How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years? The approval of ANSI/SEIA 301-2025, the Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Technician Training American National Standard, marks a big moment for the solar and storage industry. This new standard establishes more than training guidelines – it creates the… Continue reading “How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years?”
New Free LEED Green Associate Practice Exam Brick Maier just published a free LEED Green Associate practice exam. It includes 140 practice questions for the GA Exam and it’s based on LEED v4. All LEED exams are still based on v4, with a switch to v5 expected… Continue reading “New Free LEED Green Associate Practice Exam”
An Inside Look at the Building Performance Institute with BPI CEO Amanda Hatherly The building performance industry has transformed how we think about existing homes, but it wasn’t always this organized or standardized. Enter the Building Performance Institute (BPI) – a nonprofit organization that’s been quietly shaping the home performance industry for over… Continue reading “An Inside Look at the Building Performance Institute with BPI CEO Amanda Hatherly”
Select HeatSpring Courses Approved for Virginia Electrician Continuing Education Great news for electricians in Virginia! HeatSpring is excited to announce that several of our courses have been officially approved by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation for electrician continuing education credits. Approved Courses for Virginia Electricians The… Continue reading “Select HeatSpring Courses Approved for Virginia Electrician Continuing Education”
“Advanced Lighting Controls” is a new free course from Slipstream Advanced Lighting Controls is a new free course from Slipstream. Our goal is to help more building owners, contractors, and engineers understand how and why to implement lighting controls systems. Advanced lighting controls result in an average of nearly 70%… Continue reading ““Advanced Lighting Controls” is a new free course from Slipstream”
Inside Substation Transformers Electric power substations serve as the critical connection points that keep our entire power system functioning – linking generation to transmission, connecting different voltage levels from 69 kV all the way up to 765 kV, and providing power to major… Continue reading “Inside Substation Transformers”
How HeatSpring Turns Industry Experts into Course Creators While the clean energy industry navigates political uncertainty, one constant remains: the demand for skilled, capable, and confident professionals continues to grow. At the 2025 NABCEP Conference, SunCast Media host Nico Johnson sat down with Brick Maier, HeatSpring’s Director of… Continue reading “How HeatSpring Turns Industry Experts into Course Creators”
Three BPI Credentials in One Week We’re offering an intensive, five-day BPI training for motivated professionals who value efficiency and want to quickly establish credibility in the growing building performance sector. The course is live, virtual, and all of the testing fees are included. The first… Continue reading “Three BPI Credentials in One Week”
Understanding Your Home’s Hidden Air Leaks: The Power of Blower Door Testing Every building has unseen pathways where conditioned air escapes and outdoor air infiltrates – through gaps around windows, cracks in walls, and countless other small openings that together can dramatically impact your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. While these air… Continue reading “Understanding Your Home’s Hidden Air Leaks: The Power of Blower Door Testing”
Identifying Issues On Installed PV Systems: A Thermal Imaging Guide for Solar Professionals Originally adapted from a technical paper titled “Identifying Issues on Installed Photovoltaic Systems Using Thermal Imagery” with permission from Infrared Training Center As solar professionals, regular maintenance is crucial for keeping photovoltaic systems operating at peak performance. But how do… Continue reading “Identifying Issues On Installed PV Systems: A Thermal Imaging Guide for Solar Professionals”
The Market is Changing. Entrepreneurial Action Will Win. Solar companies in the US are (rightfully) concerned right now about looming policy changes. I’ve been calling my senators to urge them not to roll back the IRA and eliminate tax credits because businesses will be hurt and jobs eliminated. … Continue reading “The Market is Changing. Entrepreneurial Action Will Win.”
Meet Baker Makarem – Instructor Spotlight Behind every HeatSpring course is an expert instructor—a seasoned professional who brings not just knowledge, but passion, real-world experience, and a commitment to helping others grow. While thousands of students benefit from their expertise through our online courses, the remote… Continue reading “Meet Baker Makarem – Instructor Spotlight”
Building Ethical Solar Sales Teams: Why Your Incentive Structure Makes All the Difference In the competitive world of solar sales (and truly many types of sales), there’s a critical tension every company faces: driving results while maintaining ethical standards. We’ve all seen the headlines – from coast to coast, news stories continue to… Continue reading “Building Ethical Solar Sales Teams: Why Your Incentive Structure Makes All the Difference”
HeatSpring Partners with Skillcat to Deliver Foundational HVAC Training We’re excited to announce a new partnership between HeatSpring and Skillcat to help HVAC contractors build stronger teams. Bringing together HeatSpring’s industry-leading specialized training with Skillcat’s platform for fundamental HVAC education creates a more complete learning ecosystem for the trades.… Continue reading “HeatSpring Partners with Skillcat to Deliver Foundational HVAC Training”
New Safety Courses for Geothermal Installers We just launched some new safety courses for geothermal installers. These are the boring but important trainings that keeps people alive and projects moving forward. We’d be honored to help your team stay safe and productive on the job. Here… Continue reading “New Safety Courses for Geothermal Installers”
Time to Renew Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s the Scoop Keeping your NABCEP certification current showcases your ongoing dedication to professional growth and mastery in the solar energy field. Plus, let’s be real – nobody wants to take that grueling certification exam again if their credentials expire! As your NABCEP… Continue reading “Time to Renew Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s the Scoop”
How to Operationalize Solar O&M Training Solar PV Operations and Maintenance (O&M) providers are often pressed for time. When we’re working on residential, commercial, or even small utility scale systems, technicians usually have a set amount of time in which to get their work done, and… Continue reading “How to Operationalize Solar O&M Training”
Celebrating Top Solar Companies: BayWa r.e. Power Solutions For the team at BayWa r.e. Power Solutions, Inc., getting everyone home safely is just as important as the megawatts they install. As an EPC contractor constructing renewable energy systems for medium to utility-scale projects, the team has completed over… Continue reading “Celebrating Top Solar Companies: BayWa r.e. Power Solutions”
Comparing Low Voltage Vs. Medium Voltage Equipment on Solar Sites When solar professionals transition from residential and commercial projects to utility-scale, one of the most obvious differences is in the electrical components and system architecture. While the fundamental principles of solar design remain consistent across project scales, the equipment itself… Continue reading “Comparing Low Voltage Vs. Medium Voltage Equipment on Solar Sites”
When Electrical Contact Becomes Life-Threatening: Understanding Safe Contact Release Methods Electrical accidents happen in an instant, but the response in those critical first moments can mean the difference between life and death – not just for the victim, but for anyone attempting a rescue. Per the NFPA 70E: Standard for… Continue reading “When Electrical Contact Becomes Life-Threatening: Understanding Safe Contact Release Methods”