Training Information

Residential Energy Auditing 101

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OUTLINE

This introductory class is aimed at all residential energy services staff and Utility Directors in medium and smaller communities. It will equip them with the skills required to conduct basic residential energy audits as well as how to better consult customers with bill concerns. Training will include the customer service and technical aspects needed to diagnose basic causes of high energy use.

• Apply the CARP technique (Control, Acknowledge, Refocus, Problem Solve) that will serve to calm down a customer upset about a high bill and refocus efforts on helping them.
• Practice asking questions to determine if an energy audit will be beneficial to both the city and customer.
• Analyze billing histories over several years and within one year to spot consumption trends.
• Calculate energy use of electrical appliances by applying Ohm’s Law.
• Utilize online resources provided by ElectriCities such as TempTracker365.com and Energy Forecast to help understand the relationship between the weather and energy use.
• Review energy fundamentals including the laws of thermodynamics, the modes of heat transfer, and the differences between sensible and latent heat.
• Comprehend the NC Energy Code and the requirements by the three climate zones in NC.
• Review the basic components of house construction including the building shell, mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and other loads that impact monthly utility bills.
• Review home electricity monitoring systems that enable measurement of end use appliances by circuit and permit analysis of end use as a function of weather and temperatures in unconditioned spaces like attics and crawlspaces.

TIMES

• Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

PREREQUISITES

None

PRICE

• Members: $455
• Associate Members: $595
• Non-Members: $695

INSTRUCTOR: Dale Odom