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
Intro to Residential HVAC Systems
Register Event Description This class is for folks who need to "speak HVAC" but may not have much background with HVAC. This could be homeowners who are shopping for a […]
Green Building Construction Tour: Santa Barbara
Register Event Description Here’s an opportunity to visit a green building project in person, to learn more about the process and see the implementation of energy efficiency and building electrification […]
Understanding HERS Registries for Building Departments
Register The HERS Registry is an online data base that creates and tracks the numerous compliance documents needed for compliance with California's Title 24 Part 6 energy code. This class […]
Natural Insulation Options for Low-Carbon Construction
Register Event Description Natural insulation has many benefits for builders and occupants but not everyone is familiar with these products. Discover how natural insulation products can be the perfect solution […]
Optimizing Heat Pump Zoning for Maximum Comfort and Efficiency
Register Event Description This course explores best practices for zoning with heat pumps, covering both ducted and ductless multi-zone strategies. Participants will learn about common challenges, static pressure issues, system […]
ADU: Energy Code Implementation Series, with 2025 Code Updates
Register Event Description As the 2022 energy code wraps up its final year, and the 2025 code emerges, we see the trends of building electrification, healthier indoor air quality and […]
Mechanical Systems in Detail
Register Event Description This course dives deep into the focus of building mechanical systems with a particular focus on ventilation and hot water systems. Looking at the design and construction […]
Continuing Education and Certifications
Most 3C-REN trainings offer continuing education learning units and/or certifications, such as:
Certifications Offered:
Learning Units Offered:
