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Shivani

Passive House Canada Conference, May 25 – 27, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Join Passive House Canada at the Richmond Conference Centre or Live Online Passive House Canada is bringing Canada's high-performance building industry together again for the 8th annual Passive House Canada Conference on May 25-27. This year's theme, "Thriving Communities, Lasting Value," dives deep into topics of resiliency and how it relates to cost, community, comfort and capacity in building practices. The highly anticipated Passive House Canada Conference is set to take place in Vancouver, marking the 8th annual gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators. This premier green building event is a must-attend for those passionate about advancing low-carbon, high-performance, sustainable building practices. With Passive House projects growing rapidly in British Columbia, this year's conference is poised to amplify that growth, offering an unparalleled platform to explore how "resiliency" aligns with the Passive House standard. Passive House buildings set communities up for success in the future through high-performance design, making them the optimal strategy for resilience in the face of climate change and extreme weather events. The event will be available both in-person and live online, ensuring accessibility to a broad audience. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and learn from leading experts about how Passive House principles integrate seamlessly into our communities of the future, allowing them to thrive. Note - This is a hybrid event. You can attend in Canada, or you can join from home.
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:35Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Basics of Electric Fireplaces for Aesthetics and Health, May 20, 2 pm ET

This course will cover the basics of electric fireplaces, including types, installation options, aesthetics, comfort, energy use, and safety concerns. The goal of the course is to educate attendees on how electric fireplaces can be a great alternative to combustion fireplaces. We will have a short discussion at the start about concerns about combustion-based fireplaces and how to address them. Lessons Learned - 1. Understand that electric fireplaces provide a healthier alternative to combustion fireplaces by minimizing indoor air pollutants and allergens, benefiting LEED BD+C V4 Homes Environmental Quality Prequesite Combustion venting. 2. Analyze the safety features of electric fireplaces to ensure they meet installation standards and reduce the risk of hazards, benefiting LEED Residential V4.1 Environmental Quality Prequesite Combustion venting. 3. Introduce the various installation options for electric fireplaces, which can enhance comfort and welfare in any living space, rewarding LEED Residential V4.1 Environmental Quality Enhanced Combustion venting. 4. Articulate the importance of energy efficiency in electric fireplaces to promote sustainable energy use and overall environmental welfare.
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:33Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Passive House in California, May 21, 12 pm PT

This session explores how Passive House principles are being applied across California's diverse climate zones—from foggy coastlines to hot inland valleys and desert regions—to create buildings that are energy-efficient, healthy, and climate-resilient. Participants will learn how Passive House design significantly improves indoor air quality through continuous, balanced ventilation with high-performance filtration, making it especially beneficial in areas impacted by wildfire smoke and urban air pollution. The session also highlights how Passive House buildings provide exceptional resistance to heat waves by maintaining thermal comfort with minimal mechanical cooling, thanks to airtight construction, advanced insulation, and passive shading strategies. In addition, the presentation will cover how Passive House enhances resilience to wildfires, including limiting smoke infiltration through airtight envelopes. Importantly, Passive House is currently being evaluated as an alternative compliance pathway to California's Title 24 energy code, offering a rigorous, performance-based framework that aligns with the state's decarbonization and zero net energy goals. Case studies will illustrate successful implementations and the policy potential of Passive House to support a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable built environment in California. Learning Objectives - Describe how Passive House strategies improve indoor air quality through airtight construction and high-efficiency ventilation systems, especially in areas affected by pollution and wildfire smoke. Analyze the role of Passive House design in enhancing building resilience during extreme heat events and heat waves through passive cooling, insulation, and envelope performance. Identify wildfire-specific design measures within Passive House construction that reduce smoke infiltration and ignition risk, contributing to occupant health and building durability. Evaluate how Passive House is being considered as an alternative compliance path to California's Title 24 energy code, and how it aligns with the state's energy efficiency and climate goals.
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:29Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Design, Operation and Maintenance Considerations for Industrial Decarbonization, May 21, 1:30 - 4 pm PT

This course focuses on the design and operational considerations required to successfully implement and sustain industrial decarbonization strategies. The PG&E instructor will address how to evaluate existing systems, identify future-ready upgrade pathways, and apply an efficiency-first approach to system design. Learning Objectives - Identify pathways for decarbonization upgrades in existing industrial systems Explain efficiency first principles in the design of decarbonized systems Describe the impact on electricity demand, capacity, and infrastructure requirements Identify process heat integration opportunities and system interactions Compare retrofit and greenfield design considerations and constraints Describe the role of reliability and redundancy in decarbonization planning Identify data collection and monitoring requirements to support ongoing performance optimization Image - Clean Air Task Force
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:28Replies:0
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Shivani

IAQVEC 2026, May 18-22, Los Angeles, California

Welcome to IAQVEC 2026, the premier international conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, and Energy Conservation. Join IAQVEC in Los Angeles, California, as we explore the future of building science, technology and architecture under the theme "Envisioning the Future: Innovations in Research and Technology for a Better Reality in the Built Environment." IAQVEC has been a driving force for sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental quality in the built environment since 1992. In 2026, we gather to share cutting-edge research, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, and shape a future where buildings play a pivotal role in creating a sustainable, resilient, and comfortable world. Join IAQVEC on this transformative journey and be part of the solution at IAQVEC 2026! Program Topics - Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Building technology and performance Thermal comfort Energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy, and embodied carbon Health, Wellbeing, and Human Behaviours in the Built Environment Generative AI in the Sustainable Built Environment Sustainable Building Materials and Circular Economy Visual (lighting and daylighting) quality/Acoustic quality Smart cities and green infrastructures Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience, and Environmental Policy Keynote Topics - From small to big ideas: using RD&D to seed and grow the decarbonized building sector in California From Air Changes to Outcomes: Rethinking Healthcare Ventilation Challenges for Occupant-Centric Control The New Practice of Architecture Redefining Energy-Efficient Buildings: Beyond the "One-Size-Fits-All" Paradigm Spacecraft Environmental Control: Can I have more Oxygen, Please?
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:30Replies:0
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Shivani

Wildfire Defense for Construction Professionals, Online, May 14, 3 - 5:30 pm PT

The USGBC-CA Wildfire Defense Certificate Training Program was developed to educate construction professionals and landscapers on how to best harden homes and landscapes to fires through the use of materials, maintenance practices, and firewise design practices known to reduce properties' risk of fire damage. This training intends to prime the pathway for the private market to drive the adoption of firewise best practices and create cultural change within the building industry. The training highlights existing resources and includes a small group of diverse advisors across fire prevention and building and landscape design to instill awareness and transfer knowledge around industry-leading best practices to reduce fire risk in homes and landscapes. For more resources, see our USGBC-CA Rebuilding Guide and learn how to implement best practices in sustainable rebuilding. The Wildfire Defense Certificate for Construction Professionals is a 150-minute training followed by a certification test to be taken online via the USGBC-CA Learning Center. This certificate training provides participants with real-world examples and strategies for fire risk reduction, including but not limited to the following topics: Understanding Wildfire Think Home First Defensible Space Zones Hardscape Strategies Defensible Landscape Design Strategic Tree Canopy Fire Risk Reducing Maintenance Post-Fire Recovery Importance of community organizing for safety, preparedness, and funding opportunities
Date Posted: 2026-04-10Views:18Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: 30 Years of ENERGY STAR for Homes - Inside the Origin Story, May 6, 2 pm ET

Join a conversation with the pioneers who helped build one of the most successful public-private partnership programs in housing history. This is a rare opportunity to hear firsthand stories from inside the EPA, the early academic partnerships, and the builder adoption efforts that transformed ENERGY STAR for Homes from an idea into a national standard. Learn: How ENERGY STAR for Homes evolved from the original ENERGY STAR program. Who the early champions were — and how collaboration sparked momentum. What it took to jumpstart builder adoption in the mid-1990s. Lessons learned from Version 1.0 through later program updates. The keys to long-term success that continue to shape the program today. There are very few programs in the history of the building industry that have fundamentally reshaped the way we think about performance, efficiency, and value. ENERGY STAR is one of them. What began in 1992 as a relatively modest initiative under the Clean Air Act—designed to promote energy-efficient products—has evolved into one of the most recognized and trusted programs in the world. By the time the Energy Policy Act of 2005 formally codified ENERGY STAR as a voluntary public-private partnership, its impact was already undeniable. But the story that many people don't fully know is how ENERGY STAR made the leap from appliances and equipment to homes, and how that shift helped catalyze an entirely new era of building performance. The ENERGY STAR for Homes program didn't emerge from a fully formed playbook. It was built in real time through collaboration, experimentation, and a shared belief that homes could, and should, perform better. That early vision was brought to life by a small but influential group of partners, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Conservation Services Group, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), and Arizona State University. Together, they helped translate an idea into a framework that builders could actually implement. Thirty years later, the ripple effects of that work are everywhere. Today, ENERGY STAR is not just a label, it's a signal of trust. It has helped normalize energy efficiency, elevate consumer expectations, and lay the groundwork for many of the high-performance building practices we now consider essential. But like all transformative movements, its beginnings were anything but inevitable. They were driven by people. By ideas. By moments of insight that, at the time, may not have seemed historic, but ultimately changed the trajectory of an entire industry. That's why Green Builder Media's upcoming webinar, ENERGY STAR for Homes Anniversary, on May 6 is so compelling. In celebration of the 30-year anniversary of ENERGY STAR for Homes, we're bringing together three individuals who were there at the very beginning, who helped shape the program not just in theory, but also in practice. Sam Rashkin will share stories from inside the EPA as the program was being conceived and built, offering a rare glimpse into how a federal initiative becomes a market-moving force. Dr. Howard Bashford will reflect on the early conversations and collaborations that helped spark the program's development, including pivotal moments that connected academia, industry, and government. And Daran Wastchak will bring a boots-on-the-ground perspective, sharing what it actually took to drive builder adoption in those early days and how that work helped lay the foundation for the home performance industry as we know it today. Together, they'll walk us through the evolution of ENERGY STAR for Homes, from its earliest iterations to the program's ongoing impact, and unpack the lessons that remain just as relevant today as they were three decades ago. The webinar will provide an important reminder that meaningful change in this industry doesn't happen all at once. It happens through persistence, partnership, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. At a time when the industry is once again being asked to evolve toward decarbonization, resilience, and a more holistic definition of value, there is something powerful about revisiting the origin story of a program that successfully moved the market before. Because the question is no longer whether transformation is possible. We've already seen it happen. The question is: what will we build next? Image - Green Builder Media
Date Posted: 2026-04-09Views:118Replies:0
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Shivani

Building Innovation 2026, May 19 - 20, McLean, Virginia

At NIBS' annual Building Innovation conference, attendees explore challenges, solutions, new technologies, groundbreaking strategies, and more. There's no other event that brings together government agency officials, AEC industry professionals, researchers, community planners, and innovative thinkers – to improve the built environment. Through curated panels, collaborative workshops, and federal program showcases, Building Innovation explores how coordination across sectors can unlock scalable solutions to infrastructure challenges—transforming insight into action. Building Innovation 2026 will build upon momentum from NIBS Building for Tomorrow Conference held in January 2026 which convened federal, state, and local agencies to advance cross-sector policy alignment and explore how system-wide collaboration can drive long-term resilience across America's lifeline infrastructure systems. Over two days, curated panels and expert-led sessions will showcase innovations in digital delivery, building codes, housing, capital investment strategies, and adaptive design. The conference will also spotlight two critical focus areas: Systems of Systems, which examines how interconnected infrastructure affects resilience at the national scale, and Modular Offsite Construction, which highlights efficient, scalable building methods aligned with NIBS' emphasis on applied technologies and forward-looking building science. Learn more and register here: https://nibs.org/building-innovation-conference
Date Posted: 2026-04-07Views:129Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Everything You Need to Know about Electric Vehicles and Bidirectional Charging, May 7, 10 am to 12 pm PT

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are no longer the future, they are: transforming how we drive, providing a better driving experience, powering our homes, and stabilizing the grid today. Yet myths, outdated assumptions, and rapid technology changes leave many homeowners and professionals uncertain about what's true and what's possible. In this dynamic two hour session, EV pioneers Robert Fortunato and Nick Brown, who have owned ten EVs over the past 14 years, tested most models on the market, and integrated solar and charging systems into their Net Zero / Zero Carbon case study homes share practical, real world insights you won't find in a dealership brochure. You'll gain clarity and confidence in making EV buying, charging, and operational decisions. We'll break down total cost of ownership, safety, performance, maintenance savings, and health benefits compared to internal combustion and hybrid vehicles. You'll also learn how evolving regulations such as CALGreen, Net Energy Metering (NEM3), and Time of Use (TOU) rates are reshaping the economics of electrification. Most importantly, we'll explore how bidirectional charging changes everything. As batteries in buildings become more expensive and regulated, EVs offer a powerful alternative: a mobile battery that can power your home during outages, reduce peak electricity costs, and even support the grid by reducing summer peak usage by 1/3. If just 5 million California EVs exported 3 kW during peak hours, they could provide 15 gigawatts of power equivalent to seven Diablo Canyon nuclear plants dramatically flattening the "Duck Curve" and reducing grid costs for everyone. Whether you're a homeowner, builder, architect, or contractor, this foundational class equips you to make smarter decisions, maximize savings, increase resilience, and future proof your projects. Learning Objectives - Evaluate the financial, health, safety, and performance advantages of EVs compared to internal combustion and hybrid vehicles Confidently select, charge, and operate an EV while avoiding common myths and mistakes Understand how CALGreen, NEM3, and TOU policies impact EV charging infrastructure and project planning Leverage bidirectional charging to reduce energy costs, provide backup power, and contribute to grid stability Image - US Department of Energy
Date Posted: 2026-04-07Views:168Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Duct Diagnostics - Evaluation & Troubleshooting for Real-World Systems, May 6, 12 pm ET

Duct Diagnostics: Evaluation & Troubleshooting for Real-World Systems is a building scientist–focused webinar that walks professionals through how to identify, evaluate, and troubleshoot common duct system failures found in existing homes. Using real-world field data and proven diagnostic concepts, this session explains how duct sizing errors, leakage, airflow restrictions, poor balance, and improper static pressure can reduce overall system performance by 40–50% and drive comfort complaints, oversized equipment, and costly callbacks. Attendees will learn how to interpret diagnostic data—including pressure pan results, static pressure readings, temperature rise, and room-to-room pressure imbalances—to understand what the duct system is actually doing and why it matters. The webinar emphasizes practical building science–based decision-making, helping participants recognize problem patterns, prioritize corrective actions, and clearly communicate findings—so issues are identified early, solutions are targeted, and whole-house systems perform as intended. Lessons Learned Understand how improper duct sizing, leakage, and airflow restrictions can significantly impact the health of occupants by affecting indoor air quality and comfort levels, and benefit LEED Residential V4.1 Credit EQ: Balancing of Heating and Cooling Distribution Systems - Static Pressure. Analyze diagnostic data, such as static pressure readings and temperature rises, to ensure the safety of building occupants by detecting and correcting system failures early. Introduce building science–based strategies to enhance the welfare of residents by targeting duct improvements that support consistent comfort and energy efficiency and how it relates to LEED Residential V4.1 Credit EQ: Balancing of Heating and Cooling Distribution Systems - Supply Air-Flow Testing. Articulate the importance of prioritizing and communicating corrective actions so that concerns are addressed effectively in real-world duct system management and LEED V4.1 Credit EQ: Balancing of Heating and Cooling Distribution Systems - Static Pressure Balancing is met.
Date Posted: 2026-04-07Views:157Replies:0
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Shivani

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure for Multifamily & Commercial Properties, Free 3-Part Webinar Series, April 30, May 28, and June 25

As an attendee, you will gain a practical perspective on what it takes to deploy EV charging infrastructure and how to make informed decisions when incorporating EV charging solutions for multifamily and commercial properties. This series starts with an introduction to EV charging, followed by a session on design and installation, and concludes with how to deploy charging infrastructure. Join to gain essential knowledge and get started on your journey towards a sustainable future with EV charging. Image - Swtch Energy
Date Posted: 2026-04-07Views:177Replies:0
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Shivani

Free Webinar: Tour the MiNet0-1, triple-certified home with low embodied carbon, April 22, 12 pm ET

Join GreenHome Institute this Earth Day for a tour of a no-compromise home on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, designed and built from the ground up to enable net-zero living for its occupants. Solar panels on the roof generate the annual power needed for this all electic home and two EVs. Double-stud walls and quad-pane windows make the home extremely healthy, comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient. Its wood floors are sustainable and comfortable. The home includes water-saving features, health-certified materials, and native plant landscaping. The detached garage features V2H electric vehicle charging capabilities. Learn about its resilience to strong winds, earthquakes, heat, and cold waves as part of the design and build. Lessons Learned 1. Understand that a healthy home environment is enhanced by features like energy recovery ventilation and health-certified materials, ensuring comfort and well-being for its occupants. 2. Analyze the importance of incorporating resilience in home design, such as wind and earthquake resistance, to promote safety for residents in various conditions. 3. Introduce sustainable practices, like the use of water-saving features and native plant landscaping, to improve the welfare of the community and the environment. 4. Articulate the benefits of renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging capabilities, in reducing embodied carbon and supporting net-zero living.
Date Posted: 2026-04-04Views:278Replies:0
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