Build your business and energize your career!
Building Performance Training is tailored for current and prospective building professionals—providing expert instruction, technical trainings, soft skills development and certifications on the latest energy efficiency methods and measures.
Why Building Performance Training?
- Provide greater value for your customers and grow your business
- Expand your services with state-of-the-art tools and techniques
- Gain technical skills to attract potential employers
What is a high-performance building?
Building professionals that create high-performance buildings view the home as a system, with each part playing a key role in a building’s overall comfort, health, efficiency and resilience. A high-performance building is one where all parts work together at their best, from insulation to appliances.
Who we serve:
- Builders: Contractors, plumbers, electricians and other building trades
- Designers: Architects, engineers and other design professionals
- Real Estate: Realtors, appraisers, inspectors and other real estate professionals
- Emerging Professionals: Students, young professionals or those looking for a career transition
Topics we cover:
- General building science such as the building envelope
- Specific building systems such as HVAC and water heating
- Decarbonizing technologies such as heat pumps
- Whole building approaches such as Passive House and Zero Net Energy (ZNE)
- Policy context such as CA climate goals and electrification
- Other emerging topics related to high performance buildings
Check out our events calendar below to register for upcoming trainings.
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Events and Trainings

Upcoming Events
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January 2021
Advanced: Selling High Performance Homes
REGISTER Advanced: Selling High Performance Homes For SLO Builders Event Description This session will build on the content of 3 courses that will be delivered in the 3C-REN series for RE Pros prior to this offering and recommended as prerequisites: 10/5 - Solar PV: Technology and Valuation 10/26 - Carbon Free Homes: Features, Benefits, Valuation 11/10 - Selling High Performance Homes Attendees will expand their knowledge of why and how new high performance homes are superior to their standard code-built…
Find out more »Advanced: Valuation of High Performance Homes
REGISTER Advanced: Valuation of High Performance Homes for Appraisers Event Description This session will build on the content of 3 courses that will be delivered in the 3C-REN series for RE Pros prior to this offering and recommended as prerequisites: 10/5 - Solar PV: Technology and Valuation 10/26 - Carbon Free Homes: Features, Benefits, Valuation 11/10 - Selling High Performance Homes Attendees will expand their knowledge of why and how new high performance homes are superior to their standard code-built…
Find out more »Residential Alterations and the Energy Code
REGISTER This one hour class is intended to train building department staff on how to improve enforcement of the CA Title 24 Energy Code as it applies to “residential alterations." This term is used by the energy code to describe changes to an existing home that may trigger energy measures. This includes water heater replacements, re-roofing, window replacements, remodels and HVAC changeouts. HVAC changeouts are one of the most common and most complicated because they often trigger third party verifications…
Find out more »Heat Pump Water Heaters For Energy Code (Public Sector)
REGISTER Description: As heat pump water heaters become more popular in residential applications, building departments need to be able to identify HPWHs on compliance documentation and in field, as well as understand how to enforce compliance with the California Energy Code 2019 Residential Standards.. This course will describe how to identify HPWHs and what the code requirements are for installation, with a specific focus on single family homes or where one HPWH serves one dwelling. Audience: Building Departments and other public…
Find out more »Passive House Basics (1 HR)
REGISTER Quickly moving into the mainstream of design and construction, the Passive House standard is proving its reputation for quality construction, energy savings, improved comfort, and healthy indoor air quality - all while ensuring the durability of the building with minimal or no additional upfront cost. When coupled with small renewable energy systems, Passive House puts true zero-energy, low-carbon buildings within reach. Whether wanting to understand and apply the basic principles or to grasp the big picture before taking advanced courses,…
Find out more »February 2021
Ventilation 101
REGISTER Ventilation 101 will cover the fundamentals of ventilation and will provide information to enable learners to achieve the following learning objectives: Articulate why tighter construction means residential buildings need ventilation. Identify and articulate the pros and cons of the three types of ventilation currently available: supply only, exhaust only and balanced ventilation. Describe the factors to consider when planning for a home’s ventilation system. This course includes 30 minutes of on-demand content for attendees to review after the training.…
Find out more »CPUC Compliance Workshop
As required by D.18-05-041 Addressing EE Business Plans, 3C-REN is holding a compliance workshop to provide transparency around the challenges that led to the failure to meet ABAL approval criteria related to forecast targets for the Residential Direct Install program (a.k.a. Home Energy Savings). The workshop is open to the public and 3C-REN will be available to answer questions. REGISTER
Find out more »Residential Additions and the Energy Code
REGISTER Full event description and learning objectives to come shortly.
Find out more »Energy Code Coach: Office Hours
REGISTER Energy Code Connect (ECC) is excited to offer our newest resource: Energy Code Coach Office Hours. Building professionals, please join our team of highly skilled code coaches for an interactive session to ask energy and green building code questions and have them answered live! This is an opportunity to learn collectively and navigate California’s complex energy and green building codes. Participants will get to: Learn from our team as they spotlight the most asked topics about solar photovoltaic (PV)…
Find out more »Introduction to Passive House
REGISTER The Introduction to Passive House course guides participants through the principles and economics of the Passive House Standard, with an in-depth look at enclosure insulation & thermal bridging: principles, calculations, details, systems and components. NAPHN (North American Passive House Network) and 3C-REN are proud to be providing this course for Passive House professionals. The Passive House Standard has been the state-of-the-art scientific foundation of high-performance and net-zero buildings, around the world for 24+ years. Training qualified professionals is…
Find out more »Heat Pump Water Heaters For Energy Code (Private Sector)
REGISTER Description: We’ll walk through the basics of heat pump water heaters (HPWH) for homes and provide critical compliance information for the California Energy Code 2019 Residential Standards. We’ll cover why we are seeing HPWHs in the code now, how they are different from other types of water heaters, highlight the benefits and some potential constraints, and review how a designer and/or builder/installer would document a HPWH for Energy Code compliance, with specific focus on single family homes or where…
Find out more »HRV and ERV Basics
REGISTER Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) Basics will provide introductory level information about HRVs and ERVs and how they are installed in today’s homes. Information will be provided to enable learners to achieve the following learning objectives: Describe how HRVs and ERVs provide fresh air into a home Identify the components of HRV and ERV systems Recognize and plan for climate and occupancy in system design Explain the difference between HRVs and ERVs and accurately…
Find out more »All Electric ZNE – Heat Pumps and Electric Appliances for Residential and Small Commercial Projects
REGISTER Construction in California is moving toward cost-effective, all-electric systems, without natural gas. We’ll discuss the benefits and potential barriers to integration of all all-electric systems.Learning objectives:Understand the benefits of all-electric systems and be able to communicate effectively with clientsLearn the parts, pieces and functions of heat pumps and consider options for distribution and locating equipmentUnderstand the performance and requirements of heat pump water heaters Review other electric appliances including dryers and cooktops
Find out more »Electrification and the 2019 Energy Code
REGISTER Description: As the Energy Code continues to encourage all electric construction, builders and jurisdictions alike must pivot to understanding all electric design and how buildings are impacted by code. Join us in this electrification 101 course to learn about strategies to build all electric and how to comply with and enforce code. Audience: Code officials, architects, designers, builders, contractors and other related fields.Learning objectives: Understand all electric buildings under 2019 Title 24, Part 6 Energy Code Understand plan review and…
Find out more »March 2021
Passive House Retrofits
REGISTER Retrofitting of existing multifamily buildings is a central component of the climate action plans of virtually every city in North America. This course will emphasis the selection of energy conservation measures and phasing these measures overtime, while the building is occupied.Topics covered: Passive House EnerPHit, roof insulation, airtightness measures, EIFS and sheathing at exterior or rain screen system, PH certified windows, heating + cooling, VRF’s, high performance ventilation, ERV’s, lighting and more. Learn multiple strategies to meet the Passive…
Find out more »Accessory Dwelling Units 101
REGISTER Description: New state laws encourage accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction to help meet the state’s housing needs. ADU requirements can be confusing, so join us to learn how they comply with the 2019 Energy and Green Building Codes.Audience: Code officials, architects, designers, builders, contractors and other related fields.Learning objectives: Understand what accessory dwelling units are Learn about energy and green building code requirements for new and existing conversion ADUsClarify when solar is required, maximum and minimum square footage, and HVAC and…
Find out more »The Building Blocks of Passive House Performance
REGISTER In this introductory course you will learn about Passive House and how it fits with other sustainable initiatives in our efforts to mitigate the Climate Crisis. Learning Objectives: You will learn the building blocks of Passive House How Passive House protocols deliver high performance Impacts of Passive House performance on occupants, communities - and the future of the planet Evidence Based Performance as a critical factor in achieving goals for the built environment How to position yourself to…
Find out more »QII For Contractors
REGISTER In the 2019 California Energy Code, QII (Quality Insulation Installation) changed from a credit measure to prescriptive measure, meaning it sets the target for compliance. QII is a protocol for the verification of proper installation of insulation in newly constructed homes. It is based on industry standards and manufacturer’s instructions.This 1.5 hour class will cover QII installation and requirements including:DefinitionsThermal BoundaryAir SealingInstalling InsulationCompliance Formsand the careful coordination required to make QII work in the field.Audience: Contractors, installers, builders, and…
Find out more »Residential Retrofits – 2019 Title 24 and Best Practices For High Performance Buildings
REGISTER Working through specific examples, we’ll help project teams navigate Title 24 2019 Energy Standards and identify strategies that have the highest impact for improving energy efficiency, comfort and indoor healthy environments in retrofits.Learning objectives: Understand the major changes in the Residential Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards 2019 (taking effect January 1, 2020) Review the benefits and requirements of HERS measures and field verificationIdentify best practices and highest impacts for retrofitsDiscuss barriers and opportunities in managing
Find out more »HRV and ERV for Passive House Applications
REGISTER Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilation (HRV) for Passive House applications will provide information about how HRVs and ERVs play a central role in Passive House construction. Information will be provided to enable learners to achieve the following learning objectives: Describe the role of HRVs or ERVs in Passive House construction and how it contributes to energy-efficient design Identify how system components contribute to the performance of an HRV design Demonstrate understanding of how systems are installed…
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