ACHP offers several courses throughout the state that provide continuing education for contractors with a residential endorsement. Courses include:
Advanced Cold Climate Home Building Techniques
(16 continuing education credits)
This is a two-day, intensive workshop presenting energy-efficient building techniques for builders, designers, planners, and homeowners. It is an excellent opportunity to learn the latest construction methods related to residential energy efficiency.
This course meets the State of Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing educational requirements that qualify general contractors to take the state Residential Endorsement exam.
The building technologies introduced are based on energy conservation through the use of insulation, air/vapor retarders, insulating windows, and controlled ventilation systems, among other methods. ACHP Instructors are well trained and highly experienced with state-of-the-art building methods. They teach techniques for maximum energy efficiency and conservation for homes built in northern climates. ACHP has prepared and published a manual for this workshop, Northern Comfort: Advanced Cold Climate Home Building Techniques. The electronic manual is included in the cost of the workshop.
Combustion Safety Training (8 continuing education credits)
This course focuses on basic safety testing of combustion appliances, paying specific attention to appliance drafting under “worst-case” conditions. Proper use of the digital manometer, draft gauges, chemical smoke, and techniques for resolving pressure problems will be covered in this course. Emphasis will be placed on identification of combustion appliance malfunctions, not repair. Students will learn to predict and control problems associated with house airtightness and duct work.
Understanding Heating Systems Options for AHFC Programs (8 continuing education credits)
This workshop will familiarize home and building industry professionals with the AkWarm rating process and explains the process that an energy rater goes through when providing a homeowner with a report suggesting improvements to their heating, water heating, and ventilation systems. These common improvements are creating a good deal of work for the mechanical trades, as well as a good deal of confusion.
Building Energy Efficiency Standard (8 continuing education credits)
BEES sets the standard for thermal resistance, air leakage, moisture protection, and ventilation as they relate to efficient use of energy in buildings. This course is required to obtain certification to sign off on the PUR 101 ventilation standard. The 2012 BEES made up of the International Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE Ventilation standard, and AHFC Alaska Specific Amendments will be reviewed in significant detail.
Homeowner, contractor and real estate courses also provide continuing education for builders, which include:
How to Choose a Contractor (2 continuing education credits)
This course is designed to empower homeowners with the information and resources to determine what type of contractor to hire and how to research a contractor’s qualifications, licenses, insurance and references. The class also discusses the process of obtaining and comparing estimates along with recommendations on contracts.
First Steps: Building Science Basics (2 hours)
This class provides information on how the house works as a system. Discussion includes information on the dynamics of how a home works and the management of heat, air and moisture. Issues described include stack effect, relative humidity, pressure differentials, and air movement. The goal is to achieve comfort, energy efficiency and durability in the home.
Finding and Fixing Air Leaks (2 hours)
The focus of this discussion is the reasoning behind why a home needs to be more air tight. This how-to workshop provides information on normal areas of air leakage, techniques for air sealing and air sealing products. Visual examples of specific air leaks and methods for sealing are provided, as well as samples of the actual products.
Ice Dams (2 hours)
Information on the cause of ice dams on residences is presented with visual examples of different areas of concern. An explanation of air and moisture movements in cold attics and minimum standards for attic ventilation is discussed. Examples of retrofit techniques and products are provided. Methods for mitigation of ice dams are illustrated for participants.
Energy Savings with Lighting and Appliances (2 hours)
The focus of the first half of this workshop is Energy Star appliances; refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and freezers. Discussion includes what the Energy Star seal means regarding energy efficiency. The second half of the workshop deals with energy efficient lighting, including compact fluorescent lights and Light Emitting Diode bulbs. Examples and demonstrations of the light bulbs are provided along with energy saving percentages.
Heating and Hot Water Choices (2 hours)
This class discusses energy efficient heating appliances including boilers, forced air furnaces, room heaters and hot water heating appliances. Emphasis is placed on the use of sealed combustion, direct vent combustion equipment of all kinds. Each type of heating equipment is discussed and evaluated.
Evaluating Doors and Windows (2 hours)
Discussion and demonstrations of energy efficient windows and doors are presented with examples of product type, cross sections of the construction of the windows and presentation of R- Value and U-Factor. Installation techniques and products are also presented and discussed.
Insulating for Savings and Comfort (2 hours)
The areas of a house that need insulation are discussed along with types of insulating products. Standard installation techniques and minimum code requirements compared to optimum insulation levels are discussed. Visual as well as hand-on samples are presented.
Healthy Indoor Air through Ventilation (2 hours)
The focus of discussion in this workshop centers on air movement within the house and the impact on occupants. Discussion on whole house ventilation begins in the crawl space and encompasses the entire house. Minimum air change requirements are discussed, and the benefits of mechanical ventilation versus natural ventilation are discussed. The course includes a 25 minute video highlighting the importance of indoor air quality for health and safety.