Online Building Energy Use eLearning

BPI Building Analyst Preparation BPI Certification Preparation Course Online Training Class. This is a "Hybrid" Training program. We use Online learning to minimize time spent sitting in a classroom. The course is self paced with manual, textbook and a personal mentor. Upon completion of the Online portion of the course we will help find a proctor in your area for the hands on equipment training (if needed) and the BPI Field  more...

Introduction to Renewable Energy - FREE Online Course Free Online Course! Introduction to Renewable Energy is an online course for those who wish to learn the basics of renewable energy - including where it is found, how we can harvest it for use in our homes and how it can help ease pressures on the environment. You will not become an expert through this course, but you will get to know renewable energy in its many forms - helping you to decide  more...

Continuous Commissioning - Maximizing Building Energy Efficiency and Comfort Overview Building commissioning has emerged as the preferred method of ensuring that building systems are installed and operated to provide the performance envisioned by the designer. While most commissioning processes focus on bringing building operation to the original design intent, Continuous Commissioning is different. Continuous Commissioning focuses on optimizing HVAC system operation  more...

Building Security Initiatives Energy Savings and Trade-offs Overview Since September 2001, most public agencies and many private firms have focused (or sometimes re-focused) attention on security issues, especially in high-visibility public gathering places and government workplaces. For DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE/EERE), this new focus on security may create both opportunities and challenges for its primary mission  more...

Lab Design for Energy Savings Overview As a building type, the laboratory demands our attention; what the cathedral was to the 14th century, the train station was to the 19th century, and the office building was to the 20th century, the laboratory is to the 21st century. Unfortunately, a laboratory is also a prodigious consumer of natural resources. The challenge for architects, engineers, and other building professionals  more...

Energy Saving Initiatives - Residential and Light Commercial Overview In this course the student will learn some of the basic techniques involved with energy savings in the buildings that are typical of both residential and light commercial multi-family facilities. The source documents is written around residential type building construction; however the student will learn that some of the basic energy saving principles used in residential construction  more...

Water and Wastewater Design in Buildings Overview Sustainable design involves integration of multiple disciplines. The goal of effective water management is to reduce water consumption without compromising the performance of equipment and fixtures. Using water more efficiently is a green strategy for several reasons: it reduces pressure on sometimes-limited water resources, reduces the amount of energy and chemicals used for water and  more...

Building Envelope Airtightness Overview Infiltration in commercial buildings can have many negative consequences, including reduced thermal comfort, interference with the proper operation of mechanical ventilation systems, degraded indoor air quality, moisture damage of building envelope components, and increased energy consumption. The objective of the study used for this course was to investigate the impact of envelope  more...

An Introduction to Passive Solar Buildings Attention New York Engineers: This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements for the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Laws / Rules." For more information, check the New York State Board Requirements. Overview Passive solar energy is one of the most efficient forms of energy in the world. Not only  more...

Rehabilitation Standards for Historic Buildings Overview The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for establishing professional standards and providing advice on the preservation and protection of all cultural resources listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, apply to all proposed development grant-in-aid  more...

Laboratory Building Energy Analysis Overview Because laboratories use a high amount of energy, often more than five times as much per square foot as an office building, it is important to find cost-effective ways to reduce their energy use and costs. In this course the student will learn about energy efficiency strategies including reducing the air flow during unoccupied periods, variable-air-volume systems, lower static  more...

Spectrally Selective Window Glazings Spectrally selective glazing is window glass that permits some portions of the solar spectrum to enter a building while blocking others. This high-performance glazing admits as much daylight as possible while preventing transmission of as much solar heat as possible. In this course the student will learn about the low-emissivity spectrally selective fenestration glazing benefits, energy savings  more...

Fuses and Circuit Breakers Overview There are two basic methods of circuit protection. They are fuses and circuit breakers. There are many variations of fuses and circuit breakers. This course attempts to explain how and why fuses and circuit breakers work. There is some basic theory upon which these devices are designed. There is an explanation of some of the terms that are applied to fuses and circuit breakers and why  more...

HVAC - Concepts and Fundamentals Overview HVAC helps keep people comfortable and healthy by maintaining good indoor air quality, humidity and comfortable temperatures. Designing for comfort requires integrated knowledge of human physiology, heat transfer, psychrometrics, and mechanical systems. Most professionals don't learn this stuff in school or on the jobsite, but are expected unrealistically to meet your physiological needs  more...

Alternatives to Active HVAC Systems Overview The global energy scenario has undergone a drastic change in the last two decades. Due to ever growing demand and shortage of supply, the cost of fossil fuel (coal, oil and natural gas) is increasing day by day. Increasing consumption has led to environmental pollution resulting in global warming and ozone layer depletion. Consequently, the era of fossil fuel is gradually coming to an  more...

HVAC - Equipment and Systems Overview HVAC system components may be grouped into three functional categories: source components, distribution components, and delivery components. Source components provide or remove heat or moisture. Distribution components convey a heating or cooling medium from a source location to portions of a building that require conditioning. Delivery components serve as an interface between the  more...

HVAC Electrical Considerations Overview In today's complex building structures it is imperative that the HVAC engineer have a basic knowledge of all of the other professional disciplines and construction trades involved in the building design and construction. The mechanical and electrical systems have great impact on each other from the beginning of the design all the way into the functionality of the HVAC systems and  more...

Fuel of the Future - Hydrogen Overview More people are driving more cars today than ever before. More than 200 million vehicles are on the road in the U.S. alone. But the car has contributed to our air and water pollution and forced us to rely on imported oil from the Middle East, helping to create a significant trade imbalance. Today many people think fuel cell technology will play a pivotal role in a new technological  more...

Energy Conservation Overview This 4-hour course covers the factors that influence the energy efficiency of small commercial and residential type buildings. It includes sections on the building envelope and related factors such as infiltration, insulation, and vapor barriers. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) are covered in detail including explanations of the various types of HVAC systems  more...