Designing More Thermally Efficient Residential Envelopes for Northern Cold and Mixed Climates
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Monday, May 4, 2026
10:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT
Agenda:
Presented by John F. Robbins CEM/CSD
- Learn what a cold climate is and which energy code climate zones are predominantly cold
- Understand heating and cooling degree-days and how they are used
- Compare envelope requirements for mixed climate zone 4 and cold zones 5, 6 and 7
- Review the R-value and airtightness of different insulations
- Calculate the average R-value for wood-framed assemblies with different insulations
- Understand how to avoid increasing condensation potential as R-value increases in wood-framed assemblies
- Learn how to insulate concrete slabs and walls
- Understand how an air barrier is created by sealing multiple barrier materials to act together
- Review formulas for estimating heat gain and loss or sizing HVAC capacities
- Learn how to interpret data from a blower-door test to size HVAC or estimate heating energy usage
- See why reducing overall envelope area reduces heat conduction even when using the same R-values
- Understand why some designers choose different window SHGC based on orientation
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
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Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
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Credits
Engineers
2.0 PDHs
Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
2.0 HSW LUs
ICC - International Code Council
0.2 CEUs (Building)
Continuing Education Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 2.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .2 CEUs in the specialty area of Building (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
*On-Demand Credits*
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:
2.0 HSW LUs (AIA)
Speakers
John F. Robbins, CEM/CSDP
Energy Consultant in Morning View, KYMr. Robbins is a residential designer and energy consultant since the mid-1980s whose projects have been mostly in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. His projects aim for lower energy usage and less negative environmental impact. He has designed and consulted on passive solar homes which sometime include solar water heating and solar electricity. He has also consulted on stand-alone renewable energy projects like the battery-backed PV electric system which has powered his office since November 2001.
Mr. Robbins has two certifications from Association of Energy Engineers (AEE): CEM for energy management and CSDP for sustainable development. He has received six awards from AEE since 1990 for energy and environmental achievements, including 1994 SW Ohio Energy Engineer of the Year and 2004 SW Ohio Environmental Engineer of the Year. In 2012 AEE honored Mr. Robbins as its Region III Renewable Energy Innovator of the Year. He was also co-recipient in 1998 of the Ohio Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency in the Education Category.
A renewable energy advocate and user who once led the SW Ohio Alternate Energy Association (AEA) 1995-2005, Mr. Robbins nonetheless encourages, assists and teaches energy users to become much more aggressive in minimizing their heating, cooling and non-HVAC energy use. He has developed and taught energy-focused continuing education courses for Great Oaks Institute in Ohio, Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest in Kentucky, Columbus (OH) Green Building Forum, Impact Management Services in Cincinnati and HalfMoon Education.
Mr. Robbins sells no products, receives no commissions for referrals and has had no commercial affiliation with manufacturers and retailers of products or services he uses, recommends or specifies.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Designing More Thermally Efficient Residential Envelopes for Northern Cold and Mixed Climates
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This two-hour course focuses on design and construction strategies to maximize the thermal efficiency of residential building envelopes in cold and mixed climates. The course will examine code requirements, demonstrate R-value calculations, discuss various tests and metrics, design strategies and more.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to compare energy code envelope requirements for mixed climate zone 4 and cold zones 5, 6 and 7, and calculate average R-value of wood-framed assemblies with different insulations.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to identify and overcome shortcomings in common envelope designs and avoid increasing condensation potential as assembly R-value increases.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to insulate below-ground slabs and walls of basements and crawlspaces and explain how an air barrier is created by connecting multiple envelope barriers.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to interpret data from a blower-door test to assess envelope air-tightness and utilize formulas used to estimate heat gain and loss or size HVAC capacities.
LUs: 2.0
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 03/03/2029
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.