Better Homes, Better Future

As the demand for healthy, high-performance homes continues to rise, indoor air quality is becoming a central focus for builders and homeowners alike. But what’s really in the air we breathe and how can filtration strategies create healthier, more efficient homes?

In this session, we’ll explore the hidden challenges of airborne contaminants in residential environments, from particulates and gases to microorganisms and the growing body of evidence around their health implications. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how ultrafine particles impact wellness and how filtration choices affect energy efficiency, HVAC performance and long-term system durability.

We’ll examine practical strategies for improving indoor air through filtration with whole-home in-line systems and how builders can differentiate their homes by offering cleaner, healthier living environments.

This session will include an overview of HealthWay’s residential in-line, HVAC-integrated air purification systems — the Home Defender HD and Super V. These whole-home solutions are designed to purify air at the source, delivering cleaner air throughout the entire home by capturing ultrafine particles, VOCs and microorganisms. HealthWay®, a global leader in air purification technology, will demonstrate how advanced filtration can improve indoor air quality, support HVAC system performance, and enhance the overall value and marketability of high-performance homes.

Whether you’re a builder, architect or HVAC professional, this session will provide actionable insights and science-backed strategies to help you build homes that stand out with better air.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common residential airborne contaminants and their impact on health and comfort.
• Understand filtration efficiency (including MERV ratings) and its effect on energy use and HVAC system performance.
• Evaluate the maintenance, design and operational implications of filtration systems.
• Compare design considerations and product options for in-line HVAC air purification systems that deliver whole-home coverage.

Water scarcity is a headline that we see daily, however water conservation continues to be left out of the discussion for home builders describing themselves as Net Zero.  As we wait for mandates of water conservation in the housing sector to be implemented throughout North America, there are a few states that are going a step further and offering incentives to builders when they implement water-saving technologies. Decentralized greywater recycling offers a 25-45% reduction in potable water use and in turn a reduction in wastewater production. By building homes and multi-residential buildings with greywater recycling, potable water use can be reduced by 10,000 gallons per home every year.

Two states are leading the way in North America in offering incentives to builders and developers when they implement greywater recycling. Florida and Hawaii have implemented rebates and/or density credits to builders and developers statewide to be proactive during this time of water crisis.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how decentralized greywater recycling is one of the most efficient ways to reduce potable water use.
• Understand that the sustainable home should always include water conservation technologies.
• Discover how states with incentives and rebates for the implementation of greywater recycling are leading the way when it comes to saving water.
• Learn how water conservation approached proactively as a reactive response will lead to the disruption of the issue of building permits.

In the push for sustainable construction, optimizing water and energy usage within buildings is becoming increasingly crucial. This webinar will delve into the innovative solutions offered by RainStick's recirculating shower systems, exploring their integration into both single-family and multifamily residential projects. With a focus on drastically reducing water and energy consumption inside the home without sacrificing performance, our experts will share their experiences with installation, real-world performance, and the benefits these systems bring to modern sustainable architecture.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into how RainStick technology not only meets but exceeds industry standards for water and energy efficiency. Through case studies and firsthand accounts, this session will offer a comprehensive overview of the impact of these systems on building sustainability and market appeal.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Recirculating Shower Technology: Explore the design and functionality of recirculating shower systems, emphasizing its role in reducing water and energy consumption in residential buildings.
Understand Installation and Performance: Learn from case studies about the installation process and field performance of RainStick systems in various building environments, highlighting their adaptability and efficiency.
Compare Conventional Systems: Analyze how RainStick's technology compares to traditional shower systems in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation, providing a clear understanding of its market potential.
Analyze Real-World Applications: Examine case studies and customer testimonials that demonstrate the effectiveness of RainStick in various building environments, and learn how to pitch this innovative solution to clients focused on sustainability.

This webinar is ideal for builders, architects, designers, and sustainability consultants who are  looking to enhance their projects with cutting-edge water and energy-saving technologies.

A home today must not only be high performing, resilient and built using sustainable methods, the home must provide the individuals living within it a healthy environment. There are many factors that contribute to the overall healthy environment we provide our homeowners, but one of the most critical is the quality of the air they breathe. This webinar will briefly cover some ventilation basics before delving into the pros and cons of the various system types. Particular focus will be placed on the efficiency and indoor air quality advantages of balanced ventilation systems with recovery (HRVs/ERVs) and how indoor air quality automation will shape the future.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand why tighter homes without good ventilation can be problematic for indoor air quality

2. Understand the basics of quality ventilation including product certification and airflow optimization and verification

3. Understand the options for whole home ventilation along with the pros and cons of each

4. Understand in particular the health and efficiency be

Retrofit electrification of existing buildings is critical for reaching energy and climate goals, yet there are many substantial challenges with replacement of heating, cooling, ventilation, and water heating systems. In particular, the extensive rework required to switch to heat pumps is complex, laborious, disruptive, bespoke, and expensive. In this webinar, researchers and practitioners will share about innovations and experience with emerging system design strategies that advance efficient electrification of single family and multifamily buildings. In part through grants funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), the presenters have explored, installed, and monitored a variety of all-in-one, combi-, integrated-, and modular mechanical systems that combine most or all of the heating, cooling, ventilation, and water heating functions into pods or packages to simplify design, streamline installation, and enhance performance. This session will overview various technologies investigated, consider their tradeoffs, present an evaluation of their field performance and installation experience, and examine their applicability in different residential applications.

Learning Objectives:

1. Introduce and discuss combined mechanical equipment both in development for and available in the US residential building market today.
2. Understand installation experience, system performance, and serviceability from case studies of equipment installations in occupied apartments.
3. Compare and contrast with conventional mechanical equipment retrofits, and evaluate market applicability for these products.
4. Share lessons learned from field demonstration research on product design for manufacturers, system design for building owners and design teams, and installation procedures for contractors.

Three RESNET standards combined: 1 - operations (HERS Index), 2 - the grid (CO2 Index) and 3 - embodied carbon (currently being written) provide capacity to analyze Carbon Usage Intensity. We'll explore time-of-use, load reduction and carbon sequestration in buildings at both the single-family and multi-family scale (500 units) to show cumulative impact. And discuss policy benefits of energy labeling and decarbonization for advancing energy equity, so that vulnerable populations can make informed housing opportunity decisions.

While the content is technical in nature, the presenters will draw a direct relationship to equity in the context of who has access to low carbon housing and how carbon reductions strategies in both operational and embodied phases can be scaled to the housing industry at large through the standards and programs being developed through RESNET. While the early adoption of low carbon strategies have been pioneered in large part by well-funded custom single family construction, the approaches being discussed in this presentation are designed to bring much broader access to the industry at large and in so doing, increase resiliency. Further, we will explore equity from a climate justice lens to understand which communities are most directly impacted by the climate crisis that the residential housing sector is currently contributing to and provide the context and motivation for why building resilience through these initiatives is so critical.

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand how the RESENT Carbon "Trifecta" allows calculation and analysis of blended metrics like Carbon Use Intensity.

2) Understand how such a blended metric facilitates a Whole Lifecycle Analysis at the residential scale and how close we are to being able to do this.

3) Understand the role that HERS Raters play in resiliency, especially in EJ neighborhoods, though the evolution of dynamic grid electrification, load management/reduction and carbon sequestration in buildings.

4) Understand the cumulative impact of simple materials substitutions at the scale of a residential development of 500 units.

In the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the primary residential provisions of the code (Chapter 4) consisted of four pages. That same chapter in the 2021 IECC is 21 pages long! Mandatory, prescriptive, performance, energy rating index, additional efficiency packages and UA trade-offs all combine to make IECC compliance complicated.

Prescriptive compliance is increasingly more expensive and complicated to use, and the performance compliance option doesn’t allow consideration for high efficiency equipment. The energy rating index path provides a whole-house performance approach but has aggressive targets that are complicated with amendments for ventilation requirements and no requirements for quality assurance oversight of third parties.

If the energy code’s primary purpose is to reduce energy consumption, why can’t we set performance goals and let builders figure out how to achieve it?

One recent example of this approach is in Texas. Texas House Bill 3215 updated the state’s universal energy code compliance pathway to allow builders to use the energy rating index for energy code compliance across the state, in lieu of the state energy code or any stretch code adopted by municipalities. The legislation ratchets down target ERI scores to improve efficiency through 2028, allowing builders to plan for future efficiency requirements.

Attend this webinar to learn how a simpler approach to energy code compliance can work, how it can be used to set a path to net-zero energy and how to implement it in your state.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the changes and complexities of the IECC over time.
• Understand how the energy code can be simplified.
• Be able to describe how a simplified performance-based approach has worked in other states.
• Learn how a performance-based energy code approach can be used to get builders to net-zero homes more quickly.

In this session, we will build on our 2023 EEBA Summit session “Are You Leaving Money on the Table?...” and dive deeper to guide builders of single family and multifamily homes in your pursuit of the 45L Tax Credits via ENERGY STAR or Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) certification, as well as 179D Tax Credits and HUD 221(d)(4) Loans for builders of multifamily homes. We will highlight the requirements that need to be met for your homes to earn ENERGY STAR v3.1 and v3.2, as well as ZERH. We will explain many cost-effective strategies to transition to earning ENERGY STAR, and then to earning ZERH. We will discuss what your trades may have to do differently, who is responsible, and when to address. And we will highlight how RESNET HERS Raters can be your resource for you as homebuilders to earn the 45L and 179D Tax Credits, and to be eligible for HUD 221(d)(4) Loans. Your RESNET HERS Rater can help you realize how close you may already be to earning these benefits, and what else you can do to get there cost-effectively.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the 45L Tax Credits for builders of single family and multifamily homes, and the 179D Tax Credits and HUD 221(d)(4) Loans for builders of multifamily homes.

2. Identify what your trades may have to do differently to help your homes earn ENERGY STAR and ZERH certifications. Learn which trades are responsible for which items, and when to address each of these items.

3. Understand the many cost-effective strategies to earn ENERGY STAR and ZERH certification.

4. Learn how HERS Raters can be your resource to earn the 45L and 179D Tax Credits and to be eligible for HUD 221(d)(4) Loans.

Hempitecture CEO, Matthew Mead, provides an overview of the natural fiber insulation market that is rapidly developing to support low embodied carbon construction. Reviewing different products and strategies, this session will discuss how to achieve the lowest total carbon footprint for a project after accounting for both embodied carbon and operational carbon in the building.

Learning Objectives:     

• Discover low embodied carbon insulations.
• Learn about natural fiber insulation product forms (batt, loose-fill, board).
• Understand how to measure in-wall performance (R-value + thermal mass + air penetration + vapor permeability).
• Demonstrate installing to maximize reported performance.

More energy efficient homes represent a huge, and growing, opportunity for builders and remodelers to address homeowner demands. Driven by a growing social consciousness, new rebate programs and rising energy costs, homeowners want to explore options and will be more likely to commit. Plus, new technologies are making the process more efficient and effective. In this session, building performance experts share best practices to capitalize on the growing business opportunity, and help you feel good about your contribution to the planet.

Learning Objectives:

1. Quantify the business opportunity for both retrofit and new construction residential projects.

2. Discuss how to enable technology to do the hard work of finding the right building performance solutions for a variety of climates that can achieve a number of results, from carbon neutral to zero net energy.

3. Understand consumer demand and how to leverage it through marketing and sales activities.

4. Learn about all the incentives available to make this opportunity as fruitful as possible.

Speakers: Jennifer Castenson, Travis Brungardt, Casey Murphy

The carbon emissions and embodied carbon in single and multifamily homes are a growing area of interest and concern in the housing industry and can be used as an advantage in marketing and sales. Air leaks in the building envelope account for the most significant portion of wasted energy in the heating and cooling of homes, thereby creating a major source of carbon emissions throughout the life of the home. This session will explore the reductions in carbon emissions that can be achieved through a more airtight building envelope. Analysis will be presented that reveals carbon emissions reductions for different levels of air tightness across the different climate zones in North America. The embodied carbon impact of air sealing materials will also be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the impact of heat loss and gain due to air leaks in homes.
2. Understand the impact that air sealing a home’s exterior envelope can have on reducing the operational carbon emissions throughout the life of a home and in different climate zones.
3. Understand the embodied carbon impact of air sealing materials.
4. Understand how an air tight envelope can contribute to a net zero carbon home.

Speakers: Bill Shadid & Gord Cooke

Are your ventilation practices keeping up? With the envelope of the home becoming tighter through new code standards, improved building materials, and increased awareness of Indoor Air Quality, a balanced ventilation strategy is critical for the health of the home and its occupants.  Join us to discuss the evolution of building ventilation codes, how to incorporate ventilation into voluntary programs like NetZero, which solution is the right choice for your home, and how to build a Healthy Air Home with additional Indoor Air Quality products. 

Topics/Key Learnings

• Welcome and Intro
• How changing climate and codes will affect ventilation requirements
• Benefits to voluntary programs including Energy Star and NetZero
• ERV or Power Ventilators, which is the right choice?
• V22 – The perfect solution for comfort, code compliance and healthy air
• Properly commissioning ventilation units
• Combining ventilation with other IAQ equipment to create Healthy Air/Creating Healthy Air with Ventilation and Other IAQ Components

Closing keynote speaker, Eric Amyot, at the 2023 High Performance Home Builder Summit!

KB Home, in partnership with SunPower, the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Schneider Electric, Kia America and Southern California Edison (SCE), built two blackout-resistant communities, Durango and Oak Shade, comprised of more than 200 all-electric, solar- and battery-powered homes designed to use 40% less energy than similar homes and backed by a microgrid “community battery” in Menifee, California. This first-of-its-kind project models what the future of homes and connected communities could look like: creating minimal disruption to homeowners’ daily lives while significantly improving energy resilience for the community and energy efficiency for the broader region.

Learning objectives:

• Team – KB Home will share about the different partnerships and collaborations that made this microgrid project possible.
• Technology – Attendees will learn about the features selected for these homes and how the technology work together to drive resiliency for the community. 
• Innovation – KB Home will share about two unique homeowner participation programs available at these communities: a virtual power plant (VPP) service and a vehicle-to-home (V2H) study.
• Impact – Attendees will learn about the projected impact of this microgrid project for residents, the greater community, and the environment.

In this webinar, you will learn about heat pump inverter technology from Daikin Comfort Technologies North America.  We will explore the many benefits of inverter technology and what this means to your new homes and homebuyers.  We will also explore Daikin and Goodman’s NEW heat pump inverter offerings along with smart controls and IAQ options.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand Heat Pump technology and why is it important.
• Identify what Side-Discharge Inverter Systems are.
• Discover the configurations and applications of inverter systems.
• Learn about the consumer benefits of Inverter Technology.

As jurisdictions across the country consider electrification policy, industry understanding of their electric options for heating and cooling is increasingly important. 

Attendees of this course will learn the benefits of innovative electric heating and cooling technologies, for examples:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the building sector as a result of displacing natural gas, propane combustion and oil heating.
•  Increases in electrical efficiency as a result of replacing using innovative systems such as ductless minisplits and ground source heat pumps
• Utility bill savings for ratepayers as a result of technology efficiencies and the ability to shift electric consumption to parts of the day when renewable energy resources are abundant and electricity prices are lowest.
• Concepts such as dual-fuel heating and cold climate heat pumps.
• Attendees will be familiarized with the various types of heating and cooling systems.

Attendees of this course will learn the benefits of water heating technologies, for examples:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the building sector as a result of displacing natural gas and propane combustion water heating.
• Increases in electrical efficiency as a result of replacing electric resistance water heaters.
• Utility bill savings for ratepayers as a result of technology efficiencies and the ability to shift electric consumption to parts of the day when renewable energy resources are abundant and electricity prices are lowest.

Attendees will be familiarized with the various types of water heaters:

Conventional storage water heaters offer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water which is adequate for everyday use. In some instances, however, such as when simultaneous usage of hot water occurs, or when there is a longer durational need for hot water.

• Heat pump water heaters move heat from one area to another instead of generating heat directly to provide hot water, resulting in high efficiencies and significant cost reductions.
• Solar water heaters use the sun to heat water, reducing energy costs for homeowners.
• Tankless or demand-type water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. This type of water heater is designed to provide a sufficient supply of hot water without running out, when adequately sized.
• Tankless coil and indirect water heaters use a home's space heating system to heat water. 

Most folks in the EEBA community know there’s a connection between water and energy (and as a result, carbon). On the one hand, we use huge amounts of water to generate electricity, and managing reservoir levels in a way that supports hydroelectric generation has become an increasing issue in the West. On the other hand, we use huge amounts of energy to extract, move, treat, and deliver water and wastewater to our homes. So how much energy does it take? How much energy and carbon can you save by reducing water? We’ll explore these questions using both national averages and local case studies.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the relationship between water, energy, and carbon
• Express how and where energy is consumed in the process of supporting our homes with water
• Describe the factors that influence the energy intensity of different water supplies and specific homes
• Learn how WaterSense labeled homes certification and the tools provided by WaterSense can help address the energy embedded in water

Consumer awareness and demand for homes that perform at zero energy or near zero levels is on the rise.  As builders across the country attempt to deliver zero energy performance to their customers, there are a variety of strategies to reach this target – some more expensive than others.  In addition, as builders attempt to find the most cost-effective solutions, it is important to think about cost implications for both the builder and the buyer.  Attendees of this class will be able to:

• Define the key components of any zero energy home
• Identify a broad range of cost considerations for both the builder and buyer of a zero energy home
• Understand various approaches to achieving zero energy performance
• Understand methods for analyzing zero energy strategies
• Identify existing analysis tools for optimizing cost and efficiency

Most Home Builders are struggling to design ventilation systems that meet the new IECC state building codes and ENERGY STAR for Homes version 3.1’s mandatory, delivered ventilation air flow rates to qualify for the 45L Federal Tax Credit. By the end of this training, Home Builders will have the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement cost-effective ventilation systems that meet state and federal regulations while achieving maximum efficiency.

Four Learning Objectives:

1. What are the 2021 IECC ventilation requirements and how can you meet them?
2. How can your ventilation design help you qualify for the 45L Federal Tax Credit?
3. How can Home Energy Raters help you model for maximum efficiency?
4. How can you ensure that your installed ventilation system delivers code compliant air flow? 

The Inflation Reduction Act will soon be rolling out financial incentives for more efficient HVAC systems like heat pumps to save energy and improve home comfort for American households. But what happens if these systems are improperly installed? According to a recent analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 70% to 90% of residential HVAC systems have at least one problem with their installation that is wasting energy, whether it’s improper refrigerant charge or airflow. The Department of Energy’s Smart Tools for Efficient HVAC Performance (STEP) Campaign is working to address this issue through widespread adoption of smart diagnostic tools in the HVAC industry. Smart diagnostic tools can help technicians commission new HVAC systems and verify optimal performance. When used in quality installation programs to ensure new HVAC systems are installed without energy-wasting errors, these tools can be the solution to ensuring IRA-backed HVAC systems are delivering the home comfort and energy savings promised.

Learning Objectives:

- Learn about smart diagnostic tools and how they work

- Understand the business value of smart diagnostic tools for HVAC contractors

- Understand how smart diagnostic tools align with the goals of the IRA

- Learn how smart diagnostic tools can be incorporated in quality installation programs

Climate change has caused unprecedented power outages and soaring energy costs, and homeowners are paying the price. As new codes and standards continue to push for efficiency and connectivity, homeowner expectations are evolving too — and Schneider Electric is positioned to play a major role in the transition.

In this webinar, we'll introduce Schneider Home, an all-in-one, grid-to-plug home electrification system that makes it easy to monitor, manage, and maximize energy use in residential homes. By ensuring homes are future-ready for the new energy landscape, we can advance a new energy economy that is sustainable, resilient, and affordable.

Learning Objectives:

1) Learn about the outsized role the residential building sector plays in the push for electrification and decarbonization.

2) Understand how both building codes and customer demand are converging to help drive these energy solutions.

3) Discover what homeowners expect from a modern home are smart technologies that are interconnected and intuitive - Yet the reality today is that these solutions are fragmented.

4) Recognize that Schneider is the only technology provider that can deliver a full grid-to-plug solution with a single digital interface thus fulfilling consumer demand and helping to achieve emerging electrification and decarbonizing goals.  

Aaron Smith, CEO of EEBA, is joined by Adam Robertson, co-founder and principal of Sustainatree Consulting from Calgary, AB Canada. With a background of over 10 years in civil engineering within the construction industry, particularly in wood building products, Adam brings a wealth of expertise. Embodied carbon, a topic gaining traction among builders and developers, encapsulates the totality of greenhouse gas emissions and removals throughout a product's lifecycle. This includes inputs, outputs, raw materials, energy, and more, each with its own carbon footprint. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive, quantified understanding of the climate impacts associated with each product's journey. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the significance of embodied carbon for builders and its implications moving forward.

With water scarcity concerns rising, we must look at what can be done at saving potable water use. By treating and reusing lightly contaminated greywater at both the residential and commercial level, there is the potential to save millions of gallons of potable water use each year. Decentralized greywater treatment can be implemented into new builds across the United States to start this mission of saving water up to 35% per home. One home alone can save more than 12,000 gallons of potable water usage in one year, giving relief to infrastructure, saving energy for pumping water and reducing consumption. Hydraloop is a patent device that has been installed all over the world, holding NSF 350 certification as well as UL-979 and IAPMO.

4 Learning Objectives:

1.    Understand the types of water in the home.

2.    Learn about technology used to treat lightly contaminated greywater.

3.    Understand implementation of greywater treatment into the home.

4.    Identify potential water savings by getting the consumer involved, ultimately leading to savings in infrastructure, density and energy.

While the building industry continues to move in the direction of Net Zero or Zero Energy Ready Homes, there is still concern by builders, developers, architects, and home buyers that this level of high-performance homes is a goal that is too hard and too costly to achieve for their projects. During this webinar, attendees will be shown how air sealing a tight building envelope achieves Net Zero/Zero Energy Ready housing that is much easier to achieve and more affordable to build – even at a production level. Case studies will be presented, and building envelope air sealing will also be reviewed, including benefits, pain points, and methods used.  Learning Objectives: 1. The perceived challenges of Net Zero homes around achievability and affordability 2. How air sealing a tight envelope makes Net Zero more achievable and affordable 3. Understand the different methods of air sealing, along with their benefits, challenges and cost implications 4. Learn of new, innovative methods for air sealing

While the building industry continues to move in the direction of Net Zero or Zero Energy Ready Homes, there is still concern by builders, developers, architects, and home buyers that this level of high-performance homes is a goal that is too hard and too costly to achieve for their projects. During this webinar, attendees will be shown how air sealing a tight building envelope achieves Net Zero/Zero Energy Ready housing that is much easier to achieve and more affordable to build – even at a production level. Case studies will be presented, and building envelope air sealing will also be reviewed, including benefits, pain points, and methods used. 

Learning Objectives:

1. The perceived challenges of Net Zero homes around achievability and affordability

2. How air sealing a tight envelope makes Net Zero more achievable and affordable

3. Understand the different methods of air sealing, along with their benefits, challenges and cost implications

4. Learn of new, innovative methods for air sealing

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. AprilAire’s Get Radon on Your Radar course is a 30-minute learning seminar designed to help people understand more about radon, a radioactive gas commonly found indoors at dangerous levels.

The program is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn more about radon and about how to test for it and fix problems.

This program will teach participants to:

• Understand what radon is, where it comes from, and its risks for causing lung cancer.
• Understand the scale of the problem, explain why everyone should test for radon, and describe how to do it.
• Understand how radon comes into a home and how to fix homes to reduce radon exposure.
• How to partner with AprilAire, and take action against Radon immediately. 

A home today must not only be high performing, resilient and built using sustainable methods, the home must provide the individuals living within it a healthy environment. There are many factors that contribute to the overall healthy environment we provide our homeowners, but one of the most critical is the quality of the air they breathe. This session will focus on the efficiency and indoor air quality advantages of balanced ventilation systems with recovery (HRVs/ERVs) and how indoor air quality monitoring and automation will shape the future.

Learning Objectives:
Why today’s homes and lifestyles are more problematic for indoor air quality;
How HRVs/ERVs work and why they're so efficient;
Proper HRV/ERV selection and installation;
How indoor air quality monitoring and automation will shape the future.

The consumer mindset around what is desired in a home is constantly evolving. Review the latest survey insights from homeowners and single-family renters from around the country. Dive deep into energy awareness, motives, and the current mindset of home occupants. Get a glimpse into consumers' understanding of different energy-efficient programs and terminology and future plans for living more sustainably. Data, design, and marketing messages are paired with real-world examples of how to apply this to the future of homes and communities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover consumers' awareness and understanding of environmental factors and terminology;

2. Utilize consumer survey results to adjust your home designs and/or marketing messages;

3. Understand the latest consumer mindset on healthy homes;

4. Gain an understanding of the top motivators for consumers regarding health, wellness, and energy efficiency as they pertain to the home.

States and local governments around the county have set ambitious climate goals that center net zero newly constructed buildings as a key component to meeting these goals. Two new models are now available to help jurisdictions achieve their climate goals: New York State Stretch Energy Code (NYStretch) and the Zero Energy Appendix in the 2021 IECC. The nearly finalized NYStretch development process has taken the recent IECC credits approach to the next level. This credit system provides flexibility and refocuses on decarbonization and resilience in buildings as the objective. The development of the NYStretch took a unique approach to cost analysis considering that electrifying now is cheaper than retrofit and future fuel projections are highly variable. The Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) Appendix to the IECC provides an off the shelf opportunity for both commercial and residential new construction. Additionally, the Inflation reduction Act will provide $670 million in aid for local adoption of the ZEH Appendix. Since the ZEH Appendix is published as part of the model IECC, it can be easily modified by adopting states and jurisdictions to better meet local climate goals, or by incentive programs or builders to meet their market demands. NBI is currently developing a guide to aid jurisdictions and program implementers in this process. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act for states and localities to improve energy code. 2. Explain how the Zero Energy Homes Appendix can be used to meet state and local net zero energy goals. 3. Identify how credits can be used to improve flexibility for builders while focusing on decarbonization and resilience 4. Examine use of cost analysis in code and policy advancement considering future retrofits.

Most homes in America are woefully underlit. Codes are no help, because they have minimal requirements (would you believe the International Residential Code only requires ONE light in a kitchen?). Despite energy mandates requiring high efficiency LED’s, there is little guidance on what kind of LED’s to use and more importantly where to place them. The missing element in this discussion is how much light we need, as the population ages. A 60 year old needs 3 times the illumination as a 20 year old to see! Drawing on ten years of original research and volunteer work with both the Illuminating Engineering Society and the National Kitchen & Bath Association, architect Doug Walter will discuss optimal lighting strategies and layouts for each room in the home using the latest technologies, illustrating them with actual case studies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Learn how to maximize lighting and daylighting in homes to support Circadian rhythms and provide adequate illumination for all age groups.

2. Attendees will understand why each end user might have different needs, and how to provide them the control and choice they require from low tech to high tech.

3. Look at residential lighting standards and industry recommendations critically, and set your own evidence-based metrics.

4. Know where to look for further learning on the topic of lighting, especially kitchens and baths, the two most critical lighting environments in the home.

Chef Andrew Forlines will give an overview of new and advanced home cooking technology with an emphasis on all-electric, non-gas options. Induction cooking, Steam and Speed Ovens, Sous Vide Cooking, Automated and Smart WiFi Connected appliances.

Learning Objectives:

1. Why Induction burners are more powerful and better than gas burners.

2. Understand the expanded modern all-electric home kitchen appliance portfolio.

3. Learn talking points to get home owners and trade partners to opt in on all-electric home kitchen appliances.

4. Understand the complexity of the home kitchen large appliance industry AND how to navigate it.

Energy loss is a real problem on any residential new construction project. And perhaps there is no greater opportunity for energy loss than conditioned air leaking into the attic space through the dozens and dozens of ceiling penetrations that accommodate things like lighting fixtures, air-conditioning diffusers, smoke detectors, security devices, and more. Join us for a conversation with the inventor and founder of Comfy Light: a once-in-a-generation idea that is going to change the approach to residential energy savings. Josue Ramirez will show us that by combing air and light into one discreet patented device, saving significant amounts of energy never looked so good!

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to significantly reduce the number of ceiling penetrations by combining air and light into one Comfy Light fixture;

2. Demonstrate how blower door test data confirms the dramatic impact that installing Comfy Light has over traditional HVAC diffusers;

3. Understand that if the A/C system isn’t working as hard, it’s going to last longer, and fewer air changes per hour means the system doesn’t have to run as much, and will therefore last longer;

4. Compare Comfy Light’s unique multi-axial design, allowing for both horizontal and vertical air mixing.

Speakers: Josue Ramirez, Ken Grubbs

Join award winning builder Jay Epstein, water physicist Dr. Markus Lenger, and water and energy conservation expert Larry Acker to discuss heat pump water heaters:
1) How effective are they in a residential home and what are the options?
2) Should every home consider a Heat Pump Water Heater, even though they only have access to 110/120 Amps? 
3) Is plumbing design necessary for Heat Pump Water Heaters?
4) Is controlled distribution of hot water important for efficiency of Heat Pump Water Heaters?
They will also discuss new systems of monitoring and data collection of energy in existing and new homes: 
1) Should Heat Pump Water Heaters be monitored?
2) Is there a simple way to test and collect data on existing homes?
This panel will have details and suggestions on all of the above. There will be slides and examples of existing buildings and studies.

Are you ready to take your building projects to the next level? Join us for a webinar that will explore new strategies for business success using the BUILD 3.0 Framework. While Build 1.0 and Build 2.0 brought advancements in building techniques and energy efficiency, the world today requires a more complex approach. That's where BUILD 3.0 comes in – it addresses the challenges of the disastrous effects of climate change, environmental and health impacts, and the decades-long profitability issues caused by low productivity in building processes. In this webinar, we'll show you how to combine the best materials, processes, and technologies from BUILD 1.0 and BUILD 2.0 with new BUILD 3.0 elements to succeed in today's building environment. You'll learn how BUILD 3.0 building materials and processes can be used for disaster resistance, eco-friendliness, and improved construction productivity. Plus, we'll introduce you to NEXGEN Building Products and our Magnesium Oxide (MgO) MAXTERRA panels – high-performance panels that are fire, water, storm, mold, impact, and insect/pest resistant, making them ideal for sheathing, subflooring, and floor underlayment.

Find out more information and order samples here: www.nexgenbp.com

Join us for this highly informative webinar featuring three inspiring women builders: Founder of Younger Homes, Danielle Younger; Co-owner and Marketing Director of Lifestyle Homes, Karen Kicinski, and Co-founder of Charis Homes, Glenna Wilson. These three incredible women will tell us about how they entered the sustainable building industry, how the industry has impacted them, and how they seek to impact the industry in return. They’ll discuss the sustainable technologies and innovations they have implemented and provide advice for women looking to enter the residential construction industry.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about the newest innovations happening in the sustainable building industry.
2. Understand day-to-day operations and the building industry's challenges and rewards, especially as it relates to women.
3. Learn about the advice these women would give other women entering the building industry.
4. Understand how climate and location dictate high-performance technologies.

In early February, EPA announced the second public comment period for Indoor airPLUS Version 2, EPA’s residential certification program for improved indoor air quality (IAQ). To help you understand what is proposed in Version 2 and how it is different from Version 1 and the initial draft specification, EEBA is hosting this interactive session with EPA staff and representatives. During the webinar, EPA will provide a guided tour of the public comment page and an overview of the revised program model to help identify areas where you and your organization may wish to provide input. Join us to hear how you can participate in promoting broader adoption of IAQ advancements and help shape the future of this labeling program.

Nick Hurst, Gayathri Vijayakumar

Discover EEBA’s new sustainable products database - eeba.ecomedes.com. Easily search by product category, brand, certifications, ecolabels, or greenest products to streamline how you source and specify. You can also add products to a project and start to calculate impact and evaluate how those selected products help you achieve your project's preferred rating system. Sourcing and specifying sustainable building materials just got easy!
In this second of five webinar series, Paul will provide an overview for manufacturers interested in how EEBA supports high-performance green builders with eeba.ecomedes.com.

Discover EEBA’s new sustainable products database - eeba.ecomedes.com. Easily search by product category, brand, certifications, ecolabels, or greenest products to streamline how you source and specify. You can also add products to a project and start to calculate impact and evaluate how those selected products help you achieve your project's preferred rating system. Sourcing and specifying sustainable building materials just got easy!

Want to learn how? Join Ecomedes’ Founder Paul Shahriari for training and insights into making the most of EEBA’s ecomedes portal. In this first of five webinar series, Paul will showcase how home builders, subcontractors, and manufacturers get value from eeba.ecomedes.com.

Explore the challenges faced when building sustainable, affordable housing and providing Missing Middle Housing opportunities in existing neighborhoods. It will feature two case studies of affordable Zero Energy Ready Home developments in Western North Carolina. These include the Northstone mixed income community in Hickory and the Duke Street Cottages pocket neighborhood in Granite Falls.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define the terms "Missing Middle Housing" and "Pocket Neighborhood."
2. Explore challenges to building sustainable, affordable housing in existing neighborhoods with restrictive zoning ordinances.
3. Identify affordable strategies for meeting DOE Zero Energy Ready Home requirements.
4. Discuss high performance heating, cooling, ventilation, and dehumidification systems for low load homes.

Over a dozen studies confirmed most H/AC systems have either an air flow or refrigerant charge faults (or both). A 2018 DOE study found heating and air conditioning installations had at least one fault in 70–90% of homes, and when duct leakage is considered, this number increases to 90–100%. Improper installation leads to increased energy use, comfort issues, warranty claims, call backs and higher HVAC repair costs over the lifetime of the equipment. 

Fixing these two faults alone has the potential to decrease residential cooling energy loads by 5–10%. Researchers at NREL estimate that central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in the US waste 20.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy per year due to equipment faults. Convert that to energy generated by hydroelectric - it’s 5.7 times the volume of Lake Mead at its highest level, which is 8.5 trillion gallons of water. 

PNL believes that Smart Tools + Smart Apps. make for a system with fewer faults. Combine this with the new ANSI/ RESNET/ACCA/ICC RESNET Standard 310 and you have real solutions.

This webinar will cover practical solutions for reducing air flow and refrigerant faults using Smart Probes & Apps and we will simplify Standard 310 into bite size chunks. We will share the latest Building America study that confirms the use of these Smart Tools and Apps.

Join us to learn how to achieve installations that provide optimum efficiency and provide installations that meet the manufacturer guidelines that reduce energy use, increase comfort, and eliminate call backs.

Presented by Joe Medosch & Shawn LeMons

Aaron Smith sits down with our February Builder of The Month, Isaac Scott, owner of Clare Homes along with his business partner Kendall Gilmore. They discuss what motivated Isaac to enter the construction field, start his own business in 2021 as a sustainable builder, how he connected with EEBA, and more!

The EEBA High-Performance Home Builder Summit attracts an audience of highly engaged attendees from across North America - the innovators and early adopters who believe the way we build our homes is the way we build our future. We are now seeking proposals for presentations on healthy, resilient, electrified, net zero, zero carbon homes. New this year will also be an executive educational track devoted to best business practices to help your company thrive in this challenging time. Our goal is to continuously grow and strengthen the high-performance building community.  

Join CEO Aaron Smith and the EEBA team to learn more about the content our audience is looking for and submit your proposals before the deadline of March 1st!

Join EEBA CEO Aaron Smith and the team as they share exciting news around EEBA’s 2023 High Performance Home Summit. The event will be at a new venue, with a new Summit Exhibit area and floorplan. Additionally, the team will discuss the call for proposals and how to get your information in front of the attendees. Looking for reach outside of just the Summit? Our team will also touch on EEBA’s full-year sponsorship opportunities for manufacturers, service providers and others looking to reach the building market.

Join Aaron Smith as he reviews the 7th EEBA Inventory of Zero Energy (ZE) Homes. EEBA Team Zero started tracking the proliferation of U.S. and Canadian ZE homes in 2015. Since then, the yearly report has shown a consistent upward trend. In the past, the multifamily sector led the pack. In the 2022 report, we see single family homes making up the majority for the first time. The report tracks Zero Energy single and multifamily home trends and leaders across the U.S. and Canada, and shows 190% in growth in total projects as well as 440% growth in single family houses.

The report sheds light on North American ZE growth patterns, high-performance technologies used, top rating systems, as well as the major players who are adopting ZE design and construction as a profitable business model.

In this webinar, Michael Arblaster will teach attendees about the specifics of pre-drywall inspections and testing. We will discuss the value of third-party pre-drywall inspections and testing for builders and raters, and how they can result in reduced callbacks. We will also examine how this aspect of the rating process has become increasingly important for consistency and defensibility for builders who choose an ERI Path for code compliance.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about the specific minimum rated features which can be verified at the pre-drywall stage of construction, specifically proper optimized framing, air sealing and Grade I insulation installation practices.
2. Understand the benefits to builders of third-party inspection and testing, measurable quality control, lower HERS scores, and reduced callbacks.
3. Learn about the benefits to raters of more consistent and higher quality ratings, as well as increased inspection revenue streams.
4. Become aware of the requirements of pre-drywall inspections for several Energy Efficiency Programs