How to Think About Energy in Buildings - Self Study
This is a bundle of these 3 courses
About this course
Because firms have gotten bigger and jobs have become more specialized, very few building professionals have mastery of these three subjects:
- Enclosures (Thermal)
- Mechanical Systems
- Renewables
But if you can learn to see the ways these things interact, your solutions become more creative!
You'll be given the context, calculators, and mindset needed to understand second and third-order effects of the decisions you make about energy in buildings. You'll learn to speak a common language with the building science 'geeks' who can see the interconnection of these specialities.
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Bundle outline
3 courses • 21 modules
Course 1 •
10
modules
Deep Energy Retrofits
Welcome • 1 assignments
Orientation Materials
- A note about this course - self serve
Module 1 • 15 assignments
Introduction to Deep Energy Retrofits
- 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 • 19 assignments
Deficiencies of existing houses and how a DER can help
- 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 • 19 assignments
Building Science
- 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 • 16 assignments
Air Barriers
- 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 • 11 assignments
Foundation Approaches
- 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 • 13 assignments
Wall Approaches
- 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 • 9 assignments
Windows
- 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 • 9 assignments
Roofs and Ceilings
- 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 • 15 assignments
HVAC and DHW
- 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 • 12 assignments
Successful Deep Energy Retrofit Case Studies
- 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 • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
- 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
Course 2 •
10
modules
Zero Net Energy Buildings
Welcome • 4 assignments
Orientation Materials
- Marc Rosenbaum - Introduction - Welcome to the Course! (6:28) (06:26 minutes)
- Course Format, Components, and Expectations - Please Read!
- All Presentation Slides (PDF) (.pdf)
- Capstone Project - Optional
Module 1 • 15 assignments
What is a Zero Net Energy Building, Energy, Solar Energy
Participants will be able to:
- Describe Zero Net Energy distinctions and definitions and advances that support widespread implementation.
- Identify key superinsulated enclosure strategies of zero net energy buildings (ZNEB)
- Identify major systems and components appropriate to ZNEB
- Explain differing forms of energy, how much energy do typical ZNEBs use, and how to use PV Watts to calculate solar energy is incident on a building
- Introduction to Zero Net Energy Homes (32:16) (32:16 minutes) Preview
- READING: Reading a Compass
- RESOURCE: Zero Energy Project
- RESOURCE: Zero Energy Buildings - US DOE
- RESOURCE: Zero Energy Buildings - New Buildings Institute
- Energy (20:49) (20:49 minutes)
- READING: NMSEA Energy Primer Sections 1-3
- READING: Eliakim's Way First Year Report (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Nine Years of Energy Data from Eliakim's Way (.pdf)
- Solar Energy (29:57) (29:57 minutes)
- READING: Passive Solar Heating - Whole Building Design Guide
- RESOURCE: PVWatts
- IMPORTANT READING! Instructions for new PV Watts (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Marc's Solar Calculator (.xlsx) (.xlsx)
- WEEK 1 HOMEWORK (.xlsx version) PV Watts (.xlsx)
Module 2 • 20 assignments
Methods of Heat Transfer & How They Occur in Buildings, How to Calculate a Building's Heat Loss, Moisture, Vapor Flow, Dewpoint
Participants will be able to:
- Explain the three principal methods of heat transfer
- Calculate the design heat loss of a building
- Describe the principal methods of moisture transport in buildings
- Describe the relationship between vapor diffusion, dewpoint, and mold
- Heat Transfer (19:59) (19:59 minutes)
- READING: Methods of Heat Transfer
- READING: Thermal Control in Buildings - Straube BSC
- Calculating Heat Loss (27:00) (26:32 minutes) Preview
- RESOURCE: Marc's Heat Loss Calculator (.xlsx) (.xlsx)
- Marc's Room by Room Heat Loss Calculator (.xlsx)
- RESOURCE: R Value Library
- RESOURCE: Wikipedia R Value
- Moisture (37:32) (37:33 minutes)
- LECTURE RECORDING: "Understanding and Calculating Building Heat Loss to the Ground" (56:39) (56:42 minutes)
- RESOURCE: Heat Loss to the Ground Lecture slides (PDF) (.pdf)
- READING: Understanding Drainage Planes BSC
- READING: Understanding Vapor Barriers BSC
- READING: Residential Water Management Details
- RESOURCE: Moisture Control for New Residential Buildings BSC
- RESOURCE: Building Materials Properties Table BSC
- RESOURCE: Rain Control in Buildings
- RESOURCE: Psychrometric Chart
- RESOURCE: You Can Do It!
- WEEK 2 HOMEWORK (.xlsx) Calculate the Heat Loss of a House (Solution on 2nd page) (.xlsx)
Module 3 • 12 assignments
How to Design, Specify & Test the Air Barrier, Thermal Bridges
Participants will be able to:
- Design and specify the air barrier
- Specify testing methods for air barriers
- Identify and calculate thermal bridging
- Calculate the true R value of an assembly
- Air Barriers (41:42) (41:42 minutes)
- READING: Air Barriers vs. Vapor Barriers
- Thermal Bridges (29:57) (29:57 minutes)
- READING: A Bridge Too Far BSC
- RESOURCE: Marc's Thermal Bridge Calculator (.xlsx) (.xlsx)
- Week 3 Homework - Part 1: Labeling Wall Section (.pdf)
- Week 3 Homework - Part 1: Wall section diagram (.pdf)
- Week 3 Homework Part 1 - One Solution (.pdf)
- Week 3 Homework - Part 2: Change in Peak Heat Loss Calculation (.pdf)
- Week 3 Homework Part 2 Solution (.xlsx)
- Week 3 Homework - Part 3: Use Thermal Bridge Calculator to compare two roof assemblies (.pdf)
- Week 3 - Part 3 Solution (.xlsx)
Module 4 • 19 assignments
Foundation Construction Strategies, Wall Construction Strategies, Roof Construction Strategies
Participants will be able to:
- Prioritize investment in ZNE envelope construction strategies
- Detail construction approaches for superinsulated foundations
- Detail construction approaches for superinsulated walls
- Detail construction approaches for superinsulated roofs
- Foundations (29:32) (29:32 minutes)
- READING: Understanding Basements BSC
- READING: How To Finish Exterior Insulation
- RESOURCE: Building Radon Out
- Walls (43:25) (43:25 minutes)
- UPDATE Week 4 - Embodied Carbon - Please Read (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Global Warming Potential of Insulation
- RESOURCE: David White's Insulation GWP Calculator
- RESOURCE: Carbon Drawdown Now! Video
- RESOURCE: Architecture 2030 Embodied Carbon in Buildings
- RESOURCE: Builders for Climate Action Embodied Carbon Calculator
- RESOURCE: HeadLok application table (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Lstiburek's Barn case study
- RESOURCE: High R Value Walls (updated 10/17) (.pdf)
- Roofs (26:14) (26:14 minutes)
- READING: Lstiburek's Roof Venting Rules
- WEEK 4 Homework: Model a High R Value Wall and Roof (.pdf)
- READING: High R Value Roofs (.pdf)
- Week 4 Homework - Possible Solution (.xlsx)
Module 5 • 19 assignments
Windows and Glazing, Solar Electric Systems, Lights and Appliances
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the performance of glazings and windows and the types of windows that are available
- Calculate the energy generated by solar electricity systems and the roof area required
- Specify efficient lighting
- Specify efficient appliances
- Windows (46:00) (46:04 minutes)
- READING: Panflashing Windows BSC
- RESOURCE: Payette Glazing Comfort Tool
- RESOURCE: Cardinal Glazing Performance Values
- Solar Electricity (28:18) (28:19 minutes)
- READING: Solar Electricity Basics FSEC
- RESOURCE: PVWatts
- Lights and appliances (13:35) (13:35 minutes) Preview
- Beyond Zero Net Energy (27:05) (27:05 minutes)
- RESOURCE - Beyond Zero Net Energy slides (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Energy Star Most Efficient Appliances
- RESOURCE: Electricity usage calculator 1
- RESOURCE: Electricity usage calculator 2
- RESOURCE: Humans Share the Planet
- RESOURCE: Overhang Shading Calculator
- Overhang Basics (.pdf)
- Week 5 Homework - Part 1
- Week 5 - Part 1 Solution (.xlsx) (.xlsx)
- Week 5 Homework - Part 2
Module 6 • 15 assignments
Heat Recovery Ventilation
Participants will be able to:
- Explain the need for heat recovery ventilation
- Describe the basics of how heat and energy recovery systems function
- Describe the range of heat recovery products are available
- Identify potential pitfalls in specifying ventilation systems
- Ventilation part 1 (59:03) (59:03 minutes)
- Ventilation part 2 (49:54) (49:54 minutes)
- UPDATE - Ventilation - Please read (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Fundamentals of Energy Recovery Ventilators Video
- RESOURCE - CO2 in Bedrooms Brian Just (.pdf)
- READING: Review of Residential Ventilation Technologies
- RESOURCE: Home Ventilating Institute Certified Product Directory
- RESOURCE: ACCA Speed Spreadsheets
- RESOURCE: Panasonic FV-10VEC2 ERV
- RESOURCE: Renewaire ERVs
- RESOURCE: Zehnder ventilation products
- Marc's Zehnder Comfotube Sizing Calculator (.xlsx)
- Week 6 Homework: Ventilation System Assignment (.pdf)
- Week 6 Homework: Ventilation Diagram (.pdf)
- Week 6 Homework - Possible Solution (.pdf)
Module 7 • 15 assignments
Heating and Cooling
Participants will be able to:
- Describe preferred system approaches for heating and cooling
- Describe how ventilation system design affects heating and cooling
- Specify heating and cooling equipment available for low load homes
- Select the appropriate type of air source heat pumps
- Fuels and Equipment (19:15) (19:15 minutes)
- Cooling (24:42) (24:42 minutes)
- System Approaches and Minisplits (25:23) (25:23 minutes)
- The Ins and Outs of Selecting Cold Climate Minisplit Heat Pumps (34:24) (34:24 minutes)
- RESOURCE - Selecting Cold Climate Heat Pump slides (.pdf)
- UPDATE - Heat Pumps - Please Read (.pdf)
- IMPORTANT RESOURCE - Cold Climate Heat Pump Specification
- RESOURCE: Passive and Low Energy Cooling (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Mitsubishi Multi-port Hyperheat (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Mitsubishi Single Zone Hyperheat SUZ Series Tech Manual (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Fujitsu Halycon Brochure (.pdf)
- RESOURCE Fujitsu Wall Cassette Tech Manual (.pdf)
- RESOURCE Fujitsu Single Zone Ducted Tech Manual (.pdf)
- Week 7 Homework
- Week 7 Homework - Possible Solution (.xlsx)
Module 8 • 12 assignments
DHW and Solar Thermal
Participants will be able to:
- Calculate domestic hot water (DHW) loads
- Identify strategies that minimize DHW energy
- Specify equipment available to make DHW efficiently
- Explain pros and cons of heat pump water heaters and solar thermal hot water
- DHW (39:41) (39:41 minutes)
- READING: Gary Klein DHW distribution
- Heat Pump Water Heaters Video
- RESOURCE: Marc's DHW Calculator (.xlsx)
- RESOURCE: Drainwater heat recovery
- Solar Thermal (34:15) (34:15 minutes)
- READING: Solar Hot Water FSEC
- RESOURCE: Convert Your Home to Solar Energy - Everett Barber
- RESOURCE: Solar collector ratings SRCC
- RESOURCE: Build It Solar
- Week 8 Homework DHW / HPWH / PV Calculation (.pdf)
- Week 8 Homework Solution (.xlsx)
Module 9 • 7 assignments
Degree Days and Energy Modeling
Participants will be able to:
- Understand heating degree days conceptually
- Calculate heating degree days for a project location
- Develop an annual energy use model for the building
- Size the solar electric system to achieve zero net energy
- Degree Days (10:00) (10:00 minutes)
- RESOURCE: Degree Days.net
- Energy Modeling (22:06) (22:06 minutes)
- RESOURCE - Understanding the Energy Modeling Process (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Marc's Energy Model (.xlsx) (.xlsx)
- Week 9 Homework: Annual Energy Model for Boston, MA (.pdf)
- Week 9 Homework Solution (.xlsx)
Module 10 • 13 assignments
Bringing it All Together With Case Studies and Resources
Participants will be able to:
- Evaluate the potential of a project to achieve zero net energy
- Design a schematic ZNEB project
- Study case studies of successful ZNE projects completed in the real world
- Locate further resources to improve practice moving forward
- Optional Final Capstone Project
- CASE STUDY - Rosenbaum ZNE DER (21:34 minutes)
- Rosenbaum ZNE DER slides (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY - KERN CENTER Living Building Challenge (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY - Plainfield School Deep Energy Retrofit (54:09 minutes)
- Plainfield School Slides (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY: Pill Maharam House
- CASE STUDY: Bindley House (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY: Clarke house (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY: Moomaw House (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY: Livermore House (.pdf)
- CASE STUDY: Ross House (.pdf)
- RESOURCE: Rosenbaum House 5 (.pdf)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
- AIA CEUs: Submit request form (within 5 days of certificate)
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Course 3 •
1
modules
Beyond Zero Net Energy: PV + Storage
Module 1 • 1 assignments
Video Lecture
- Lecture: Beyond Zero Net Energy (27:05 minutes)
Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- 12 Professional Development Contact Hours
- 28.5 PHIUS CPHC CEUs
Author
-
Marc Rosenbaum
Principal, EnergysmithsMarc 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