If you’re still treating plumbing as an afterthought in renovation or new construction, this course is a useful reminder that plumbing strategy can directly impact water efficiency, operating costs, infection control, space planning, and sustainability goals.

GreenCE offers a free continuing education course called Flowing Forward: Vacuum Plumbing's Footprint for Renovation Today and Future Proofing Tomorrow sponsored by AcornVac, Inc.. It focuses on how vacuum plumbing systems can outperform conventional gravity systems in the right applications. Take the Course

Why This Matters for Architects, Interior Designers, Engineers & Facility Teams

Most professionals are familiar with gravity plumbing. Vacuum plumbing is less discussed, but it can be highly relevant when dealing with:

• Adaptive reuse projects
• Historic building renovations
• Healthcare facilities
• Airports / transit hubs
• Commercial buildings with limited chase space
• Multi-story retrofits
• Water conservation initiatives
• Buildings targeting U.S. Green Building Council / Green Business Certification Inc. goals

The course explains how vacuum systems can reduce water use, improve layout flexibility, and simplify difficult remodel conditions where conventional sloped drainage piping becomes a design constraint. 

Key Topics Covered

1. Water & Sustainability

Vacuum plumbing uses significantly less water than many conventional flush systems, which can support sustainability targets and resource efficiency strategies.

2. Better Renovation Flexibility

Because waste transport is vacuum-assisted rather than slope-dependent, routing can be easier in complex retrofits where ceiling height and structural constraints matter.

3. Health & Infection Control

The course also discusses how plumbing design can play a role in reducing pathogen spread and improving sanitation performance—especially relevant for healthcare and high-occupancy environments. 

4. Real-World Case Studies

Includes examples involving:

• Healthcare
• Commercial facilities
• Correctional facilities

with documented water and cost savings. 

Continuing Education Credits

This free course lists available credit options including:

• AIA HSW/LU
• GBCI General Hour
• BOMI
• AIBD
• FBPE
• Additional associations listed by provider

View Credits & Register

Honest Take

Many CE courses repeat generic sustainability talking points. This one is stronger because it addresses a specific technical system with measurable design implications. Even if you never specify vacuum plumbing, understanding where it fits gives you another tool when traditional plumbing layouts become expensive or impractical.

Who Should Take It

• Architects
• Interior designers
• MEP engineers
• Specifiers
• Facility managers
• Sustainability consultants
• Owners planning renovations

Free Course Link

Enroll Free at GreenCE

Bonus Resource

Want more no-cost courses for architects and designers? Browse GreenCE’s sponsor-supported free course catalog here: Free CE Course Library

Final Thought

The best CE courses teach something you can actually use on a project next week. This one does exactly that: it expands your options when gravity plumbing becomes the problem.