March 7, 2024 | Christy Bolognani, Buildings Program Associate
Thanks to ambitious emissions goals set by state and local governments, today’s buildings are more efficient and electrified than ever before. Technologies such as solar and battery storage, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), and heat pumps are becoming regular features of new homes and buildings, making ongoing training and education critical to keeping your staff prepared during permitting and inspections. Whether you’re a code official, a planning and zoning department, or a fire official, finding the right training programs to meet your needs takes time and careful planning. Fortunately, keeping current on the latest systems, codes, and standards has never been easier, thanks to resources from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and its partners. Whether you’re looking for online courses, articles, or quick references, IREC has you covered.
For a comprehensive selection of free and on-demand educational resources and CEU-bearing (Continuing Education Units) courses on a variety of clean energy topics, look no further than the Clean Energy Clearinghouse. This online platform covers topics such as permitting and plan review, inspections, building science, weatherization, building electrification, and codes and standards. Visitors can also filter by technology and take a deep dive into solar and storage, EVSE, efficient HVAC systems such as heat pumps, and high-performance building materials.
The Clearinghouse features a variety of resource types to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, including articles, guides/checklists, webinars, interactive courses, reports, and informational videos. All training materials were developed in partnership with highly respected subject matter experts such as the International Code Council, Independent Alliance of the Electrical Industry, and National Association of State Fire Marshals, so you can rest assured that you and your staff are receiving accurate, relevant, and cutting-edge information.
The benefits of equipping your staff with fact-based information about the safety and efficacy of these technologies are many and include:
- Decreased permitting and inspection times
- Properly certified staff
- Safe installations of clean energy technologies
- Improved working relationships with system installers
Start planning your next training today by visiting CleanEnergyClearninghouse.org to access the Clean Energy Clearinghouse’s catalog of on-demand resources. To complete free CEU-bearing courses, visit IREC’s learning management system at CleanEnergyTraining.org.
In this era of rapid change to the built environment, keeping your staff knowledgeable about new and emerging technologies is critical to supporting today’s buildings. And as state and local governments implement their emissions reduction plans, the need for additional trained staff will only increase. Accelerate your department’s knowledge with the full catalog of affordable and engaging workforce development solutions from IREC.
SWEEP worked in partnership with IREC in 2023 and 2024 to share these educational resources with stakeholders across the Southwest.
The post Tools of the trade: Training resources to support more efficient, electrified buildings first appeared on Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.