Daikin Comfort Technologies, a manufacturer of heat pumps and other HVAC products, is conducting research into the field performance of inverter or variable capacity heat pumps.  Daikin’s research uses data gathered from cloud connected systems installed all over North America. Currently, their research seeks to determine how well installed systems perform compared to their energy efficiency ratings.  Other insights are possible from this powerful data source, and future research projects are now being planned.

Workforce development (WFD) is the energy efficiency industry’s biggest opportunity to meet supplier diversity goals, reach communities considered disadvantaged by the Justice40 initiatives, and impact diverse communities with family sustaining jobs and generational wealth building opportunities. Nearly 8 million clean energy jobs will be added worldwide by 2030 and funding is on the rise for on-the-job and classroom-based training opportunities to develop the new workforce.

As an increasing number of state and local governments enact benchmarking ordinances or building performance standards and more companies and investment funds adopt policies or programs that prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, there is a growing need for a workforce of well-trained building operators to help ensure compliance. Building operators make decisions and take actions to lower energy use, improve air quality and increase tenant comfort and satisfaction.

For cities that are considering adopting a benchmarking ordinance or are curious about what that entails, Katie Kaluzny with the Illinois Green Alliance will explain how to successfully implement a benchmarking ordinance and support building owners and operators with “Data Jams” and other programs. Ellen Sargent from the Chicago Housing Authority and Abby Zielinski from the Village of Oak Park, Illinois will highlight the benefits and outcomes of the Benchmarking efforts in their community.

Join us for a webinar that will dive into the Department of Energy’s CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships (CHP TAPs). The CHP TAPs promote and assist in transforming the market for CHP, waste heat to power and district energy technologies/concepts throughout the United States. During this webinar, assistant director of the Midwest CHP TAP, Graeme Miller, will detail the technical capabilities of the CHP TAP through an overview of a typical CHP study.

Join us for a free, hour-long webinar focusing on ductwork remediation with a focus on repairs that increase performance, efficiency and equipment life. During the presentation you will learn how to identify problems through symptoms, explore opportunities for simple redesigns and the benefits of insulation, sealing and accessories. This presentation will be led by Dave Charles from EMCOR Services Team Mechanical. The webinar will count towards one (1) BOC Continuing Education Unit.

Equitably developing a skilled workforce to install, maintain, and service air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) is crucial for the successful proliferation of this technology while expanding economic opportunities to underrepresented groups, frontline communities, and historically marginalized populations. ASHPs require a specific set of skills and knowledge that are not typically taught in traditional HVAC training programs.

Join us for this free webinar on Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Installation Best Practices, presented by Kevin Frost from Slipstream and Matthew Rash from Mitsubishi. We will cover critical pre-design and post-design application and installation considerations to maximize VRF project success and energy efficiency.

Emerging technologies offer new solutions to old problems. To foster better coordination across organizations supporting the research, development, demonstration, investment, and deployment of emerging building technologies for decarbonization, the Department of Energy is launching the National Emerging Technology Collaborative (NETC). Join us for this one-hour webinar to learn more about NETC as well as various emerging technologies from industry experts. Technologies covered will include air-to-water heat pumps, smart electrical panels and more. 

Speakers:

Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office (BTO), Buildings UP aims to build capacity to rapidly and equitably transform U.S. buildings through energy efficiency and efficient electrification updates, with a particular focus on frontline communities. During this webinar, we will delve into how Buildings UP can specifically benefit the Midwest region, how it can support sustainable and equitable building practices and guidance on how to apply successfully.