Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN)

Free Webinar: Best Practices for Hot Water Distribution, August 20, 4 - 5:30 pm PT

Do you want higher performance at lower costs? Every decision that increases pipe length decreases efficiency and adds costs. Right-sizing pipes and water heaters is essential. Integrating air source heat pump water heaters into high performance homes can be challenging. This session will do a deep dive into the essentials. Bring the key questions you would like to have answered! Learning Objectives Understand energy code requirements...

Next Generation Passive Solar, August 12, 4 - 5:30pm, Santa Barbara, California

We all learned the principles of passive solar design in school – south-facing orientation, strategic windows, thermal mass, etc., but the old rules don’t apply in the same way. Modern buildings should still incorporate passive strategies, including daylight and ventilation, but they need a new spin on the implementation to account for improved insulation, prevalence of high-performance glazing, and efficient HVAC systems and...

On-Site Blower Door Training with 3C-REN, Santa Barbara, California, May 2

There are some basic tests which have to be performed to assist us in 3C-REN's endeavor of creating buildings that perform well. These tests also serve to inform us whether we have achieved our goals for the building. The blower door is the main diagnostic tool for measuring the air tightness of the building enclosure. With a blower door, we can quantify the amount of air leakage through the building enclosure. It can be used to assist us in...

Free Webinar: Building for the Future: Preparing for the 2025 Energy Code, April 30, 9 -11 am PT

The California Energy Commission has adopted the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, effective on January 1, 2026. This virtual Regional Forum offers an opportunity to delve into the latest updates to the Code and its impact on upcoming projects. Join 3C-REN to gain valuable insights into the key changes, how it aligns with California’s energy efficiency goals, and practical strategies to prepare for its implementation, in...

Free Webinar: Higher-Performance Residential Remodels, April 24, 09:30 - 11 am PT

Working through specific examples, 3C-REN will help project teams identify strategies that have the highest impact for improving energy efficiency, comfort and indoor healthy environments in renovations and additions. Beginning with a focus on client needs and incorporating occupant goals, a high-performance remodel may be phased or done all at once, may focus on efficient equipment and appliances or more on indoor comfort, and may be very...

Free Webinar: Batteries - Options and Implementation for a Building’s Energy Storage System, March 20, 9:30 - 11:00 am PT

Whether you’re interested in resiliency and cost savings for a home or simply meeting energy codes for new construction, understanding battery storage is increasingly important for the building industry. In this course, presenter’ll go over battery types, what’s currently available and what’s on the horizon, how to size a battery for code compliance or other goals, and what to look for in implementation. Learning...

Free webinar: Diagnosing Heating and Cooling Comfort Problems in Homes, March 18, 3 - 4:30 pm PT

This course will cover the different kind of heating and cooling complaints, how to identify them and how to resolve them. Did you know that most HVAC systems are oversized, not undersized? This can cause temperature differences in the home, higher energy bills and premature equipment failure, all of which are frequently blamed on undersized equipment. Learn how to tell the difference and address the problem. Learning Objectives...

Free Webinar: Recovery Ventilators - 2022 Energy Code Energy Savings and Compliance Credit, March 5, 9:30 - 11:00 am PT

Improved health and cognitive performance. Easier Title 24 compliance. Utility bill savings. These are the reasons to consider incorporating Heat Recovery Ventilators & Energy Recovery Ventilators (collectively Recovery Ventilators or RVs) into your next high-performance home project. Nick Brown, the instructor, installed his first RV in his home during COVID, when his daughter and two friends did their schoolwork from the office...

Free webinar: Crafting High Performance Enclosures - Roofs, Walls, and Floors, March 4, 12 - 1:30 pm PT

Building enclosures – the roof, walls, and floor – are the first line of defense between nature and people. Enclosure performance is optimized when air sealing and insulation – two underappreciated and typically underperforming features – are done to high-performance standards rather than the status quo. This class covers installation — the practical application of those principles on the job site – the...

Free webinar: Inflation Reduction Act - Funding Overview of Programs (Real Estate Focus), February 27, 11 am - 1 pm PT

Inflation Reduction Act Part 1: Funding Overview of Programs IRA funding is coming, bringing huge potential for energy-efficiency upgrades at an affordable cost. By understanding the programs coming, you can help clients maximize their savings – on both their installation costs and utility bills. Objectives - Current and potential IRA funds and access Tax credits and incentives Current rebates from local programs How Real...