SHW100 Introduction
Solar Thermal & Solar Domestic Hot Water
This course provides a fundamental working knowledge of the varied aspects of solar thermal collection and its use as a domestic heating source. The student will be prepared for design, installation, operation and maintenance of the most common solar domestic hot water systems (SDHW).
Students will significantly increase their plumbing skills to include a detailed understanding of solar thermal and the design/installation/operation of domestic hot water systems. This course also covers solar thermal site analysis, collector roof mounting, safety, code issues, as well as an overview of solar pool and solar space heating.
Students leave being able to:
- Recognize solar thermal opportunities and solutions for various scenarios.
- Use a solar thermal needs assessment to properly size a system.
- Use knowledge of solar thermal radiation to complete an initial site analysis for a solar thermal application.
- Successfully perform a site shading analysis using industry-approved tools.
- Prepare a detailed analysis of the site’s solar thermal output using software tools.
- Distinguish solar thermal collectors based on factors such as intended use, design, construction, fluid flows, climate suitability, and performance.
- Identify solar thermal safety practices, standards and codes.
- Explain the SRCC rating and certification system for solar thermal components.
- Identify the proper use of Balance of System components used in a SDHW solution, including freeze protection best practices.
- Describe the various types of residential hot water systems and how they may be incorporated into a solar domestic hot water system.
- Demonstrate understanding of collector mounting options for various roof constructions.
- Complete system documentation and provide client education on safety, operation, maintenance, and emergency shutdown.Demonstrate the methods to analyze and troubleshoot solar thermal systems.
- Demonstrate the methods to analyze and troubleshoot solar thermal systems.
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Workshop Fees: $1,145
SHW 125: Domestic Solar Thermal
Installation Lab
This laboratory experience is designed to provide a detailed, hands-on educational experience of the various components, installation, and operation of domestic solar thermal systems.
The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all solar thermal systems including: design, installation (including permitting), operation, and maintenance of the two most common solar domestic thermal systems (drainback & closed loop glycol).
Students leave being able to:
- Physically identify the various components of two types of solar thermal systems (Drainback & Glycol based) including collectors, tanks, pumps, temperature sensors, controllers, storage tanks, and heat exchangers.
- Be capable of properly installing each component.
- Pressure test system.
- Complete both fluid charge sequence and procedure for proper system start – up.
- Identify typical operating parameters.
- Review various system faults and complete troubleshooting including repair/resolution.
- Be capable of executing an emergency shutdown procedure.
- Demonstrate proper shutdown for vacation and/or maintenance.
- Be capable of fluid change out as required.
- Complete fully system documentation and provide client education on safety, operation, maintenance, and emergency shutdown.
Prerequisite:
Participants must have completed the SHW100 workshop before enrolling in this course.
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Workshop Fees: $750
SHW175: Domestic Solar Thermal Pool &
Active Space Heating
SHW175: Domestic Solar Thermal Pool & Active Space Heating. This course provides a more detailed working knowledge of the varied aspects of domestic solar thermal pool and active space heating. The course further prepares students for design, installation (including permitting), operation, and maintenance of the most common solar domestic thermal pool and active space heating systems.
Students will continue to increase their plumbing skills including a more detailed understanding of solar thermal pool and active space heating design/installation/operation.
Students leave being able to:
- Identify the various aspects of solar thermal pool and active space heating opportunities.
- Identify the various types of solar thermal collectors including use, design & construction, fluid flows, and performance.
- Identify each classification for SD pool/spa heating systems, describing each and identifying how they are used.
- Possess a detailed understanding of design, installation, operation, and maintenance for the above mentioned pool/spa systems.
- Identify the various types of active, solar domestic space heating systems.
- Describe the numerous plumbing components used in each application including function, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance.
- Be capable of properly sizing a pool, spa, or active space heating system.
- Be capable of designing and installing piping, electrical, and all other systems necessary to complete a safe, permitted, and operational pool or space heating system.
- Complete fully system documentation and provide client education on safety, operation, maintenance, and emergency shutdown.
Prerequisite:
Participants must have completed the SHW100 & SHW125 workshop before enrolling in this course.
Enrollment is limited
Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm
Workshop Fee: $500
BPI100 Analyst: Introduction to Building Science
Building science is the integrated approach to assessing, correcting and building residential structures based on the "House as a System" concept.
This energy audit approach considers the interactions among the building design, location, climate, materials, mechanical systems, and other factors. It recognizes that features of one component in the house can greatly affect how efficient energy is being used.
Building science incorporates physics, chemistry, biology and engineering to better understand how to build or renovate homes that are more comfortable, durable, healthy, and energy efficient. This course prepares students for the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst certification exams.
It introduces the purpose of an energy audit, the basic skills required and the equipment needed to perform pressure diagnostics, combustion safety testing and calculate minimum ventilation requirements for indoor air quality.
Students leave being able to:
- Use building construction terminology common to home performance contracting
- Understand the basic principles of energy
- Explain and calculate the different types of heat flow
- Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics in residential construction
- Qualify thermal performance in diverse building assemblies
- Perform combustion safety testing to BPI Standards
- Identify heating and air conditioning system types and recognize common HVAC issues
- Test envelope and duct leakage using a blower door and pressure pans
- Successfully perform construction math measurements and calculations
- Test appliance annual kWh usage
- Identify potential health and safety issues that commonly impact home performance contracting
- Explain diagnostic test findings to homeowners
- Properly use a gas leak detector, CO probe, static pressure probe, and monometer
- Identify causes of pressure imbalances
- Determine the effectiveness of insulation
- Diagnose air leakage and determine which leaks to fix and the best way to make the repairs
Enrollment is Limited
Monday–Saturday, 8:00am-5:00pm daily
Workshop Fees: $1,705
WX150: Weatherization Techniques
The course is an excellent complement to the BPI 100 because it provides both classroom and in-the-field components to introduce students to weatherization industry standards and how to implement the recommendations of the BPI energy audit. Students will learn to identify and then implement cost effective strategies to improve the health, safety, durability and energy efficiency of residential buildings, and get the hands-on training and practice of how to do the needed repairs.
Students will determine which products should or should not be installed in different residential applications, and learn how to interpret the MSDS for products that are installed. An emphasis will be placed on learning how to read and to write scopes of work for the repairs and renovations based on testing and diagnostic results.
Students leave being able to:
- Apply the fundamentals of air, heat and moisture flow in remodeling existing homes to make them more efficient, safe, healthy, durable and comfortable
- Identify energy efficiency improvements that are cost effective and what commonly promoted improvements are not cost effective
- Practice techniques for proper duct sealing
- Identify the changes that often occur in building materials and that impact energy efficiency improvements
- Understand how federal, state, and local laws regarding asbestos and lead based paint impact weatherization work
- Recognize priorities for air sealing, and also calculate and install ventilation solutions
- Install insulation according to basic principles
- Identify which materials to use in various applications of air sealing, including attic by-pass, air handlers, windows, fireplace chimneys, large cracks and holes
- Perform electrical and gas appliances energy consumption testing
- Understand drainage planes and how to prevent water intrusion
- Prevent carbon monoxide health hazards
- Properly use personal protective equipment
- Solve problems caused by pressures imbalances
- Determine most effective weather-stripping for doors and windows
- Implement common mobile home weatherization techniques
- Explain landscaping for shade and low water use in desert environments
- Implement post-repair testing to determine if weatherization goals were achieved
Enrollment is Limited
Monday–Saturday, 8:00am-5:00pm daily
Workshop Fees: $1,705
PV100: Solar Design & Installation
Participants will learn the fundamental concepts required for working safely with PV systems, and will design residential-sized, code compliant, battery-less grid-tied and stand-alone systems.
This in-person workshop will provide an overview of the basic PV system applications. The goal of this session is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with both residential and commercial PV systems. Topics include: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. Participants will learn the fundamentals of sizing a residential battery-less grid-tied system, wire sizing, over-current protection, and grounding. This session will also review fundamental design criteria for off-grid stand-alone systems including specifying batteries, controllers, and battery-based inverters.
Students leave being able to:
- Perform power and energy calculations.
- Perform a load analysis for off-grid and battery-less grid-tied systems.
- Implement electrical efficiency measures to reduce system size.
- Diagram an array and battery bank in series and parallel configurations.
- Obtain and apply module specifications.
- Determine module performance and array performance given various conditions.
- Determine the azimuth and altitude angle of the sun and evaluate shading potential.
- List the pros and cons of different mounting structures.
- Interpret and apply data from equipment specification sheets.
- Size a residential battery-less grid-tied system including the inverter, array, wiring and over-current protection.
- List the order of commissioning/decommissioning and the potential safety hazards of PV systems.
- Draw a block diagram and list the pros and cons of different system types.
- Identify the proper safety protocols for working with batteries.
- Define battery depth of discharge, days of autonomy, equalization and efficiency.
- Identify the pros and cons of using valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) versus flooded batteries.
- Specify a charge controller.
- Specify a battery-based inverter given certain parameters.
- Determine acceptable voltage drop for system circuits.
- Perform detailed site analysis utilizing commercially available tools.
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Textbook: $100
Workshop Fees: $1,045
PV150: Solar Installation Lab
This hands-on workshop offers three (3) days (8am-5pm) of supervised installation practice on solar-electric systems. This workshop focuses on how to safely install, test and commission solar-electric systems. Hands-on labs for installation of source electrical including: ac/dc disconnects, inverters, meter base, combiner boxes, utility interconnects.
Participants will dissect and install components of two (2) grid-tied systems most commonly used in the Arizona. Class includes hands on labs for installation of panels/rails/mounts (s-tile, composite shingle and mission tile).
Description:
This course will provide an overview of the three basic PV system applications, primarily focusing on grid-direct systems. The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems including: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety and commissioning. The course will also cover the basics of sizing a residential and commercial grid-direct system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection and grounding.
Students leave being able to:
- Analyze net metering and other incentives that affect the final cost of PV system
- Diagram an array in series and parallel configurations
- Size appropriate disconnects and overcurrent protection
- Discussions on specifications for a given module and determine a module's performance given various environmental conditions
- Determine performance of an array/system based on irradiance changes or for array orientation and tilt angle at a given site
- Determine the magnetic declination, find the orientation and altitude angle of the sun, and evaluate the shade potential for a given site
- Read equipment specification sheets to determine the critical information needed in system design
- Size a residential grid-direct system including the inverter, array, PV source and inverter output circuit conductors (basic) and overcurrent protection
- Determine the number of modules that can fit on a given roof space
- Identify the following wires and components on a three-line diagram of a residential grid-direct system: the array, disconnects, inverters, the equipment grounding conductors, ungrounded conductors, grounded conductors, the grounding electrode(s) and the system grounds
- List the order of commissioning and potential safety hazards for grid-direct systems
Prerequisite: Participants must have completed the Pv100 workshop before enrolling in the PV150: Residential Solar Installation Lab
Enrollment is Limited
Three Saturdays, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Workshop Fees: $945
Optional: PV200: Advanced Solar Design & Compliance
Apply the National Electric Code (NEC) to solar-electric systems and specify design criteria for both residential and commercial systems. This classroom focuses on the National Electric Code (NEC), including grid interface calculations, grounding considerations and wire sizing. Participants evaluate system performance under various operating conditions. Commercial system design elements, including inter-row shading, inverter selection, and data monitoring solutions, are covered. In-person lectures are combined with system design exercises. The in-person workshop consists of five days of classroom lecture with hands-on class labs.
Students leave being able to:
- Perform NEC service panel bus bar calculations
- Calculate and diagram appropriate series fusing
- Determine NEC required workspace clearances
- Size appropriate disconnects and overcurrent protection
- Calculate spacing between modules to eliminate inter-row shading Perform uplift force and lag bolt strength calculations
- Identify all required NEC labeling for solar-electric systems
- Size grounding wires and grounding electrode conductors to NEC standards
- Draw a three-line diagram of a residential grid-tied system and a residential battery-based system
- Identify the sizing considerations for stand-alone systems
- Perform sizing calculations for a battery-based system
- Calculate maximum charge rates for batteries
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Textbook: $100 (same textbook used for Pv100)
Workshop Fees: $1,045
PV100: Solar Design & Installation
Participants will learn the fundamental concepts required for working safely with PV systems, and will design residential-sized, code compliant, battery-less grid-tied and stand-alone systems.
This in-person workshop will provide an overview of the basic PV system applications. The goal of this session is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with both residential and commercial PV systems. Topics include: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. Participants will learn the fundamentals of sizing a residential battery-less grid-tied system, wire sizing, over-current protection, and grounding. This session will also review fundamental design criteria for off-grid stand-alone systems including specifying batteries, controllers, and battery-based inverters.
Students leave being able to:
- Perform power and energy calculations.
- Perform a load analysis for off-grid and battery-less grid-tied systems.
- Implement electrical efficiency measures to reduce system size.
- Diagram an array and battery bank in series and parallel configurations.
- Obtain and apply module specifications.
- Determine module performance and array performance given various conditions.
- Determine the azimuth and altitude angle of the sun and evaluate shading potential.
- List the pros and cons of different mounting structures.
- Interpret and apply data from equipment specification sheets.
- Size a residential battery-less grid-tied system including the inverter, array, wiring and over-current protection.
- List the order of commissioning/decommissioning and the potential safety hazards of PV systems.
- Draw a block diagram and list the pros and cons of different system types.
- Identify the proper safety protocols for working with batteries.
- Define battery depth of discharge, days of autonomy, equalization and efficiency.
- Identify the pros and cons of using valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) versus flooded batteries.
- Specify a charge controller.
- Specify a battery-based inverter given certain parameters.
- Determine acceptable voltage drop for system circuits.
- Perform detailed site analysis utilizing commercially available tools.
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Textbook: $100
Workshop Fees: $1,045
PV200: Advanced Solar Design & Compliance
Apply the National Electric Code (NEC) to solar-electric systems and specify design criteria for both residential and commercial systems. This classroom focuses on the National Electric Code (NEC), including grid interface calculations, grounding considerations and wire sizing. Participants evaluate system performance under various operating conditions. Commercial system design elements, including inter-row shading, inverter selection, and data monitoring solutions, are covered. In-person lectures are combined with system design exercises. The in-person workshop consists of five days of classroom lecture with hands-on class labs.
Students leave being able to:
- Perform NEC service panel bus bar calculations
- Calculate and diagram appropriate series fusing
- Determine NEC required workspace clearances
- Size appropriate disconnects and overcurrent protection
- Calculate spacing between modules to eliminate inter-row shading Perform uplift force and lag bolt strength calculations
- Identify all required NEC labeling for solar-electric systems
- Size grounding wires and grounding electrode conductors to NEC standards
- Draw a three-line diagram of a residential grid-tied system and a residential battery-based system
- Identify the sizing considerations for stand-alone systems
- Perform sizing calculations for a battery-based system
- Calculate maximum charge rates for batteries
Enrollment is Limited
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Textbook: $100 (same textbook used for Pv100)
Workshop Fees: $1,045
Workshop Materials
The fee for the workshop includes all course materials. You will receive a workshop notebook and a textbook upon your arrival (depending upon workshop). Bring a calculator and Sun Screen creme. Casual attire.
Enrollment
Enrollment Classes are open on a first-come basis. Class size is limited. You can check with our main office to confirm available space at 480.446.0400.
To reserve a seat, complete the Registration form (physical form should be faxed to 866.378.3878) with your tuition. Once submitted, your seat will be reserved.
