2025 MN Green Path Building Conference

Faculty

Eric Boyd Related Seminars and Products

Arcxis

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Eric Boyd is the president of Arcxis’ great northwest region and graduated from the University of Minnesota in Residential Building Science and Technology and has over a decade’s experience in the Energy Rating Industry. He oversees a territory covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Rick Cobbs Related Seminars and Products

Director of Production Services

The Energy Network WW

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Rick Cobbs is a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Rater and Director of Operations for The Energy Network Worldwide (TENww). He has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry specifically on the building envelope side. Before working at TENww, Rick managed a local branch for a regional company installing insulation, waterproofing and gypsum underlayment. He has a BS degree from the University of Minnesota in Construction Management.

Nick Erickson Related Seminars and Products

Housing First Minnesota

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Nick Erickson is an Executive Director of the Housing Affordability Institute and Senior Director, Housing Policy for Housing First Minnesota.

Carole Griffith Related Seminars and Products

VP Sales & Marketing

McDonald Construction Partners, LLC

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Carole Griffith brings 30+ years of experience in the residential construction industry. She has a genuine passion for the home building industry and experience working for both local and national builders. She has a special interest in energy-efficient new homes and serves as the chair for the Housing First MN Green Path Task Force.

Kyle Poston Related Seminars and Products

Cedar Creek Energy

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Kyle Poston helps homeowners take control of their energy costs with custom solar solutions. As Cedar Creek Energy’s lead residential consultant, he brings deep knowledge of system design, incentives, and the installation process to every project.

Rob Racine Related Seminars and Products

The Energy Network Worldwide

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Rob Racine is a RESNET Certified HERS Rater and Leas Field Inspector at The Energy Network Worldwide, working closely with new home builders to support Energy Star certification efforts and help deliver better-performing homes. Having conducted inspections and testing on over 1,000 homes in the Minnesota market, his focus centers on identifying, diagnosing, and addressing common issues in residential HVAC systems. Taking a house-as-a-system approach, Rob leverages his hands-on field experience and his background in property risk management to optimize home performance for the real world.

Jesse Sabota Related Seminars and Products

ICF/High Efficiency New Homes Program

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Jesse Sabota is the Account Manager with the High Efficiency New Homes Program and has been working in the building science and energy industry for over five years. He is on the final steps of obtaining his HERS Rater certification and is the one who performs the QA/QC field work for the program.

Session Outlines

Understanding Solar for Builders – Session Outline

Introduction            

•    Introduction. How to explore solar with a homeowner 
•    Scope: solar + batteries + car chargers
•    Design & Meet 
•    Solar Design Basics
•    Roofing types/solar attachments 
•    Roof pitch 
•    Planning at the meter
•    Batteries/EV Planning
•    Timing the install
•    Temp meters & commissioning
•    Information for starting the conversation. 
•    Q&A

An Inside Look at an Energy Efficient Home – Session Outline

• Introduction
• Benefits of an energy efficient home
• Energy efficient features of the home
• What was needed to bring the HERS Index score down
• Highlight the home’s energy efficiency from an energy rater’s perspective

ENERGY STAR Failures - Lessons learned to help build more durable, comfortable and efficient houses – Session Outline

• HVAC Designs
• Duct Quality Installation
• Ventilation
• HVAC Commissioning
• Recommendations
• Q&A

Session Learner Outcomes

Understanding Solar for Builders

Attendees completing this session will be familiar with:

•    Project electric standards - abiding by NEC 2023
•    Batteries that can be added after a solar array is installed.  
•    The key points of coordination between a solar installer and contract on a new build.  - electrical rough in, equipment locations, roof penetrations. 
•    Roof face/orientation that yield the greatest solar production in MN. 
•    Besides the roof top, where on the exterior of the home will there be solar gear.   
•    Who is responsible for the interconnection with the utility.  

An Inside Look at an Energy Efficient Home - Session Learner Outcomes

Attendees completing this session will learn:

• Identify the steps to make a home better than code
• Recognize the benefits of an energy efficient home

ENERGY STAR Failures - Lessons learned to help build more durable, comfortable and efficient houses

Attendees completing this session will learn:

• Identify key elements to review in HVAC system designs
• Develop the skills to assess rough-in HVAC duct installations and spot common issues
• Learn how HRV/ERV systems can be connected and when interlocking with the air handler is appropriate
• Recognize the importance of properly balancing HRV/ERV systems and what can impact that balance
• Explain why dampers are necessary for HRV/ERV installations

Credit Details

The following sessions are both approved for one hour of MN residential contractor, remodeler, and building official continuing education by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, including the required energy credit each:

• Understanding Solar for Builders
• ENERGY STAR Failures - Lessons learned to help build more durable, comfortable and efficient houses

If you are eligible to receive continuing education credits, your information will be electronically reported to the appropriate agency within 3 business days of course completion.

In-Person Continuing Education Requirements

In order to earn CE credit(s) for in-person courses, students must attend the entire course during the time span(s) listed. Credit(s) will not be issued for the following:

• Non-attendance
• Arriving more than 5 minutes after a course has begun
• Leaving before completion of the course
• Leaving the classroom for more than 5 minutes during a course hour
• Non-payment of the course
• Failure to sign-in and/or sign-out

Students must sign-in/sign-out, and be prepared to show their driver’s license or other legal identification with their photo if requested.

A quiz is not required for those attending for Minnesota contractor, building official, and Realtor continuing education, or Wisconsin continuing education. Students attending for International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) CEU(s) must complete a quiz following the course and achieve 70% correct answers.

Conference Questions & Comments

Location

2960 Centre Pointe Drive, Roseville, Minnesota 55113, United States
651-697-1954
www.housingfirstmn.org

Agenda