Powered By 
Builders working within Xcel Energy’s service territory are invited to take advantage of a unique opportunity at the EEBA Summit. Join fellow high-performance builders for three packed days of advanced education, technical training, and real-world building science insights designed to elevate your projects and your business.
As part of this Xcel sponsorship, attendees to the EEBA Training Track can join the EEBA Summit at no additional cost, connecting with like-minded building professionals, industry experts, and leading manufacturers during September 17-18.
Eligible Minnesota builders and architects can register for $99, instead of the standard $595 general registration fee! This special pricing is available to professionals who actively build residential homes within Xcel Energy’s service territory. To receive the discounted rate, please contact Seth Welty: Seth.Welty@icf.com.
Stay tuned for CEU details!
Schedule:
Wednesday, September 16th - Selling High Performance Homes - Presented by EEBA Certified Trainer Gord Cooke
Selling High Performance Homes workshop is an additional offering of the popular EEBA Houses That WorkTM educational series focused specifically on the needs of builders and new home sales specialists/agents. The session will also be of interest to general full service real estate agents, manufacturers’ representatives and housing program or utility personnel. This presentation applies proven sales techniques to the task of helping sales agents educate home buyers on the technical features of High Performance Homes. This will empower home buyers to make better decisions with respect to energy efficiency and other technical advancements. This workshop includes examples, case studies and role plays relevant to both custom and large volume builders and draws on the successes of many builders who have already realized the benefits of selling High Performance Homes. The workshop is applicable to all regions of the country and is readily adaptable to local housing programs and national programs such as ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, or Zero Energy Ready Homes.
Learning Objectives
- Learn about the specifics of valuable housing programs such as ENERGY STAR, or Zero Energy Ready Homes.
- Learn and practice a new sales plan that focuses on helping clients make better, more informed decisions with respect to energy efficiency and high performance technical features.
- Translate the technical features of high performance homes into at least a dozen compelling benefits home buyers can understand and value.
- Learn how to conduct a thorough needs analysis that uncovers a client’s interest in high performance homes by asking 6-8 simple questions
- Integrate the technical features of new homes into existing sales and marketing plans.
- Practice using the technical language of high performance homes to enhance sales confidence.
- Practice overcoming the 6 most common concerns or issues homebuyers have with respect to high performance homes
Thursday, September 17th - High Performance Mechanical Systems for Houses That Work - Presented by EEBA Certified Trainer Gord Cooke
High Performance Mechanical Systems for Houses That Work is a mid-level, full day seminar geared towards Builders, Designers, Code Officials, and Trade Allies that focuses on HVAC, Ventilation, Hot Water, Indoor Air Quality and Electronic Home Controls in high performance housing. In the past several years, residential mechanical systems have grown in complexity and scope as energy codes have mandated higher insulation levels, better windows and tighter construction. There is now a great opportunity to rethink and redesign HVAC, hot water heating and electronic home control systems as they are major contributors to energy efficiency goals. This course will first review the key building science concepts that have changed the way houses are built and identify the relevant changes to mechanical systems. The remainder of the course will focus on the proper sizing and selection of appropriate mechanical equipment for high performance ever lower load homes. Compelling opportunities to simultaneously optimize comfort, durability, safety and health, efficiency and cost will be identified. The instructor will use lectures, case studies and group exercises to convey the information to attendees.
Learning Objectives
- Gain an understanding of the basic building science concepts relevant to mechanical systems in high performance housing;
- Obtain knowledge of the sizing adjustments, calculations and commissioning process for low load residential HVAC systems and how to choose the proper system for a specific climate zone;
- Understand the main causes of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) concerns and their mitigation, including the effect of the building envelope on the need for ventilation and strategies and types of ventilation systems, including new technologies;
- Recognize opportunities for a wide range of equipment for at least space heating, space cooling, water heating, indoor air quality and occupant control;
- Comprehend the role of electronic controls systems with relation to mechanical equipment and achievable energy savings; learn how to choosing the right system and maximize integration with other equipment in the home.
Friday, September 18th - Houses That Work - Presented by EEBA Certified Trainer Gord Cooke
Houses That Work™ is the nation's leading turn-key solution for educational training and outreach. Houses That Work education provides attendees with ways to improve the performance, efficiency, durability, comfort, safety and health of the homes they build, making them a better value for their customers and incorporating green practices into their business formula.
Houses That Work classes have helped thousands of building professionals benefit from understanding the house-as-a-system approach regardless of what climate zone or the number/size of the homes they build.
In this session, participants learn that complex changes in home design, building materials, mechanical systems, appliances, code compliance and consumer lifestyles and expectations make every builder, supplier, and trade contractor’s job more demanding. We will cover the basics of building science and how it is applied to create high performance homes.
The session will address critical home performance elements that exist as a system and are part of energy efficient homes. The fundamentals of building science - air, heat and moisture flow – will be outlined and applied to help participants make better choices with respect to construction materials and methods. Participants will also learn important information about indoor air quality, including the basics of mold and other pollutant sources, and cost-effective strategies to be able to offer healthier indoor environments.
At the end of the session, attendees will have a thorough understanding of how to build better attics, walls and foundations and how to choose HVAC systems that integrate properly into their homes. This session will also cover how building science principles improve the marketing position for building professionals, providing case studies of builders who have changed their building processes and gained return through communicating the value of high performance homes.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the elements of high performance homes and how they help respond to code compliance, and the many changes in the residential construction industry as well as consumer expectations
- Understand the fundamentals or air, heat and moisture flow and see how they can be applied to make better material and methods decisions
- Apply the building science to attics, walls, windows, foundations and HVAC decisions to create high performance homes
- Identify the building process changes needed to cost-effectively implement high performance homes
- Explore the successes of other builders who have benefited from implementing high performance home strategies.