Virtually every major industry has experienced, or is in the process of experiencing, massive disruption. Housing has been able to sit on the sidelines with its first-cost dominated business model and uniquely dis-aggregated industry, but not for much longer. That’s because there are three new realities setting the stage for disruption, five crises making disruption an imperative, and four transformations that will drive disruption in an industry totally resistant to change. Within this larger disruption context, high performance homes will play an increasingly critical role that needs to be fully integrated. Will you be ready? 

In this on-demand webinar we will take a hard look at below grade walls and what it takes to properly manage the potential for bulk water intrusion and keeping the indoor environment dry, healthy, and safe. We will look at the primary issues; condensation and bulk water intrusion. Understanding the physics of both new and existing below grade wall assemblies, we will uncover the root issues and identify two distinct strategies that work with water rather than against it to ensure a truly durable and enduring assembly.

Systems are critical to a successful business, but sometimes we get caught up in trying to manage and design controls for components that refuse to cooperate. When is it more efficient and profitable to leave things undefined and grey? When do we benefit from leaving things open and malleable? How do we build systems that help us become comfortable and eventually benefit from the messy parts of our work? This provocative session will challenge you and help you take your business to new levels.  

Discover LENSES (Living Environments in Natural, Social and Economic Systems) and learn how this regenerative development process and facilitation framework enhances existing design and sustainability practices.

Has your business been considering solar electric systems? Join us to learn the basics of solar integration. After discussing solar specific definitions and terminology, you will be taken through a simple series of steps to understand how solar can work for you. Chris Collins will explain utility involvement with three different net metering policies. Discover how to determine how much solar can fit on a given roof and how to factor in shade. Chris will provide a basic comparison between facility usage with and without improved energy efficiency measures and solar production. To conclude the webinar, Chris will present three existing installations - from small to large.

Want a deeper dive into what is needed prior to, during and upon completion of solar installation? Join Chris Collins as he provides a follow-up to his first solar electric systems webinar "what to know before you buy" and provides in-depth instruction on racking techniques, a detailed look at roof types and appropriate attachment methods. You will understand the impacts of building and array orientation and how to include them in production estimates. Chris provides a more comprehensive description of utility interconnection including insurance requirements and suggested utility involvement periods.

Did you know Wisconsin recently joined Illinois and Michigan as states in the Midwest to implement the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2015 version? This brings many changes and additions to the previous energy code such as equipment efficiency ratings, economizer rules and compression staging. This webinar will address aspects of the IECC 2015 that apply to HVAC systems and summarize many of those key changes for commercial buildings. Join us to gain a better understanding of HVAC systems and their compliance requirements and how these “new” requirements can be beneficial to the building owner.

LED manufacturers continue to develop products to reduce lighting energy and meet new energy efficiency standards. Join us to learn about LED lighting power quality specifications that should be considered before purchasing and installing LED systems. You will understand how to avoid LED lighting pitfalls such as reduced life, higher than expected operating costs and operational problems for other facility equipment. We will also discuss several current voluntary and mandatory government and industry standards that offer guidance and present minimum recommended values to avoid common issues that arise with LED lighting systems. You will also learn strategies to troubleshoot LED lighting issues on your own.  

About 75% of the benefits of an energy efficient project can come from non-energy benefits, yet some organizations around the country do not promote them. This is a great time for a market transformation to motivate customers to save energy and money. After this webinar, you will have the knowledge to encourage organizations to make a change and improve. We will discuss advanced financial tools and non-energy benefits including human centric lighting and advanced lighting controls.

Windows are one of the most important features of a building envelope, allowing us to maintain a connection with the outdoors while we remain comfortable and safe indoors. The window industry has been challenged to deliver see-through products that provide energy efficiency, occupant comfort, safety, beauty and low maintenance. This session explores the elements of window design for energy performance and looks at advancements that have been made to meet ENERGY STAR® target levels for windows and doors.