Solar PV Training for Design Professionals

The U.S. solar energy market is booming and demand for solar is at an all-time high. As more individuals decide to go solar, a new national solar training course is helping designers grab their market share of this new technology and add solar expertise to their list of qualifications.

Design professionals play a crucial role in the decision since they are in the unique position of educating building owners, appraisers and code officials as part of every project. In partnership with AIA and ASHRAE, the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) are offering solar training for design professionals in 22 metropolitan areas across the United States. Continuing education credits are available.

The training is specially designed to educate architects and engineers on how to incorporate solar photovoltaics (PV) into their design plans, how to differentiate themselves in the marketplace by offering solar PV to the clients, how to speak with clients about the benefits of solar PV, and where to find information on the financial incentives available for solar PV.

Click here to find your city’s training and register.

Training topics

  • Basic solar technical information
  • Policy and community benefits
  • Building and structural design considerations
  • Current state of the PV market
  • Role of design professionals

Course Pricing

Please click to register for city-specific details and pricing. The following discounts are available:

  • AIA/ASHRAE member discount
  • NGO employee and veteran discount
  • $15 for all students

Course schedule and CEUs

AIA CEUs9:00am – 4:00pm (includes half hour lunch)
Registration begins 8:30am

Learning Objectives
Course participants will learn to…

  • Act in a leadership capacity to increase solar PV deployment in your community and in your practice
  • Use the applicable codes and standards required to design safe solar PV installations
  • Make an actionable connection between policy objectives for solar deployment and AIA sustainability and 2030 goals
  • Distinguish among and understand the appropriate application for different types of solar energy systems

6.5 AIA LU/HSW
6.5 GBCI CEUs


Webinar

STEP Into the Sun: Solar Training for Design Professionals was also offered in a special 90 minute version webinar.

Click here to view the webinar.


Project Partners

ASHRAE AIA


Acknowledgements

BCAP and CSE would like to recognize the following subject matter experts for their invaluable contributions to the content of this course:

Bill Brooks, PE
Brooks Engineering

Anthony Catana, AIA, LEED AP
Spiezle Architectural Group

Mark Connolly, PE, LEED AP
Atlantic Energy Concepts

Michael E. Goldschmidt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
University of Missouri, Department of Architectural Studies

Thomas Hurd, AIA, NCARB
Spatial Designs

Gerald Kettler, PE
AIR Engineering and Testing

Richard Lawrence, NABCEP
Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)

Alice Sung, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ISSP-SA
Greenbank Associates