manufacturing, transportation, use, and eventual disposal or recycling. You'll learn to evaluate materials based on multiple criteria including embodied energy, recycled content, regional availability, durability, recyclability, and toxic content, developing a comprehensive framework for sustainable material selection.
The course explores specific material categories including structural systems, insulation, finishes, and furnishings. You'll learn to identify environmentally preferable options within each category and understand how material choices interact with other building systems to influence overall performance. The course examines third-party certifications and environmental product declarations that help designers and purchasers identify products with verified environmental attributes, while also discussing greenwashing and how to critically evaluate manufacturer claims.
Construction waste represents a significant environmental challenge, with buildings accounting for substantial portions of landfill content. You'll learn strategies for waste reduction through careful planning, dimensional coordination, and prefabrication. The course also covers deconstruction approaches that enable material reuse when buildings reach the end of their useful life. Upon completion, you'll understand how material decisions influence environmental outcomes and be able to specify materials that minimize environmental impact while meeting functional, aesthetic, and budgetary requirements.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 1 credit | Course Cost: $200
Intermediate Level
Intermediate Level Overview
The intermediate level represents a significant step forward in your sustainability education, building upon foundational knowledge to develop specialized expertise in critical technical and strategic areas. These seven courses assume familiarity with basic sustainability concepts and introduce more complex topics including advanced building systems, renewable energy technologies, green finance mechanisms, and organizational change management. Students at this level are prepared to take on greater responsibility in sustainability project implementation and strategic planning.
Admission to intermediate courses requires an Associate degree, ensuring that students possess the educational maturity and analytical skills necessary to engage with more challenging material. Each course requires sixteen hours of instruction and awards two academic credits upon successful completion, reflecting the increased depth and complexity of the curriculum. The investment per course is three hundred dollars, providing excellent value for the advanced technical knowledge and professional capabilities you'll develop.
Intermediate courses emphasize systems thinking and integration, helping you understand how different building systems and organizational functions interact to influence overall sustainability performance. You'll develop skills in analysis, problem-solving, and project management that enable you to lead sustainability initiatives rather than simply supporting others' efforts. The intermediate level prepares you either to advance into specialist-level studies or to immediately assume roles with significant responsibility for sustainability outcomes in professional practice. Many students find that intermediate certification alone substantially enhances their career opportunities and professional credibility.
Course I-201
Advanced HVAC Systems for Green Buildings
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems represent the largest energy consumers in most buildings, making HVAC design and operation critical to sustainability outcomes. This intermediate course provides comprehensive instruction on advanced mechanical systems that deliver superior comfort and air quality while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to conventional approaches. You'll explore high-efficiency equipment, innovative distribution strategies, and control systems that optimize performance under varying conditions.
The course examines multiple advanced HVAC approaches including radiant heating and cooling, displacement ventilation, dedicated outdoor air systems, and heat recovery ventilation. You'll learn when each approach is most appropriate based on climate, building type, occupancy patterns, and performance objectives. The course also addresses emerging technologies including geothermal heat pumps, chilled beams, and demand-controlled ventilation, explaining how these systems achieve exceptional efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort.
Beyond equipment selection, the course emphasizes the critical importance of proper system sizing, design, installation, and commissioning. Oversized equipment and poor installation degrade efficiency and comfort regardless of how advanced the technology. You'll learn methodologies for load calculation, duct design, and controls programming that ensure systems perform as intended. The course also covers measurement and verification protocols that confirm actual performance matches design intent, and troubleshooting approaches for addressing common problems in operating buildings.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-202
Renewable Energy Systems for Buildings
Renewable energy generation represents a powerful strategy for reducing building carbon emissions and operating costs while increasing resilience and energy independence. This course provides thorough instruction on renewable energy technologies appropriate for building applications, with primary emphasis on solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. You'll learn fundamental principles of how these systems generate electricity or thermal energy from sunlight, and understand factors that influence system performance including orientation, tilt, shading, and equipment specifications.
The course guides you through the complete process of renewable energy system planning, from initial feasibility assessment through design, installation, and operation. You'll learn to conduct solar resource assessments, calculate system sizing to meet specific energy objectives, and evaluate economic performance using life cycle cost analysis and payback calculations. The course explains net metering, renewable energy certificates, and power purchase agreements as mechanisms for realizing financial value from renewable generation.
Beyond solar technologies, the course introduces wind power, geothermal systems, and biomass as renewable energy options for appropriate applications. You'll understand the advantages and limitations of each technology and learn to match renewable energy strategies to specific site conditions and energy requirements. The course also addresses energy storage systems that enable buildings to use renewable energy even when generation doesn't match demand. Upon completion, you'll be able to evaluate renewable energy opportunities, develop preliminary system designs, and guide clients through decision-making about renewable energy investments.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-203
Building Energy Modeling and Analysis
Energy modeling represents an essential tool for predicting building energy performance and evaluating design alternatives. This course teaches you to use energy modeling software to simulate building energy consumption under varying design scenarios. You'll learn to create accurate building models that represent geometry, construction assemblies, mechanical systems, lighting, and occupancy patterns. The course emphasizes both technical modeling skills and critical interpretation of results to support informed design decisions.
The course guides you through the complete energy modeling process for both new construction and existing building analysis. You'll learn to establish appropriate modeling assumptions, select weather data, define schedules, and specify system characteristics that accurately represent actual or proposed building conditions. The course addresses common modeling challenges and teaches quality assurance procedures that ensure model reliability. You'll practice iterative design analysis, using modeling to test multiple design options and identify approaches that optimize energy performance while meeting other project objectives.
Beyond predictive modeling for design, the course introduces calibrated simulation for existing buildings where actual utility data enables model validation. You'll learn to use calibrated models for operational optimization, retrocommissioning support, and evaluation of retrofit opportunities. The course also covers model-based measurement and verification protocols that use energy models to quantify savings from efficiency improvements. Upon completion, you'll possess practical skills in energy modeling that enable you to support design teams, facility managers, and clients with rigorous energy analysis.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-204
Green Building Economics and Financial Analysis
Financial considerations fundamentally influence sustainability decisions in the building sector. This course equips you with economic analysis skills necessary to evaluate the financial implications of green building strategies and communicate business value to decision-makers. You'll learn multiple financial analysis methodologies including simple payback, life cycle cost analysis, net present value, and internal rate of return. Understanding these tools enables you to quantify economic benefits and address the common misconception that sustainability necessarily costs more.
The course examines the full spectrum of costs and benefits associated with green buildings. Beyond obvious energy cost savings, you'll learn to quantify benefits including reduced water and waste costs, lower maintenance expenses, enhanced property values, improved occupant productivity, and reduced health costs. The course introduces methodologies for monetizing these diverse benefits and incorporating them into comprehensive economic analyses that reveal the true value proposition of sustainable building approaches.
You'll also explore financial incentives and funding mechanisms that support green building including utility rebates, tax credits, green loans, and energy service agreements. The course teaches you to identify available incentives and incorporate them into project economics to improve financial performance. Understanding the financial landscape enables you to package sustainability proposals that appeal to fiscally conservative decision-makers. Upon completion, you'll be able to conduct rigorous financial analyses that demonstrate the business case for sustainability and communicate economic value effectively to diverse audiences.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-205
Sustainable Real Estate Development Practices
Real estate development profoundly shapes the built environment and influences sustainability outcomes at neighborhood and community scales. This course examines how sustainability principles apply throughout the development process from site acquisition and financing through design, construction, marketing, and long-term management. You'll learn how forward-thinking developers integrate environmental and social considerations into projects that deliver both superior performance and strong financial returns.
The course explores sustainable development strategies including mixed-use projects that combine residential, commercial, and retail uses to create walkable neighborhoods with reduced transportation needs. You'll learn principles of transit-oriented development that locates housing and jobs near public transportation, and understand how infill development and adaptive reuse transform underutilized properties while preserving land and infrastructure. The course examines case studies of successful sustainable developments, analyzing design approaches, financing structures, and marketing strategies that made these projects viable.
You'll also learn about green building policies and incentives that municipalities use to encourage sustainable development including density bonuses, expedited permitting, and tax abatements. Understanding the regulatory landscape helps you identify opportunities and navigate requirements efficiently. The course addresses emerging trends in sustainable real estate including net-zero energy buildings, resilient design, and social equity considerations that are reshaping development practice. Upon completion, you'll understand how sustainability creates value in real estate and be able to advise development teams on strategies that enhance both environmental performance and project success.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-206
Organizational Sustainability Strategy and Implementation
Advancing sustainability within organizations requires more than technical knowledge—it demands strategic thinking and change management skills. This course teaches you to develop and implement organizational sustainability programs that engage stakeholders, set meaningful goals, and achieve measurable results. You'll learn to assess current organizational performance, identify improvement opportunities, establish priorities, and create action plans that translate sustainability aspirations into concrete achievements.
The course explores stakeholder engagement strategies that build support for sustainability initiatives across diverse organizational constituencies. You'll learn to identify key stakeholders, understand their interests and concerns, and develop communication approaches that resonate with different audiences. The course teaches techniques for overcoming resistance to change and building coalitions that champion sustainability. You'll also learn to establish governance structures including sustainability committees and green teams that sustain momentum over time.
Measurement and reporting represent essential components of successful sustainability programs. The course introduces frameworks including the Global Reporting Initiative and other standardized reporting approaches that enable organizations to track progress and communicate performance transparently. You'll learn to select key performance indicators that align with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations. The course also addresses sustainability procurement policies, employee engagement programs, and integration of sustainability into core business operations. Upon completion, you'll be prepared to lead organizational sustainability efforts that achieve meaningful environmental and social outcomes.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Course I-207
Climate Resilience and Adaptation Planning
Climate change presents unprecedented challenges for the built environment including increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and sea level rise. This course teaches you to assess climate risks and develop adaptation strategies that enhance building and community resilience. You'll learn to use climate projections to understand future conditions and design solutions that maintain functionality and safety under changing climate scenarios.
The course examines specific climate threats including flooding, extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and severe storms. For each hazard, you'll learn assessment methodologies that characterize exposure and vulnerability, and explore design and planning strategies that reduce risk. Topics include flood-resistant construction, passive survivability during power outages, water supply reliability during drought, and wildfire-resistant landscaping and building design. You'll understand how to balance climate adaptation with mitigation efforts, ensuring that resilience strategies don't inadvertently increase greenhouse gas emissions.
The course also addresses social dimensions of climate resilience including ensuring that vulnerable populations receive protection from climate impacts. You'll explore community-scale resilience planning that coordinates actions across multiple buildings and infrastructure systems to enhance collective preparedness. The course introduces scenario planning and decision-making under uncertainty as frameworks for developing robust strategies when future conditions are difficult to predict precisely. Upon completion, you'll be able to conduct climate vulnerability assessments and develop comprehensive adaptation plans that protect people, property, and environmental quality under future climate conditions.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 2 credits | Course Cost: $300
Advanced Level
Advanced Level Overview and Specialist Designation
The advanced level represents the pinnacle of GITA education, preparing you for leadership roles in sustainability planning, implementation, and innovation. These seven courses require a four-year university degree and assume mastery of both foundational and intermediate sustainability concepts. At this level, you'll engage with cutting-edge research, complex system analysis, and strategic decision-making that positions you to drive transformative change within organizations and communities. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, innovation, and the ability to address novel sustainability challenges that lack established solutions.
Advanced courses require sixteen hours of instruction each and award three academic credits upon successful completion, reflecting the sophisticated content and rigorous expectations. The investment per course is four hundred dollars. Two of the seven courses include substantial project work where you'll apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, developing professional portfolio pieces that demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers or clients. These projects represent opportunities to make meaningful contributions to actual sustainability initiatives while refining your skills under expert guidance.
Upon successful completion of all seven advanced courses, you'll earn the prestigious SPECIALIST designation from the Green Infrastructure Training Academy. This credential recognizes you as an expert practitioner with comprehensive knowledge spanning the full spectrum of sustainability topics and proven ability to lead complex initiatives. SPECIALIST graduates are prepared for senior-level positions including sustainability directors, environmental consultants, green building specialists, and climate strategists. The SPECIALIST designation distinguishes you as among the most qualified sustainability professionals in the building infrastructure and real estate sectors, opening doors to leadership opportunities and enabling you to maximize your positive impact on the built environment.
Course A-301
Net Zero Energy Building Design and Implementation
Net zero energy buildings represent the future of sustainable construction, producing as much energy as they consume annually through exceptional efficiency and renewable energy generation. This advanced course provides comprehensive instruction on designing and implementing net zero buildings across diverse climates and building types. You'll learn the integrated design process necessary for net zero success, understanding how architectural design, high-performance envelope systems, advanced mechanical equipment, and on-site renewable generation work together to achieve energy neutrality.
The course examines proven design strategies for minimizing energy consumption through passive design approaches and highly efficient active systems. You'll explore super-insulated building envelopes, high-performance windows, thermal mass, natural ventilation, and daylighting as foundational elements of net zero design. The course teaches you to conduct detailed energy modeling to predict performance and optimize design decisions, ensuring that efficiency measures receive priority before renewable generation is sized. You'll learn to evaluate different renewable energy technologies and determine optimal system configurations to meet remaining energy needs.
Beyond technical design, the course addresses project delivery challenges including cost management, financing, construction quality control, and commissioning. You'll examine case studies of successful net zero buildings, analyzing lessons learned and understanding how projects overcame common obstacles. The course also explores net zero at portfolio scale, teaching strategies for organizations to achieve carbon neutrality across multiple buildings. Upon completion, you'll possess the specialized knowledge necessary to lead net zero building projects from initial concept through successful operation, positioning yourself as an expert in this rapidly growing field.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-302
Advanced Green Building Commissioning
Commissioning represents a critical quality assurance process that ensures buildings perform as intended, yet many buildings suffer from commissioning deficiencies that compromise comfort, efficiency, and durability. This advanced course teaches comprehensive commissioning methodologies for both new construction and existing buildings. You'll learn to develop commissioning plans, conduct design reviews, witness factory and installation inspections, perform functional performance testing, and verify that systems operate according to design intent and owner requirements.
The course covers commissioning of all major building systems including mechanical equipment, controls, lighting, building envelope, and renewable energy systems. You'll learn systematic testing procedures that verify proper installation and operation, and develop skills in documenting findings and communicating effectively with design and construction teams. The course emphasizes the commissioning provider's role in facilitating communication between project stakeholders and ensuring that sustainability goals receive attention throughout design and construction processes.
You'll also explore ongoing commissioning and retrocommissioning as strategies for maintaining and improving performance in operating buildings. The course teaches measurement and verification protocols that quantify energy savings and other performance improvements. You'll learn to identify common problems in existing buildings and develop cost-effective solutions that restore or enhance performance. The course prepares you for professional commissioning certifications offered by organizations including the Building Commissioning Association. Upon completion, you'll be qualified to provide commissioning services that ensure buildings achieve their full performance potential throughout their operational life.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-303
Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Analysis
Life cycle assessment provides rigorous methodology for quantifying environmental impacts across a product or building's entire life span from raw material extraction through end-of-life disposal or recycling. This advanced course teaches you to conduct comprehensive life cycle assessments that inform material selection, product development, and policy decisions. You'll learn internationally standardized life cycle assessment methodologies defined in ISO standards, understanding how to define study boundaries, collect inventory data, model environmental impacts, and interpret results.
The course covers multiple environmental impact categories including global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, smog formation, and resource depletion. You'll learn how different materials and processes contribute to each impact category and understand tradeoffs between categories that often make optimization challenging. The course introduces life cycle assessment software tools and databases that provide environmental impact data for thousands of materials and processes, teaching you to use these resources effectively in analysis.
Beyond whole building assessment, the course examines environmental product declarations and product-specific life cycle assessments that manufacturers develop to communicate environmental performance. You'll learn to critically evaluate these documents and use them in material selection decisions. The course also addresses emerging topics including life cycle cost analysis that integrates environmental and economic considerations, and social life cycle assessment that evaluates social and ethical dimensions of products and supply chains. Upon completion, you'll be able to conduct rigorous life cycle assessments that quantify environmental impacts and support evidence-based decision-making.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-304
Carbon Accounting and Climate Action Planning
Organizations worldwide are committing to carbon neutrality and science-based emissions reductions, creating demand for professionals who can measure greenhouse gas emissions and develop credible decarbonization strategies. This advanced course teaches comprehensive carbon accounting methodologies aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and other international standards. You'll learn to quantify emissions across all three scopes including direct emissions from owned sources, indirect emissions from purchased energy, and value chain emissions from materials, transportation, and waste.
The course provides detailed instruction on emissions quantification for building operations including combustion of fossil fuels, electricity consumption, refrigerant leakage, and process emissions. You'll learn to collect activity data, apply appropriate emissions factors, and calculate total emissions with appropriate uncertainty estimates. The course also addresses embodied carbon in materials and construction, teaching you to quantify upfront emissions associated with building projects and understand the growing importance of embodied carbon in overall building carbon footprints.
Beyond measurement, the course teaches you to develop climate action plans that establish emissions reduction targets and identify strategies to achieve them. You'll learn to prioritize reduction opportunities based on cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and alignment with organizational capabilities. The course examines carbon offset strategies and renewable energy purchasing as tools for addressing residual emissions while emphasizing that direct emissions reductions should receive priority. Upon completion, you'll be qualified to lead organizational carbon accounting and climate planning efforts, positioning your organization for success in a decarbonizing economy.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-305
Circular Economy Principles for the Built Environment
The circular economy represents a fundamental rethinking of how we design, produce, use, and manage materials to eliminate waste and keep resources in productive use indefinitely. This advanced course applies circular economy principles to the building sector, teaching strategies for designing buildings and products that eliminate waste, enable material recovery, and regenerate natural systems. You'll learn to identify opportunities throughout building lifecycles for implementing circular approaches that reduce environmental impact while potentially creating new business opportunities.
The course examines design for disassembly approaches that enable buildings and products to be deconstructed at end of life with components and materials recovered for reuse or high-quality recycling. You'll explore material passports and digital tracking systems that maintain information about building materials to facilitate future recovery. The course introduces product-as-service business models where manufacturers retain ownership of products and materials, creating incentives for durability, repairability, and eventual material recovery.
You'll also learn about emerging materials and technologies that support circular economy including bio-based materials from rapidly renewable resources, materials designed for infinite recycling, and additive manufacturing approaches that minimize waste during production. The course examines policy frameworks that support circular economy including extended producer responsibility, deposit systems, and material recovery targets. Upon completion, you'll understand how to apply circular economy thinking throughout building projects and organizational operations, positioning yourself at the forefront of this transformative movement toward sustainable resource management.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-306
Project Work
Sustainability Assessment and Certification Project
This advanced course combines instruction with substantial applied project work where you'll pursue green building certification for an actual building project or conduct comprehensive sustainability assessment of an existing facility. Working individually or in small teams, you'll apply the full range of knowledge and skills developed throughout your GITA education to a real-world challenge. The project provides invaluable experience in managing complex sustainability initiatives from planning through documentation and verification.
For new construction projects, you'll guide the project team through the certification process for a major rating system such as LEED, documenting design strategies and verifying compliance with credit requirements. For existing buildings, you'll conduct comprehensive sustainability audits that assess current performance, identify improvement opportunities, and develop prioritized action plans with implementation timelines and cost estimates. Either approach requires you to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, manage documentation, and communicate effectively throughout the project.
The course includes instruction on project management, stakeholder engagement, technical documentation, and professional communication. You'll receive mentorship from experienced practitioners who provide guidance while allowing you to develop independence and problem-solving capabilities. Your final deliverable will include comprehensive project documentation suitable for inclusion in your professional portfolio. This hands-on experience bridges classroom learning and professional practice, preparing you for immediate contribution in sustainability leadership roles upon graduation.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Course A-307
Project Work
Sustainability Strategy Development Capstone Project
This capstone course represents the culmination of your GITA education, requiring you to develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy for an organization or portfolio of buildings. Working with an actual client or simulated scenario, you'll conduct stakeholder engagement, assess current performance, establish goals, identify strategies, develop implementation plans, and create measurement frameworks. This substantial project demonstrates your ability to integrate technical knowledge with strategic thinking and change management to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes.
The project begins with discovery and assessment where you'll understand organizational context, stakeholder priorities, current sustainability performance, and improvement opportunities. You'll conduct analyses including carbon footprinting, energy benchmarking, water audits, and waste assessments as appropriate to your client's situation. Based on this foundation, you'll develop a strategic vision and specific, measurable goals that align with stakeholder values and organizational capabilities. Your strategy will include both short-term quick wins and longer-term transformative initiatives.
Your final deliverable will include a comprehensive strategic plan with prioritized recommendations, implementation timelines, resource requirements, financial analysis, and measurement frameworks. You'll present your recommendations to stakeholders, defending your approach and demonstrating the value proposition. The course develops your ability to communicate complex technical content to diverse audiences and build support for ambitious sustainability agendas. This capstone experience consolidates your learning and showcases your readiness to assume leadership responsibility in professional sustainability practice.
Course Duration: 16 hours | Course Credits: 3 credits | Course Cost: $400
Professional Development and Career Pathways
GITA certification opens doors to diverse and rewarding career opportunities in the rapidly expanding sustainability field. Our graduates pursue varied pathways including positions within corporate sustainability departments, consulting firms specializing in green building and environmental services, real estate development companies, architecture and engineering firms, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The knowledge and credentials you gain through GITA education position you competitively for roles ranging from entry-level sustainability coordinators to senior director and executive positions.
Corporate Sustainability
Many organizations employ sustainability professionals to develop and implement environmental programs, manage certification projects, engage employees, and report performance. These roles offer opportunity to influence organizational strategy and drive meaningful change.
Green Building Consulting
Consulting firms serve clients across diverse projects, providing technical expertise in areas including energy modeling, commissioning, certification management, and sustainability planning. Consulting offers variety and exposure to innovative projects.
Real Estate Development
Developers increasingly integrate sustainability throughout projects, creating demand for professionals who understand green building economics, certifications, and stakeholder engagement. These roles combine environmental expertise with business acumen.
Design and Engineering
Architecture and engineering firms value team members with specialized sustainability knowledge who can enhance project performance and support clients in achieving green building goals. Technical expertise combined with design sensibility creates valuable capabilities.
Beyond specific job titles, GITA education develops transferable skills in analysis, problem-solving, project management, and communication that serve you throughout your career. The sustainability field continues to evolve, creating new opportunities and specializations. Your GITA foundation prepares you to adapt to emerging trends and assume leadership in addressing environmental challenges. Many graduates find that sustainability credentials enhance their value in roles not explicitly focused on sustainability, as environmental considerations increasingly influence decisions across all sectors.
How to Enroll and Begin Your Journey
Beginning your GITA education is straightforward and accessible. Our entirely online delivery format means you can start immediately without waiting for traditional semester schedules or geographic limitations. We offer individual course enrollment, allowing you to progress at your own pace while balancing professional and personal commitments. You may complete courses sequentially or pursue multiple courses simultaneously depending on your availability and learning preferences.
01
Verify Prerequisites
Ensure you meet educational requirements for your desired level. Beginner courses require a high school diploma, intermediate courses require an Associate degree, and advanced courses require a four-year university degree.
02
Contact GITA
Reach out via email to discuss your goals, ask questions about courses, and receive guidance on course selection. Our team will help you develop a learning plan aligned with your objectives and timeline.
03
Complete Registration
Submit required documentation and payment to formally enroll in your selected course or courses. We will provide access to our online learning platform and all course materials.
04
Begin Learning
Access course content on your schedule, complete assignments and assessments, and engage with instructors and fellow students through our online platform. Dedicate the sixteen hours required for each course over weeks or months according to your preference.
05
Earn Your Certification
Upon successful course completion, receive your certificate documenting your achievement. Continue progressing through additional courses toward your educational goals and professional credentials.
We understand that prospective students often have questions about course content, prerequisites, career outcomes, or our educational approach. We encourage you to contact us before enrolling so we can address your specific interests and concerns. Our goal is ensuring that GITA education aligns with your professional development objectives and provides the knowledge and credentials you need to succeed in the sustainability field. We look forward to supporting your learning journey and watching you make meaningful contributions to environmental stewardship in the built environment.
Contact Information and Next Steps
The Green Infrastructure Training Academy is committed to supporting your professional development and making sustainability education accessible to motivated professionals. Whether you're exploring options for career transition, seeking to enhance existing credentials, or pursuing advanced specialization, we're here to help you achieve your goals. Our flexible online format, progressive curriculum structure, and affordable pricing make professional sustainability education achievable regardless of your current location or career stage.
Get in Touch
Email us at GitaCertified@gmail.com to learn more about our courses, discuss your educational goals, ask questions about prerequisites or course content, or begin the enrollment process.
Three Certification Levels
Choose from beginner, intermediate, or advanced courses based on your educational background and career objectives. Progress through levels systematically or enter at the level matching your existing knowledge.
Flexible Scheduling
Complete courses on your own schedule with our asynchronous online delivery. Each course requires sixteen hours that you can complete over weeks or months according to your availability.
Specialist Designation
Complete all seven advanced courses to earn the prestigious SPECIALIST designation recognizing you as an expert sustainability practitioner qualified for leadership roles.
We invite you to take the next step in your sustainability career by contacting GITA today. Our team is ready to answer your questions, provide detailed course information, and help you develop a learning plan that aligns with your professional aspirations. Sustainability represents one of the most important challenges and opportunities of our time. By investing in your education, you're not only advancing your career but also positioning yourself to make meaningful contributions to environmental stewardship and the creation of a more sustainable built environment. We look forward to supporting your learning journey and celebrating your achievements as you progress through the Green Infrastructure Training Academy curriculum.

Ready to begin? Contact the Green Infrastructure Training Academy today at GitaCertified@gmail.com to start your journey toward sustainability certification and professional excellence.