Efficiency First California

Introduction to Heating and Cooling Load Calculations for Electrification Projects
2026-02-19 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
In this webinar, Judy Rachel will explain what a heating and cooling load calculation is and how it provides essential information for the successful implementation of electrification projects. Beyond providing the essential information for properly sizing a residence’s HVAC system, the heating and cooling load calculation informs electrification project design and planning in significant ways. In addition, this presentation will explore the business case for this important planning step within the construction process.

Accurately calculating the heating and cooling loads for a building provides the information necessary to choose appropriately sized space conditioning equipment. When pursuing electrification using right sized, typically, lower capacity HVAC equipment you will frequently negate the need for panel upgrades which provides a significant advantage in electrification projects. This contributes significantly to reducing project costs, while saving on energy consumption and ongoing costs to comfortably condition a given home.

Electrify Efficiently: Operating a Heat Pump – Best Practices to Minimize Call Backs (Part 2 of 5)
2026-02-24 09:00 - 10:30
Heat pumps are inherently different than gas furnaces or gas water heaters. Contractors and other industry professionals must take time to educate customers, clients, and others on these differences to ensure optimal customer satisfaction. This webinar will outline best practices for system operation of ducted and ductless mini-splits, unitary heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
Heat pump operation: characteristics and differences with gas furnaces or water heaters
Adding value to the customer journey
Minimizing call backs

The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

Explain one reason why heat pumps operate differently than gas furnaces
Name at least two points in the customer journey where education on heat pump operation are essential
Describe proper multi-split system operation in a way a typical customer can understand
Summarize why customer satisfaction is critical to the adoption of heat pumps and home electrification

Mechanical Rooms: Strategies for Electrification Retrofits in Homes
2026-02-26 09:00 - 12:00
For as long as we’ve built homes we’ve been using some kind of combustion to heat them. As a result, our buildings are designed and constructed to safely manage the operation of gas appliances. In this webinar, Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance will look at mechanical rooms as we transition from gas appliances to electric appliances. There is an opportunity for contractors and designers to offer their clients additional efficiencies beyond those offered by the change to electric appliances. We will identify easily overlooked building enclosure and mechanical changes that can be incorporated into an electrification retrofit project. This three-hour webinar is based on completed projects and will have images of floor plans that illustrate the complexities of combustion appliance mechanical spaces and the opportunities available when they are electrified.

Electrify Efficiently: Electrical Panel Assessments - Examples for Heat Pump Installers (Part 3 of 5)
2026-03-03 09:00 - 10:30
As more California homeowners begin electrifying their homes, heat pump installers will be faced with the challenge of navigating electrical panel challenges including condition, capacity, fitment, supply chain, etc. With panel and service upgrades being costly and complex, it’s important for practitioners to understand their options for running new circuits. In this session, Electrify My Home will discuss real-world electrical panel scenarios including visual assessments, electrical load calculations, and examples of different solutions to make it work.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
Good electrification and install small
Panel assessments and strategies for overcoming challenges
Performing a load calculation

The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

Explain why a full panel doesn’t necessarily mean no additional capacity is available
Name two reasons why upgrading a home’s electrical capacity may not be preferred
List two solutions to fitting new circuits into a panel where no physical space is available
Identify at least two or more critical components and variables of performing a load calculation in a residential home

Practical and Efficient Hot Water Delivery: Meeting Hot Water Demand with Heat Pump Water Heaters
2026-03-05 09:00 - 12:00
On average Californians consume less water than the residents of other states. Even so there is a need for us to conserve even more water. The construction community has an opportunity to further reduce residential water use in ways that do not feel like conservation to customers. In this class, Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance looks at changing the way hot water is stored and delivered to the tap in residential buildings. The theory behind our approach is called “Structured Plumbing”. This will be a practical class focusing on how to install or modify hot water plumbing following the principles of “Structured Plumbing”. The presentation is based on completed projects including retrofits and new construction.

Optimizing Ducted Heat Pumps for Residential Electrification: Efficiency Comfort and Low Loss Duct Systems
2026-03-12 09:00 - 12:00
This three hour class will deal with low loss duct systems. The relevant performance factors are: duct leakage, duct conduction, room by room airflow, and system airflow. We will review design, installation and commissioning details as they relate to duct system performance for each of these performance factors. These performance factors can be applied to both conditioning and ventilation system ducts. We have designed, built and commissioned both retrofit and new construction projects that exemplify the concepts covered in class. Course content will include design examples, photos installations, and test results from commissioning.

Electrify Efficiently: Home Heat Pumps Done Right - A Case Study (Part 4 of 5)
2026-03-17 09:00 - 10:30
The path to going all-electric can take many forms. For some, this means upgrading one appliance at a time; for others, it means replacing them all at once and offsetting with on-site solar. Regardless of the timeline, there are some important planning steps that must take place, as well as a continual vision for optimizing efficiency. Join Electrify My Home in this session for a case study of a customer’s electrification journey. You’ll also hear directly from the customer, who will share why they went gas-free, why they chose to pursue efficiency measures, and what bumps in the road were faced on this adventure.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
Overview of the Electrify My Home “Electrify Efficiently” webinar series
The electrification path/journey
Things every customer (and contractor) should consider along the way
Electrify My Home customer interview
Class survey, closing and wrap up

The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

Describe the planning process every electrification candidate should pursue
Identify the pros and cons of pursuing all gas appliance upgrades at once
Name at least two reasons why Electrify My Home customer chose to focus on efficiency
Explain EMH’s reasoning behind their approach for this customer’s application

Optimizing Ducted Heat Pumps for Residential Electrification: Load Calculations, Equipment Selection, System Airflow and Layout
2026-03-19 09:00 - 12:00
This three hour class will deal with design, equipment choice and layout issues. The relevant performance factors are: system capacity, refrigerant charge and system airflow. We will review design, installation and commissioning details for each of these performance factors. These performance factors can be applied to both conditioning and ventilation system ducts. We have designed, built and commissioned both retrofit and new construction projects that exemplify the concepts covered in class. Course content will include design examples, photos installations, and test results from commissioning.

Electrify Efficiently: Heat Pump Zoning – Challenges and Solutions (Part 5 of 5)
2026-03-24 09:00 - 10:30
Zone control is a popular strategy for addressing different climate zones in a home. Many customers and contractors newer to heat pumps are drawn to multi-split systems that utilize a single outdoor unit to run multiple air handlers, but there can be unintended comfort sacrifices if not done carefully. In this webinar we will focus on various approaches to zone control for efficient and comfortable outcomes. We will compare traditional zoning with zone control, multi-split systems, multiple one-to-one systems, and combinations of these solutions.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
Electrify Efficiently
Zone control strategies
Avoiding comfort sacrifices with zone control
Different approaches for zone control to achieve efficient, comfortable outcomes

The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

Summarize operational differences between single-stage, two-stage and inverter heat pumps
Name one downside of installing a single multi-split outdoor unit instead of multiple outdoor units
Explain why many mini split brands do not work well with traditional zone control
Describe one scenario where installing a multi-split unit makes sense
