Prep Course for the NRCan Foundation Level Exam

Program Overview

Are you looking to conduct Energy Audits in residential homes? The Greener Homes Initiative aims to provide up to 700,000 grants for homeowners to engage Energy Advisors to conduct assessments and advise on retrofit opportunities.

Taking CIET training and writing the Foundation and EA level exams is one of the faster ways to become a full-fledged NRCan-registered Energy Advisor involved in the initiative.

The CIET NRCan Foundation Level Prep Course is the first step toward becoming a residential Registered Energy Advisor (EA). The course provides participants with an overview of building science principles and a review of sound business practices for EAs.

During this three-day course, participants prepare for the Foundation Level exam by learning to complete hands-on geometric and arithmetic calculations and unit conversions, how to interpret and understand house plans, and looking at the whole building envelope from fenestration to mechanical systems to renewable energy systems.

The CIET NRCan Foundation Exam Prep Course is intended to prepare participants to take NRCan’s Foundation Level Exam. Upon completing the course and passing the exam, you will be able to take the next step and attend the CIET Energy Advisor Prep Course and eventually become a full-fledged EA.

Note: You must pay and schedule a time to write the exam directly on NRCan’s website. The exam is not administered during the preparation course.

Have you already passed the Foundation Level Exam and are you looking for the next step? Click here for more information on the CIET Energy Advisor Prep Course.

Key Learning Objectives

During this course, participants will learn:

The four elements of a house as a system concept (environment, building envelope, mechanical systems, and occupant activities).
How to complete hands-on geometric and arithmetic calculations and unit conversions.
To interpret and understand house plans.
About typical Canadian architectural house types.
The residential building design process, construction and renovation techniques, and high-efficiency design principles.
All about mechanical systems, including: Domestic water heating; Spaceheating; Ventilation; Heat pumps; Cooling systems; The safety considerations when accessing existing and new home constructions and work sites.

Audience

Individuals wanting to become an energy advisor and conduct home energy assessments.
Construction professionals.
Service organization (SO) staff.
HVAC experts, electricians, and other technicians.
Individuals with an interest in energy efficiency and a desire to understand what makes a building comfortable and energy efficient.
Individuals with an understanding of building sciences.

Training calendar

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Agenda

Construction and Renovation of Low-Rise Housing

Typical Canadian architectural house typology
Building design process and construction techniques using appropriate construction terms and definitions
Renovation techniques using appropriate construction terms and definitions
Recognising highly efficient design principles for new constructions and renovations
Interpreting plans

Numeracy

Performing geometric and arithmetic calculations accurately
Executing unit conversions between metric and imperial

Safety Considerations When Accessing Home Construction or Renovation Sites

Building Envelopes (new and existing homes)

Building envelope barrier systems (air, vapour, moisture, weather/wind, thermal)
Windows, skylights, and doors

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (new and existing homes)

Common terminology
Mechanical heating, cooling, and ventilation systems
Operation of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems
District energy systems

Renewable Energy Systems and Their Properties

Building Science Principles and the House-as-a-System Concept

Elements that make up a building and their interdependences
Physical processes that occur within a building (heat, air, and moisture flow)
Indicators of indoor air pollutants

Trainers

Stephen Farrell

Stephen Farrell, P.L. (Eng.) – Mechanical Engineering, CEM; with 25 years in residential and commercial energy management consulting and mechanical engineering design. He currently owns and operates two companies: Acacia Engineering Ltd. and VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting Inc. Acacia Engineering is a mechanical engineering consulting firm specializing in HVAC and plumbing design, with a strong focus on energy efficiency where applicable.

Stephen has extensive experience in energy management and consulting and has been actively involved with Natural Resources Canada in consulting on and managing various energy efficiency programs. His company VerdaTech has completed over 45,000 residential energy assessments and is a licensed service organization for NRCan’s ERS version 15, and EnergyStar for New Homes.

He has actively trained EnerGuide advisors across Canada for multiple programs including, but not limited to, EnerGuide for houses 0-100 rating for both new and existing construction, EnerGuide for houses MURB (0-100 rating), EnergyStar and the most current EnerGuide version 15. Over the last 18 years, has trained in excess of 100 advisors. He also has presented various energy efficiency seminars for numerous organizations, including the City of Medicine Hat, the Town of Banff, and the City of Calgary. Stephen is also currently serving on the Metro Vancouver “Rate Our Home & Labelling” steering committee for energy labelling, labelling disclosure, and integration with the BC Energy Step Code.

Certification Process

How can I become an energy advisor?

You will find all information on Natural Resources Canada’s website. Notably, to register as an energy advisor to deliver services under EnerGuide Rating System v.15, energy advisor candidates must demonstrate proficiency by:

Passing the Foundation Level exam
Passing the Energy Advisor exam
Being affiliated with a service organization

What is the energy advisor exam process?

For more details on the exam process, you are invited to read the Candidate Exam Handbook by Natural Resources Canada.

Exam related information can be found at https://nrcan.ysasecure.com.

If you wish to register for the exams, you must first complete the Register section.
Then, you can purchase the exams in the Products section.
To find the locations where exams are administered, consult the Exam Centres section.

For each of the exams, you are invited to read the appropriate Exam Competency Profiles found in the ERS-EnerGuide Rating System v15/ERS v.15 Competencies section of the File Exchange website. To obtain login details, please contact us at nrcan.homes-maisons.rncan@canada.ca. In the Subject section, please write “EG”.

How can I become a licensed service organization?

You will find all information on Natural Resources Canada’s website. Notably, you must:

Be an individual or legal entity incorporated or registered in Canada
Show proof of liability insurance
Have a minimum of 2 years of experience and knowledge related to energy efficiency and building science in the residential housing sector
Employ key personnel in the organization such as service organization managers, quality assurance specialists or energy advisors who have successfully passed the relevant NRCan exams

Where can I find reference documents?

To access reference documents such as the EnerGuide Rating System v.15, the exam competency profiles as well as Candidate Exam Handbooks, please contact nrcan.homes-maisons.rncan@canada.ca.

CIET has also developed two supplementary study guides to help participants with items identified as the most difficult, namely the Foundation Level Exam Study Guide and Energy Advisor Exam Study Guide.

This course includes...

Access to a private SharePoint website with additional training material, references, and links.

Policies and FAQ

Click here, to see our course postponement and cancellation policy.

Do you have questions? Consult our FAQ for answers.

Continuing Education Units (CEU)	1.8
CSEP points	3 (+2 for certification)

Program

Prep Course for the NRCan Foundation Level Exam

Duration: 3 days

Informations

Upcoming Sessions

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