Residential Building Technology

Program Vision

Teach students to design, build, or manage residential construction  that results in crafted, healthy, safe, durable, comfortable, affordable, energy and resource efficient, environmentally responsive houses.

Students also learn to incorporate appropriate (climate specific) building materials, systems and technologies, and make design and material selections based on current applied building-science principles and sustainable design/green building practices.

Residential Building Technology (Degree and Certificate)

• hands-on construction of a house in a local subdivision
• 20 hours per week on the jobsite over two semesters
• learn and apply skills in all phases of the residential construction process
• construct green, sustainable, high-performance homes for the 21st century

Residential Construction Management (Certificate)

• advanced training in progressive residential construction practices
• curriculum emphasizes project management skills, building-science principles, energy and resource efficiency, and environmentally responsive building
• program is designed for students already experienced in residential construction and seeks to establish credentials for management positions and/or contractor licensing

Residential Design (Certificate)

• career training for residential designer or drafts-person positions
• sketch and develop complete sets of working drawings using both hand and computer-aided drafting
• select appropriate building materials and use advanced building systems and technologies to design and draw sustainable buildings for the 21st century residential construction industry

A Robust and Cutting-edge Program

• The RBT program is recognized as being "one of the nation's elite energy-efficient home builders". In fact, the last three houses built by students have won five national awards.
• The program is directed by Tony Grahame, a certified master builder and national trainer for the EEBA "Houses That Work" Educational Series
• To facilitate individuals working schedules, a majority of the RBT courses are taught in the evening at the Chino Valley Agribusiness & Science Technology Center (LEED Silver certified - description of facility solar and renewable features)
• Select RBT courses are offered as a hybrid of classroom and internet, and solely online, further facilitating work and travel schedules

Are RBT courses or degrees for you?

Typical students are:

• local graduating high-school students seeking training for entry-level construction jobs
• students with eco-ideals seeking knowledge and training in green and sustainable construction
• experienced individuals (e.g., retired, career-change, established contractors) seeking further knowledge in building technology or construction management from a credible program