Efficiency First California

High-Performance HVAC Design and Redesign for Electrification
2024-05-15 08:00 - 2024-05-17 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Ferguson Enterprises, 26999 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, California
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.
This class is for engineers, sales professionals, and in-house designers who own or plan to purchase Elite RHVAC software.
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.

3C-REN REGIONAL FORUM: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF HERS RATERS
2024-05-15 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Event Description:
The 2025 code cycle will see large revisions to the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rating program. To prepare attendees to understand these changes, this virtual forum will first introduce the history of HERS Rating, what the program has accomplished, and why HERS Rating is important for code compliance. With this knowledge, attendees will be ready to learn what changes are anticipated for the 2025 code cycle and how it will impact their work.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this forum, participants will be able to summarize the history of the HERS Rating Program in California, identify how and why HERS Raters are important for home energy efficiency and code compliance, and explain the coming changes to the HERS Rating Program in the 2025 code cycle.
Panelists:
David Choo, Director of Compliance, CalCERTS
Rob Starr, Director of Technical Services, CHEERS
Javier Saucedo, Local HERS Rater, County of Ventura
Mike Little, Local HERS Rater, Central Coast

Balanced Ventilation for Better Health, Comfort, and Energy Efficiency: IAQ, OAQ, Ventilation and Filtration
2024-05-16 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
More and more buildings are being constructed with high-performance building envelopes. For these buildings, a well-designed and installed ventilation system is a must. Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance delves into why ventilation and filtration are so important. We will look at indoor and outdoor air quality and discuss the effectiveness of ventilation and filtration at managing various pollutants. In addition to the large body of evidence we already had supporting the need for ventilation and filtration in residential buildings, we will consider the current impacts of building electrification, the pandemic, and wildfires on our systems.
This four-hour class is designed to help participants identify and understand critical issues relating to healthy buildings. The class will help participants improve their ability to discuss these issues with customers and will also lay the groundwork for the other course in the Balanced Ventilation series about the design and installation of balanced ventilation and filtration systems.
Agenda:

Residential Indoor Air Quality in existing California homes
Residential ventilation systems in existing California homes
Residential Filtration systems in existing California homes
Building pressures and pollutant concentrations
Diagnostics: testing ventilation systems, building enclosure tightness and pollutant monitoring
Building loads and heat recovery
Evaluating filtration options: cost, energy consumption, system efficiency
Ideal work scopes — Identify critical details to include so that our systems work together providing comfort and air quality
Talking to customers – Identify the things that will help them make choose a healthier home.

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

Summarize air quality conditions in typical CA homes
Describe the several sources of pollutants effecting typical CA homes
Identify characteristics of an effective ventilation and filtration system
Discuss work scope details that are important for selling and installing an effective ventilation and filtration system
Communicate the talking points for educating their customers about effective air quality systems

Installing Individual Heat Pump Water Heaters
2024-05-22 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Course Overview
There are several design considerations for individual heat pump water heaters. In addition, heat pump water heaters can be an effective strategy to reduce grid peak loads. This course will provide an overview of heat pump water heaters and associated code requirements. The course will take a deep dive into design considerations discussing sizing, venting configurations, load shifting, and installation best practices. This course draws from experience of working through hundreds of heat pump water heater retrofits with design teams, contractors, and research projects.
Instructors:
Amy Dryden is Director of Strategic Innovations at the Association for Energy Affordability, Inc. specializing in strategic initiatives, codes and standards, program design, training, and research and development projects. She brings more than 20 years of experience in residential green building design and construction, consulting, and planning, and works to advance the industry to deliver sustainable and healthy housing. Amy has developed training and delivered in-person, in field, and distance learning trainings to design professional, consultants, contractors, builders, building inspectors, and plan reviewers. She has contributed to national, state, and local auditing and green building standards, for DOE, California Low Income Housing Tax Credit Programs, GreenPoint Rated and Building Performance Institute. Amy works with diverse set of stakeholders to provide healthy affordable housing in a decarbonized future. On the side she has the pleasure of driving an all-electric 1946 Ford pick-up.

Jack Aitchison has been at AEA since 2017 and is dedicated to reducing energy, carbon and hazardous indoor air quality issues in existing multifamily buildings. As a technical assistance (TA) provider for the Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancement (BAMBE) program, Jack project manages energy upgrades across numerous multifamily buildings. Jack continues to manage the development of tools to support new technical aspects of energy efficiency programs AEA administers, including: energy savings, equipment sizing, eligibility, and rebate calculations for new or updated program elements. Jack also has also been instrumental in assisting companies bringing new technologies to the CA market such as retrofit heat pump HVAC systems and load shedding/sharing systems to make electrification projects more feasible. Jack holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University. Jack is a certified Engineer in Training (EIT), BPI Building Analyst (BA), and Certified Passive House Consultant (NAPHN).

Combi Heat Pump Webinar
2024-05-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
This webinar will delve into combination space and water heating systems, also known as combi systems. While these systems seem promising, they present a level of complexity that raises questions about their practicality. The current market boasts standalone heat pump water heaters and space conditioning heat pump systems. This webinar will explore whether it is possible to merge them into a singular device and not sacrifice efficiency and cost.

Field research is underway, examining various configurations of space and water heating combined systems. In Europe and Asia there are many more market available combi heat pump and heat pump water heating technologies. Products available in the U.S. market are in early commercialization stages and appear tailored for single-family residential use. Some systems offer cooling as an add-on system while others have cooling offered by default.
Join us for this event to learn about ongoing advancements in combi systems and the need for further exploration to optimize efficiency, affordability, and suitability in order to successfully combine heat pumps for space and water heating.
Panelists include:
Edward Louie
Edward is a Building Energy Efficiency Research Engineer with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He loves all things related to building science, energy efficiency, and sustainability. His focus is on residential homes. For retrofitting millions of existing homes, his overarching solution is to implement low-cost, relatively easy-to-execute envelope improvements to reduce air leakage, increase insulation and then meet the thermal loads with very energy efficient heat pumps for space conditioning and domestic hot water.
Pierre Delforge
Pierre is co-founder and head of Product and Operations at Harvest Thermal, where he is leading product design, development, and deployment. Before Harvest, Pierre spent 20 years in the computer industry, and 12 at NRDC where he led building decarbonization policy advocacy. Pierre is passionate about making home decarbonization cost-effective and accessible to all.
Moderator:
Joe Wachunas, Program Manager, New Buildings Institute

California Green Building Conference
2024-05-23 | The Beehive, 1000 E 60th St, Los Angeles, California, 90001
Welcome back to the California Green Building Conference

(previously known as MyGBCE–and, my, how we’ve grown!)
Presented by the U.S. Green Building Council – Los Angeles
As the largest and longest-running gathering of green building advocates in California, this event has evolved into a statewide sustainability experience!
This year, we are extending our reach to cover the entirety of California, bringing together advocates and companies from across the state. Join us in uniting the entire region for a thorough exploration of green building and sustainability practices, addressing a wide range of topics and issues that resonate throughout California.
This event is open to everyone! Kickstart or elevate your journey in the sustainability field!
Don’t miss out on this exciting blend of education, networking, and celebration. Secure your spot at the California Conference on Green Building and Sustainability Expo and be a catalyst for positive change!
By attending the California Conference, you’re not just participating in an event; you’re contributing to a sustainable future for California.
More info and our agenda will be coming soon. Stay tuned!

Central Heat Pump Water Heater – Advanced Design and Installation (Multifamily)
2024-05-23 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Overview
This training will take a deeper dive into CHPWH systems, design, sizing, and installation. Targeting contractors, MEPs and installers, the training will cover the content outlined below. The class will include hot water demand calculations to support system sizing and energy consumption modeling to support photovoltaic system sizing to offset usage. Learn about emerging technologies, new applications of existing technologies and controls to support all-electric water heating in multifamily buildings. Participants will work through an exercise using tools to size a system and consider equipment selection.
• CHPWH piping
• Design Considerations
• Design Considerations
• Factors that impact sizing
• Sizing system and sizing considerations
• Load shifting
• Equipment selection
• Installation Best practices
• Operation and maintenance
• Energy consumption, modeling, and photovoltaic panels
• Practice Exercise
Training Objective
• Learn about different systems and the considerations for design and sizing and system selection based on site conditions.
• Understand sizing calculation methodologies and approaches
• Understand equipment selection based on sizing results and site considerations
• Understand how to incorporate PV system to reduce operational costs
• Understand start up process and maintenance considerations for system type
Instructor(s):

Asit Patel
Director, Technical Services and Training

Asit Patel, Director, Training and Technical Services. Asit delivers technical education in multifamily energy auditing, retro-commissioning, energy efficient building operations for contractors, energy professionals, and building management and operations staff. Asit’s 24 years of energy efficiency engineering experience include 15 years as senior energy engineer and director of training at AEA, where he coordinated and conducted instrumented energy audits of a wide range of building sizes, and also trained and mentored many other audit staff. While at AEA, Asit served as the lead in developing new building and professional certifications in energy efficiency practices, including Multifamily Building Analyst, Multifamily Building Energy Efficient Building Operators, and Hydronic Heating System Designers. Asit has provided hundreds of audits and has designed and developed specifications for state-of-the-art improvements to enhance efficiency of the existing system in buildings of all sizes. He specializes in testing and diagnosing large steam and hydronic heating systems and DHW systems. He also performs maintenance master planning and commissioning.
Jack Aitchison has been at AEA since 2017 and is dedicated to reducing energy, carbon and hazardous indoor air quality issues in existing multifamily buildings. As a technical assistance (TA) provider for the Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancement (BAMBE) program, Jack project manages energy upgrades across numerous multifamily buildings. Jack continues to manage the development of tools to support new technical aspects of energy efficiency programs AEA administers, including: energy savings, equipment sizing, eligibility, and rebate calculations for new or updated program elements. Jack also has also been instrumental in assisting companies bringing new technologies to the CA market such as retrofit heat pump HVAC systems and load shedding/sharing systems to make electrification projects more feasible. Jack holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University. Jack is a certified Engineer in Training (EIT), BPI Building Analyst (BA), and Certified Passive House Consultant (NAPHN)

HOME ASSESSMENTS FOR DECARBONIZATION – CLASS 6: HIGH PERFORMANCE FUNDAMENTALS SERIES
2024-05-23 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
This is class 6 of 6 in 3C-REN’s High Performance Fundamentals Certificate series. Earn a 3C-REN certificate of completion after finishing the series and passing short quizzes at the end of each class.
This class is designed to prepare building practitioners, who have basic to advanced knowledge of residential building, to assist homeowners on their pathways to electrification. We will cover all phases of the assessment process from understanding homeowner goals and setting expectations, through a methodical investigation and documentation of existing conditions and potential issues, to proposing and prioritizing solutions and offering implementation resources. A homeowner questionnaire template, existing condition form, and annotated electrification resource directory will be included as class handouts.
Learning Objectives
After attending this class, participants will be able to:

Estimate a homeowner’s anticipated future electrical loads
Identify equipment strategies to help minimize electric load additions
Guide homeowners in developing a comprehensive, prioritized electrification plan
Direct homeowners to credible, informative electrification resources

Instructors:

Ann Edminster, Design AVEnues LLC

National Open Data for Electrification
2024-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The National Open Data for Electrification (NODE) Collective is a nonprofit alliance creating the most comprehensive and up-to-date open data repository of every residential electrification incentive program in the nation, with plans to make the resource open and accessible to all. Join this webinar to hear from NODE’s founding organizations – Eli Technologies, Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), Rewiring America, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, and RMI – about the progress to date, the NODE Collective roadmap, and how this initiative can spur market innovation and make residential electrification more affordable for consumers.

WHEN TITLE 24 MODELING AND HVAC DESIGN MEET – REAL WORLD CASE STUDIES
2024-05-30 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Join Russ King, CEO of Coded Energy Inc., and Nick, an energy consultant, as they make the case why energy consultants should add HVAC design to the services they offer. Title 24 consultants have all the data they need to do HVAC load calculations, and Russ has recently introduced new software that simplifies the workflow to create a Title 24 compliance model and a HVAC load calculation model, but only build a single model. Russ and Nick will show how the process works and use a few real-world projects to show why they think energy consultants can assist project design teams with key HVAC design decisions and boost their businesses by doing so.
Learning Objectives:

Learn the inputs needed to do HVAC load calculations through ACCA Manual J procedures.
Understand how HVAC design services can help your energy consulting business.
Get exposure to the 3-D modeling software that simplifies the work of creating Title 24 models and HVAC load calculations.
See real world examples of projects that used an energy consultant to provide recommendations for the HVAC system.

Instructors:
Nick Brown, Build Smart Group
Russ King, Coded Energy Inc.

Electrify Efficiently: Staging Home Electrification Projects
2024-06-04 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Long-term planning is essential when it comes to most whole-home electrification journeys. By taking into consideration a customer’s long-term needs alongside their immediate needs, you can help customers avoid costly mistakes. In this webinar, participants will hear insights and recommendations on optimal order of operations of electrification installs. These insights come from Electrify My Home’s deep experience on hundreds of real-world electrification projects. Come prepared with questions about your electrification projects.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
Electrify My Home: “good electrification” and “install small”
Planning ahead for electrification
Staging electrification projects
Q&A

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

Explain two reasons why planning a panel upgrade is so important
Describe the rationale behind why single trade contractors should advise beyond their specific product or installation
Explain why an inverter heat pump may be beneficial if future building enclosure upgrades are planned
Summarize importance of Electrify My Home’s approach to “good electrification” and “install small”

Marketing and Promoting Electrification Using Behavioral Science
2024-06-05 01:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
A new nationwide survey of nearly 2,000 homeowners and renters found that among those interested in transitioning their homes from fossil fuels to efficient electric systems, the most common reasons were the environment, health and safety, and energy efficiency. Perceptions of the expensiveness of switching to electricity and specific preferences about cooking with gas dominate the barriers to electrification. And customers with specific beliefs and experiences are most likely to switch. Putting these findings into practice is the real challenge. How do we encourage electrification more broadly using behavioral science?
Join us for a webinar as we delve into the details of this new report and discuss the findings with experts in the field. Attendees will learn about programs that have successfully moved households to electrify from Washington, DC, and the rest of the country.

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-06-05 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-01 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

EN Webinar: Air Source Heat Pumps – High Efficiency Heating and Cooling
2024-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Learn about air source heat pump systems – the best way to heat and cool your home, lower your energy bills and slash your carbon emissions.
Heat pumps are 3-5 times more energy efficient than other heating and cooling systems like gas furnaces, oil heat, and electric baseboard heating, and they provide comfort year-round. In this 30 minute webinar, we’ll talk about how heat pumps work, how they compare in cost and performance to gas and old electric systems, tips to make your home more energy efficient, and much more.
Air source heat pumps move heat from one place to another, rather than creating it, which is why they’re so energy efficient. In cooling mode, they act as air conditioners, moving heat from the air inside your home to the outside. In heating mode, they harvest heat from the air outside your home and move it to the inside.
Join us as we explore the many benefits of installing an air source heat pump. We’ll discuss:

How do heat pumps work, and why are they so efficient?
How much energy can I save, and how much will it lower my home’s carbon emissions?
Is my house right for a heat pump?
What is the difference between ducted and ductless heat pumps?
How much does a heat pump cost?
Are there any incentives or tax credits to offset the cost?
What steps should I take to install a heat pump?
What questions should I ask my HVAC contractor to make sure I get the best result?

Hosts and Panelists:
Brian Stewart – Brian co-founded of Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.
Joe Wachunas – In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.
Craig Aaker – Craig is the Operations Manager at GreenSavers, a dedicated home performance contractor, taking a systems approach to home improvements and a pioneer in home electrification work. They have won the Energy Star Home Performance Contractor of the Year Award for the last seven years in a row and they are a certified B Corporation

PANEL DETECTIVES – ELECTRICAL PANEL ASSESSMENTS FOR HEAT PUMP INSTALLERS
2024-06-05 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
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 from Electrify My Home discuss real-world electrical panel scenarios including visual assessments, electrical load calculations, and examples of different solutions for “making it work.”
Learning Objectives:

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

2022 Title 24, Part 6 Essentials — Single-family Compliance: Modeling Tips
2024-06-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Energy consultants and other designers, explore specific techniques for modeling HERS measures for 2022 Energy Code compliance credit, common and alternative mechanical systems and photovoltaic systems through demonstration, hands-on practice with sample files and team activities. This 3-hour course is designed for professionals who already have basic competence with Single-family Residential modeling software used to demonstrate compliance with Title 24, Part 6.

Upcoming Classes:

Date:
October 7, 2024

Time:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT

Instructor:
Martyn Dodd

Registration link coming soon!

Date:
November 20, 2024

Time:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm PST

Instructor:
Martyn Dodd

Registration link coming soon!

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-06-10 07:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Overview
The TECH & ESMAC (ENERGY STAR Heat Pump Water Heater Manufacturer Action Council) Heat Pump Water Heater Education includes a TECH overview, ENERGY STAR® overview, and a manufacturers heat pump water heater (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.
Attending the TECH & ESMAC training is required for upcoming HPWH funds.
• For onboarding purposes, at least one individual from your organization must attend and complete the post-training survey.
• All installers working on a project submitted to the program must also take either this training, or a program approved manufacturer training.

IHACI - System Diagnostics Module Part 3 & 4 (Virtual)
2024-06-10 08:00 - 2024-06-11 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
This four-part webinar starts with the fundamentals and theory behind the residential and light commercial diagnostic process and covers all aspects of the HVAC system including the mechanical, electrical, refrigeration, air distribution, gas, venting, condensate, indoor air quality and whole house concept sections. This seminar will equip participants with the broad skill sets required to properly obtain, record, evaluate, analyze, identify and eliminate all operating problems reported and revealed through the diagnostic process and concludes by verifying that the HVAC systems they are working on are safe, reliable and operate at the highest capacity and energy efficiency possible.
Special Instructions:
This is GoToWebinar a meeting. Upon successful registration, you’ll receive a confirmation email that includes your personal link to log into the webinar. Please do not share your link with anyone else.
Note to Attendees
Attendees who attend all 4 nights, will receive the complete “enhanced” training manual. These will be mailed out after the class has been completed.

Tips and Tricks To Grow Your Business with High Performance Practices
2024-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
More energy efficient homes represent a huge, and growing, opportunity for builders and remodelers to address homeowner demands. Driven by a growing social consciousness, new rebate programs and rising energy costs, homeowners want to explore options and will be more likely to commit. Plus, new technologies are making the process more efficient and effective. In this session, building performance experts share best practices to capitalize on the growing business opportunity, and help you feel good about your contribution to the planet.
Learning Objectives:
1. Quantify the business opportunity for both retrofit and new construction residential projects.
2. Discuss how to enable technology to do the hard work of finding the right building performance solutions for a variety of climates that can achieve a number of results, from carbon neutral to zero net energy.
3. Understand consumer demand and how to leverage it through marketing and sales activities.
4. Learn about all the incentives available to make this opportunity as fruitful as possible.

Electrify Efficiently: Home Heat Pumps Done Right - A Case Study
2024-06-18 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
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

Cutting Edge Ventilation to Improve IAQ Even With Tight Air Sealing
2024-06-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
A home today must not only be high performing, resilient and built using sustainable methods, the home must provide the individuals living within it a healthy environment. There are many factors that contribute to the overall healthy environment we provide our homeowners, but one of the most critical is the quality of the air they breathe. This webinar will briefly cover some ventilation basics before delving into the pros and cons of the various system types. Particular focus will be placed on the efficiency and indoor air quality advantages of balanced ventilation systems with recovery (HRVs/ERVs) and how indoor air quality automation will shape the future.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand why tighter homes without good ventilation can be problematic for indoor air quality
2. Understand the basics of quality ventilation including product certification and airflow optimization and verification
3. Understand the options for whole home ventilation along with the pros and cons of each
4. Understand in particular the health and efficiency benefits and installation options of balanced ventilation with recovery (HRVs and ERVs).

Introduction to Variable Capacity Heat Pumps, Improved Comfort and Energy Efficiency
2024-06-20 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
This content offers an introduction to variable capacity heat pumps (VCHP) for contractors who are not yet familiar with this type of HVAC equipment. It begins by defining the type and continues by describing the intended benefits of VCHPs compared to earlier models of heat pumps. Participants take away important knowledge as well as an understanding of where to take their learning next. They learn a simple classification strategy to use to help select the type of VCHP to use on their projects.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
What are Variable Capacity Heat Pumps (VCHPs)?
Benefits of VCHPs to Contractors and Customers
Types of VCHPs and Terminology”Sources” of the heat used by VCHPs
Easy classification strategy for VCHPs
Available indoor unit types VCHP applications to consider
Next steps to continue your learning

DUCTLESS HEAT PUMPS – PART 1: ALL-ELECTRIC IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERIES
2024-06-20 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
All-Electric in Design & Construction Series
Incorporating all-electric systems into residential and small commercial projects can be a bumpy road, but understanding the nuts and bolts of specific systems helps smooth out the process. By identifying and reviewing specific products and manufacturers, we’ll provide architects, builders and owners with the tools to easily go from design and permitting to construction and operation.
This is a five-part series to pick-and-choose, or take all five:
Part 1: Ductless Heat Pumps will address ductless heat pumps for heating and cooling. They are generally visible in the room (wall or ceiling mount or recessed).

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-06-26 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The TECH & ESMAC (ENERGY STAR Heat Pump Water Heater Manufacturer Action Council) Heat Pump Water Heater Education includes a TECH overview, ENERGY STAR® overview, and a manufacturers heat pump water heater (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.
Attending the TECH & ESMAC training is required for upcoming HPWH funds.
• For onboarding purposes, at least one individual from your organization must attend and complete the post-training survey.
• All installers working on a project submitted to the program must also take either this training, or a program approved manufacturer training.

Multifamily Electrification 101
2024-06-26 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Building electrification is advancing quickly with over 40 California jurisdictions adopting reach codes to advance electrification, which is critical to meet our local and state goals. In this class, we will discuss the benefits of electrification and the current policy and code considerations, provide an overview of what should be considered in an all-electric multifamily project (both new and retrofit), and explore technologies for electrification for all end uses, as well as the role of solar PV and electric vehicles. Come learn about what it takes to have a successful retrofit or new construction multifamily electrification project.

Choosing a low carbon, high performing insulation
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Hempitecture CEO, Matthew Mead, provides an overview of the natural fiber insulation market that is rapidly developing to support low embodied carbon construction. Reviewing different products and strategies, this session will discuss how to achieve the lowest total carbon footprint for a project after accounting for both embodied carbon and operational carbon in the building.
Learning Objectives:

Discover low embodied carbon insulations.
Learn about natural fiber insulation product forms (batt, loose-fill, board).
Understand how to measure in-wall performance (R-value + thermal mass + air penetration + vapor permeability).
Demonstrate installing to maximize reported performance.

The Changing World of Residential Refrigerants on World Refrigeration Day
2024-06-27 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
What are the new and evolving norms and rules concerning refrigerants that can make it a challenge to stay up-to-date on current trends and cause uncertainty? What is the impact on equipment cost and efficiency and more? What are the options for transitioning to low-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives and their impacts? Get an overview of the refrigerants landscape and bring your questions to this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call.

Energy Storage Basics (Webinar)
2024-06-28 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Course Description:
Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are the key to increasing the amount of renewables on the grid. This class will cover the basics of ESS terminology and common ESS battery chemistries, such as lithium-ion and lead-acid. We will introduce you to the many ways that ESSs can pay off, lower utility bills and how this helps the grid. The class will cover different ESS configurations, such as dc-coupling and ac-coupling. We will dive into the basics of relevant codes and standards and how this affects permitting. The future may very well include a lot of 4-wheeled energy storage systems, also known as V2G (vehicle to grid), since most batteries are going into cars.
Taught by Sean White, this class is geared towards anyone buying, selling or installing ESSs and provides attendees with a basic technical level of understanding of ESSs. This class will also provide prerequisite and continuing education credit for NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certifications.
Instructor Information:
Sean White
Sean White teaches customized solar PV courses for NABCEP credit globally. He is a NABCEP Associate Provider and a NABCEP Registered Continuing Education provider. Sean has authored 8 Solar PV and Energy Storage books and is always working on more. He teaches course for various entities. Sean teaches NEC workshops at SPI and Intersolar. Sean was the 2014 IREC Trainer of the year and the SNEC Online Trainer of the Decade in 2020.
Agenda:

Energy Storage Basic Terminology
Lithium-Ion vs. Lead-Acid Batteries
How Energy Storage Can Lower a Utility Bill
How Energy Storage Helps the Grid
AC-Coupling and DC-Coupling Storage with Solar PV
Other Energy Storage and Why Lithium-Ion Batteries are Winning
Comparing Different Systems
ESS Codes and Standards, Where to Find the Rules (NEC, IRC, IBC, IFC, UL)
Locations for ESS, Walls, Garages, Inside and Outside
SolSmart ESS Simplified Permit Process
The Future of Energy Storage-Batteries on Wheels (EVs)

Learning Outcomes:

Explain many reasons why energy storage is such important infrastructure in helping more renewables become integrated into the energy mix.
Discuss how energy storage systems are designed and installed.

Next Generation Refrigerants: Taking a Closer Look at A2L Solutions
2024-07-02 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
A new generation of refrigerants are coming to comfort cooling applications, specifically in residential and light commercial systems. These new refrigerants, commonly identified by their low-global warming potential (low-GWP), often come with different characteristics than the prior generation of refrigerants (such as R-410a). This session will cover the reasons for the changes in refrigerants, characteristics of some of the next generation refrigerants, and the changes the industry faces as a result, including building codes, safety standards, application and installation, operation and maintenance differences, and changes to the tools used with these new refrigerants.
