We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers Engineers…we need you. You can spend your whole career working in solar energy and never get bored. Climate change is the biggest problem you could tackle and you’ll never have trouble finding interesting work to do. Let’s zoom out and… Continue reading “We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers”
Now Offering the NABCEP Solar PV Associate Prep Course in Spanish HeatSpring and Sean White are excited to announce the launch of our NABCEP PV Associate Prep course in Spanish. With over 559 million Spanish speakers worldwide and 13% of the U.S. population speaking Spanish at home, this update allows us… Continue reading “Now Offering the NABCEP Solar PV Associate Prep Course in Spanish”
How to Become an IGSHPA Certified Residential Geothermal Designer The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) Certified Residential Designer (CRD) program is a comprehensive training course that equips professionals with the expertise to design efficient and sustainable ground source heat pump systems for homes. Throughout the program, participants… Continue reading “How to Become an IGSHPA Certified Residential Geothermal Designer”
Bob Caspe’s new “Entrepreneurial Strategy” course The latest course to drop on HeatSpring is called “Entrepreneurial Strategy”. A chance to meet and learn from Bob Caspe Bob is the best teacher I’ve ever had – he helped me see an approach to business that was both… Continue reading “Bob Caspe’s new “Entrepreneurial Strategy” course”
Introducing Formative Assessments: Using AI to Boost Learner Engagement on HeatSpring When Brian, the Co-founder of HeatSpring, first broached the subject of incorporating AI into our platform a few years ago, I’ll admit I was skeptical. No way are we going to actually be able to use any of this stuff,… Continue reading “Introducing Formative Assessments: Using AI to Boost Learner Engagement on HeatSpring “
Going Outside the Queue | Speeding Up Interconnection of Generation & Storage to Transmission We all know that utility-scale solar and storage is building momentum, yet the process of interconnecting new renewable power sources remains a substantial bottleneck in the clean energy transition. In this quick video, HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor unpacks recent developments… Continue reading “Going Outside the Queue | Speeding Up Interconnection of Generation & Storage to Transmission”
Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries When it comes to electrical safety, understanding arc flash hazards and how to mitigate their risk is crucial, but all too often misunderstood. Many workers believe that staying outside the arc flash boundary guarantees safety, but this is a dangerous… Continue reading “Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries”
How can we make heat pump retrofits easier? WARNING: if you’re a climate-minded clean energy professional, this will be hard to listen to. This American Life is my favorite podcast, and David Kestenbaum is among my favorite producers on the show. So I was really excited to see… Continue reading “How can we make heat pump retrofits easier?”
Build your own ACCA Manual J load calculations and energy models Back in the 80’s ACCA created Manual J as a process to do load calcs. It was hundreds of pages of calculations, formulas, factors etc. Then in 1985 the first software was developed following Manual J to speed up the… Continue reading “Build your own ACCA Manual J load calculations and energy models”
Contractors Say Better Training Would Help Them Sell More Brands create structured training programs because they increase loyalty, decrease user error, and improve customer satisfaction. Think IronRidge certification, Carrier’s Authorized Dealer program, or Microsoft certification. Education is a powerful form of marketing and the foundation for all product sales.… Continue reading “Contractors Say Better Training Would Help Them Sell More”
A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings The US energy storage market saw a dramatic 84% surge in installed capacity during Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, as reported in the June 2024 US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie and American Clean Power.… Continue reading “A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings”
How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site? The utility-scale solar segment installed 7.6 GWdc in Q2 2024 – a whopping 59% jump from last year, according to SEIA’s latest Solar Market Insight Report. If you’re one of the newer folks joining in the industry to help get… Continue reading “How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site?”
What is the Architectural Solar Continuum? The Architectural Solar Continuum is a framework for understanding and implementing solar energy in architectural design. This approach categorizes projects across 6 levels of solar integration, each impacting coordination requirements, costs, and energy density. The continuum provides architects, designers, and… Continue reading “What is the Architectural Solar Continuum?”
Riley’s Story: How a Longtime Pursuit of Educational Opportunities Led to Electrical Licensure & Leading Crews Please join us in celebrating Riley Neugebauer, whose inspiring educational journey from environmental studies student to licensed electrician and crew lead has been selected for HeatSpring’s Stay Curious campaign. This initiative shines a spotlight on the transformative power of education… Continue reading “Riley’s Story: How a Longtime Pursuit of Educational Opportunities Led to Electrical Licensure & Leading Crews”
Your Definitive Guide to EPA 608 Technician Certification The HVAC industry is booming. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033 – significantly faster than the average for all… Continue reading “Your Definitive Guide to EPA 608 Technician Certification”
Key Players in Transmission Interconnection: Understanding FERC, NERC, and ISOs/RTOs From 2000 to 2010 the U.S. power grid saw a steady but modest flow of new transmission interconnection requests, averaging between 500 to 1,000 annually. Fast forward to today, and the picture has dramatically changed. With the clean energy boom… Continue reading “Key Players in Transmission Interconnection: Understanding FERC, NERC, and ISOs/RTOs”
BPI “Building Science Principles” (BSP) prep course now free for members If you’ve ever thought about expanding into weatherization projects, energy audits, heat pumps, or building efficiency upgrades – this one is for you. BPI’s Building Science Principles (BSP) certificate is the gateway to a career in building performance. Getting your… Continue reading “BPI “Building Science Principles” (BSP) prep course now free for members”
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your BPI Building Science Principles Certificate The Building Science Principles (BSP) Certificate is your gateway to understanding energy-efficient home performance. It introduces key industry terminology and demonstrates how a home’s components interact to influence its overall efficiency. By exploring the relationships between the building envelope, HVAC… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your BPI Building Science Principles Certificate”
How to Get Your IGSHPA Accredited Installer (AI) Certification The IGSHPA Accredited Installer Certification is a program designed for professionals in the ground-source heat pump (GSHP) industry. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills needed to install GSHP systems, which are growing in popularity as an energy-efficient and… Continue reading “How to Get Your IGSHPA Accredited Installer (AI) Certification”
What’s the Difference Between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional and Installer Specialist Certifications? Navigating the world of NABCEP certifications can be daunting for solar professionals, especially when faced with seemingly similar options. Many in our community have expressed confusion about the various certifications available, with the comparison between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional… Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional and Installer Specialist Certifications?”