Building with Ducts in Conditioned Spaces

| Online course available on-demand, NO COST |

Hear builders share how they use specific approaches to reduce home energy use by 15-20%.

Overview

Length: 2 Hours

Join BetterBuiltNW and Earth Advantage for this online training designed to help builders, architects, designers and HVAC contractors in the Northwest learn how to design and build with ducts located inside a home's conditioned envelope.

Designing and building homes where HVAC ducts and air handlers are located inside conditioned spaces can reduce energy use by 15 to 20%, compared to typical HVAC installations. Building with ducts inside also improves occupant comfort and can reduce construction costs when skillfully implemented.

The training provides the opportunity to hear from builders about their specific strategies and approaches to bringing ducts inside, and includes access to resources such as CAD drawings, case studies, trade guidelines, implementation strategies, a training manual, and more.

Besides creating desirable homes that save energy and allow market differentiation, builders can use smaller heating systems and simpler, shorter duct systems that can be faster and less expensive to install. Additionally, these practices offer systems that are easier to inspect and that provide an attractive pathway to various certification standards and to meeting increasing code requirements. The builder may also qualify for higher utility incentives and tax credits.

Recommended Audience

Architects / Builders / Contractors / Code Officials / Consultants / Developers / Program Representatives / Raters/Verifiers / Subcontractors

Continuing Education

OR CCB: 2 CEs
BPI: 1 unit
ICC: 0.2 CEs
AIA: 2 LU/HSW
NATE: 2 CEs

Trainers

Bruce Sullivan | Base Zero LLC | View Bio

Format

This 2-hour, self-paced online training consists of a series of 3-5 minute videos divided into sections. Users can start or stop their viewing at their own pace and easily resume the course at another time. Short quiz questions and activities will help you incorporate content covered in the videos.

This training made possible at no cost thanks in part to BetterBuiltNW

Benefits for Builders

Besides creating desirable homes that save energy and allow market differentiation, builders can use smaller heating systems and simpler, shorter duct systems that can be faster and less expensive to install. Additionally, these practices offer systems that are easier to inspect and that provide an attractive pathway to various certification standards and to meeting increasing code requirements. The builder may also qualify for higher utility incentives and tax credits.

"From an energy efficiency perspective, installing ductwork through an unconditioned attic or crawlspace makes about as much sense as running ducts outside a window and into the next room," according to training instructor, Bruce Sullivan of Base Zero LLC. "One of the primary benefits of this course is that it teaches skillful implementation of ductwork that may actually reduce construction costs for builders."

Benefits for Homeowners

Homeowners are able to rest assured knowing ducts are installed correctly and aren't inadvertently heating the outdoors, along with enjoying lower utility bills, a more comfortable home, better indoor air quality and reduced moisture risk.

Visit the DuctsInside.org website to preview training resources

Learning Objectives

Describe the benefits of building homes with ducts inside.
Identify which members of the design and construction team need to be involved.
Evaluate six different design approaches to building ducts inside + deeply buried ducts:
- Open web floor tresses
- Insulated attic trusses
- Conditioned attics
- Inverted soffits
- Dropped soffits
- Conditioned basements
- PLUS: Deeply buried ducts and microducting
Explain general principles and best practices for each approach.
Access additional resources to help contractors, subcontractors, architects and designers implement ducts inside.