Energy Trust Insider

The Cost Effective Pathway to Zero Energy Homes
2017-09-15 07:00 - 08:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar
Hear the latest developments on new and cost-effective approaches that make ZE construction more accessible to all builders.
Advanced heat pump technology, lighting, and solar PV options are challenging the old zero energy paradigm of investments in air sealing, insulation, and expensive window upgrades. Learn the different interpretations of what “zero energy” means and how builders are cost-effectively achieving it in the Pacific Northwest.
By attending this webinar, you will:

Learn how to achieve zero energy construction using the most cost-effective approaches available.
Understand how utilizing integrated design process, passive house construction techniques, and energy modeling software can help project teams realize client’s goals within a given budget.
Educate your clients on what will really help them save energy versus what might drive the cost of construction out of reach.
Discover details for designing with solar PV, community solar options for homes without solar access, the potential role of home battery energy storage, and more.

Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or 503-968-7160 x20.

How Homebuyers Ask for Green Without Saying the Word
2017-09-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Rogue Valley Association Realtors, 629 Franquette St, Medford, OR, 97501, United States
Did you know that all homebuyers are actually looking for green homes?
Do you know why?
Are you prepared to help them find or upgrade to a green home?
Everyone wants a comfortable, secure, healthy, durable, efficient home. In fact, 81% of people who expect to buy a new home in the next two years say higher energy efficiency would cause them to choose one new home over another.*
What realtors need to know is…

What are the different ways homebuyers can find/create a green home?
Which of these homebuyer desires are most important to focus on?
How can I differentiate myself in the market so homebuyers know I’m a green professional?

This course will provide multiple opportunities for you to reflect on your approach to serving your clients and helping them find or upgrade to a ‘green’ home.
By taking this course, you will:

Understand the importance of ‘green’ with today’s homebuyers
Learn how to talk about energy and green considering the role emotions play in homebuying
Learn the current green trends in the housing market
Understand the differences and similarities between an ‘energy efficient’ and a ‘green’ home
Match green features to different homebuyer expectations and segments
Learn how to market a green home and yourself as a green professional

Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20

Energy Trust of Oregon - Real Estate Ally Orientation
2017-09-13 01:00 - 02:00 | Webinar
Help your clients save on energy costs and set yourself apart from the competition!
Collaborate with Energy Trust of Oregon to provide energy-efficient solutions to homebuyers and sellers that reside in Energy Trust service territory.
This webinar will cover:

Energy Trust’s history and the benefits of being a Real Estate Ally
Energy Trust resources for you and your customers
Tips on marketing energy efficiency to your customers
Ways to recognize and promote EPS in the marketplace

Benefits of participation:

Expand your business opportunities
Differentiate yourself as an environmental steward
Receive customer leads through Energy Trust’s real estate ally directory
Access materials to market energy-efficient products and upgrades to your customers
Be an ambassador for EPS™, brought to you by Energy Trust of Oregon

Solar Power International
2017-09-09 - 2017-09-13 | Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, United States
SPI is North America’s premier business-to-business event for professionals in solar energy and related fields.

More than 18,000 solar energy industry professionals from 80+ countries attend.
More than 600 leading solar manufacturers, service providers, and vendors on the expo floor.
Four days of education and training that will help solar contractors grow, learn, connect, and compete.
View the SPI attendee and exhibitor profiles.

Portland’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Tour
2017-09-09 09:00 - 2017-09-10 15:00 | Portland, various locations, Various Locations, Portland, https://accessorydwellings.org/adu_tour/, United States
A tour for people interested in learning more about ADUs and meeting the homeowners, builders, and designers who built them.

Women in Energy & Renewables Networking Happy Hour
2017-08-31 16:00 - 18:00 | Lucky Lab NW Quimby, 1945 Northwest Quimby Street, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
POWER PNW monthly meet-ups provide a welcoming and casual opportunity to meet peers, share ideas and opportunities, and educate colleagues about projects and initiatives of interest to the group. All women and men working in a field related to energy, solar or other renewables and interested in building a more diverse energy sector are invited, as are students and developing professionals who are looking for perspectives on joining the clean energy sector.
POWER PNW is focused on building a community of women in energy and renewables and increasing inclusiveness through initiatives around workforce development, community building, and empowerment.

2017 International Radiance Workshop
2017-08-21 - 2017-08-24 | White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch Street, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
The Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory (ESBL) of the University of Oregon is hosting this year’s 16th Annual International Radiance Workshop in Portland, Oregon. This event is a great opportunity for academics, consultants and anyone interested in lighting related subjects using Radiance software to gather, learn, and exchange ideas. Previously held at various locations across Europe and the United States, ESBL is excited to welcome the Radiance community to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy a front row seat of the total solar eclipse before immersing in a three day Radiance workshop followed by an optional day of Radiance training. Connect with Radiance users from around the world involved in research, lighting design, daylighting, animation, simulation, and rendering activities.

Existing Homes Specifications Manual Orientation - Part 2
2017-08-17 08:00 - 10:00 | Webinar
This technical training provides a detailed overview of the Existing Homes Specifications Manual. The manual is revised and published once a year and articulates Energy Trust of Oregon’s requirements for measure installations in detached single family houses. This webinar will explain how projects are reviewed by the program through Quality Assurance visits, how to avoid common causes of corrective actions and other tips for ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the specifications.
This webinar is 2 hours long. Attendance is a prerequisite to enrolling in the trade ally network but all contractors performing work for Energy Trust customers are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Cost is free.

August BESF: Annual Energy and Daylight Co-Simulation for Lighting and Shading Controls
2017-08-16 11:00 - 12:15 | Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Join us for Energy Trust New Building’s August Building Energy Simulation Forum. Shading controls are typically not included in energy modeling and often not considered in daylight modeling. Similarly, electric lighting is usually represented as a fixed schedule or with the use of simplified daylight harvesting calculations. EnergyPlus approaches this with the split-flux method while Radiance employs a more accurate ray-tracing technique.
This presentation will discuss a co-simulation workflow between EnergyPlus and Radiance in a mid-rise commercial office project. This work includes a series of energy and daylighting simulations that produce detailed operation schedules, informing the whole building energy use and daylighting impacts of multiple shading systems.

Existing Homes Trade Ally Orientation - Part 1
2017-08-16 08:00 - 09:00 | Webinar
Participating in this webinar is one of the requirements for joining the Existing Homes Trade Ally Network. In addition to this webinar, contractors wishing to join the Existing Homes Trade Ally Network must complete these additional requirements:
1) Submit the appropriate paperwork including
a) Sending the Certificate of Liability Insurance Fax Request Form to your insurance carrier
b) Complete the Form 1171A – Trade Ally Enrollment Application
c) Complete the Form 371A – Existing Homes Trade Ally Addendum
2) Participate in the Existing Homes Specifications Manual Webinar. This webinar takes place the day after this Existing Homes Trade Ally Orientation, at 9 a.m. you must register separately.
Cost: free

Understanding Solar Energy Solutions
2017-07-27 08:30 - 09:30 | Webinar
Learn about solar options and how to help your clients navigate these clean renewable energy systems. This webinar will cover:

Introduction to “Solar PV” and “Solar Ready”
Solar trends and growing demand in Oregon
How these technologies can help your clients lower their cost of ownership
Resources for clients to calculate solar potential and receive bids
How to take advantage of incentives and tax credits
Sales benefits and average resale premiums of Solar PV / Solar Ready
How to incorporate solar PV financing into a mortgage

Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20.

OAME Contractors & AEPT Meeting
2017-07-24 06:30 - 08:00
Formed in 1987, the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) is a nonprofit, tax exempt membership organization with a mission to promote and develop entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities in the state of Oregon and southwest Washington.
We are an all-inclusive organization and encourage everyone to live by our motto: “Everybody’s In, Nobody’s Out.”
The 850 member association is a collection of entrepreneurs, public agencies, partner non-profits and large businesses. The mission is directed toward eliminating discrimination and racism.
From its Delta Park campus, OAME provides the following services to help businesses:

Free Technical Assistance and business counseling
Access to Capital, including SBA microloans
Clearinghouse, a program that matches small businesses with contracting opportunities
Incubator office spaces at below market rates
Large bi-monthly networking meetings to promote business growth

Every Second Friday, contractors gather to network, hear special guest speakers, hear about and share contracting opportunities, and introduce their businesses and themselves to the entire meeting.

Portland Home Energy Score Program Live Webinars
2017-07-20 08:30 - 09:30 | Webinar
Learn the latest about the new Portland Home Energy Score program
How is a home energy score calculated and what does it mean?

How will program requirements impact home sellers?
How could a home energy score help your buyers and sellers?
How can I find a qualified home energy assessor?

Earth Advantage has developed a city-approved training for real estate professionals to help answer these questions and provide a comprehensive overview of the current program requirements. Join us for this sneak peek webinar to gain insights into how the program is taking shape and the results of the first round of rulemaking.

The Portland Home Energy Score Program will go into effect on January 1, 2018. The first round of rulemaking was completed by the City of Portland on May 1, 2017 and all rulemaking will be finalized on September 1, 2017. The ordinance (Portland City Code Chapter 17.108) requires sellers of single-family homes to:

Obtain a home energy report, including a home energy score, from a licensed home energy assessor;
Disclose the score and report prior to listing a home publicly for sale in Portland on or after January 1, 2018.

Learning objectives:

Understand the relevance of energy efficiency to home buyers
Find out how the Portland Home Energy Score Program will work
Understand what makes an above- or below-average score
Learn how to describe the score to buyers/sellers
Gain resources and info to support and best serve your clients

Future updates

Earth Advantage will offer an updated online course once rulemaking is finalized on September 1, 2017 to ensure the real estate market has consistent access to the most up-to-date information.
Earth Advantage’s Portland Home Energy Score program trainings are not required or funded by the City of Portland.

Interested in hosting a group viewing of our webinars? See Registration Options below.
Interested in hosting a training at your firm or title company? Contact us to gain access to a list of assessor trainers.

*Training fee has been subsidized thanks to: Enhabit

Existing Homes Specifications Manual Orientation - Part 2
2017-07-20 08:00 - 10:00, 2017-06-22 07:00 - 10:00, 2017-05-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Webinar
This technical training provides a detailed overview of the Existing Homes Specifications Manual. The manual is revised and published once a year and articulates Energy Trust of Oregon’s requirements for measure installations in detached single family houses. This webinar will explain how projects are reviewed by the program through Quality Assurance visits, how to avoid common causes of corrective actions and other tips for ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the specifications.
This webinar is 2 hours long. Attendance is a prerequisite to enrolling in the trade ally network but all contractors performing work for Energy Trust customers are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Cost is free and course is eligible for 2.0 BPI CEUs.

Existing Homes Trade Ally Orientation – Part 1
2017-07-19 09:00 - 10:00 | Webinar

SW Washington - Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally Networking Event
2017-06-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Feral Public House, 1109 Washington St, Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
You’re invited to this free and informal networking event, sponsored by Energy Trust of Oregon and including representatives of BPA’s Air Northwest and Clark PUD at Feral Public House in Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 21st, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Existing Buildings and New & Existing Homes trade allies working in the greater Southwest Washington region are invited to meet with program staff and network with other trade allies. Energy Trust outreach staff will be available to offer program guidance and updates, plus BPA’s Air Northwest and Clark PUD will be present to offer support and answer questions about their services.
Developing strategic partnerships with companies you trust can improve your ability to guide customers through a full spectrum of services, and help your company:

Tap into a new, qualified customer base
Increase sales
Expand existing customer relationships

Come prepared to network and discover how you can better connect with a variety of customers who are interested in energy efficiency. Appetizers will be provided and drinks are available at happy hour prices.

Building Energy Simulation Forum: Exploring Energy Modeling Workflows within Dynamo and Grasshopper
2017-06-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Building Energy Simulation Forum: Exploring Energy Modeling Workflows within Dynamo and Grasshopper
The capabilities of open source programs Dynamo and Grasshopper are expanding at a rapid and exciting rate. Created to help architects explore new shapes using generative algorithms, Grasshopper and Dynamo can now complete daylight analysis, computational fluid dynamics, energy modeling and more. With the ability to support iterative design, these tools could completely change how building performance is analyzed. Join us to get a general introduction to these tools, learn how to start using them in your energy modeling workflows, and how to overcome common hurdles.
*BOXED LUNCHES WILL BE PROVIDED*
*IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, REGISTER AS A REMOTE ATTENDEE AND THE PHONE AND WEBINAR LOGIN INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU*

Existing Homes Trade Ally Orientation - Part 1
2017-06-21 01:00 - 02:00, 2017-05-17 01:00 - 02:00 | Webinar
Participating in this webinar is one of the requirements for joining the Existing Homes Trade Ally Network. In addition to this webinar, contractors wishing to join the Existing Homes Trade Ally Network must complete these additional requirements:
1) Submit the appropriate paperwork including
a) Sending the Certificate of Liability Insurance Fax Request Form to your insurance carrier
b) Complete the Form 1171A – Trade Ally Enrollment Application
c) Complete the Form 371A – Existing Homes Trade Ally Addendum
2) Participate in the Existing Homes Specifications Manual Webinar. This webinar takes place the day after this Existing Homes Trade Ally Orientation, at 9 a.m. you must register separately.

Site Visit: Ashland 'Zero Energy' Home
2017-06-15 09:30 - 11:00 | Ashland, OR, Ashland, OR
Get a first-hand look at this recently built Ashland home that has the potential to use ‘zero energy’!
Join Energy Trust of Oregon for a guided CE home tour that combines simple beauty with outstanding energy performance.
This home achieved ‘zero energy’ status by earning a near-perfect EPS®. The home requires very little energy overall and has the potential to meet or exceed that demand by producing enough energy on-site via solar panels, making the energy consumption essentially zero. From thick double-stud walls and triple-pane windows to rooftop solar panels and a ductless mini-split heat pump, the benefits of comfort and savings in this home allows it to perform 99% better than a typical code home.
Every 1 in 7 new homes in Medford receive an EPS verifying their energy efficiency is at least 10% better than code, and this tour will help you understand how these EPS-rated homes can be a good fit for your clients. Find out how this home achieved the ‘zero energy’ standard and what EPS means for homebuyers: A more comfortable, durable home with healthier air quality and cost-saving energy efficiency that homebuyers can feel good about.
Learning Opportunities

See first-hand what above-code features are included in this EPS home
Gain access to energy efficiency resources that you can pass along to your clients
Learn how to connect your new and existing home customers with EPS builders/contractors
Translate energy efficiency into health/comfort/durability/savings benefits that will resonate with different clients

The exact addresses for the home tour will be emailed to those that RSVP.
We also invite you to attend our Understanding Solar Energy Solutions training on May 25 at the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS® in Medford!
Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20

Energy Trust of Oregon - Real Estate Ally Orientation
2017-06-14 01:00 - 14:00 | Webinar
Help your clients save on energy costs and set yourself apart from the competition!
Collaborate with Energy Trust of Oregon to provide energy-efficient solutions to homebuyers and sellers that reside in Energy Trust service territory.
This webinar will cover:

Energy Trust’s history and the benefits of being a Real Estate Ally
Energy Trust resources for you and your customers
Tips on marketing energy efficiency to your customers
Ways to recognize and promote EPS in the marketplace

Benefits of participation:

Expand your business opportunities
Differentiate yourself as an environmental steward
Receive customer leads through Energy Trust’s real estate ally directory
Access materials to market energy-efficient products and upgrades to your customers
Be an ambassador for EPS™, brought to you by Energy Trust of Oregon

Read this recent Insider article to learn more about EPS and the 10,000+ energy efficient homes that have utilized EPS to help address home energy use since 2009.

All About ADUs
2017-06-09 07:30 - 11:30 | Earth Advantage, 623 SW Oak St, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
This half-day course is intended for brokers who are looking to increase their knowledge about Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) development and earn the ADU Specialist designation in order to respond to increasing client demand for properties with ADU potential.
Brokers on the cutting edge of this emerging development trend will be able to help homeowners/developers understand site eligibility, development process and costs, and the return on investment of ADUs. Learn more >>

Earn our ADU Specialist designation!
You must be an Earth Advantage Broker, take the All About ADUs course, and pass the ADU Exam to earn the ADU Specialist credential.
Already an ADU Specialist?
Stay up to date with relevant ADU news and issues by taking our ADU Update: Taxation, Waiver & Zoning Changes in Portland webinar training. View all upcoming and recorded webinars on our Education Calendar.
Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or 503.968.7160 x20

Sneak Peek Site Visit: Columbia Basin Student-built EPS Home
2017-06-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Hermiston, OR | Exact location TBD, Hermiston, OR
Get a sneak peek, first-hand look at the latest Hermiston student-built home before the public open house on June 9!
This is the third energy-efficient, EPS-rated home built by the Columbia Basin Student Homebuilders Program (CBSHBP) and Energy Trust of Oregon is hosting a guided CE tour of the home on June 8, the day before the public grand opening on Friday, June 9.
This tour will help you understand how this home (and the 8 future homes that will be built by CBSHBP) can be a good fit for your homebuyer clients. Join us as we guide you on a tour of this home in the Fieldstone Crossing Subdivision and find out how it achieved above code standards and what that means for homebuyers: A more comfortable, durable home with healthier air quality and cost-saving energy efficiency that the homebuyer can feel good about.
“Our students are excited for the opportunity to show the completed home,” said Curt Berger, student home builder director. “We’re trying to give the students the best experience we can. The higher quality the home they’re building, the more they learn, and these are really nice homes. We encourage community members to stop by to see the home.”
Learning Opportunities

See first-hand what above-code features are included in this EPS home
Gain access to energy efficiency resources that you can pass along to your clients
Learn how to connect your new and existing home customers with Energy Trust builders/contractors and incentives
Translate energy efficiency into health/comfort/durability/savings benefits that will resonate with different clients

To learn more about this home and the Columbia Basin Student Homebuilders Program, visit this article by Energy Trust of Oregon and this home summary by the Hermiston School District.
The exact addresses for the home tour will be emailed to those that RSVP the week before the event.
Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20

Understanding Solar Energy Solutions
2017-05-25 07:00 - 08:30 | Rogue Valley Association Realtors, 629 Franquette St, Medford, OR, 97501, United States
Learn about solar options and how to help your clients navigate these clean renewable energy systems. This session will cover:

Introduction to “Solar PV” and “Solar Ready”
Solar trends and growing demand in Oregon
How these technologies can help your clients lower their cost of ownership
Resources for clients to calculate solar potential and receive bids
How to take advantage of incentives and tax credits
Sales benefits and average resale premiums of Solar PV / Solar Ready
How to incorporate solar PV financing into a mortgage

Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20.

How Homebuyers Ask for Green Without Saying the Word - Coos Bay
2017-05-18 04:00 - 05:00 | 3201 Tremont St, North Bend, OR, 97459, United States
This class provides an in-depth look at the current state of the green housing market-trends, features and market segments-and provides participants with the information they need to talk with clients about “energy” and “green”
Learning Objectives

Understand the meaning of “green” in today’s market
Learn how the “green” market has changed and why
Understand the differences and similarities between “high performance” & “green”
Translate green features of a home into homeowner benefits that sell
Learn the value of the EPS – a smart, easy way to assess a home’s energy performance

Questions? Contact Heather Kendall at hkendall@earthadvantage.org or (503) 968-7160 x20

PTCS Heat Pump Class
2017-05-09 07:00 - 15:00 | CSC Weatherization Training Center, 2995 Ferry St SW, Albany, OR, 97322, United States
Mark Jerome of CLEAResult will lead this Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) Class on commissioning and troubleshooting heat pumps.
Community Services Consortium’s Weatherization Training Center works to raise community awareness about home energy efficiency and conservation and to bring training and certification opportunities to individuals in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. In addition, the Center also serves as a facility to bring other trainings to the Mid-Willamette Valley. They have hosted a range of trainings. The CSC Weatherization staff pride themselves on excellence and have taught and hosted trainings in Weatherization for over 450 students since our first class of graduates in October, 2009.

Allies for Efficiency: Sustainable and Resilient School Design – Implementing the Beaverton School District Resilience Plan
2017-04-28 08:00 - 10:00 | Energy Trust of Oregon, 920 SW 6th Ave, Suite 900, Portland, OR, 97204, United States
Allies for Efficiency: Sustainable and Resilient School Design – Implementing the Beaverton School District Resilience Plan
In February 2013, the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission published The Oregon Resilience Plan, which outlines the risks and challenges facing Oregonians from the inevitable Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The plan provides sobering predictions about the impacts of a magnitude 9+ earthquake and is a call to action for all Oregonians. Administrators from the Beaverton School District read this plan and understood their responsibility to provide safe, resilient schools for their community. The Beaverton School District, which is currently executing a $680 million bond program approved by voters in May 2014, sponsored a community-wide effort to translate the concepts of the Oregon Resilience Plan into forward-thinking design criteria, which exceed code requirements for new school buildings. The District’s seven new schools will achieve seismic Risk Category IV for structural components and contain features that will allow the schools to serve as temporary community shelters after a disaster.
This presentation will provide an overview of the District’s bond program and discuss motivations for the resilience work, including criteria selected and cost impacts. It will also use the newly completed middle school at Timberland as a design case study. Designed on a very tight timeline with an inflexible budget, Timberland middle school is an innovative, sustainable and resilient building that is 62 percent more efficient than a standard school building of its size, and fully capable of functioning as a community emergency shelter post-disaster.
Course Learning Objectives:

Understand the role schools can play in community emergency response and economic recovery after a major disaster
Learn how to engage community stakeholders to effectively incorporate resilience strategies into school designs
Understand how to design holistically, and incorporate efficient HVAC, lighting and envelope, resulting in a school building significantly more efficient than the standard building type baseline
Identify strategies for emergency power, how to right-size an emergency generator for a school emergency shelter
Learn innovative strategies for designing and financing resilient solar power systems

Presenters:
Richard L. Steinbrugge, Executive Administrator for Facilities, Beaverton School District
Jay Raskin, Architect, and Founder of Salus Resilience
Kent Yu, Principal, SEFT Consulting Group
Kurtis Zenner, Associate, Mahlum Architects
David Chesley, Principal, Interface Engineering
Breakfast and coffee provided.
*Webinar option available *

Women in Energy & Renewables Networking Happy Hour
2017-04-27 15:30 - 17:30 | Lucky Lab NW Quimby, 1945 Northwest Quimby Street, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Join us at the Lucky Lab on NW Quimby!
POWER PDX monthly meet-ups provide a welcoming and casual opportunity to meet peers, share ideas and opportunities, and educate colleagues about projects and initiatives of interest to the group. All women and men working in a field related to energy, solar or other renewables and interested in building a more diverse energy sector in Oregon are invited, as are students and developing professionals who are looking for perspectives on joining the clean energy sector.
POWER PDX is focused on building a community of Oregon women in energy and renewables and increasing inclusiveness through initiatives around workforce development, community building, and empowerment.
