Efficiency First California

Title 24 Compliance Modeling & Decarbonization with IESVE Software
2024-07-16 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) Ltd will provide a one-day software training course using IESVE software for Title 24 Compliance modeling of new nonresidential buildings, and will include modeling of various decarbonization strategies for above-code programs in all-electric jurisdictions. The agenda will include an introduction and overview, 3D model architecture, loads optimization, decarbonization analysis and simulation (see agenda for more details).
Trainees will be required to follow along with the software and will be provided with free IESVE software for these trainings, which will be setup on the trainee’s computers prior to the training. Hardware, software and license requirements are available HERE.
Each training course will be a limited to approximately 30-35 attendees and will be hosted by two IES trainers using CEC certified software IESVE for new Title 24-2022 nonresidential buildings. Participants will benefit if they have some background on California Title 24 Building Energy Standards. See California Energy Commission.

California Policy Call!
2024-07-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join the CA Team as we dive into California Policy Updates!

Effective Coaching and Mentoring
2024-07-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Coaching and mentoring staff are two important ways to retain top talent and build a leadership pipeline. But many people don’t even know that they are two different things!
Coaching focuses on enhancing current job performance. Mentorships are supportive relationships that can reduce and reframe personal, structural and cultural barriers that hold emerging leaders back from achieving their full potential. Both are important.
Why should you make time to coach and mentor employees? Not only will it empower your staff and enhance company effectiveness; it also changes how others think of you. People who mentor and advocate for others are perceived as more effective leaders.
Even your most talented employees will benefit from supportive coaching and mentoring. Don’t leave top performers to languish while you work with staff who struggle!
Great leaders need to be mentored, and great leaders need to mentor. Join us to learn how with Chris DeVany, global business coach with Pinnacle Peak Performance.
Learning Objectives
In this session you’ll learn to:
• Understand the Coaching Strategy Spectrum and how to make it work for your team
• Coach effectively, using relating, strategizing, and implementing
• Practice the stages of a coaching relationship, including giving constructive feedback
• Understand and use the essentials of mentorship
• Know the challenges of coaching and mentoring experienced staff and how to succeed
Chris DeVany is the founder and president of Pinnacle Performance Improvement Worldwide, a firm which focuses on management and organization development. Pinnacle’s clients include government agencies from the United States, the Royal Government of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Cayman Islands, global organizations such as Visa International, Cadence Design Systems, Coca Cola, Sprint, Microsoft, Aviva Insurance, Schlumberger and over 500 other organizations in 22 countries. His book 90 Days to a High-Performance Team, published by McGraw Hill, is helping thousands of executives, managers and team leaders improve performance.
Chris has assisted in mergers and acquisitions, developing project management, sales, customer service and marketing strategies, organizing inbound and outbound call center programs, training and development of management and new hires, and fostering corporate growth through creative change and innovation initiatives.

GoldStar Webinars are free to GoldStar Contractors, their candidates and employees, Test Centers, and their proctors and employees. To register using BPI Perks provide your Organization/Company name, GoldStar ID# or Test Center ID, and Candidate ID#. Then close out the registration page without making payment. A BPI representative will review your registration and contact you if additional details are needed.
The cost is $50 for all others. BPI Certified Professionals can earn 1.5 BPI CEUs from attendance.

TECH & ESMAC HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER EDUCATION
2024-07-17 07:00 - 09:00 | 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

Extreme Weather Events and Building Resilience in Home Electrification and Decarbonization
2024-07-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Climate change is driving a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, cold snaps, floods, hurricanes, etc., significantly impacting the stability and reliability of buildings’ energy systems and infrastructure. This seminar will delve into the intersection of extreme weather events and resilience strategies associated with reducing emissions from homes. Key topics include identifying the vulnerabilities of current home electrification systems to extreme weather events and highlighting the critical need for home resilient design and technologies. The seminar will present innovative solutions and best practices to enhance the durability and adaptability of home energy systems, during and after severe weather events. Through expert presentations and case studies, attendees will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in building resilient home electrification systems capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

Speakers: Heather Rosenberg (ARUP) Max Wei (LBNL) Josh Quinnell (CEE)

DUCTED HEAT PUMPS – PART 2: ALL-ELECTRIC IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERIES
2024-07-18 09:30 - 11:00 | 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).
Part 2: Ducted Heat Pumps will address ducted or semi-ducted heat pumps for heating and cooling.

The Multi-State Plan to Power a Surge in Heat Pump Adoption
2024-07-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Earlier this year, nine states plus Washington, DC, signed an agreement to meet ambitious heat pump targets and reduce emissions from buildings. Hear from Emily Levin of the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), who drafted the agreement, on how it came to be and what the states are now doing to meet the commitment. Also hear from Zach Berzolla of the Maryland Department of the Environment about the specific steps his state is taking to accelerate heat pump deployment and decarbonize buildings.

ZONING FOR HEAT PUMPS – STRATEGIES FOR BEST OUTCOMES
2024-07-19 08:00 - 09:30 | Online
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 1-to-1 systems, and combinations of these solutions.

Learning Objectives:

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

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and the California Energy Code (Webinar)
2024-07-30 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
Course Description:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are becoming an important form of housing in California but designing and building these units to comply with the 2019 Energy Code can be challenging. This course covers the prescriptive requirements that apply to new ADUs and discusses both minimum requirements and design options for compliance.

2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
2024-08-04 - 2024-08-09 | Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, California
The 2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings is the 23rd biennial event. Summer Study will bring together professionals from around the globe to the Asilomar Conference Grounds to collaborate, debate and advance the technologies, practices and research necessary to equitably decarbonize the building sector in a manner that addresses the urgency of the climate crisis.
The 2024 theme is Equity and Climate Action: Time to Deliver. In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an unprecedented investment to transform our built environment and electricity sector to be safer and healthier, reducing carbon emissions and prioritizing the needs of underserved communities. At the same time, climate crisis is now a reality and is becoming more urgent and critical by the day. The Rhodium Group estimates that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US increased by 1.3% in 2022. While emissions from the electric power sector decreased in 2022, outside of the power sector, emissions increased slightly. The most significant increase was seen in direct emissions from buildings, which rose by 6% and was the only sector to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. This is our opportunity to right the ship, take advantage of this critical moment in history and identify the innovations that will deliver climate justice through deep emissions reductions in our buildings.

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-08-05 07:00 - 09:00 | 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.

BayREN C&S Training: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - offered in partnership with Energy Code Ace
2024-08-07 09:00 - 10:30 | Online
This virtual course focuses on requirements in the 2022 Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) for accessory dwelling units (ADU) in an event supported by Energy Code Ace and BayREN. We will discuss how to identify the ADU type and its impact on Energy Code requirements for envelope, mechanical, photovoltaics (PV), battery storage or battery ready and HERS measures. We will also review how the compliance metrics differ depending on ADU type, including the new EDR source energy metrics for new construction ADUs.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Establish if an ADU design is considered an alteration, addition, or a new residential building per the Energy Code.
Discuss the envelope (roof, walls, floors, fenestration) requirements associated with the ADU type (alteration, addition, new construction) under the 2022 Energy Code.
Recognize the renewable energy requirements of ADU type including photovoltaics (PV), battery storage, and battery ready.
Determine mechanical equipment requirements, including any HERS verification measure options that provide ADU design flexibility, and how utility source energy metric may impact those choices.

Available CEUs: AIA (1.5 LU), ICC (0.10 CEU) and CABEC (1.5 LU)

Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling – Part 2: All-Electric Design and Construction Series
2024-08-08 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
All-Electric Design & Construction Series
On the path to Zero Net Carbon Design, building electrification is the key to reducing operational carbon. In this course, we’ll share the nuts and bolts of incorporating all-electric systems into residential and small commercial projects, including tips for implementation as well as client communication. We’ll provide straight-forward information on current systems and technologies plus a look ahead at what’s emerging in the market.
Part 1: Carbon Reduction through Building Electrification will address California’s targets for carbon reduction, status of the clean power grid, the role of energy storage and emerging options for refrigerants.
Part 2: Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling, will address ducted and ductless heat pumps for thermal comfort.
Part 3: Domestic Hot Water, will focus on integrated and split-system Heat Pump Water Heaters, as well as combination systems and point-of-use electric resistance water heaters
Part 4: Ventilation and HRV, will look at exhaust fans, ducted ventilation and heat recovery ventilators that support energy efficiency and healthy interiors
Part 5: Appliances & Energy Storage, looks at electric options for cooktops, dryers and other appliances as well as current and emerging battery technologies for energy storage.
Learning Objectives

Learn the ‘why’ behind California’s shift to building electrification and the link to Zero Net Carbon Design
Learn the pros and cons of various products to help in selecting appropriate systems that meet electrification and carbon-reduction goals
Learn critical installation details such as dimensions and venting to call out in plans and/or identify early in construction
Understand the local market for specific all-electric/ZNCD equipment, including cost, availability and lead times

Instructors: Jennifer Rennick and Grant Murphy, In Balance Green Consulting
This series has been developed to fulfill the California requirement for five hours of ZNCD education as part of architecture license renewal. Although created with architects in mind, the content is broadly applicable across the building industry.
Zero Net Carbon Design CEUs Available, 1 HSW|LU per class, 5 HSW|LUs in total.

2022 Title 24, Part 6 Essentials — Single-family Standards: Envelope
2024-08-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
If you design, specify, construct, install or inspect the envelope components of Single-family building projects, this course is for you! In it, you’ll learn what ceiling/attic, wall and floor insulation is required by California’s 2022 Energy Code. You’ll also find out how fenestration products are certified and the effect of shading on fenestration efficiency. Also explore the envelope component requirements for an Accessory Dwelling Unit conversion.

Upcoming Classes:

Date:
December 9, 2024

Time:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm PST

Instructor:
Luke Morton

Registration link coming soon!

Energy Codes are Getting Complicated! It’s time for a simpler approach
2024-08-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
In the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the primary residential provisions of the code (Chapter 4) consisted of four pages. That same chapter in the 2021 IECC is 21 pages long! Mandatory, prescriptive, performance, energy rating index, additional efficiency packages and UA trade-offs all combine to make IECC compliance complicated.
Prescriptive compliance is increasingly more expensive and complicated to use, and the performance compliance option doesn’t allow consideration for high efficiency equipment. The energy rating index path provides a whole-house performance approach but has aggressive targets that are complicated with amendments for ventilation requirements and no requirements for quality assurance oversight of third parties.
If the energy code’s primary purpose is to reduce energy consumption, why can’t we set performance goals and let builders figure out how to achieve it?
One recent example of this approach is in Texas. Texas House Bill 3215 updated the state’s universal energy code compliance pathway to allow builders to use the energy rating index for energy code compliance across the state, in lieu of the state energy code or any stretch code adopted by municipalities. The legislation ratchets down target ERI scores to improve efficiency through 2028, allowing builders to plan for future efficiency requirements.
Attend this webinar to learn how a simpler approach to energy code compliance can work, how it can be used to set a path to net-zero energy and how to implement it in your state.

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the changes and complexities of the IECC over time.
Understand how the energy code can be simplified.
Be able to describe how a simplified performance-based approach has worked in other states.
Learn how a performance-based energy code approach can be used to get builders to net-zero homes more quickly.

What to Know Before Adding Heat Pump Installation to Your Service Mix
2024-08-13 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
More and more envelope-focused home contractors are expanding their offerings beyond insulation and into mechanical services—primarily heat pump installation.
Is this the right pathway for your business and your market? And if so, how can you make the transition a success?
This Goldstar Webinar is hosted by Peter Troast, founder and CEO of Energy Circle, a marketing company exclusively for high performance contractors and the organizations that support them.
During this presentation, he’ll review the many logistical, investment, staffing, and training considerations a business owner should be making before taking the leap to heat pumps. We’ll also review best marketing practices for how to announce and promote your new services for maximum impact, from your website to email and advertising campaigns and more.
Learning objectives:

Learn more about the market conditions and reasons why envelope contractors are adding heat pump services
Explore different strategies for how you can expand your service mix, from subcontracting to hiring an in-house team
Review a detailed timeline that illustrates the journey from envelope-only to envelope + heat pump services, from early research and market evaluation to actual services rollout
Discover marketing tactics and advice to target existing customers and attract new ones

Embodied Carbon + Electrification – Full Path to Decarbonization
2024-08-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
A focal point of our discussion will be retrofitting existing buildings and the imperative to reuse materials and structures. We’ll address the necessity of developing new systems and methodologies to facilitate this transition, emphasizing both environmental benefits and economic returns. Our panelists will share their insights on integrating heat pumps and optimizing building envelopes to minimize energy consumption while effectively reusing existing infrastructure, thereby reducing overall carbon footprints.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of embodied carbon and electrification, including the importance of building performance standards in achieving operational carbon reduction goals.
Panelists:
Jennifer Taranto – Vice President of Sustainability at STO Building Group
Jennifer, with over 25 years in commercial real estate and construction, is the vice president of sustainability at STO Building Group. Passionate about minimizing environmental impact, she shapes client goals and guides project teams to achieve corporate responsibility milestones, reducing operating costs and emissions.
A founder of Built Environment Plus, Jennifer is a sustainable construction leader, recognized with WELL AP (2018), WELL Faculty (2019-2021), and LEED Fellow (2023) awards. A speaker on the subject, she holds a BSc in Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Aurora Jensen – Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City
Aurora is the Embodied Carbon Lead with Brightworks Sustainability in New York City with a focus on materials and carbon, and a part-time faculty member at the Parsons School of Design. With her work she seeks to engage multiple scales of social and environmental concerns—from microscale heat flows to macroscale supply chains—by linking passive, active, and materials design decisions to climate. She uses her experience in high performance energy modelling and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) to drive down the operational and embodied carbon of projects. She sits on the ILFI Energy and Carbon TAG, and co-leads the NYC chapter of the Carbon Leadership Forum. Aurora received her Masters in Design Studies in Energy and Environment with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Room Heat Pumps - Cooling and Heating in a Small Package
2024-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
As summers continue to get hotter, more and more people need air conditioning to beat the heat. Room heat pumps are low cost, easy to install products that deliver powerful cooling, and have the added advantage of providing supplemental heating when the temperatures fall. In heating mode these products are twice as energy efficient as resistance heaters. They come in several configurations – conventional window-mounted, saddle back window mounted, or portable roller style with hoses that connect to outside air. They’re a great way to increase comfort all year long and reduce your reliance on gas or expensive electric baseboard heating. Because they are a DIY installation, they can be a great solution for renters. These units are lower cost than full home heat pumps and are powered by a standard 120V outlet. The models available today typically cost $500-800. They provide energy efficient heating and cooling ideal for apartments or single rooms in larger homes. Existing models have been designed to work in mild climates, but more powerful and more expensive, cold climate versions are expected to become available soon. Join us as we dive into the world of room heat pumps with our expert panelist. We will answer the following questions and more: What are the configurations available and how do they compare? How are they different from ductless and whole house heat pumps? How are they different from window air conditioners? How do you install and use them? What are the ideal use cases for room heat pumps? What should you know before shopping for a room heat pump? What are some of the top models available? Are rebates and incentives available to help lower the cost? When will the cold climate versions be available and how much will they cost? We’ll see you on August 14th as we dive into this exciting product area to help you determine if a room heat pump would work for you. This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series.

Air Sealing and Insulating Existing Homes: Interpreting and Prioritizing Infrared and Blower Door Results
2024-08-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Online
Testing your work is imperative to meet or exceed performance targets and to ensure a feedback loop is in place for continual process improvements. Instructor Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance will highlight two key home performance diagnostic tools, the blower door and infrared camera. The two hour session unpacks important testing metrics and ways to address opportunities that have positive interactive effects on the home’s performance and occupant comfort.
Agenda:

Diagnostic testing for home performance
Blower door and infrared camera basics
Typical opportunities for thermal performance improvement
Safety Considerations

Central Heat Pump Water Heater Advanced Design and Installation
2024-08-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
The heat pump market in the US is evolving and new technologies are being brought in to expand options and applications. Come take a deeper dive into some existing water heating systems, sizing calculations, design options and load shifting.
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
• 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 Objectives:
• 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 systems to reduce operational costs
• Understand start up process and maintenance considerations for system type

A Guide to HERS Testing and the Responsibilities of a Contractor
2024-08-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Live webinar covering the basics of the California Energy Code, required compliance documentation and contractor/installer responsibilities.
Have questions? Stay for a live Q&A following the webinar!
If you have any questions regarding the webinar or have problems signing up, please send an email to Training@ConSol.org for assistance.

TECH & ESMAC Heat Pump Water Heater Education
2024-08-21 07:00 - 09:00 | 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.

Topics Covered:
• Key differences between standard gas and electric water heaters and heat pump water heaters
• Benefits and value propositions of HPWHs
• Installation best practices
• Location options, space needs and considerations
• How to size appropriately
• Programming/operating modes
• Time-of-use and demand response capabilities
• Electrical requirements, electric panel considerations
• Condensate management and drainage
• Thermostatic mixing valves, recirculation pumps
• Noise/vibration considerations
• Guidance and best practices for warranty, service support, and maintenance
• Customer education – how to use, what to expect, addressing common concerns
• How to get further regional training and support

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key difference between standard water heaters and heat pump water heaters
• Explain the features and benefits of heat pump water heaters
• Identify dwelling and customer types that benefit the most from HPWH
• Calculate appropriate tank size based on dwelling and occupancy
• Describe installation best practices
• Describe service and maintenance best practices
• Demonstrate selling techniques and overcoming customer objections

Air Sealing and Insulating Existing Homes: Addressing Common Hazards During Energy Upgrades
2024-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
Upgrading the thermal and air leakage performance of existing homes exposes a variety of hazards that many professionals either do not know how to address or how to communicate the importance of the issue to the customer. Estimators and installers, including DIY homeowners, take on additional liability when they fail to identify and remediate existing hazards during upgrade projects. In this two-hour class, instructor Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance will cover the most common hazards that are regularly uncovered during energy upgrades and provide some practical strategies for resolving those issues.
To attend the entire Air Sealing and Insulating Homes 3 Part Series register HERE.
Agenda:

What hazards are exposed in typical efficiency upgrades.
What is the risk management plan for addressing these hazards?
Asbestos insulation
Electrical system faults
Combustion appliance vents and clearance to combustible materials
Combustion appliance vents that do not effectively remove pollutants from the building
Non-IC rated recessed fixtures
Vents that re-entrain gases or moisture in the building
Biological growth on building surfaces
Impact of realigning the air barrier or thermal boundary

Building Electrification: Lessons from the Field (Part 1 of 2)
2024-08-22 09:00 - 12:30 | 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 seminar 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 application of heat pump systems.
Instructor Bios:
Avril Levasseur
Avril is a Senior Associate at Point Energy Innovations, an MEP consulting firm specializing in highly cost-effective net-zero energy and sustainable buildings. She is a registered Professional Engineer who completed her graduate education at Stanford University. She strives to enable more efficient buildings through creative design and rigorous analysis. As the Program Manager for the Stanford Building Decarbonization Accelerator, she employs her passion for teaching to promote decarbonization education. She has collaborated in teaching several courses and is the co-author of multiple papers on the topic. In 2023, Avril was named the Association of Energy Engineers Young Energy Professional of the Year for the Western US.
Rami Moussa, P.E.
Rami Moussa, P.E. is a Managing Principal at Point Energy Innovations, an industry leading MEP consulting firm that specializes in the design of low cost high performance buildings for design-build project delivery. Rami is passionate about working with architects, building owners, contractors, facility engineers, and end users to create tailored solutions that are low energy, low carbon, and provide the best value. His pioneering work includes the design of the zero embodied and operational carbon AIA HQ renovation in Washington, D.C., and the fast-tracked developer-led zero operating carbon office headquarters of Exelixis in Alameda, CA. Decarbonization of the country’s real estate is Rami’s primary motivator. In 2022 he led decarbonization assessments for an existing real estate portfolio of over five million square feet across 30 buildings.
The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

Identify heat pump components and system types
Recognize appropriate heat pump applications and constraints 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

BUILDING THE FUTURE: ELECTRIFICATION STRATEGIES FOR CONTRACTORS AND ARCHITECTS
2024-08-23 08:00 - 09:30 | Online
Electrification is now the leading option for new buildings and major retrofit projects in California. 70+ municipalities have policies to phase out gas appliances and the state aims to have 6 million heat pumps installed by 2030. This will require a major paradigm shift in the way builders, architects, and related professionals approach the market. It also presents a giant opportunity to frame yourself or your business as an electrification expert. In this session, Electrify My Home will discuss this transition and the related business opportunity for specifying and installing well-designed all-electric buildings.

Learning Objectives:

Explain the importance of comprehensive electrification planning.
List one reason why commissioning is important for HVAC systems.
Describe the benefit of keeping ductwork within the building enclosure.

Building Electrification: Lessons from the Field (Part 2 of 2)
2024-08-23 09:00 - 12:30 | Online

INTRODUCTION TO PASSIVE HOUSE TRADES
2024-08-27 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
Course Description
PHN’s Introduction to Passive House Trades course will broadly cover the following topics: Passive House basics, review typical construction types, windows and installation, air barriers and insulation and new, innovative PH products. It is crucial when working on Passive House buildings to properly install components, understand how to correctly implement design details, and asses and plan for the current and future performance of the building. This live online course is accompanied by mini video tutorials for various PH product installations, plus incorporates actual building of Passive House details relevant to the US construction industry.
Learning Objectives

Describe the five key principles of Passive House projects
Summarize typical materials and methods used for insulation and air barriers on Passive House projects
Explain challenging details seen on wood and steel framed construction projects and propose solutions on how these can be overcome
Describe the common approaches for air barrier application and insulation installation on residential and commercial projects
Explain systems that can be used to provide space conditioning and ventilation on Passive House projects
Describe how lighting selections and lighting controls impact electrical energy usage on a project
Summarize the difference between quality control vs. quality assurance, along with attributes of each concept
Describe the documentation requirements needed for passive house certification and identify how it overlaps with the overall quality assurance process.

Learning Units
2 AIA LU credits, pending for this course
Instructor(s)
Steve Mann, The Passive House Network and Home Energy Services

The Emotionally Intelligent Manager
2024-08-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
To manage effectively, you must engage your emotional intelligence as much as your mind. Our employees and colleagues are whole people, not just brains! We must approach them the same way, with both our brain and our gut, or emotions.
If you’d like to understand why people don’t always behave the way you expect, and learn to elicit the responses and behaviors you want, join the next GoldStar Webinar by global business coach, Chris DeVany.
Learning Objectives

What is emotional intelligence?
Discover YOUR emotional intelligence with a short 10-item questionnaire
Learn why it’s so important to use emotional intelligence
The Four Clusters of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence techniques to manage even more effectively

Air Sealing and Insulating Existing Homes: Developing a Work Scope for Attic Efficiency Upgrades
2024-08-29 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
Effective work scopes help contractors and customers achieve specific performance goals in a home’s attic efficiency upgrade. Developing a comprehensive, goal-oriented work scope can help contractors sell more jobs, differentiate their work from other contractors bidding on the job, and enables customers to prioritize their home upgrades within their budget, allowing for the possibility of future improvements. In this session, Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance will draw upon his contractor experience to discuss how he approaches attic efficiency work scopes, from demolition, material selection and installation, to commissioning.
Agenda:

Introduction and safety message
How is high-performance a different business model
Setting your company standards
How to define cost-effective
Identify the outcomes the customer would like to achieve
Defining outcomes in the work scope
Developing costs for specific outcomes
Using options to define good, better, best
Using notes to clarify limits of what work accomplishes
Negotiating the outcomes in the work scope

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

Specify at least three or more performance outcomes the work scope helps define
Explain one or more ways that a high-performance work scope is different from an industry standard sale process
Synthesize the home performance outcomes the customer would like to achieve
Describe one or more examples of how to Itemize the work scope to facilitate a better understanding of cost segregation

DOMESTIC HOT WATER – PART 3: ALL-ELECTRIC DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERIES
2024-08-29 09:30 - 11:00 | Online
All-Electric Design & Construction Series
On the path to Zero Net Carbon Design, building electrification is the key to reducing operational carbon. In this course, we’ll share the nuts and bolts of incorporating all-electric systems into residential and small commercial projects, including tips for implementation as well as client communication. We’ll provide straight-forward information on current systems and technologies plus a look ahead at what’s emerging in the market.
Part 1: Carbon Reduction through Building Electrification will address California’s targets for carbon reduction, status of the clean power grid, the role of energy storage and emerging options for refrigerants.
Part 2: Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling, will address ducted and ductless heat pumps for thermal comfort.
Part 3: Domestic Hot Water, will focus on integrated and split-system Heat Pump Water Heaters, as well as combination systems and point-of-use electric resistance water heaters
Part 4: Ventilation and HRV, will look at exhaust fans, ducted ventilation and heat recovery ventilators that support energy efficiency and healthy interiors
Part 5: Appliances & Energy Storage, looks at electric options for cooktops, dryers and other appliances as well as current and emerging battery technologies for energy storage.
Learning Objectives

Learn the ‘why’ behind California’s shift to building electrification and the link to Zero Net Carbon Design
Learn the pros and cons of various products to help in selecting appropriate systems that meet electrification and carbon-reduction goals
Learn critical installation details such as dimensions and venting to call out in plans and/or identify early in construction
Understand the local market for specific all-electric/ZNCD equipment, including cost, availability and lead times

Instructors: Jennifer Rennick and Michelle Zimney, In Balance Green Consulting
This series has been developed to fulfill the California requirement for five hours of ZNCD education as part of architecture license renewal. Although created with architects in mind, the content is broadly applicable across the building industry.
