HVAC Primer for Design Professionals
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:45 am
Lunch (On your own): 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Afternoon Session: 12:45 – 4:30 pm
Reviewing Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Principles
Purposes of HVAC systems
Examining sensible and latent heat
Principles of heat transfer
Reviewing heat transfer equations for liquids and gases
Conventional and Green Building Codes
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air Conditioning Engineers standards and guidelines
State and local residential and commercial codes
LEED and other “green” rating systems
HVAC System Design Considerations
Building location and construction
Making HVAC load calculations
Unconditioned and conditioned spaces
Single and multiple zone systems
Sizing systems and using variable capacity systems
Evaluating HVAC Systems and Equipment
Heat pumps: air source and ground source
Chilled water
Variable refrigerant flow systems
Forced air systems
Radiant heat systems
Constant volume and variable air volume systems
Distribution systems: piping and ductwork
HVAC System Controls
Control system goals: maintain thermal comfort,
reduce energy use, monitor performance
Control system options
Reviewing Equipment and Techniques for High
Performance Buildings
Additional goals of high-performance HVAC:
thermal comfort and improved indoor-air quality
Right-sizing equipment
Variable load performance
Shifting and reducing loads
Heat recovery
Commissioning
Operation and maintenance
Cogeneration
Credits
Architects
6.5 HSW Contact Hours
6.5 AIA HSW Learning Units
Professional Engineers
6.5 Contact Hours/PDHs
Building Performance Institute
3.25 CEUs
Contractors
Non-Credit Continuing Ed.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers up to 6.5 HSW continuing education hours to architects and 6.5 PDHs to professional engineers in all states.
HalfMoon Education is deemed a New York-approved continuing education provider for architects via its affiliation with the American Institute of Architects. HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education provider for New York engineers (NYSED Sponsor No. 35) and New Jersey engineers (Approval No. 24GP00000700).
The American Institute of Architects has approved this event for 6.5 HSW Learning Units (Sponsor No. J885). Courses approved by the AIA qualify for New Jersey and District of Columbia architects.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for architects in Florida. HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, and North Dakota.
The Building Performance Institute has awarded 3.25 CEUs for the completion of this seminar.
This event offers a non-credit continuing education opportunity to construction contractors, but it has not been approved by any state with a continuing education requirement for contractors.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Blair Richardson, P.E., CEM, CGD, CLEP, LEED
Mr. Richardson has built his career around continuous learning and relationship-building through teaching engagements, presentations, and volunteer service. A committed advocate for diversity and sustainability, he has supported leadership development programs, served as a mentor, and held leadership roles with nonprofit organizations. Throughout his career, Mr. Richardson has collaborated with architects, engineers, contractors, commissioning agents, and owners on projects spanning high-end residential and industrial manufacturing, municipal schools, and state-of-the-art biomedical research facilities. With deep experience leading multidisciplinary teams, he develops and implements comprehensive strategies that align project execution with clients’ goals and sustainability commitments. In commissioning, Mr. Richardson’s leadership has strengthened internal practices and improved delivery processes. He has played a key role in training commissioning providers, developing commissioning programs, overseeing data analytics, and ultimately delivering stronger project outcomes.