Energy Training — Recent and Upcoming

I have recently taken classes in various aspects of energy use, conservation, and design. This is something that I know I must do to maintain my status as an expert on green building as technology improves.

Positive Net Energy Homes — The Passive House Concept

The passivhaus is a concept, arising from Germany, for producing near-zero-energy buildings. These houses, at least in most climates, bear more resemblance to superinsulated construction than to traditional passive solar. The shell has high R-values, low infiltration, and minimal thermal bridging. Heat recovery ventilation combined with moderate solar gain and thermal mass, make conventional heating and cooling systems unnecessary. The savings from eliminating the cost of this equipment, along with the energy savings, make them cost-competitive with conventional construction. A moderately sized solar electric array will suffice to make the building produce more energy than it consumes. Although the concept was originally developed for residential design, it is applicable to other building types, and entire factories have been constructed to this standard.
The class, taught by Katrin Klingenberg of the Passive House Institute US, through the Pacific Energy Center, gave a general overview of the passivhaus concept and its implementation.

Low Energy HVAC Approaches for Nonresidential Buildings

Commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings have typically been conditioned by brute-force methods. Given that the main issue has been getting rid of the excess heat from people, lighting, and equipment, they have been given minimal insulation, and large heating and cooling systems which are often both on at the same time. Today, lighting and equipment loads are decreasing because of increasing energy costs and technological improvements, making it possible to use more subtle means to condition these buildings. Curiously, many of the technologies from passive houses are being used by the more educated designers in non-residential construction.
This class, also through the PEC, validated much of my thinking regarding building energy use, and exposed me to new methods and products.

Solar Hot Water

Heating water from the sun is an obvious application of green technology. I am appalled that it is not more commonplace. This class updated my knowledge of this simple and cost-effective technology.

Passive House Consultants' Training

This spring I will be undergoing training to become a certified Passivhaus consultant. This series of workshops will give me the technical knowledge to design buildings which are proven to provide the ultimate in comfort and zero energy bills with minimal additional cost. I will be updating my progress on this website.

More Training

I am also signed up for PEC classes on lighting design and energy analysis software. Although time for me is tight right now, I will be making at least one of these classes.