Join us in Tempe, Arizona for an Efficient New Homes (ZERH) and Houses That Work Builder Training. This full day event presented by EEBA Certified Trainers Aaron Smith and Mark LaLiberte includes a comprehensive program that will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to construct high-performance zero energy ready homes.

This training brings together two tracks—DOE Efficient New Homes and Houses That Work—allowing participants to tailor their learning by selecting the session that best fits their goals.

The Efficient New Homes track focuses on designing and constructing high-performance homes that meet DOE program requirements, with an emphasis on advanced wall assemblies, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and thoughtful renewable energy integration. Participants learn how to evaluate and select cost-effective strategies to build homes that are highly energy efficient, durable, comfortable, and climate-responsive, with a strong focus on practical solutions across different climate zones.

The Houses That Work track complements this by concentrating on proven building science principles that improve real-world performance—covering topics such as moisture management, air sealing, insulation detailing, and long-term durability. Together, the sessions bridge design intent with field-tested construction practices.

Across both tracks, participants engage in hands-on exercises and case studies that reinforce key concepts and decision-making skills. By the end of the training, attendees will be equipped to apply high-performance building strategies that reduce energy use, improve resilience, and support cost-effective, code-aligned construction.

Builders in SRP territory are eligible to attend the training for FREE, please contact Jackie Lyons at jackie.lyons@srpnet.com to recieve discount code!

Schedule:

• 7am - Registration and Check-In
• 8:00am - 12pm : Class: How to Build a Zero Energy Ready Home or Houses That Work
• 12pm - 1pm : Lunch Provided
• 1pm - 3:30pm : Class continues

How to Build a Zero Energy Ready Home

This course provides participants with a comprehensive discovery of all elements of the Department of Energy Efficient New Homes Program (formerly Zero Energy Ready Home program) requirements and cost-effective pathways of how to meet those requirements. The course will cover the compelling trends towards high performance homes and the building science principles that support the move towards homes that will use, on average over the course of a year, only as much energy that could be produced by on-site renewable energy sources. Participants in this class will learn design principles, equipment options, emerging technologies, material selections, and construction practices that can be integrated into their building process. Case studies will be used throughout to demonstrate builders’ successes with ZER homes. Strong emphasis is placed on ways to make the final product affordable for homebuyers. To this end, a wide range of alternatives that can be applied to specific climate zones and housing types will be demonstrated so that builders and designers can choose solutions that meet their market needs.

By the end of the course, you will possess the necessary expertise to confidently build zero energy ready homes. You will gain a decision matrix on how and when to integrate new high-performance solutions into your build. Join us and be at the forefront of sustainable construction, creating homes that prioritize energy efficiency, long-term cost savings, durability, comfort and resiliency.

Learning Objectives:
• Learn the trends and building science principles that are driving the U.S. housing market toward zero energy homes.
• Be able to identify and understand the specific requirements to qualify an Efficient New Home (formerly Zero Energy Ready Home) under the DOE program.
• Identify building materials, systems and processes that can be used to meet the ZER requirements in a cost-effective way.
• Learn about incentives, marketing and sales messages that can help promote ZER homes for builders.

CEUs:
RESNET: 8 PD Credits
NARI: 6 CEUs

Houses That Work

Houses That Work™ is the nation's leading turn-key solution for educational training and outreach. Houses That Work education provides attendees with ways to improve the performance, efficiency, durability, comfort, safety and health of the homes they build, making them a better value for their customers and incorporating green practices into their business formula.

In this full day session, participants learn that complex changes in home design, building materials, mechanical systems, appliances, code compliance and consumer lifestyles and expectations make every builder, supplier, and trade contractor’s job more demanding. We will cover the basics of building science and how it is applied to create high performance homes.

The session will address critical home performance elements that exist as a system and are part of energy efficient homes. The fundamentals of building science - air, heat and moisture flow – will be outlined and applied to help participants make better choices with respect to construction materials and methods. Participants will also learn important information about indoor air quality, including the basics of mold and other pollutant sources, and cost-effective strategies to be able to offer healthier indoor environments.

At the end of the session, attendees will have a thorough understanding of how to build better attics, walls and foundations and how to choose HVAC systems that integrate properly into their homes. This session will also cover how building science principles improve the marketing position for building professionals, providing case studies of builders who have changed their building processes and gained return through communicating the value of high performance homes.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the elements of high performance homes and how they help respond to code compliance, and the many changes in the residential construction industry as well as consumer expectations
• Understand the fundamentals or air, heat and moisture flow and see how they can be applied to make better material and methods decisions
• Apply the building science to attics, walls, windows, foundations and HVAC decisions to create high performance homes
• Identify the building process changes needed to cost-effectively implement high performance homes
• Explore the successes of other builders who have benefited from implementing high performance home strategies.

CEUs:
RESNET: 5 PD Credits
NARI: 4.5 CEUs