Module 1: Principles of Ecological Building and Design
Learn the fundamental principles, and how to assess an existing building for sustainability and health.
BBE Certificate in Ecological Building and Design
A 400-hour online certificate in healthy, regenerative building design, taught from New Zealand and open to students anywhere.
- 5modules
- About 400study hours
- Onlinefrom any country
- 8 weeksper module
- 5intakes a year
A Not-for-Profit Institute, Teaching Healthier Building Since 1990
The Building Biology and Ecology Institute of New Zealand is a registered charitable trust (CC35100) with its national office in Wellington. Course fees fund our research and the free information we share about healthy, sustainable and harmonious building. Discover more about the BBE history here
Your course contact: Jenny Rattenbury
Education Co-ordinator, trained as an architect and involved with BBE since 1990. Meet Jenny and the trustees
- 1960s, GermanyBuilding Biology and Ecology begins as a society starts collecting the knowledge of healthier building. Affiliated offices now work across Europe, Australia, India, the UK and the USA.
- 1990, New ZealandBBE starts teaching here, with courses, research and publications on healthy and sustainable building.
- TodayNearly 400 students have studied with us. We have never advertised: students find BBE by word of mouth.
The BBE Certificate in Ecological Building and Design
This online programme covers the fundamentals of healthy, ecologically regenerative and harmonious building design. It invites you to rethink how we live and work, and to build in step with the natural environment. You apply what you learn to your own part of the world, with its climate, materials and building rules.
Students who complete the Certificate can cross credit with the IBE 101 Natural, Healthy Buildings course in the US, and continue to advanced BBE courses as they are developed.
Who This Is For
- Architects, designers and builders who want ecological skills to add to their current training
- Interior designers who want to build an ecological practice
- People who plan to build or renovate their own home
- Educators who share what they learn with the public
The Certificate adds ecological expertise to the training you already have.
Enrol NowEnrol in the Certificate Course
Study with tutor support: one-on-one contact with a teacher or expert, and feedback on your work. Start with one module, enrol in all five and save 20%, or spread the cost with a monthly plan.
Start Here: Module 1
NZD375
Everyone begins with Module 1, Principles of Ecological Building and Design. You choose your intake at checkout.
Enrol NowChoose Your Next Modules
NZD375each
After Module 1, add Modules 2 to 5 one at a time, in any order that suits you. You choose the module at checkout.
Enrol NowAll Five Modules
NZD1,500
A 20% discount on the full Certificate: you pay for four modules and the fifth is free.
Enrol NowPay Monthly
NZD187.50per month for 10 months
10 monthly instalments of NZD 187.50 (NZD 1,875 in total). Your plan ends automatically after the 10th payment, and you can’t be charged more.
Start a Plan- Module 1 comes first. After that you choose the order.
- All prices are in NZD. BBE is not GST registered, so no GST is added.
- Pay securely online.
Not ready yet? Download the Prospectus
Five Modules
Each module takes about 80 hours, or 8 weeks at about 10 hours a week.
Module 2: Building and Site Design
Learn bio harmonic design, permaculture and eco community options, then apply them to a small design project.
Module 3: Materials and Construction
Learn to assess building materials and explore naturally durable timbers, earth and strawbale building.
Module 4: Energy and Renewable Energy
Learn passive solar design, energy efficiency and renewable energy, then design your own energy system.
Module 5: Water and Wastewater
Learn rainwater harvesting, water conservation, compost toilets and wastewater systems, then design your own water system.
You submit assignments for assessment, so your learning meets an acceptable standard. At the end you receive a Certificate from the Building Biology and Ecology Institute.
What Graduates Do With the Certificate
- Add the respected BBE knowledge base to their existing design and building credentials
- Become BBE-trained architects, designers and builders
- Plan their own building project using BBE ecological principles
“I would highly recommend the BBE Online Course to anyone looking for a sustainable building course to complement their current qualification/job or special interest...I work at an Eco Centre so was keen to learn more and complete a qualification that provided me with extra knowledge I could pass on to the general public through workshops and tours. I thoroughly enjoyed studying through the BBE and found the Certificate Course easy to follow, comprehensive and interesting.”
Tiffany, Eco Centre
“I am an Ecological Interior Stylist and the Course really helped me define my business. I learnt a huge amount and it helped that each project could be based on real situations. I came out of the Course with a fixed plan for my own home and garden, as well as guiding principles for my business.”
Janette, Ecological Interior Stylist Enrol Now
Next Intake Dates
There are five intakes a year, so you can finish the Certificate within a calendar year.
| Intake | Starts |
|---|---|
| Intake 1 | Monday 1 February 2027 |
| Intake 2 | Monday 5 April 2027 |
| Intake 3 | Monday 7 June 2027 |
| Intake 4 | Monday 9 August 2027 |
| Intake 5 | Monday 11 October 2027 |
Missed an intake start? You are welcome to enrol now. Either catch up, or set your own schedule for handing in your assessments. You can also leave your details and we will remind you when the next intake opens.
An informal Summer School intake runs over December and January for people who want to start straight away or keep going.
Ready to Get Started?
Begin with Module 1 at the next intake, or enrol in all five and save 20%.