Building Performance Training
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, and add value for your customers.
High Performance Fundamentals Certification
Earn a 3C-REN Certification upon completing 3C-REN’s High-Performance Fundamentals Series. This series is designed for new, aspiring, and current building professionals to understand the basics of building science.
In each training, expert instructors will focus on industry best practices and new building technologies that are better for owners, better for the environment, and better for your work as building professionals.
Class 1:
High Performance Buildings and Careers
Class 2:
The Role of Building Science in High Performance Buildings
Class 3:
Enclosure Best Practices: Roofs, Walls and Floors
Class 4:
Heat Pump Fundamentals: Space Conditioning & Water Heating
Class 5:
Water Heating Distribution Best Practices
Class 6:
Home Assessments for Decarbonization
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
Training Calendar
More Than One Brand In The Hand: Application Specific HPWH Design
Register Event Description As California accelerates its push toward electrification, heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are playing a critical role in driving efficient and clean water heating solutions. However, not […]
Next Generation Passive Solar
CEC's Environmental Hub 1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, United StatesRegister Enjoy food, drinks, and great company at the third event in our High-Performance Happy Hour Series! Whether you're a homeowner, architect, or simply curious about high-performance design, join us […]
CALGreen Code – 2025 Update
Register Event Description This course focuses on Title 24, Part 11, the California Green Building Standards, incorporating the 2025 code changes that take effect January 1, 2026. We’ll review background […]
Intro to Passive House Trades
Register Event Description PHN's Introduction to Passive House Trades course will broadly cover the following topics: Passive House basics, review of typical construction types, windows and installation, air barriers and […]
IRA Part 3: Pairing IRA funds with Real Estate Loans and Go Green Programs
Register Event Description Inflation Reduction Act Part 3: Pairing IRA funds with Real Estate Loans and Go Green Programs IRA funding is coming, bringing huge potential for energy-efficiency upgrades at […]
Best Practices for Hot Water Distribution
Register Event Description Do you want higher performance at lower costs? Every decision that increases pipe length decreases efficiency and adds costs. Right-sizing pipes and water heaters is essential. Integrating […]
Ask the Experts: Enclosures
Register Event Description This is an office-hours style open discussion about high-performance building enclosures with Home Performance Pro Judy Rachel. We'll be talking insulation, windows, air sealing, blower door testing, […]
Continuing Education and Certifications
Most 3C-REN trainings offer continuing education learning units and/or certifications, such as:
Certifications Offered:
Learning Units Offered:
