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.

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

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 een@efficiencyvermont.com.

***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.

Optimal lighting in parking and pedestrian areas is vital for creating a safe, comfortable environment. Let's dive into all the options RAB offers for lighting it right!

The course offers real-world insights into on-site implementation as well as counseling and advice on both the practical and business concerns specific to passive house. The material covers not only craftsmanship, but also risks and liability to the passive house contractor and guidance in both problem-solving and (more importantly) problem avoidance. 32.5 CEUs available

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. 

This webinar is for organizations who want sustained success through the implementation of quality management, and those seeking to improve communication through a shared understanding of the vocabulary used in quality management. Earn Up To 1.5 BPI CEUs

Learning Objectives:

• Learn clear definition of common terms we use in our daily work
• Learn the essential principles of relationship management
• Learn how building quality into our processes is the true way of improvement

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

Monthly virtual "office hours" with Efficiency Vermont. Drop in and ask any questions you have about the residential building energy code. While we tend to focus on the technical "how do I," and "what recommended options are there for..." types of questions, all types of questions are welcome! If you're unable to make it this month, join us next month. Typically, the third Wednesday of the month from 12-1pm.

Join us to discuss the business case for LEED. We’ll discuss the dollars and “sense,” return on investment, and ESG/CSR all while talking through ways to start that conversation with your clients and follow through on the results. Learn real world statistics of how LEED buildings perform to impact the triple bottom line. Understand the different tools clients and companies can use for ESG/CSR reporting. Feel comfortable approaching new audiences about LEED and green building

• Welcome, Introduction, USGBC Overview and Opportunities | Rhiannon Jacobsen, Managing Director U.S. Market Transformation & Development
• Return on Investment | Daniel Overbey - Director of Sustainability, Browning Day
• ESG/CSR Opportunities | Erin Linney - Program Manager, Sustainability, Salesforce

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.

In this edition of the Passive House Accelerator Showcase, we will hear from Lois Arena of Steven Winter Associates and Mark Ginsberg of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, who will share strategies that have achieved the best results for both residents and owners in terms of structure, envelope, ventilation, heating and cooling, and on-site generation. The presentation will be followed by a lively Q+A session.

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.

ASC’s 10-Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training focuses on best practices for identifying and protecting workers against the Fatal Four: Fall Protection, Struck-By, Caught-In or Between, and Electrocution. This course is intended for entry-level construction worker to provide a general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site. It is also beneficial for employees in need of refresher training. Examples of construction jobs include carpenters, electricians, laborers, masons, plumbers, sheet metal workers, tile workers, and welders. Special emphasis will be placed on Client-specific workplace hazards.

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. 

Efficiency Vermont is pleased to announce that the 2022 Best Practices Exchange (BPX) will once again be held in-person on September 14th at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel in Killington, Vermont. At BPX, C&I facility managers, decision makers, the most experienced mechanical contractors and relevant product manufacturers join Efficiency Vermont’s Account Management and Energy Consultant teams to share industry Best Practices.

Join this webinar to learn how to design a building enclosure that will stand the test of time. Dive into case studies for different wall and roof assemblies and learn their pros and cons. Discuss how to revise assemblies when specific materials are not available or cost-prohibitive, and see some ideas for cost-effective assemblies that will meet the next version of RBES. Presented by Karen Bushey, and Tim Yandow of Efficiency Vermont. AIA credit pending approval.

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.

This presentation will explore where we all might be going in the next decade in regards to: Zoning / density and embodied carbon, PH vs Net Zero vs Step 5 vs NetPositive Overheating, and climate change. A lively Q+A session will follow.

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. 

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.