The solar industry has opportunities for everyone. The vast array of jobs within the industry provides career routes for people with many different skills. Whether your skills are in construction, project management, manufacturing, or you are new to the workforce, there is a place for you to begin and grow your career within solar. 

In this short course, you will learn about the solar industry and how your skills and interests may align with a solar career that starts now. This self-paced course has eight modules, including one optional module for veterans and service members. After each module, you will complete a short survey to move on to the next part of the course, finishing with Module 8, the End of Course Evaluation. 

This course can be completed in about 2 hours but if you prefer to take it over multiple days, your information will be saved.

From hurricanes in the Southeast to extreme heat in the West or the often-freezing landscape of the Northeast, climate change is making durable and sustainable shelter more important than ever. How our buildings are constructed and use energy dramatically affects how long we can safely survive in them after a natural disaster. 

A sustainable and resilient future will rely on strategic approaches of efficiency measures, construction techniques, and workforce development that align with a community's specific needs. Building and safety officials responsible for our safety in jurisdictions nationwide and contractors in our communities who retrofit and construct our buildings hold the keys to ensuring a just and efficient clean energy transition.

In this webinar, experts from the nation’s regional energy efficiency organizations will share the building projects and community engagements that have been the most effective at improving resilience in their areas. When finished, you will better understand how diverse stakeholder engagement can lead to code updates and roadmaps that build resiliency. The webinar will also include a sneak peek at provisions in the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) highlighting electrification, EV readiness, and solar readiness provisions, and you will hear about a new credential for contractors to promote deep energy retrofits. You will leave with strategies to implement in your jurisdiction to ensure a resilient and sustainable community.

Presenters Include:

• John Gossman, Building Associate, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA)
• John Balfe, Senior Manager, State & Community Solutions, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
• Maggie Kelley Riggins, Senior Program Manager, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)
• Jim Meyers, Buildings Program Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
• Randy Plumlee, Energy Code Program Manager, South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER)

The IREC Vision Summit is a one-day visionary exploration of what’s needed to make our nation’s bold clean energy goals a reality. The Summit brings together clean energy stakeholders for a deep dive into policies and practices that are essential for all Americans to benefit from clean energy. This year’s Vision Summit 2023 explored critical clean energy interconnection issues and elevate key solutions. Viewers will gain practical skills to support effective distribution interconnection reform in the U.S.

The interconnection of distributed energy resources (DERs), like solar and energy storage, is a foundational element of the transition to a 100% clean, equitable, and resilient energy future. While significant barriers to interconnection on the distribution grid persist across the U.S., many innovative solutions are being developed and deployed, from improved screening and study processes, to fairer grid upgrade cost allocation methods. Well-designed interconnection policies can enable more equitable access to sustainable energy, as well as the development of critical resilience tools like microgrids, that help communities weather and recover from natural disasters.

Watch videos on-demand now!

Electric vehicles are here and (millions) more are on the way. Ambitious EV adoption goals from local, state, and federal governments need reliable and equitable charging infrastructure. There are resources available to inform decision-makers in every aspect of the planning, implementation, and enforcement processes. However, we can all use help finding the most appropriate resources, identifying what parts of the resources are applicable to our given stage in the process, and identifying where to turn when we hit a roadblock.

You can expect to hear:

• Examples of the practices of leading municipalities to make the local approval process for siting and installation of charging infrastructure clear, predictable, and equitable. 
• The first hand experience of a Madiscon, WI City Council member who shepherded through an EV charging ordinance. 
• How the City of Phoenix is using their Roadmap to Prepare for 280,000 EV’s by 2030.

Developed in collaboration with New Buildings Institute (NBI), Forth Mobility, and several expert reviewers, the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Permitting and Inspection Guidelines provide an overview of code requirements for the installation of Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) installations and 120V or 240V outlets in single-family, multifamily, and office buildings. The guides reference the 2020 NEC, 2021 IBC, and 2017 ICC A117.11, as well as the 2017 NEC 2018 IBC and 2017 ICC A117.11. In many parts of the United States, navigating building permits required for distributed energy resources such as solar, storage, and electric vehicles (EVs) can be a daunting process.  By providing specific and replicable lists of permitting and inspection requirements, local jurisdictions can streamline the permitting and inspection process by reducing informational barriers while helping ensure the design and installation of these distributed energy resources are consistent, code compliant, and safe.

In this video produced by NBI and Forth Mobility, listen in to a description of how to use these Guidelines and an overview of code requirements for the installation of Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) installations and 120V or 240V outlets in single-family buildings, multifamily, and office buildings.

• You can expect to hear:
• Part 1: 0:00:00 - 04:25:00 - Introduction and Overview of the Guide Purpose and Contents
• Part 2: 04:25:00 - 05:23:00 - Limitations of the Guide
• Part 3: 05:23:00 - 07:15:00 - Permit Submission Requirements
• Part 4: 07:15:00 - 12:55:00 - General Installation Guide, All Sites and Multi-Family/Office Sites
• Part 5: 12:55:00 - 13:21:00 - Permitting Checklist: A Guide to Helping AHJ's Streamline EVSE Permits
• Part 6: 13:21:00 - 14:28:00 - Inspection Checklist and Supporting Resources

This video recording is recognized for 1 CEU by both the International Code Council (ICC) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). To earn your credit, you can submit your Certificate of Completion to the appropriate reviewers at ICC and/or AIA. Please enjoy the presentations.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under the Building Technology Office (BTO) Award Number EE0009457.

Developed in collaboration with New Buildings Institute (NBI), Earth Advantage, and several expert reviewers the Solar and Energy Storage System Permitting & Inspection Guidelines provide an overview of code requirements for the installation of Energy Storage Systems (standalone and paired with simple photovoltaic systems) in single-family, multifamily, and office buildings. In many parts of the United States, navigating building permits required for distributed energy resources such as solar, storage, and electric vehicles (EVs) can be a daunting process.  By providing specific and replicable lists of permitting and inspection requirements, local jurisdictions can streamline the permitting and inspection process by reducing informational barriers while helping ensure the design and installation of these distributed energy resources are consistent, code compliant, and safe.

In this video produced by NBI and Earth Advantage, listen in to a description of how to use these guidelines and an overview of code requirements for the installation of Energy Storage Systems (standalone and paired with simple photovoltaic systems) in single-family, multifamily, and office buildings. 

You can expect to hear:

• Overview of code requirements for Solar and Energy Storage Systems
• Permit and submission requirements
• General installation guides
• Plan review checklist
• Field inspection checklist
• Supporting resources with links to all the applicable codes

This video recording is recognized for 1 CEU by both the International Code Council (ICC) an American Institute of Architects (AIA). To earn your credit, you can submit your Certificate of Completion to the appropriate reviewers at ICC an AIA. Please enjoy the presentations.

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under the Building Technology Office (BTO) Award Number EE0009457.

WEBINAR RECORDING: During this webinar, IREC and national experts from Slipstream and Taylor Engineers provided a primer on technical topics related to Variable Air Volume (VAV) terminal unit dual maximum control—an HVAC technology that results in lower fan energy, reheat energy, and cooling energy use. Dual maximum control also improves thermal comfort. The presenters provided an overview of dual-max control, its benefits, and current research findings related to energy and indoor environmental quality. You will also learn about low airflow minimums in deadband, occupied standby, and related concepts. 

Your expert panelists:
1.) Joe Zhou, Director of Research and Innovation, Slipstream
2.) Hwakong Cheng, Principal, Taylor Engineers

Commercial buildings have the potential to lead the way to a decarbonized, electrified future. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will accelerate these efforts in states and cities across the country. With this great opportunity comes the chance to learn best practices for scaling electrified building solutions safely, efficiently, and economically. In this commercial building electrification webinar, join experts from across the country to gain insights into successful strategies being adopted today.

You can expect to hear:

• What Zero Net Energy goals mean in an age of accelerating decarbonization
• How building codes and other policies can play a critical role in helping jurisdictions pursue carbon-neutral building policies and programs
• Case studies of critical building-scale technology solutions and products that promise to help advance buildings toward carbon neutrality in new construction and retrofits
• Electrification of the small and medium-sized commercial and multifamily building sectors 
• Challenges and opportunities that can arise in cold climates
• How do all-electric installations for large commercial buildings compare to conventional approaches from the design, installation, cost, and energy use perspectives
• How to overcome barriers in choosing the best all-electric options
• How the New York State Clean Heat program is helping commercial building owners adopt cost-saving solutions

Across the country, there is a move toward building electrification, replacing appliances that use other fuels with electricity. Learn about the trends in retrofitting we are most likely to see in the coming years that move the U.S. toward a 100% electric future. Panelists also answer questions about how the following efficiency technologies can work together: Weatherization, heat pump water heating, efficient heat pumps, induction stoves, and electric infrastructure upgrades.

You can expect to hear:

• Common things that building owners and code officials may notice (based on code cycle and location) and how to resolve them
• Pathways toward 100% electrification—it doesn’t have to happen all at once!
• The role heat pump space and water heating technology play in the transition
• Tools and training to help code officials, homeowners, and policymakers better understand the transition
• How the SolSmart program can help communities improve permitting and inspection processes to support electrification with solar power

Four 15-20 minute, self-paced, online courses will introduce facility operators, energy managers, engineering and project management staff, and other facilities management staff to common advanced control strategies. Designed by IREC, The State University of New York (SUNY), and Slipstream. Content areas that will be covered include optimal scheduling, AHU supply air pressure and temperature resets, economizers, and demand-controlled ventilation.

Courses in this series are:

• Optimal Scheduling
• Pressure and Temperature Resets
• Economizers
• Demand-Controlled Ventilation

After completing this series participants will be able to:

• Explain common sequences of operations (SOO) and their operations.
• Identify errors and troubleshoot system operation as it relates to SOO.
• Describe what points need to be trended and monitored to ensure proper operation.
• Describe the energy and comfort implications of the SOO as well as implications of not properly operating the systems per SOO.