Efficiency First California

Cost-Effective Approaches for Energy Efficient Remodels
2023-06-20 09:00 - 11:30 UTC
There are 82 million detached single-family homes in the US, and according to the US Energy Information Administration, there are 6.8 million in California. The average cost of energy in US households is about $2,060 per year according to Energy Star with nearly half of that money going to heating and cooling. The average home also adds 7.5 tons of greenhouse gasses each year. Steve Easley will draw upon his building science consulting experience to illustrate the most cost-effective, best practices measures to reduce energy use in the home. Steve prioritizes the energy-saving decisions and explains the best products and practices for insulation, windows, water heating, lighting, and HVAC system.

Climate Smart Webinar: Home Electrification Service Upgrades
2023-06-19 18:00 - 19:00 UTC
Presented by EFCA Treasurer Sean Armstrong of Redwood Energy: The City of San José, in partnership with Redwood Energy, is holding a series of webinars to educate residents, contractors, developers, property owners and managers on a variety of electrification topics. This is Webinar 5: Home Electrification Service Upgrades. Home electrification can sometimes trigger an electric utility service upgrade, which can cost $2,500 – $30,000 and take 2 – 18 months to complete. Come learn what types of properties may need a service upgrade and what is involved in an upgrade. We’ll also discuss how to avoid an upgrade with energy efficiency, 120V appliances, clipping solar inverters, and load balancing “smart” plugs, subpanels, and whole house panels. With a little planning you can save a great deal of time and money.

Introduction to Heat Pump Water Heater Education 2023 ONLINE TRAININGS PRESENTED BY TECH CLEAN CALIFORNIA & ESMAC
2023-06-12 07:00 - 09:00, 2023-05-24 07:00 - 09:00, 2023-05-08 07:00 - 09:00, 2023-04-26 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join TECH Clean California and ENERGY STAR® HPWH Manufacturer Action Council for a live webinar session focused on HPWH 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.For more info and to register.

Decarbonizing the Built Environment P3
2023-06-08 08:30 - 11:30 UTC
Part 3 Mechanical Design Considerations for Low-Carbon Operations This session will focus on low-carbon, all-electric mechanical designs for multifamily residential and commercial buildings. More time will be dedicated to large commercial buildings and high-rise residential and their specific challenges. We’ll look at basic principals of low-carbon mechanical design and through case studies we will learn about different design options, technologies and challenges specific to different building types. Domestic hot water will also be discussed but will not be the main focus of the class.

Multifamily Electrification 101
2023-06-07 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
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.

Introduction to Variable Capacity Heat Pumps, Improved Comfort and Energy Efficiency
2023-06-07 09:00 - 11:00 UTC
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 about VCHPs as well as an understanding of where to take their HVAC learning next. They will learn a simple classification strategy to help select the type of VCHP to use on their projects.

BayREN & Energy Code Ace On-Line Training: Single-Family Standards - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
2023-06-07 09:00 - 10:30 UTC
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.

Decarbonizing the Built Environment P2
2023-06-07 08:30 - 11:30 UTC
Part 2 Embodied Carbon and Zero Carbon Operations This session will focus on both embodied carbon and operational carbon. We’ll talk about leveraging whole building lifecycle assessment (LCA) to achieve meaningful embodied carbon reductions. We’ll also focus on methodologies to more accurately predict operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and using expertise in energy efficiency design alongside new hourly GHG emissions data to take projects beyond net zero energy.

Good Electrification for Solar Contractors: New Business Opportunities
2023-06-06 15:30 - 17:00 UTC
The residential energy market in California is quickly transforming towards electrification. This transformation presents an enormous business opportunity for solar contractors, especially in light of recent NEM policy changes. Electrification of home appliances (switching from gas to electric) is a perfect pairing with clean energy generated from solar. This webinar will teach you about best practices for “Good Electrification” and highlight opportunities for solar contractors to add new services to their repertoire. It will also arm you with the information necessary to begin speaking to your customers about electrification with more confidence. Learning Objectives: Note how many heat pumps California aims to have installed by 2030 Name two reasons why right-sized inverter heat pumps are advantageous Explain why electrification of home appliances is a good pairing with solar installations Describe why helping your customers with an electrification roadmap is useful.

Overcoming Roadblocks to Residential Electrification
2023-06-06 09:00 - 11:00 UTC
Globally, the scientific community agrees that we must reduce carbon emissions to significantly reduce the impact of global warming. In the US, buildings account for 40% of carbon emissions. In this class, Steve Easley focuses on the top roadblocks and solutions for a timelier transition to decarbonization and electrification. For wide scale electrification to happen in a timely manner it will have to happen from the customer side of the meter. This class will address how best to make this a cost-effective reality. The challenge is the localized electrical grid capacity is in no way ready for mass electrification. There simply isn’t enough localized grid storage or grid capacity for homes, for homes to have electric heat, water heating, cooking, and vehicle charging. This class will address practical solutions. The class will focus on the design, construction practices, and technologies that will provide the best pathway for electrification of homes.

Decarbonizing the Built Environment P1
2023-06-06 08:30 - 11:30 UTC
Part 1 Setting the Stage: Carbon in the Built Environment This session will take a holistic view of carbon drivers in the built environment. The first part in the series will set the stage for the next two courses, outlining key definitions and drivers and presenting a path towards carbon neutral design. Through case studies we’ll explore holistic carbon on recent projects and areas where designers can have the most significant influence.

Climate Smart Webinar: Single-Family Home Electrification
2023-06-05 18:00 - 19:00 UTC
Presented by EFCA Treasurer Sean Armstrong of Redwood Energy: The City of San José, in partnership with Redwood Energy, is holding a series of webinars to educate residents, contractors, developers, property owners and managers on a variety of electrification topics. This is Webinar 4: Single-Family Home Electrification. Come learn about how to electrify homes at every scale, from mobile homes to mansions, from cozy ADUs and humble cottages. Every type of heating system, water heater, stove, laundry dryer, swimming pool, sauna, fireplace, or fire pit can be replaced with an electric equivalent. Come dig into the details of your future home project, as you clean up the air in your home, community, and the world.

SGIP HPWH Handbook Workshop
2023-06-01 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
During this public workshop, the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) heat pump water heater (HPWH) Program team will provide an overview of the Program design and rules as detailed in the SGIP HPWH Handbook and gather feedback. A substantial portion of the meeting time will be devoted to audience Q&A.

Heat Pump Fundamentals: Space Conditioning and Water Heating – Class 5: High Performance Fundamentals Series
2023-06-01 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
This is class 5 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 series will be hosted twice throughout 2023. Having gained a solid understanding of high-performance building enclosures from classes 1 through 3 in 3C-REN’s High Performance Fundamentals series, participants are well-prepared for this class, which will provide a foundation in the use of heat pumps for both space conditioning (heating and cooling) and water heating. The class will cover what a heat pump is and explain why heat pumps are essential elements of high performance buildings. Special attention will be paid to refrigerants: how heat pumps use them, how to avoid leaks through proper installation, and why it’s important to avoid leaks due to the damage they can cause to contractor profitability and the planet. An overview will be provided to aid in selecting, sizing, installing, and commissioning heat pump equipment, so that it performs as intended.

The Ask Sean Show
2023-05-08 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Ask Sean how to live better, electrically. For more info and to register.

High-Performance HVAC Design and Redesign for Electrification
2023-05-08 - 2023-05-11 | NCI Anaheim, 2050 S. Santa Cruz St., Suite 1000,, Anaheim, CA, 92805, United States

High-Performance HVAC Design and Redesign for Electrification
2023-05-03 - 2023-05-05 | Sacramento/Ferguson Enterprises, 8220 Ferguson Ave, Sacramento, CA, 95828, United States

Home Electrification Product Overview
2023-05-02 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Homeowners around the world are beginning to embrace electrification (the switch from gas-fired to electric-powered appliances). In this webinar, EMH will introduce and provide an overview of home electrification products to aid in the transition away from gas. This includes at least two electric options for each common gas appliance (e.g., HVAC, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, and fireplaces) as well as advanced electrical products that solve challenging load capacity issues.
Learning Objectives:

Name at least two electric options for each typical gas appliance in a home
Identify two types of heat pumps
Describe a scenario where a split heat pump water heater is advantageous
Explain how a circuit splitter can help avoid costly panel upgrades

How to Diagnose Heating and Cooling Comfort Problems in Homes - In-Person
2023-04-28 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | SMUD Customer Service Center, 6301 S St., Sacramento, CA, 95817, United States
Comfort problems can occur in homes even when the equipment appears to be working perfectly well. Most comfort problems are related to design issues and can be easily diagnosed using basic design principles and simple diagnostic tools.
This class will cover the most common comfort complaints, the diagnostic tests, how to interpret the results and how to use industry standard design principles to suggest solutions.
Learning objectives:
Understanding the most common symptoms of comfort problems vs. equipment problems
Understanding how to use design principles (load calculations, equipment selection, duct design) do diagnose and resolve problems
Understand the various diagnostic tests that can be used to pinpoint and quantify problems and how to interpret the results.
Speaker: Russell King, M.E. is a professional mechanical engineer licensed in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. He has over 30 years of experience in the areas of HVAC design, diagnostics and consulting, as well as energy code compliance, Home Energy Rating System (HERS) verification and consulting. He has taught professional level training on all these topics.

Passive House Series: Passive House in California
2023-04-27 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Our final class in this series will bring this home to cover the evolution of Passive House design here in California. We’ll review up to four specific projects located in Northern California, including a Sacramento project. Details for each project will be shared to gain an understanding for how this approach varies across our local climate zones, and how Passive House may be cost-effectively implemented in our region. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how the Passive House approach works in our region and climate.

Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heaters: An Early Look to 120 Volt Products
2023-04-27 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Amruta Khanolkar of the New Buildings Institute will give an overview of the emerging, retrofit ready 120V heat pump water heaters (HPWH) and findings from the California statewide field validation effort. This course will present the retrofit market opportunities and limitations with this emerging 120V HPWH technology. This class is for program managers, engineers, policy makers, installers, and California building jurisdictions.

Multifamily Electrification: Retrofit Applications and Electrical Assessments
2023-04-26 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
As we start turning our attention to the existing building stock, electrification retrofits are becoming increasingly important to achieve our emission goals and have healthier homes. Come explore how to approach an electrification retrofit, what are the constraints and opportunities for multifamily buildings with different configurations and how it is shaped by electrical infrastructure and available technology. Gain an understanding of what an electrification retrofit looks like by working through example project(s) in class.

Optimizing Residential Forced-Air HVAC Systems: Efficiency Comfort and Low Loss Duct Systems
2023-04-26 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Improved design, installation and commissioning practices lead to a dramatic improvement in building energy consumption, indoor air quality, and comfort. There are six performance factors that can be applied to HVAC design, installation and/or commissioning. In the Optimizing Residential Forced-Air series, we will review how each factor can be specified at design, implemented during installation, and tested/adjusted during commissioning. We will also look at how we can redesign our approach to high performance HVAC systems to support CA climate goals, help manage the peak electrical load on the grid as well as the owners operating cost under the time-of-use billing structure.

How to Design and Build High-Performance Attics
2023-04-25 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
California’s new Title 24 energy code and Passive House recommends high performance attics. Summer attic temperatures can easily add ½ to 1 ton of air conditioning load. The 2016 and 2019 T-24 energy codes require these loads be mitigated.
These codes prescriptively require attics and roofs with multiple layers of insulation in what seem to be in confusing and contradictory locations. This class examines how to design and build high performance attics and roofs assemblies that delivery energy efficiency and occupant comfort while reducing the risk for water and moisture related failures.

Leveraging Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding to Improve Building Financial Performance
2023-04-25 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
This webinar will provide an overview of improved and modified tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that can improve the economics of residential new construction with energy efficient and clean energy upgrades. Topics to include Section 48/48E commercial credit, Section 179D commercial credit, Section 25D residential credit, and more. The practical application of IRA incentives continues to unfold and this webinar will provide a starting point for industry to understand its current state.

Residential HVAC System Performance & Electrification
2023-04-25 - 2023-04-27 | 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.
Includes lunch, beverages, and snacks.

VIRTUAL | Green Marketing Roundtable | BayREN
2023-04-24 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Green Marketing Roundtable: Session 1 Monday, April 24th | 10:00 am – 11:00 am
“Green Eileen” will host a series of Green Real Estate Marketing Roundtables, with surprise energy efficiency guests joining for some sessions. She will guide Real Estate Professionals through various proven marketing techniques and tips she has used successfully in her own Green Real Estate Business over the years, to help attendees develop and enhance their green real estate marketing practices. In this fun and fast-paced program, Eileen will be answering the question, “I have my NAR Green Designation. Now what?”
Dig into the Green Resources website to see the resources available.
Learn how to incorporate these resources into your business.
See how to set up your profile.
Review the links in the student manual.
Collaborate on how this information can be best utilized.
