Green Building

Zero Net Energy

Building Science

Deep Energy Retrofits - Self Study

Marc Rosenbaum • Last updated 03/2023

4.6/5 (view ratings)

114 students

10 modules

CEUs

13:50 hours

144 assignments

Course description

Learn how to best 'fix what you have'. If you are serious about transformative energy upgrades in existing residential and commercial buildings up to 45,000 square feet this course is right for you.

Forget the theory. This course will fundamentally change the way you approach retrofit projects, while build your network of like minded professionals. Your practice will never be the same.

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Learning Objectives

Participants in this course will upon completion of this course, be able to:

How to assess if a house is a good candidate for a DER
How energy is used in most houses, and how DERs change that
Typical deficiencies of existing homes and how a DER addresses them
Heat flow, moisture flow, vapor retarders, and how to perform a simple heat loss calculation
Building blocks of a DER—air tightening, foundations, walls, windows, roofs—and the range of approaches that have been successful
Heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water technologies
Case studies of successful DERs

Preview the course material

Check out a free preview of the course by clicking the button below. This is a live assignment from the course and will give you a good sense for what the course will be like.

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Continuing Education Units

Approved for: 13.5 PHIUS CPHC CEUs, 12 Professional Development Contact Hours.

Full course outline

Welcome - Orientation Materials

This is a self-study on demand course. This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

A note about this course - self serve

Module 1 - Introduction to Deep Energy Retrofits

Topics: Benefits, Costs, What makes a good DER?, Where energy goes in houses

Introduction to the Deep Energy Retrofits Course (10:02 minutes) Preview
Course Textbook - Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide
READING - DER Guide pgs. 8-11
DERs - An Introduction (15:01 minutes) Preview
Energy (19:36 minutes)
RESOURCE - Thousand Home Challenge website
RESOURCE - New Mexico Solar Energy Association Primer (.pdf)
RESOURCE - Thousand Home Challenge Priorities Worksheet (.xls)
Livermore Case Study (32:17 minutes)
Marc's Intro to DERs (.pdf)
DERs - An Introduction PDF (.pdf)
Energy DER PDF (.pdf)
Livermore Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score
David White's GWP of Insulation Calculator (.xls)

Module 2 - Deficiencies of existing houses and how a DER can help

Topics: Water, Ice dams, Toxic materials, Mold, Combustion products, Discomfort, Pests

READING - DER Guide pgs 12-13
Deficiencies and Remediation (28:21 minutes) Preview
READING - EPA Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades pgs 1-25 (.pdf)
RESOURCE - Jeff May Ten Tips on Mold
RESOURCE - EPA Moisture Control Guide
RESOURCE - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
RESOURCE - BSI-056 Leiningen vs. The Ants
RESOURCE - CDC - Cleaning Up After Rodents
RESOURCE - Rodent-proof Construction and Exclusion Methods
RESOURCE - EPA lead web site
RESOURCE - EPA Asbestos web site
RESOURCE - EPA Radon web site
RESOURCE - EPA Build Radon Out Guide (.pdf)
RESOURCE - Joe Lstiburek on Ice Dams
RESOURCE - EPA Guide to Mold and Moisture (.pdf)
Plainfield School Case Study (40:01 minutes)
Deficiencies and remediation PDF (.pdf)
Plainfield School Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 3 - Building Science

Topics: Energy, heat transfer, moisture, Heat loss calculations, Vapor retarders

READING - DER Guide pgs. 31-41; 227-232
Heat Transfer (19:59) (19:59 minutes)
Calculating Heat Loss (27:00) (26:32 minutes)
Moisture (38:24 minutes)
READING - Understanding Drainage Planes
READING - Understanding Vapor Barriers
RESOURCE - Marc's Heat Loss Calculator (.xls)
HOMEWORK - Heat Loss Calculation (.xls)
HOMEWORK SOLUTION (.xls)
RESOURCE - BSD-011 Thermal Control In Buildings
RESOURCE - Materials Properties Table
RESOURCE - BSD-013 Rain Control In Buildings
Bindley Case Study (27:23 minutes)
Heat transfer PDF (.pdf)
Calculating Heat Loss PDF (.pdf)
Moisture PDF (.pdf)
Bindley Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Thermal Bridge Calculator
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 4 - Air Barriers

Topics: Where houses leak, Approaches to air tightening, exterior and interior, Testing and diagnostics

READING - DER Guide pgs. 31-41
Air Barriers (20:30 minutes)
Specifying and Testing Air Tightness (13:42 minutes)
Thermal Bridges (13:55 minutes)
READING - BSD-104 Understanding Air Barriers
RESOURCE - Marc's Thermal Bridge Calculator (.xls)
HOMEWORK - Calculate Assembly R Values
HOMEWORK SOLUTION (.xls)
RESOURCE - A Bridge Too Far
Kurkoski Case Study (20:45 minutes)
Air Barriers DER PDF (.pdf)
Specifying and testing air tightness PDF (.pdf)
Thermal bridges PDF (.pdf)
A Fun Thermal Bridge Occurrence
Kurkoski Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 5 - Foundation Approaches

Topics: Basements and crawl spaces, Slab on grade

READING - DER Guide pgs. 58-70; 143-156
Foundations (31:48 minutes)
Understanding and Calculating Building Heat Loss to the Ground (01:00:36 hours)
READING - BSD-103 Understanding Basements
RESOURCE - BSI-041 Rubble Foundations
RESOURCE - BSI-045 Double Rubble Toil and Trouble
Debevoise Hall Case Study (22:25 minutes)
Foundations PDF (.pdf)
Heat loss to the ground PDF (.pdf)
Debevoise Hall Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 6 - Wall Approaches

Topics: Frame walls, Masonry walls, Interior and exterior strategies

READING - DER Guide pgs. 54-57; 111-142; 158-162
Frame Walls 1 (18:00 minutes)
Frame Walls 2 (14:42 minutes)
Masonry Walls (22:34 minutes)
RESOURCE - Impact of Insulation
RESOURCE - Spray Foam Resources
RESOURCE - RR-1105 Internal Insulation of Masonry Walls
Union Mill Case Study (06:41 minutes)
Frame Walls 1 DER PDF (.pdf)
Frame Walls 2 DER PDF (.pdf)
Masonry Walls DER PDF (.pdf)
Union Mill Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 7 - Windows

Topics: New windows, Storm windows, Window insulation, Installation

READING - DER Guide pgs. 163-187
Windows (38:54 minutes)
READING - Panflashing for Exterior Wall Openings
RESOURCE - Window Basics
RESOURCE - Cardinal Glass Low-e Specifications
Martha's Vineyard Cottage Case Study (15:45 minutes)
Windows DER PDF (.pdf)
MV Cottage Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 8 - Roofs and Ceilings

Topics: Vented attics, Cathedralized roof

READING - DER Guide pgs. 45-53; 77-109
Attics and Roofs (24:55 minutes)
READING - BSD-149 Unvented Roofs For All Climates
RESOURCE - BA-1006 High R Value Roofs
RESOURCE - Lstiburek's Rules For Venting Roofs
Union Square Case Study (15:31 minutes)
Attics and roofs DER PDF (.pdf)
Union Square Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 9 - HVAC and DHW

Topics: Selecting a system, Minisplit heat pumps, Heat pump water heaters

READING - DER Guide pgs. 14-30
Ventilation Systems (26:40 minutes)
Heat and DHW Systems (29:37 minutes)
The Ins and Outs of Selecting Cold Climate Minisplit Heat Pumps (34:24 minutes)
READING - Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators
RESOURCE - Review of Residential Ventilation Technologies
RESOURCE - BSC Residential Ventilation Standard
RESOURCE - HVI Directory of Ventilation Equipment
RESOURCE - NEEP Cold Climate Heat Pump Specification
RESOURCE - Gary Klein Efficient Distribution of Hot Water
RESOURCE - Heat Pump Water Heaters Come of Age
Island Cohousing Case Study (44:40 minutes)
Mechanical systems DER PDF (.pdf)
Island Coho Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Module 10 - Successful Deep Energy Retrofit Case Studies

This week we'll review case studies of successful DERs.

READING - Ten Steps to Deep Energy Reductions (.pdf)
Lights Appliances Monitoring (28:51 minutes)
RESOURCE - Introduction to the Thousand Home Challenge (.pdf)
RESOURCE - Energy Star Appliances
RESOURCE - Lighting Research Center
RESOURCE - Bill McKibben New Yorker Article
Rosenbaum Case Study Part 1 (26:24 minutes)
Rosenbaum Case Study Part 2 (40:51 minutes)
Lights Appliances Monitoring PV PDF (.pdf)
Rosenbaum 1 Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Rosenbaum 2 Case Study PDF (.pdf)
Take the quiz for this week and earn a passing score

Conclusion - Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

1 Year of Access to Course Materials
Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Reporting Form for PHIUS CEUs

Author

Marc Rosenbaum

Principal, Energysmiths

Marc Rosenbaum, P.E. uses an integrated systems design approach to help people create buildings and communities which connect us to the natural world, and support both personal and planetary health. He brings this vision, experience and commitment to a collaborative design process, with the goal of profoundly understanding the interconnections between people, place, and... Learn more

Ratings

4.6

44 reviews

114 students have taken this course

by Darrell Moorehead 01/09/2021

As a none engineer this course filled in a lot of blanks for when I build my little home.

by Donovan Netherland, Managing Member, Tread Light Construction 12/22/2019

If you would like to thoroughly understand and internalize the process and knowledge required to tackle the complexities of creating Deep Energy Retrofits, take this course! Marc knows his stuff!

by Roger Gutzwiller, Owner, Acquire 01/10/2019

Marc Rosenbaum uses his in-depth knowledge and experience in Deep Energy Retrofits to present a wealth of information in a manner that is easy to digest. Anyone interested in making a home or building more livable and energy efficient should benefit greatly from this course.

by Nathan Fournier, CEO, Property Providers, LLC 01/08/2019

This course was an efficient and practical way to learn the ins and outs of how to conduct a deep energy retrofit on a building. The world be a much better place if every contractor and builder learned and applied the material in this course!

by michael champagne, Mr. 05/02/2018

much to get out of marc's course on deep energy retrofit. looking forward to applying the knowledge to add one more der home.

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Frequently asked questions

How does this course work?

You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 10 module course is delivered entirely online. This is a self-study, self-paced course and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.

How long do I have access to the materials?

Students get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.

Is there a certificate of completion?

Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.

Can I register multiple people?

Yes please visit our HeatSpring for Teams page to get a group discount.

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