Built Environment Education©
Created by architecture faculty and practitioners, BEEnow is a voluntary certification program that inspires architecture schools to emphasize the teaching of sustainability, preparing graduates to substantially contribute to low-carbon building design.
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Certification Divisions
Overview
BEEnow if focused on three categories for certification review: Academic, Institutional, and a Survey of Graduating Students. Within each category, points are divided into subcategories, some with an additional set of components. Titles, descriptions, maximum points achievable, and documentation required are provided for each subcategory. This information is organized in a multilevel heading format (e.g., 1.1.1).
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There is no restriction to which points a school chooses to pursue in order to meet the certification level being pursued. The only required component is a survey of graduating students. The total number of points achievable is 400 points, with each certification level defined by the number of points achieved after all information is input. These levels are determined in the following manner:
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Implementing - 200 to 250 points*
This NAAB-Accredited school has established Institutional Operations and Academic Programs, that demonstrate a foundational commitment to educating and empowering architecture students to design sustainable, low-carbon, low-energy, and holistic eco-sensitive architecture.​
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Integrating - 251 to 300 points*
This NAAB-Accredited school has established Institutional Operations and Academic Programs, that demonstrate an integrated commitment to educating and empowering architecture students to design sustainable, low-carbon, low-energy, and holistic eco-sensitive architecture.​
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Transforming - 301 to 350 points*
This NAAB-Accredited school has established Institutional Operations and Academic Programs, that demonstrate a transformational commitment to educating and empowering architecture students to design sustainable, low-carbon, low-energy, and holistic eco-sensitive architecture.​
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Exemplifying - 351 to 400 points*
This NAAB-Accredited school has established Institutional Operations and Academic Programs, that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to educating and empowering architecture students to design sustainable, low-carbon, low-energy, and holistic eco-sensitive architecture.​
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*Minimum thresholds for certification include achieving half of all points in both the Academic (128 points) and Institutional (72 points) categories. If half of all points for each category are not achieved, certification will not be possible.
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We suggest that you set a completion deadline no more than 2 months from the time that you started the certification process. If you have any questions regarding the certification breakdown or information input, please email us at info@beenow.org.
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Academic
The Academic Category includes guidelines and points intended to address the full scope and range of work related to Curriculum, Scholarship, and Service in Built Environment Education with an emphasis on the reduction of energy consumption and low energy design.
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Institutional
The Institutional Category includes guidelines and points intended to address the full scope and range of efforts related to Administrative Initiatives, Facility Management, and the Institution's Sustainability Commitment in Built Environment Education with an emphasis on the reduction of energy consumption and low energy design.
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Survey of Graduating Students
All graduating students are required to take an online survey about the education they received in regard to low energy design. The school/department will receive a summary of the survey results. A list of names with contact information of the present seniors and most recent graduates (within 1 year of graduation). Any students that were omitted from the survey should be identified to explain why they did not participate.
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