FSEC's building research division offers a large number of training and certification courses directed towards a variety of practitioners, professionals, and the general public. This section gives the listing of the course offerings separated by the course content as applied to commercial or residential buildings.

To use this listing, determine the commercial or residential course you are interested in taking and then click on the course to see description, agenda, time, date and registration for the course. See also Course Schedule for times and dates of course offerings.

The CEU number is listed in the course description if there are credits available for that course.

Commercial Residential Energy Ratings

Commercial Buildings Courses

Designing and Maintaining The High Performance Green Building (PDF 907kb)
A five-course series taught by building science experts and research faculty of the University of Central Florida.

Optimizing Building Energy Efficiency Using the FlaCom Modeling Tool
This course provides training in thee use of an energy analysis tool — FlaCom. While normally considered a code-compliance software, it also has "hidden" capabilities which can be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of building and system options.

Energy Analysis for Obtaining Tax Credits & Energy-Efficient Mortgages
As part of the 2005 Energy Bill passed by Congress, new tax credits for builders, design professionals, businesses and homeowners were passed. The student will learn who is eligible to receive credits and how to determine the level of credit available.

Energy Gauge® Commercial Rater Training
This course is designed to learn the methodology of commercial energy ratings in order to accurately assess commercial buildings. After completion of this one day course a challenge test will be administered to the participants in order to certify as a commercial energy rater. When certified, you can then perform commercial energy calculations on the same level as a licensed HVAC contractor.

EnergyGauge FlaCom
EnergyGauge FlaCom is Florida's Energy Code compliance software for commercial buildings. The instructors walk the students through entering data into EnergyGauge FlaCom for each required component of a building such as zones, envelop, system, plant etc. Participants learn how the current version differs from previous software versions. Participants also learn how to take advantage of advanced features such as templates and defaults to reduce time. 4 credits, CILB#0007090

Residential Building Courses

Energy Analysis for Obtaining Tax Credits & Energy-Efficient Mortgages
As part of the 2005 Energy Bill passed by Congress, new tax credits for builders, design professionals, businesses and homeowners were passed. The student will learn who is eligible to receive credits and how to determine the level of credit available.

Energy-Efficient Florida Home Building
This award winning course will help you incorporate energy-efficient building strategies to make Florida homes more comfortable, more affordable, more marketable and more profitable. It offers new ways to build houses that sell. It shows designers strategies that can quickly, easily and inexpensively be incorporated into new homes. It demonstrates ideas buyers demand for comfort and affordability. The instructors explain the research and intent behind confusing code questions for building officials. It also explains the latest research findings on mechanical equipment - information important to utility representatives and educators. And it does it all in Florida fashion - with an emphasis on our climate and lifestyle. Topics include avoiding catastrophes, roof, floor, and wall construction, window selection, home design and site selection, HVAC equipment selection, installing air tight duct systems, energy-efficient appliances and amenities. 8 credits, CILB#0007648

EnergyGauge® - Florida's Residential Rating Program
Become a certified rater by learning to conduct complete and accurate residential energy ratings. Learn principles of energy and heat flow, energy consumption, energy systems interaction, and how to perform a home rating.

EnergyGauge® FlaRes Pro Hands-On Training
Maximum use with minimum effort from Florida's Code and Rating Software. For new or experienced users, we'll walk you through EnergyGauge, energy code compliance, system sizing, optimization, and improvement analysis. 4 credits, CILB#006825

EnergyGauge® Pro Hands-On Training- USA
Maximum use with minimum effort from this national software used for complying homes for tax credits, and energy performance of Energy Star and green homes. The EnergyGauge USA program performs detailed simulation analysis as well as automatic calculation of national code and rated reference buildings.  For new or experienced users, we'll walk you through EnergyGauge, and energy code compliance. 4 credits for energy raters.

Florida Green Home Designation Certification Course
Provide buyers and homebuilders more than just energy efficiency by becoming a certifier for the new green home designation. What it takes to qualify a home for the building energy, appliance energy, water efficiency, site, health, materials, disaster mitigation and general categories for this standard. 6 credits, CILB#0006827

LEED^® for Homes for Field Agents
This course is designed to take current Florida green home certifying agents, Florida energy raters and LEED® professionals through the LEED® for Homes® pilot program in order that they may be eligible to be field raters for homes through the Florida Solar Energy Center, the USGBC designated provider serving the Florida region during the pilot program. 6 credits.

From Blueprints to Residential Energy Code
Step-by-step guidance as to how to complete a Florida energy code compliance form from plans. 6 credits, CILB#0006828

Residential HVAC as if Comfort and Energy Mattered
In this course, we'll address common HVAC problems that waste energy and reduce comfort, and how attempts to fix these problems often make things worse. Practical "use-it-today" information and demonstrations will help you learn how to do it right.

Topics will include:

• Ductwork that works: Good ducts, bad ducts and how to tell the difference between the two. We’ll also find out how important duct and air handler location can be.
• A balanced treatment of unbalanced airflow: Duct leakage and closing interior doors can cause airflow balance problems and increase infiltration. We’ll sort through it and provide solutions.
• Sizing up system sizing: Sizing air conditioning systems properly can provide better humidity removal and lower utility bills. Find out why and how to size right. Results from sizing and HVAC studies conducted in Florida homes will be presented.

4 credits, CILB#0008503