Events & Training

The three day comprehensive Installation Workshops are designed for GSHP installers, contractors, dealers, home builders, manufacturers, distributors, architects, heating cooling mechanical engineers, trenching/water well drilling contractors, and anyone who desires a working knowledge of this innovative technology. Representatives from public utilities, private utilities, and rural electric cooperatives can also benefit from training. Information gathered from the workshops can help utility representatives serve as a source of information regarding money-saving concepts. Upon successful completion of the workshop and passing the IGSHPA installer’s exam, you will be issued IGSHPA accreditation as an installer of GSHP systems. You will receive an installer’s card and a certificate for 3 years.

Factors such as space limitations are forcing engineers to utilize deep boreholes to meet design requirements for ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems. In such cases, hydrostatic pressures must be considered to ensure successful installation can take place. This course focuses on the necessary calculations along with the recommended installation practices for deep geothermal borehole design and installation.

Who should enroll? Geothermal system designers, but particularly architects and engineers involved in commercial system design. You'll get access to the lecture video, an Excel calculator, and additional resources.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of deep bore design
• Review current industry trends
• Learn how to calculate and evaluate internal versus external hydrostatic pressures exerted on a system.
• Determine the critical design factor, pipe burst or pipe collapse, and learn steps to avoid issues altogether.

This course was developed by the team at GeoPro, GeoConnections, and Dandelion.

Start a new career in the high-demand, good-wage, construction trades of carpentry, electrical, HVAC, pipe-fitting, plumbing, maintenance, weatherization or site preparation by enrolling in Construction 101. Construction 101 prepares trainees for entry-level work in the construction trades. Construction Laborers perform a range of construction activities on residential, commercial, new and/or existing construction sites. Duties range from framing buildings, foundation and site preparation, running wiring, building and apartment maintenance, to creating or installing metal framing and ductwork. ReSOURCE’s Construction 101 training program is provided with the support of Vermont Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO). Construction 101 trainees learn about the different trades and receive the foundation knowledge and experience to enter the one that most interests them.

In this session we discuss issues that cause personal burnout and examine factors that cause burnout in our organizations, costing us time and money. Join us in creating engagement that increases the bottom line. 1. Learn why burnout is dominantly an organizational problem 2. Learn the 6 factors that cause burnout 3. Learn how burnout caused by disengagement effects our bottom line and how to reverse it. Earn Up To 1.5 BPI CEUs

Topics covered include: Review of install best practices; System Commissioning Review; Review of refrigeration cycle and how heat pumps operate in cold climates. In depth discussion on the sequence of operation of a 1-1 and multi system; Heat Pump Defrost cycle review; How to determine and set a unit for “enhanced defrost” operation; Troubleshooting “Flow of Power” discussion. How the power flows through the outdoor PCB and IPM and how this can be important in the troubleshooting process.

Topics covered include: Review of install best practices; System Commissioning Review; Review of refrigeration cycle and how heat pumps operate in cold climates. In depth discussion on the sequence of operation of a 1-1 and multi system; Heat Pump Defrost cycle review; How to determine and set a unit for “enhanced defrost” operation; Troubleshooting “Flow of Power” discussion. How the power flows through the outdoor PCB and IPM and how this can be important in the troubleshooting process.

Who is Lifebreath? Why do I need to ventilate a building? Difference between a HRV & ERV; Selecting the right unit for the application; System Sizing; Installation Highlights

Virtual training in two phases. Phase I: an 8-hour online prep course prior to Phase II. Phase II: three hours per day from 12-3pm EST over eight days: July 18-19 (M-TU), July 21-22 (TH-F), July 25-26 (M-TU), and July 28-29 (TH-F). A total of approximately 32 hours of course content (Phase I + Phase II) including: general passive house principles, enclosure issues, HVAC considerations and testing, cost optimization/bidding, and QA/QC process. Course is preparation for CPHB Certification.

Course highlights include: understanding types of electric vehicles: EVs, BEVs, and PHEVs; outlook for electric vehicle technology and adoption; types of charging infrastructure; current electric vehicle charging options; estimating number of connectors needed today and in the future; locating infrastructure; addressing safety concerns; cost; and construction best practices 2 AIA credits.

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn about the latest energy code advancements, participate in the discussion, and use your knowledge to inform the future of efficient and resilient building energy codes! Registration is now open!

• July 19: Pre-conference Workshop—Newcomers to energy codes—as well as those looking to refresh their knowledge—attend the Energy Code Bootcamp, a training workshop covering Energy Codes 101, and an introduction to DOE's REScheck and COMcheck energy code compliance software.
• July 20-21: Main Event—Featuring a variety of informative and engaging plenary sessions, discussion panels, and interactive breakouts on the latest and greatest in building energy codes.

Yestermorrow’s Certificate in Residential Design & Construction brings together the core aspects of the school’s design/build curriculum into one cohesive and comprehensive package. For people interested in embarking on a career in the design or building trades, or those seeking deep involvement in the creation of their own dream home, the Certificate in Residential Design & Construction provides the appropriate skills and knowledge through a mix of design challenges, site visits, studio sessions, and hands-on, experiential project work.

This program is offered as a hybrid learning opportunity with 5 weeks of online design courses followed by 3 weeks of intensive hands-on learning. The schedule is as follows: Architectural Design (Online): Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm-9:00pm July 20- August 17. There will be weekly homework assignments to further your learning. The in-person component will begin on August 22 and end on September 9. There will be some evening and weekend sessions throughout the in-person portion. Beginner Level American Institute of Architects (AIA): 140 Learning Units

Foam Free High Performance Building Enclosures with Oliver Klein of 475 High Performance Building Supply. Foam Free High Performance Building Enclosures presents a clear and practical guide to achieving the highest levels of resilient and sustainable building enclosures while eliminating foam. Learning Objectives: Define what qualities differentiate high-performance enclosures from typical construction and how those qualities are evolving. Describe practitioner concerns of foam insulation hindering efforts to meet the evolving high-performance qualities. Describe how a foam free enclosure can more robustly achieve the qualities of high-performance. Describe practical methodologies practitioners can implement, to successfully produce a high-performance enclosure that is foam free.

This training will go over the fundamentals of handling R32 refrigerant and installing Atmosphera units. This class is required to purchase R32 units. Registration is limited to 2 people per company. The class is $50 but after attending you will be given $50 off your first R32 unit purchase.

Trailblazers is a free training program to support the entry and success of women and gender-expansive individuals in construction and the trades. Trailblazers: Green will focus on preparing participants for jobs in renewable energy. You'll learn solar installation basics, get hands-on practice with the tools of the trade, and also hear from folks in wind energy, biomass, and weatherization about the many available jobs in these growing fields. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Upon receiving your application, a staff member will be in touch regarding the next steps.

SESSION INCLUDES:

• 7 weeks of hands-on training (held evenings and Saturdays) taught by NCCER Certified female instructors, covering core construction, OSHA10, electrical, plumbing, and manufacturing basics; and including a 3-week work experience with a local employer.
• Access to VWW Employment and Career Services staff, mentors, job shadows, on-the-job training, and one-on-one job/apprenticeship placement support.
• A safe, non-judgmental environment for individuals to build skills, gain confidence and explore fields that tend to be male-dominated, but where research shows time and again women have equal abilities to thrive and succeed. 

Course agenda includes: General requirements, Heating and cooling appliances, Exhaust systems, Duct systems, Combination air, Chimney and vents, Special appliances, equipment, and systems, Boilers and water heaters, Hydronic piping, Special piping and storage systems, Solar thermal energy systems, and Fuel gas

Course takes place M/W/F from 12-4pm EST.  You will learn the fundamentals of thermal bridges, how and why they’re calculated, how to quantify the linear heat transfer at component connection details, analyze those results, iterate to improve the detail, and create a thermal bridge report that could be used in a Phius Project Certification submission. You’ll also be taken through a step-by-step guide to review and troubleshoot your calculated details, ensuring that you’re equipped with the tools you need to be confident with your results.

Two part course pre-approved for 36 BPI credits: 

• PART 1 -- Online Modules Training Component: Weekdays from September 12-23, 2022. Monday- Friday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and Wednesdays 1:00 PM -4:00 PM (EST) 36 hours webinar instruction. A minimum of 8 of 12 sessions must be attended live and students should also budget time for up to 2 hours of homework per night.
   
• PART 2 -- 5-Day Classroom/Practical Training Component: October 3 - 7*, 2022, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (EST) *Religious accommodations will be made for those students observing Yom Kippur.  Part 2 includes live sessions on zoom. Distance equipment usage with blower door and duct blaster. Two of the five Probationary Ratings overseen by a RESNET certified Candidate Field Assessor required by RESNET. Preparation, proctoring and fees for all three RESNET Exams.

Seminar meets Sept 13, 15, 20, and 22, from 1-5 pm. Upon completion of the seminar, members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will receive 16 LU|HSW posted directly to the AIA Provider website. Course covers: building science principles (such as the control of heat, air, and moisture and IAQ) and shows you how to apply them to low-energy enclosure design, advanced HVAC systems, forensic investigations, and the repair and retrofit of existing buildings. 

Course agenda includes: General requirements, Services Branch circuit and feeder requirements, Wiring methods, Power and lighting distribution, Devices and luminaires, Appliance installations, Swimming pools, and Class 2 circuits.

Within the AEC industries, the already-present challenges of the 21st century will require novel, comprehensive approaches to energy use and measure, but agile players in the construction market can see rapid returns on their efforts: high building performance, climate-friendly materials, long-term durability, healthy IAQ, lower cost, and the technological tools for insight and analysis of our efforts. In this webinar, we’ll take the “30,000 foot view” of energy, and discuss why companies like ours are prioritizing supply chains and pizza toppings alongside blower-door results.

Two part seminar takes place Oct 4 and Oct 6 from 1-5 pm. Upon completion, members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will receive 8 LU|HSW. Course discussion on topics including: You have a house, you have a mess and you want to fix it. How do you keep the rain out of it? How do you make it energy efficient, not violate the building code and not irritate your contractor and the owner? How do you not screw up the historic significance if there is any? What about apartments? What about frame houses? How do you deal with brick and masonry basement foundations from the inside? What are sacrificial mortars and renderings? Should I worry about freeze-thaw damage when I insulate on the interior? How do I insulate on the exterior of a mass wall assembly? More questions - and more answers.

The cutting edge of design and construction involves enhancing the performance of our buildings to ensure that they last longer, use less energy, and are healthier and more comfortable to inhabit. As we push this edge further, we learn more about the physical phenomena that affect our buildings and how to design in accordance with the laws of physics and the forces of nature. In this class we will explore the field of building science to inform best practices for design and construction of the built environment. With a primary focus on moisture and thermal dynamics, we will identify typical weaknesses and develop strategies for improvements of various building envelopes. Through lecture, case study, hands-on testing, demonstration, design exercises, and design review, students will not only learn the science behind building performance, but have the opportunity to apply their knowledge. Some basic building literacy is strongly suggested. The Anatomy of the House course will give you a strong foundation in building literacy prior to this course.

Healthy Building Materials will take a dive into the broken promise of the statement “better living through chemistry.” Through assigned reading, case studies, videos and discussion,we will explore the effects of modern building products and household goods on our health.

Learn the basics of design and construction for Zero-Energy Building (ZEB) and Near ZEB for new construction & existing homes and buildings. These "green" buildings not only reduce our carbon footprint by saving energy, but are also extremely comfortable, quiet, healthy, and affordable when planned correctly. Participants will gain an understanding of what it means to set ZEB Energy Use Goals for projects, how to plan for achieving ZEB goals without reducing function, and how to achieve ZEB construction at the lowest cost.

This course will cover the fundamental subjects for achieving ZEB, including principles of life safety, fundamentals for healthy homes, principles of heat loss/gain, principles of insulation performance, principles of pressure plane integrity (air-leakage control), and the use of modeling tools and methods for determining paths to success. Discussions will include: functionality and durability; construction assembly choices that impact efficiency and cost; how design layout impacts HVAC systems' cost and plumbing costs; solar gain impact on buildings' inside living spaces; bulk water management; moisture management; fresh air management; and how capital investment will eliminate annual expenses to achieve a "return on investment" that is a net or positive cash flow from day one.