High Performance Site Visits

| Online course available on-demand, NO COST |

Gain a "behind-the-walls" look at the features and benefits of high performance homes.

Overview

Experience in-field site tours virtually with this pre-recorded video series featuring building industry leaders showcasing their high performance homes.

Join Earth Advantage for up to three 1.5-hour guided, under-construction tours of three green and/or energy efficient homes that have achieved a variety of third party certifications and performance levels. Hear from the builders themselves, their project teams, energy raters, and our instructors as they explore the design details and construction practices that go into these homes and learn how they communicate features and benefits to homebuyers.

Normally an in-person on-site tour, we've now adapted this training to an online video format. Participants are invited to attend one or more of three site visit trainings, all presented via pre-recorded video tours that take place at three project sites.

This online training series is one of the many components of the Sustainable Homes Professional (SHP) online training and designation program designed for the NW region.
Learn more and register today!

Recommended Audience

Architects / Builders / Contractors / Code Officials / Developers / Program Representatives / Raters / Verifiers / Real Estate Professionals / Subcontractors

Continuing Education

AIA LU/HSW: 1.5 CEs per training; 4.5 CEs total
OR CCB: 1.5 CEs per training; 4.5 CEs total
BPI: 0.75 CEs per training; 2.25 CEs total
ICC: 0.15 CEs per training; 0.45 CEs total
OCHI: 1.5 CEs per training; 4.5 CEs total
OREA: 1.5 CEs per training; 4.5 CEs total

Trainers

Format

On-demand training format consists of a series of 5-10 minute videos divided into sections. Users can start or stop their viewing at their own pace and easily resume the course at another time.

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

Site Summaries

ENERGY STAR Single-Family Affordable Housing Townhome

Builder: NeighborWorks Boise
Trainer: Bruce Sullivan, Base Zero LLC
Location: Boise, ID (Climate Zone 5)
Performance Standards: ENERGY STAR New Homes, RESNET HERS Rating, Solar Ready, EPA Indoor AirPlus

Access this site visit training

It takes community to build a community. Learn from Bud Compher (CEO of affordable housing provider NeighborWorks Boise) and instructor, Bruce Sullivan (Base Zero LLC), how collaboration across industry partners and subcontractors helped create cohesive community building and performance-tested energy efficient building practices. This training helps demonstrate the value of working with an energy rater and HVAC subcontractor early in the construction process to utilize energy modeling and help ensure building tightness and HVAC optimization. Other advanced project features highlighted in this training include:

Advanced building envelope and insulation
High-efficiency H/AC (Mitsubishi ducted heat pump at 9.65 HSPF/16 SEER)
Ducts located inside conditioned space using horizontal ducting approach
Foundation considerations and approaches within a flood zone
Supporting prospective homebuyers with education and counseling, financial guidance, and lending opportunities

Earth Advantage Zero Energy Ready Single-Family Spec Home

Builder: Noyes Development
Trainer: Stephen Aiguier, Green Hammer Design Build
Location: Portland, OR (Climate Zone 4C)
Performance Standards: Earth Advantage Platinum + Zero Energy Ready, ENERGY STAR New Homes, Energy Trust of Oregon EPS & Solar Ready

Access this site visit training

Hear from Mike Frey (Vice President of Noyes Development Co.) and Stephen Aiguier (Founder and President of Green Hammer) as they explore the under-construction details that go into outstanding 'Zero Energy Ready' performance homes. This site visit takes place at a Noyes Development subdivision where all homes are 'ZE Ready' certified thanks to construction approaches and systems that significantly reduce power demands and allow rooftop solar PV to supply all the energy that will be needed for the homes. This project features several highly efficient and healthy home characteristics, including:

Advanced building envelope and air tightness (1.3 ACH, super insulation, raised heal truss, advanced framing)
High efficiency mechanical systems (11 HSPF ducted heat pump, .96 tankless water heater)
Horizontal duct system located within the conditioned space
Super windows (.24 u-value, fourth surface low-e coating)
Healthy home features (balanced ventilation, MERV 13 filters, garage exhaust fan, low VOC, green label carpets)
Durability aspects (rain-screen wall system, enhanced flashing details, cement siding, insulated doors)
Water conservation measures (efficient toilets/faucets, ENERGY STAR appliances, smart irrigation)

Earth Advantage Zero Energy Custom-Built ADU

Builder: Birdsmouth Design-Build
Trainer: Josh Salinger, Birdsmouth Design-Build
Location: Portland, OR (Climate Zone 4C)
Performance Standards: Earth Advantage Platinum + Zero Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon EPS & Solar Ready

Access this site visit training

Hear directly from Josh Salinger (Founder and CEO of Birdsmouth Construction) as he walks you through various stages of construction in this Zero Energy-certified Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). This Birdsmouth Design-Build project was recently featured on the cover of Fine Homebuilding magazine and subsequent Job Site Diaries (learn more) for its advanced approaches to a continuous exterior air barrier (self-adhered WRB), concrete-free floating plywood slab (R-16), and a foam-free, vapor-open, vented, and vaulted roof assembly (R-49). Gain valuable insights that will help you understand the building science fundamentals and installation practicalities of these and more advanced project features highlighted in this training:

Advanced building envelope and air tightness (0.62 ACH50)
Super windows (u-value 0.16-0.19)
Horizontal duct system located within the conditioned space
Durability aspects (rain-screen and fiber cement wall system, enhanced flashing details, insulated doors)
High-efficiency mechanical systems (Sanden CO2 hot water heater, Minotair ducted heat pump / ventilation system with MERV 15 filtration)

Learning Objectives

See behind-the-walls high performance building features included in green certified and/or energy efficient homes.
Learn practical design/build implementation tips from the professionals who contributed to the construction process (designers, builders, raters, and/or HVAC subcontractors).
Translate energy efficiency into health/comfort/savings/durability benefits that will resonate with different homebuyers/occupants.

High Performance Site Visits

Gain a "behind-the-walls" look at the features and benefits of high performance homes.

Overview

Recommended Audience

Continuing Education

Trainers

Format

Site Summaries

Learning Objectives

Questions? Contact us below or call (503) 968-7160.

Earth Advantage

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