Building Performance Training
- Live Training Events
Drop in on free events with expert instructors offering continuing education and certifications
- Passive House Education
Become a certified professional. Designer and trade cohorts available throughout the year
- High Performance Fundamentals
Advance your career in construction or design on your schedule
- Earn While You Learn
Get paid for HPWH installs with hands-on SunWork training
- On-Demand Training
Watch trainings on building science, energy code, and more, on your own schedule
Build your business and energize your career!
Building Performance Training is a workforce development program for current and prospective building professionals in design, construction, real estate, and beyond. Training is focused on energy efficiency, high performance building and electrification.
Our free training events help you:
- Keep up with industry trends
- Gain new skills
- Fulfill continuing education units
- Earn certifications
- Add value for your customers
Passive house education
The Passive House design standard is changing the way we look at buildings.
By optimizing the building envelope, insulation, and mechanical systems, Passive House buildings can reduce energy use by up to 90%, while maximizing comfort, resilience, and affordability.
Get certified as a Passive House Designer, Consultant, or Tradesperson. Cohorts are typically available quarterly for designers and consultants, and once in the fall for contractors.
Not ready to get certified, but want to learn more? Check our Events Calendar for webinars on Passive House offered throughout the year.
High Performance Fundamentals Certification
3C-REN developed our High Performance Fundamentals in response to the particular needs of the tri-county region’s climate conditions and building stock.
This six-course series prepares construction professionals for a new way of building that is more energy efficient and climate resilient.
On-Demand Certification Course
The High Performance fundamentals is now 100% online, in an on-demand format. Take the course at your own pace, at any time and location that works for you. When you’re done, you’ll receive a certificate identifying you as a 3C-REN trained High Performance Building Professional.
Earn While You Learn: Heat Pump Water Heater Installations
3C-REN has partnered with Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects to bring hands-on heat pump water heater (HPWH) installation training to our region.
Earn up to $599 while working alongside a skilled contractor to install a heat pump water heater.
- Participants in this initiative:
- Receive hands-on training, installing a heat pump water heater
- Learn about the equipment, sizing, siting, and installation best practices
- Distinguish plumbing and electrical differences between HPWHs and traditional gas equipment.
This partnership prioritizes workforce development for decarbonization on the Central Coast. Contractor experience installing HPWHs is limited despite their many benefits. A HPWH significantly reduces a home’s carbon footprint and can be cheaper to operate. The technology is simple and efficient: heat from the air is applied to the water in the tank, making them up to 4x more efficient than conventional gas water heaters. This initiative aims to build local contractor expertise through hands-on learning.
Get started! Fill out the interest form to be notified when an installation is scheduled in your area.
Education for the Future Workforce
Bring a free guest speaker to your classroom to help younger generations explore opportunities in sustainable design and construction. 3C-REN speakers are professionals with backgrounds in green building who cover topics such as:
- Green Building 101
- Pathways for Sustainability Careers
- Green Building in Practice
- Introduction to Zero Net Carbon Design
- Fuel Switching: HVAC and Domestic Hot Water
Events Calendar
Events
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2025 Energy Code in Practice: Single Family Additions and Alterations
Register Event Description Sorting through tables and reading the fine print in the energy code may get you the specific language of the code, but what does that really mean in practice? In this series, we’ll walk through key components for each building occupancy type, providing sample details, photos of installations and potential pitfalls to […]
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Ask the Experts: Load Calculations
Register Event Description This is an office-hours style open discussion about heating and cooling load calculations. Bring your questions about load calculations procedures, specific and general. Ask about data collection for a load calculation, choosing design conditions, how a load calculation can help you make recommendations for creating a lower load home, whatever is on […]
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Contractor Power Hour with Electrify My Home
Register Event Details Ready to up your game? Learn about the latest with heat pumps? Hang out with a cool crowd? Join 3C-REN and Electrify My Home for our first ever Contractor Power Hour featuring food, drink, networking, and the latest in electrification technology. Heat pumps are different than gas equipment and require dedicated training. […]
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Builder’s Perspective: Insulation and Air Sealing
Register Event Description Insulation and air sealing are critical aspects of construction, contributing to improved energy performance, reduced operating costs, greater indoor air quality and resiliency during a wildfire emergency. Insulation and air sealing can also contribute to increased construction costs and challenges for building sign-off if not managed effectively. In this course, we’ll hear […]
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2025 Energy Code in Practice: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Register Event Description Sorting through tables and reading the fine print in the energy code may get you the specific language of the code, but what does that really mean in practice? In this series, we’ll walk through key components for each building occupancy type, providing sample details, photos of installations and potential pitfalls to […]
Become a Participating Contractor
3C-REN’s Home Energy Savings program offers contractors flexibility by paying incentives for actual metered kWh and therm savings. Rather than a restrictive list of measures and incentives, the program pays you to meet your customers’ energy savings or electrification needs.