Efficiency First California

Webinar: How to make money with heat pumps
2023-11-08 12:00 - 12:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
What you’ll learn:

How to significantly increase your profits
Reduce callbacks (hint: it’s all about expectation-setting)
Sell faster with software tools for HVAC and plumbing contractors
How to generate happy, comfortable customers

Industry expert presenters:
Larry Waters, President, Electrify My Home – Larry is a revered industry expert and the founder of Electrify My Home, a first-of-its-kind electrification company specializing in residential electrification and workforce training. Electrify My Home provides contractor training statewide for the TECH Clean California program. With 42 years of HVAC trade experience, Larry has designed and installed over 400 high-efficiency heat pump systems. He is NATE and BPI-certified and serves on multiple boards focused on propelling the movement to Electrify Efficiently.
Charley Cormany, Executive Director, Efficiency First California – Charley brings over 20 years in the construction industry, including 10 years as a Home Performance Contractor. As the Executive Director of EFCA, Charley is also responsible for overseeing the Program Implementer team for the highly successful SMUD rebate program, and he provides a “boots on the ground” perspective on policy and program design.
Kevin Beck, Director of Education, Efficiency First California – Kevin is an educator and trusted expert in the field. He is a third-generation home improvement expert who has dedicated his career to helping contractors turn their professional dreams into an energy-efficient reality.
Brent Davidson, Event Organizer, Heat Pump Summit – Brent brings his extensive background in clean tech software and passion for helping onboard contractors to heat pump technology.

ELECTRIFY EFFICIENTLY: ELECTRICAL PANEL ASSESSMENTS - EXAMPLES FOR HEAT PUMP INSTALLERS - WEBINAR
2023-11-10 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Part 3 of 5 – November 10, 2023 (12pm – 1:30pm)
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, you’ll hear Electrify My Home discuss real-world electrical panel scenarios including visual assessments, electrical load calculations, and examples of different solutions for “making it work.”
Agenda:

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

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

To enroll into the entire “Electrify Efficiently (5 Part Series)” register HERE.

Heat Pump Summit - The event for contractors and building professionals serious about heat pumps
2023-11-13 | UCB MLK Student Union, Pauley Ballroom, East & West, 2495 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 94720, United States
A heat pump focused event for HVAC and plumbing contractors with the goal of improving how heat pumps are sold, designed, installed, and commissioned.

Hosted in association with the Eneref Institute, the Summit features expert-led training from a building science based approach, broad knowledge across topics including how heat pumps fit into a customer’s home electrification journey, the future of the grid, and more.
Attendees and sponsors encompass HVAC and plumbing contractors, both startup and established heat pump manufacturers, electrified building professionals, and innovators across areas like induction stoves, batteries, and smart thermostats.

Please note that EFCA Executive Director, Charles Cormany is one of the featured speakers.
Our Clean Energy Connection Directory is a Bronze Level Event Sponsor.

Course: Residential Heat Pump Installation & Commissioning for Installers, Raters & Commissioning Agents P1
2023-11-28 08:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Transitioning residential and commercial heating and cooling systems from gas to electric is a key component in California’s plan to reduce emissions of global warming gasses. You, the field staff in the HVAC trades will be installing more and more heat pumps as electrification efforts continue to ramp up. It turns out that there are large variations in the operating efficiency of heat pumps that result from our installation and commissioning practices. This webinar will focus on installation practices, troubleshooting and commissioning steps that effect final installed efficiency. We will look at airflow, line set plumbing, refrigerant leak prevention, location and repair, heat pump controls and control settings. Both legacy systems and mini split systems will be covered. The course will be presented in two, three-hour parts.
This webinar is courtesy of Pacific Gas & Electric.
Course Highlights:

Line set testing
Finding and repairing leaks in refrigerant lines
The interrelated nature of refrigerant volume and airflow volume
Airflow and heat pump performance
Targets for system airflow per ton
Communicating controls VS legacy controls
How to measure air flow, static pressure and air handler power
How to interpret static pressure and power
Most cost-effective ways to raise system airflow
Commissioning advantages multistage equipment

Course Objectives:

Describe techniques for effectively testing line sets
Verbalize pressure and vacuum targets for line set testing
Understand that efficient heat pump output relies on both refrigerant charge and total system airflow
Present with strategies for improving the airflow in existing systems
Name techniques for measuring and estimating airflow
Describe how to change the airflow settings on various types of equipment

Learning Level: Intermediate
Speaker:
Dan Perunko is cofounder of Balance Point Home Performance Company. In 2006, along with Gavin Healy, Dan started a successful company providing full-service home performance analysis, retrofits, consultations, and trainings. Dan works on new and existing construction designs and hands on installations of enclosures, mechanical, plumbing, and indoor air quality components based on tested performance outcomes. Dan especially enjoys improving existing homes to provide homeowners with levels of comfort and energy consumption that they have not believed possible. Dan brings his experience from construction, design and building analysis, to make his class materials relevant, useful and understandable regardless of the attendees’ level of experience.

Course: Residential Heat Pump Installation & Commissioning for Installers, Raters & Commissioning Agents P2
2023-11-29 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Transitioning residential and commercial heating and cooling systems from gas to electric is a key component in California’s plan to reduce emissions of global warming gasses. You, the field staff in the HVAC trades will be installing more and more heat pumps as electrification efforts continue to ramp up. It turns out that there are large variations in the operating efficiency of heat pumps that result from our installation and commissioning practices. This class will focus on installation practices, troubleshooting and commissioning steps that effect final installed efficiency. We will look at airflow, line set plumbing, refrigerant leak prevention, location and repair, heat pump controls and control settings. Both legacy systems and mini split systems will be covered. The course will be presented in two, three-hour parts.
This webinar is courtesy of Pacific Gas & Electric.
Course Highlights:

What are common service call complaints for heat pumps
How to measure power, static pressure, duct temperature, airflow
How to interpret power, static, temperature and airflow measurements
The roll of electric resistance heat
Electric resistance heat sizing
When is electric resistance heat not needed?
Cold blow and fan operation curves

Course Objectives:

Describe measurement techniques for airflow, power, and pressure
Be made aware of the role of electric resistance heat and the cost of its operation
Describe control strategies they can implement on new and existing systems to manage electric resistance backup heat
Review the parts of the defrost system
Describe typical defrost system repairs
Review troubleshooting procedures for relays, circuit boards, capacitors and motors

Learning Level: Intermediate
Speaker:
Dan Perunko is cofounder of Balance Point Home Performance Company. In 2006, along with Gavin Healy, Dan started a successful company providing full-service home performance analysis, retrofits, consultations, and trainings. Dan works on new and existing construction designs and hands on installations of enclosures, mechanical, plumbing, and indoor air quality components based on tested performance outcomes. Dan especially enjoys improving existing homes to provide homeowners with levels of comfort and energy consumption that they have not believed possible. Dan brings his experience in construction, design and building analysis, to make his class materials relevant, useful and understandable regardless of the attendees’ level of experience.

High-Performance HVAC Design and Redesign for Electrification
2023-12-05 08:00 - 2023-12-07 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NCI Anaheim, 2050 S. Santa Cruz St., Suite 1000,, Anaheim, CA, 92805, United States
In this three-day educational experience, TECH Clean CA-approved contractors will learn to accurately complete four stages of system design using NCI principles and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manuals J, S, D, and T using Elite RHVAC Software package for new and existing homes.
Open to contractors and technicians in the state of California who are enrolled in TECH Clean California. Not enrolled yet? Click here (opens in new window) to learn more about the program and enroll.

WHAT ENERGY CONSULTANTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HERS MEASURES
2023-12-05 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Instructor: Russ King, Coded Energy
This course will cover what Energy Consultants need to know about energy features that require third-party HERS verification. Some HERS measures are required on most projects but some are optional. Energy consultants might see the energy savings reflected when selecting these optional features but may not be aware of all the work, cost, and coordination required to make them pass in the field.
Learning Objectives:
· Understand what features require HERS verification
· Understand what HERS measures are fairly simple to pass
· Understand what HERS measures are very difficult to pass
· Learn some best practices for ensuring HERS measures will pass.

Residential Space Conditioning and Water Heating (TECH – Single Family)
2023-12-06 08:00 - 2023-12-08 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Overview – Electrify my Home
Electrify My Home provides training based on real-world experience with residential electrification. With hundreds of high-performance projects completed to date, Electrify My Home shares its experience with others in a fast-paced training program that will benefit all parts of your company. We share principles of “Install Small” and “Good Electrification” processes that will keep your customers satisfied while simultaneously optimizing future grid reliability.
Only enrolled TECH Clean California Participating Contractor company staff may take this course. Course registration will be verified to ensure Participating Contractor company has completed a Trade Professional Participation Agreement (TPPA). Registration may be canceled if a TPPA has not been completed prior to course start date.
Instructor:
Larry has 40 years HVAC trade experience in service, installation, sales, and management. His specialization is house-as-a-system electrification and has coined the process and practices “Good Electrification” and “Install small” right sizing for climate and comfort.
Larry spent the first ten years of his career working on Industrial and Commercial systems and later transitioned to residential HVAC. As a service technician and sales professional, Larry has sold more than 20 million dollars of HVAC product. In 2011, Larry obtained his BPI-certified Building Analyst certification and has concentrated on home performance ever since. Beginning in 2014, Larry began focusing on replacing gas furnaces with high-efficiency heat pumps. He has since designed and installed over 400 electrification projects in the greater Bay Area of California.
Larry started his all-electric gas conversion company, Electrify My Home, in 2019. Larry is an advisory board member of the Building Decarbonization Coalition and is still active as a Leading Light representative. Electrify My Home is a recognized trainer on residential home-electrification sales, system-design, and installation for the State of California’s TECH Initiative.
Format:

Live Classroom

Duration:

3 Days

Syllabus:
Residential Space Conditioning & Water Heating Electrification Course Overview
Credits:

BPI (20 CEUs)
NATE (24 CEUs x 11 specialties)

Click on date to register:
December 6th – 8th, 2023
Concord, CA
January 24th – 26th, 2024
Elk Grove, CA
February 28th – March 1st, 2024
Modesto, CA

Local Contractor Workshop on Energy Rebates (Ukiah)
2023-12-07 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 185 East Church Street Ukiah, CA 95482, 185 East Church Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
Are you a contractor, building professional, architect, or plumber in Mendocino County?
Join us on December 7 from 5:00-6:30pm to learn how to take advantage of funding from:
• Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and rebates for residents.
• Workforce development incentives.
• Local and state rebates for HVAC, water heating, cooling, EV chargers, and more.
The transition towards electrification is coming. Get your business ready for it.
Attendees will have a chance to win a $100 GIFT CARD from Rainbow Ag.
Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.

Watt’s Next: Powering Up the Future of Existing Multifamily Electrification
2023-12-07 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | BIG Oakland, 1423 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
Join us for our third Building Electrification Clubhouse event, under the electrifying theme “Watt’s Next: Powering Up The Future of Existing Multifamily Electrification.” This engaging session is centered on the critical mission of retrofitting existing multifamily buildings with advanced electrification technologies. We’ll delve into the complexities and breakthroughs in this field, providing insights into innovative solutions, regulatory considerations, and sustainable practices for building electrification. This event is an essential platform for property managers, urban planners, energy experts, and environmental advocates to gather, share knowledge, and drive the movement towards an eco-friendly, electrified future in multifamily building infrastructure.
🌟 Electrify Your Network: An Evening of Industry Insights and Professional Connections 🌟
Prepare for an electrifying evening that combines groundbreaking industry knowledge with unparalleled networking opportunities. Join fellow East Bay building professionals for a night that promises to be as enlightening as it is engaging.
🤝 Connect and Collaborate: This is your chance to network with the best in the business. Share ideas, forge partnerships, and discover new opportunities in the electrification landscape.
🔌 Tech Showcase: Have specific questions about electrification technology? Our vendor showcase featuring experts from Channing Street Copper Company, Harvest Thermal, PG&E and MCE are your go-to resources for the latest advancements.
🎙 Panel Power-Up: Join Ben Cooper from StopWaste, Shay Reza from Association for Energy Affordability, Eileen Sochia from The Unity Council, and Tom White from Eden Housing for a conversation looking at efficient electrification in multifamily buildings from three unique perspectives: program administrator, implementer, and property manager.
🍴 Light Refreshments: While the focus is on networking and knowledge, we’ll have some light bites available for when you need a quick recharge.

Building Electrification: Lessons from the Field Part 2
2023-12-11 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
California is going through one of its most seismic shifts in building energy policy and design. The move towards full decarbonization of the building stock has started and the policy, technical and financial implications are being developed under our feet. We will share how heat pumps and other forms of electric heating can displace our long-time carbon sources of heat. These systems are already available and many are cost effective today. Come discuss this shift and how it will impact your building or construction project with one of the industry’s leading experts.
This webinar series will include details of how heat pump systems work and how to design residential and commercial buildings to take advantage of currently available heat pump systems. We will include case studies of heat pump systems and how they can fit into low energy buildings. We will also cover how to recognize opportunities for integrating heat pump systems into both new construction and existing building projects.
This webinar is courtesy of Pacific Gas & Electric.
Course Objectives:

Identify heat pump components and system types
Recognize appropriate heat pump applications in both new construction and existing building projects
Acknowledge how heat pump applications in buildings are beneficial in the California regulatory context
Apply lessons learned from recently completed decarbonized projects that leverage heat pumps and other forms of electric heating

Learning Level: Beginner

Building Electrification: Lessons from the Field Part 1
2023-12-12 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Online

TECH Clean California: Heat Pump Equipment: Insights Into Customer Experience and Satisfaction
2023-12-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Hear what heat pump participants have to say
Opinion Dynamics, the evaluator for TECH Clean California, will present their survey results with nearly 1,000 heat pump customer participants to understand their experience with the equipment, any issues they may have had, and their perceived energy bill changes.
Please join us for the webinar highlighting key findings and important takeaways for heat pump programs and the larger heat pump market.
Speakers:
Ellen Steiner Ph.D., Vice President
Jen Loomis Ph.D., Principal Consultant
If you would like more information or have questions, please contact Jen Loomis at jloomis@opiniondynamics.com.
We look forward to seeing you at the webinar!

Residential HVAC System Performance & Electrification – Anaheim
2023-12-19 08:00 - 2023-12-21 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NCI Anaheim, 2050 S. Santa Cruz St., Suite 1000,, Anaheim, CA, 92805, United States
Learn to apply ASHRAE 221-compliant testing to heat pump systems and qualify for Enhanced TECH Incentives. This National Comfort Institute training package includes a two-day advanced certification in Residential System Performance and a special half-day training focused on applying your knowledge and skills to residential HVAC electrification. This training program provides the keys to delivering true system performance with real-world lessons and hands-on training.
Open to contractors and technicians in the state of California who are enrolled in TECH Clean California. Not enrolled yet? Click here (opens in new window) to learn more about the program and enroll.

Residential Space Conditioning and Water Heating | January 24th - 26th, 2024 | Elk Grove, CA
2024-01-24 08:00 - 2024-01-26 16:30 UTC | Slakey Brotehrs, 2215 Kausen Dr. #2, Elk Grove, CA, 95758, United States
Electrify My Home provides training based on real-world experience with residential electrification. With hundreds of high-performance projects completed to date, Electrify My Home shares its experience with others in a fast-paced training program that will benefit all parts of your company. We share principals of “Install Small” and “Good Electrification” processes that will keep your customers satisfied while simultaneously optimizing future grid reliability.
Only enrolled TECH Clean California Participating Contractor company staff may take this course. Course registration will be verified to ensure Participating Contractor company has completed a Trade Professional Participation Agreement (TPPA). Registration may be cancelled if a TPPA has not been completed prior to course start date.

Neighborhood Scale – The Future of Building Decarbonization
2024-01-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Hear from Panama Bartholomy (BDC), Rachel Kuykendall (Pacific Gas & Electric), and Jared Rodriguez (Emergent Urban Concepts) as they discuss the benefits of a neighborhood-scale approach to building decarbonization as well as the different pathways and ownership models for implementing this strategy.

Intro To Residential HVAC Systems
2024-01-30 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
This class will cover the basic steps needed to design a residential heating and cooling system. It will cover load calculations (ACCA Manual J), equipment selection (ACCA Manual S) and duct design (ACCA Manual J). It will go through a simple example home and introduce one of the available software programs that assist you in this process.
Learning Objectives:

Understand what ACCA is and why their design manuals are so important.
Understand the importance and benefits of good HVAC design.
Understand the basic steps in the design process and take the mystery out of HVAC design.
Be introduced to new HVAC design software.

Instructor: Russ King, Coded Energy Inc.

Elements Of A Whole House Assessment: The Home Energy Audit Explained
2024-02-13 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Measured Home Performance is different from other approaches to saving energy and making money in the home improvement industry. The principal difference is the measured results of home performance contracting, as opposed to the hoped for benefits offered by other contracting services. The measured home performance process begins with a thorough examination of the home using diagnostic test equipment to measure the current performance of the home and its mechanical systems with the ultimate goal of obtaining all the information needed to present a proposal, which will save energy and meet the other needs of the homeowner. A clear understanding of how a home is performing takes much more than just a clipboard and a stroll around the house. In this session we will go through the process, exploration and testing necessary to perform a comprehensive Home Energy Audit.
Instructor: Judy Rachel, Home Performance Pro

Residential Space Conditioning and Water Heating
2024-02-28 08:00 - 2024-03-01 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Modesto, California (TBD)

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-06-05 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-01 07:00 - 09:00, 2024-07-17 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Manufacturers Heat Pump Water Heating (HPWH) Education session focused on technology features and benefits, appropriate applications, energy efficiency comparison to other water heater types, installation techniques, and best practices, service support and warranty, proper maintenance, troubleshooting, and selling strategies
