Events & Training

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.

Are you getting started on a residential new construction building, or significant existing home renovations? Do you have questions on which building energy standards apply? Efficiency Vermont experts are here to answer your questions about the Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) or "energy code" for short.

The third Wednesday of the month from noon - 1:00 pm, join our monthly RBES - Efficiency Vermont Office Hours for assistance with RBES requirements and options available to meet energy code for your project. Our building experts will help work through questions. Anything from general to project specific is welcomed! If you're unable to join the office hours, you can direct your RBES questions to the Energy Code Assistance Center: 855-887-0673. If you have Office Hours questions or challenges joining the call please contact Bryn Oakleaf at [email protected].

***Register by July 15th for the class.*** Free online class that equips women and gender-expansive individuals who own or are starting a business with the tools, skills, and resources needed to build a strong, resilient business. Registration is for the entire class. The class sessions build upon each other and there is an expectation that participants will make an effort to attend all of the sessions.

Four opportunities to learn the logic, the principles, the history, and the new frontiers of the Passive House. Find out how Passive House can change the way you think and work with buildings – how you can make radical decarbonization and affordable high-performance a given. This program will be offered on the following dates:  

• Sept 9, 2022 | 12 pm - 1:00 pm
• Oct 14, 2022 | 12 pm - 1:00 pm
• Nov 11, 2022 | 12 pm - 1:00 pm
• Dec 9, 2022 | 12 pm - 1:00 pm

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.

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen will be the keynote speaker at the 25th Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference (WEOC). In addition to Secretary Yellen’s keynote address, conference attendees will participate in workshops led by experts on career advancement, skill development, non-traditional careers for women, financial planning, and much more. Event is free, but attendees are encouraged to register early as space is limited. Attendees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and take a COVID-19 test before attending or wear a mask during the event.

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.

Attend this workshop and let a PTAC counselor show you how to organize your Bid Responses to enable you to produce a submission in a fraction of the time! Although the processes presented in this webinar are applicable to any bid response, the forms used are intended for State of Vermont bid responses. Presenter: Bonnie Sanders A link to the webinar will be sent to registered attendees before the event.

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.

In this hands-on training, with as many as 50 different field-tested heat exchangers, technicians will be guided through most inspections that are encountered in the field using dependable, practical techniques that were developed over a 40-year span of furnace installations. During the class, attendees will discover how to inspect heat exchangers thoroughly and efficiently and will become confident that they are doing the best job possible for customers.

Part 1 of a two-part training: "Think Like Air, Think Like Water: Building Science Principles Related to the Enclosure"

This course gives students an introduction to specific strategies used to achieve durable and energy efficient enclosures. Students will take away: 1) skills to describe the air tightness strategy used in a specific high-performance system 2) the ability to discuss strategies for proper moisture management given real world examples. 

This course gives students an introduction to specific strategies used to achieve durable and energy efficient enclosures. Students will take away: 1) skills to describe the air tightness strategy used in a specific high-performance system 2) the ability to discuss strategies for proper moisture management given real world examples The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods. Course Topics and Competencies: Explain the concept of heat transfer (convection, conduction and radiation) Explain/identify the drainage plane system on doors and windows. Explain the moisture transport of liquid Identify transitions between water and air Explain convective air transport due to pressure differences from the three basic sources or forces that drive this: stack effect, wind, and fans of any sort (spot-exhaust, unbalanced ventilation, leaky forced-air space conditioning. Identify proper material selection (IAQ, thermal mass, moisture) Identify assembly drying potential Identify air sealing and framing sequencing Control layers and the flow of heat, vapor, water air and solar gain through building components Understand hygrothermal analysis and the ability to predict the flow of heat and moisture across enclosure assemblies using computer software.

Industrialized construction practices, such as off-site manufacturing, have demonstrated an ability to reduce build times, lower costs, improve quality and performance, reduce environmental impact, create safer working environments, and increase overall construction productivity. Although this practice is far from new, challenges persist around code fragmentation, state and local inspections, and general education. In this session, we will hear about how DOE is supporting this practice through the Advanced Building Construction Initiative, the development of new off-site construction standards, and how manufacturers are finding creative ways to streamline code compliance. AIA, ICC, and RESNET continuing education credits will be offered for the live events. Instructions for requesting certificates of completion will be provided at the end of each live seminar.

This course is about learning the approach and skills of leading as separate from managing. Both are important skills in bringing successful completion to a project, but leadership skills at the crew leader level oftentimes are secondary to project management skills. Yet they are confronted with issues of: “How do you convey your commitment of high expectations?”, “How do you emphasize the importance of ongoing learning in the face of climate change?”, “How do you give performance feedback and not compromise the motivation of the employee?”, “How do you create a culture of respect given the presence of a divergent workforce (women and LGBTQ)?” These are leadership issues and successful skills increase employee retention and development. This is a 2-part course covered in two 4-hour sessions. Course Topics Distinction between leading and managing The importance and development of “Grit” Leadership style relative to the capability of the employee Leading by asking the question (closed ended, open ended, and summarizing) Socratic questioning Giving performance feedback Problem Solving skills – finding the root cause

To begin, or maintain, an active partnership with ENERGY STAR, an organization must have at least one individual on staff who is a certified Rater and has completed the required training through an accredited training provider. This training will help formalize that relationship. This training is for the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3.1 training. The test will be given following the final day of training.

This 8-hour training will be split up into 2 convenient half day online sessions. Classes will be Monday & Tuesday (10/24-10/25) from 10 AM EST to 2:30 PM EST. The exam will be on Tuesday (10/25) immediately following class. Exams will be from 2:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST. This course is approved for 18 RESNET PDHs!!!

This course gives students an introduction to specific strategies used to achieve durable and energy efficient enclosures. Students will take away: 1) skills to describe the air tightness strategy used in a specific high-performance system 2) the ability to discuss strategies for proper moisture management given real world examples The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods. Course Topics and Competencies: Explain the concept of heat transfer (convection, conduction and radiation) Explain/identify the drainage plane system on doors and windows. Explain the moisture transport of liquid Identify transitions between water and air Explain convective air transport due to pressure differences from the three basic sources or forces that drive this: stack effect, wind, and fans of any sort (spot-exhaust, unbalanced ventilation, leaky forced-air space conditioning. Identify proper material selection (IAQ, thermal mass, moisture) Identify assembly drying potential Identify air sealing and framing sequencing Control layers and the flow of heat, vapor, water air and solar gain through building components Understand hygrothermal analysis and the ability to predict the flow of heat and moisture across enclosure assemblies using computer software.

To begin, or maintain, an active partnership with ENERGY STAR, an organization must have at least one individual on staff who is a certified Rater and has completed the required training through an accredited training provider. This training can formalize that relationship. Effective January 1st 2020, Raters must complete the MFNC Version 1.1 Training prior to certifying projects in the new Multifamily New Construction ENERGY STAR program. This training meets this requirement.

This 12-hour training will be split up into 3 convenient half day online sessions. Classes will be Wednesday through Friday (10/26-10/28) from 10 AM EST to 2:30 PM EST. The exam will be Friday (10/28) immediately following class and last 2 hours. If this schedule does not work for you, please contact us for other possible options.

CONTACT PSD ABOUT GROUP TRAINING This training will cover the new requirements of ENERGY STAR for Multifamily New Construction, including an overview of the MFNC Program Requirements, Rater Design Review Checklist and Rater Field Checklist, Multifamily Workbook. At the conclusion of the training each participant will take an online test to qualify for the completion certificate. This course is approved for 18 RESNET PDHs!!!

Part 2 of a two-part training: "The Big Picture: Integration of the Whole Building System"

This course gives participants an overview of the building as a whole system. Students will take away: 1) skills to identify components of high-performance homes 2) the knowledge necessary to compare and contrast high-performance homes with code minimum conventional construction The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications.

Visit Brooks Memorial Library for open office hours with an efficiency expert, followed by a workshop in the evening.

Open Office Hours: 3:00pm-5:00pm

Have a personal conversation with Brad Long of Efficiency Vermont to discuss you home, apartment or business energy use and what can be done to reduce it while becoming more comfortable. Brad will have information available on all topics pertaining to energy efficiency and would love to speak with you about how Efficiency Vermont can help through it’s services, financial incentives and state-wide partners.

Workshop: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Learn what weatherization for your home means and where to start, how to afford it and what resources are available to you as well as what Efficiency Vermont’s Free virtual home energy visit is and how it can be a helpful first step. Do you want a cozier home that costs less to heat and cool than it does now? Efficiency Vermont has financial incentives a partner contractor network and financing partners that can help you meet your goals and needs. Brad Long from Efficiency Vermont will present on the basics of the science of home weatherization and what resources are available.

This course gives participants an overview of the building as a whole system. Students will take away: 1) skills to identify components of high-performance homes 2) the knowledge necessary to compare and contrast high-performance homes with code minimum conventional construction The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods. Topics and Competency Levels Apply knowledge of the thermal envelope by identifying on plan sets Demonstrate understanding of simultaneous consideration of energy, durability, comfort, and IAQ Convey understanding of integrated design and construction Identify air barriers and explain their importance. Identify and explain for each of the three basic barriers: air, thermal, and water. Identify the various heating plants and explain impact on the system including where it penetrates the envelope. Identify ventilation systems

Join Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) this October to hear leaders and innovators in renewable energy discuss how to realize Vermont and New England’s clean energy future. Panel topics include:

• Reforming Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard to increase in-state renewables
• How solar power can enhance biodiversity
• The future of energy storage
• Regional energy planning for resilience
• The role of advanced wood heat in Vermont's renewable energy future
• And more!

This course is about learning the approach and skills of leading as separate from managing. Both are important skills in bringing successful completion to a project, but leadership skills at the crew leader level oftentimes are secondary to project management skills. Yet they are confronted with issues of: “How do you convey your commitment of high expectations?”, “How do you emphasize the importance of ongoing learning in the face of climate change?”, “How do you give performance feedback and not compromise the motivation of the employee?”, “How do you create a culture of respect given the presence of a divergent workforce (women and LGBTQ)?” These are leadership issues and successful skills increase employee retention and development. This is a 2-part course covered in two 4-hour sessions. Course Topics Distinction between leading and managing The importance and development of “Grit” Leadership style relative to the capability of the employee Leading by asking the question (closed ended, open ended, and summarizing) Socratic questioning Giving performance feedback Problem Solving skills – finding the root cause

Dig Deeper session provided by IGSHPA to help market ground source heat pumps to customers.

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. 

This course gives students an introduction to specific strategies used to achieve durable and energy efficient enclosures. Students will take away: 1) skills to describe the air tightness strategy used in a specific high-performance system 2) the ability to discuss strategies for proper moisture management given real world examples The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods. Course Topics and Competencies: Explain the concept of heat transfer (convection, conduction and radiation) Explain/identify the drainage plane system on doors and windows. Explain the moisture transport of liquid Identify transitions between water and air Explain convective air transport due to pressure differences from the three basic sources or forces that drive this: stack effect, wind, and fans of any sort (spot-exhaust, unbalanced ventilation, leaky forced-air space conditioning. Identify proper material selection (IAQ, thermal mass, moisture) Identify assembly drying potential Identify air sealing and framing sequencing Control layers and the flow of heat, vapor, water air and solar gain through building components Understand hygrothermal analysis and the ability to predict the flow of heat and moisture across enclosure assemblies using computer software.

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association hosts a November Town Hall discussing Low-Cost Multi-Source Heat Pump System Design and Simulation. Using water source heat pumps with better heat exchange methods for the source water.

Required by the International (IRC/IECC/IMC) & New England State Building Codes, ACCA Residential System Design is a simple, time tested and peer reviewed process to meet the comfort needs of every residential building. Don’t learn the hard way: decades of mistakes, wrong advice from uninformed competitors, or reading design manuals in your off time! In just four hours, you will be more confident on the site survey process, sizing procedures, and duct design. CLASS CONTENT Manual J – Site Survey They teach you data input, I’ll teach you what the inputs should be! Access to a site survey form I developed over the last 15 years, along with a wealth of experience identifying ceilings & wall insulation, windows, ductwork, and all aspects of a load calculation. Learn how to quickly identify all inputs needed for the ACCA Approved, Manual J v8 software of your choice. Please don’t guess at sizing, it better be an educated calculation! Manual S – Equipment Selection You have the Load Calculation, how much bigger should/can the system be? Learn the sizing guidelines for residential equipment selection to include: A/C, Heat Pumps, Furnaces, Dual-Fuel Systems, and Boilers. Manual D – Residential Duct Design No more Rules of Thumb! Learn how to calculate the Friction Rate for your job (not all jobs are .10"), including basics like Available Static Pressure and Total Equivalent Length, before diving into Sizing Duct Runs and Trunks.

This course gives participants an overview of the building as a whole system. Students will take away: 1) skills to identify components of high-performance homes 2) the knowledge necessary to compare and contrast high-performance homes with code minimum conventional construction The course will be taught by professionals in the field and will emphasize real-world applications. Classroom learning will be balanced with hands-on experience, and evaluations will reflect these methods. Topics and Competency Levels Apply knowledge of the thermal envelope by identifying on plan sets Demonstrate understanding of simultaneous consideration of energy, durability, comfort, and IAQ Convey understanding of integrated design and construction Identify air barriers and explain their importance. Identify and explain for each of the three basic barriers: air, thermal, and water. Identify the various heating plants and explain impact on the system including where it penetrates the envelope. Identify ventilation systems

Multifamily buildings have historically been a challenging building type when it comes to energy code requirements. Whether its challenges related to envelope tightness and testing, implementing new technologies such as EV, PV, storage or heat pumps, or even knowing which code to use – this building type is often the topic of conversation. In this session, speakers will present new multifamily research and insights to continue to advance efficiency through energy codes. AIA, ICC, and RESNET continuing education credits will be offered for the live events. Instructions for requesting certificates of completion will be provided at the end of each live seminar.

Visit Brooks Memorial Library for open office hours with an efficiency expert, followed by a workshop in the evening.

Open Office Hours: 3:00pm-5:00pm

Have a personal conversation with Brad Long of Efficiency Vermont to discuss you home, apartment or business energy use and what can be done to reduce it while becoming more comfortable. Brad will have information available on all topics pertaining to energy efficiency and would love to speak with you about how Efficiency Vermont can help through it’s services, financial incentives and state-wide partners.

Workshop: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Learn what an apartment renter can do to understand and reduce their energy use in their apartments and be more comfortable. Brad will have information and resources available from Efficiency Vermont and it’s partners aimed at helping apartment renters manage their energy use. He’ll also explain how apartment renters can take advantage of free energy saving products from Efficiency Vermont as well as how to schedule a private consultation through Efficiency Vermont’s virtual home energy visit.

Join this session to learn how LEED addresses carbon holistically throughout the rating system and dig into the details for practitioners looking to decarbonize their buildings. Understand how to maximize carbon reductions through the revised LEED v4.1 BD+C and ID+C credit. Learn how to cut embodied carbon by leveraging Materials and Resources credit. Gain insights into the embodied carbon impacts of products and materials as found in the Materials and Resources credit. Explain the present and future role of decarbonization in LEED v4.1 and beyond.