Click course titles for downloadable PDF information sheets.
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ENERGY = CO2", 2 hr course about CO2 emissions related to energies common in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, including how to assess and estimate them or reduce and offset them. Designed as continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors. Also available for free viewing as a
1-hr video.
NEW IN 2018!
"ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT", 2 hr course about evaluating and benchmarking the relative efficiencies of different buildings and homes as well as the HVAC systems, lighting and other energy-using features in them in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors. NEW IN 2018!
"ENERGY PRICING", 2 hr course usually paired with Energy Savings & Paybacks. Covers current major residential and commercial energy prices and pricing designs in SW Ohio from Dayton to Cincinnati, SE Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Energy prices are updated annually, also compared per BTU of energy value and typical usage efficiency. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"ENERGY REDUCTIONS & PAYBACK", 2 hr course usually paired with Energy Pricing. Presentation and discussion about how to estimate energy use reductions, operation costs and savings from common efficiency improvements, including space heating and cooling, water heating and non-HVAC electricity. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"ENERGY CODE - Intro" (2 hrs) and "ENERGY CODE - HVAC, Electric & Service Hot Water" (4 hrs), presented back-to-back, delve into the 2009 and 2012 versions of the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) and the 2007 and 2010 versions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers), the current energy codes for HVAC, Electric & Service Hot Water in Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"HISTORY OF US ENERGY STANDARDS", 2 hr course presenting a brief history of USA’s energy markets, conditions and events before there were
widely applied energy standards, then explaining how energy standards were gradually phased in and expanded since the 1980s. Occasionally offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"HVAC SIZING: Cooling", 2 hr course usually paired with HVAC SIZING: Heating. Covers the major inputs to size cooling equipment capacity in residential & small commercial structures, including how to assess capacity changes possible after changes in insulation, airtightness, outside air intake, windows, solar & shading features, internal electricity usage & occupancy. Occasionally offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"HVAC SIZING: Heating", 2 hr course usually paired with HVAC SIZING: Cooling. Covers the major inputs to size heating equipment capacity in residential & small commercial structures, including how to assess capacity changes possible after changes in insulation, airtightness and outside air intake. Occasionally offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"HVAC SIZING: Heating & Cooling", 2 hr course covering the major inputs to size heating and cooling equipment capacities in residential & light commercial structures, including how to assess capacity changes possible after changes in insulation, airtightness, outside air intake, windows, solar & shading features, internal electricity usage & occupancy. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"OFF-GRID SOLAR PV" begins with how off-grid differs from grid-connected solar, including the increased importance of reducing electricity loads and usage and the fact that batteries are usually needed for backup power when sunlight is insufficient or unavailable. Optimizing siting and solar access month by month is emphasized. Also covered is how to size and choose the major components in off-grid solar setups. A couple small installation examples are presented from initial sizing to component selection. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"PASSIVE SOLAR", 2 hr presentation explaining home and small building design to achieve optimized daylighting, space heating and cooling with less reliance on mechanical and electrical systems. Covers matching solar heat collection to heat losses, compares solar heat collection through different kinds of glass, discusses thermal efficiency & storage options. Also includes summer shade options, lower solar-transmittant glass options for west and east windows, natural ventilation and interior air thermosiphoning. An original chapter of Robbins' "SOLAR ENERGY AT HOME" course taught 2005-2010 at Great Oaks Institute (www.greatoaks.com).
"PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING", 2 hr presentation about this once-popular heating energy-saving design strategy for homes and buildings as well as common problems encountered by modern HVAC technicians who encounter them. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES" is an overview of the many types of rechargeable batteries, comparing discharge and recharge preferences as well as operational characteristics of nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, rechargeable alkaline, lead-acid and various lithium battery chemistries. A short history of batteries is included as well as a review of the language and formulas typically associated with batteries and DC electric systems. Safety and disposal issues and preferences are also presented. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSESSMENT", 6-hr continuing education seminar for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors, covering how to think, plan, set goals, design, calculate, measure, rate and report progress in home energy in new and existing homes. Presented in 2011 in Cincinnati OH and in 2012 in Lexington KY for Halfmoon Seminars (www.halfmoonseminars.com). Chapters include: Understanding Home Energy Use; Energy Vocabulary, Terms & Concepts; Heating & Cooling Loads & Usage; Airtightness; Better & More Insulation; Window Performance; HVAC Systems; Appliances, Lighting & Electronics. This is a 1-day version of Robbins' original 2-day course for Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest (www.a-spi.org) in 2010 in Mt. Vernon and Frankfort KY. Adapted from Robbins' original course "Energy At Home" (21 hrs) for adult education 2009-2010 at Great Oaks Institute (www.greatoaks.com).
"SOLAR OPTIONS", 2 hr course starts with many photos depicting local examples of solar, including passive solar, daylighting, solar electricity and active solar heating. Coverage includes types of collectors, major related components, estimation methods for solar heating and electric, solar rating resources, solar siting and orientation. Also includes an overview of solar economics, paybacks and available subsidies. Periodically offered in the Greater Cincinnati area at Impact Management Services Organization in Norwood OH (www.ineedimpact.com, 513-731-1111) as pre-approved continuing education for engineers, designers, energy practitioners and contractors.
"SOLAR WATER HEATING", 2 hr course, often paired with PASSIVE SOLAR. Presentation and discussion with photos and diagrams showing common hardware, configurations and design options for solar water heating in the Ohio Valley region. Includes a review of solar site assessment and overview of how to estimate hot water energy savings. An original chapter of Robbins' "SOLAR ENERGY AT HOME" course taught 2005-2010 at Great Oaks Institute (www.greatoaks.com).
"WHAT IS LOW ENERGY USE IN THE OHIO VALLEY?" - 2 hr course for design and energy professionals about local averages and bests for home energy usage, based on Robbins' Ohio Valley home energy surveys and EIA's national home energy statistics. This course available in 1-hr, 1.5-hr and 2-hr versions. 
John F. Robbins is also at LinkedIn and Facebook