Improving Home Energy Efficiency

The Improving Your Home’s Energy Efficiency microcredential introduces participants to building science fundamentals, focusing on heat, air, and moisture flow. Learners explore insulation and air-sealing techniques, material selection, and the performance of energy-efficient windows, doors, and basic HVAC systems, along with an overview of National Building Code requirements. Training is offered in two formats: a 15-hour online asynchronous course for up to 20 participants, and a 15-hour, two-day in-person workshop at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Prince Albert campus, offered four times for up to 80 total participants. The in-person option emphasizes hands-on experience, interaction, collaboration, and real-time feedback in a structured learning environment using carpentry facilities. The program targets trades professionals, particularly HVAC technicians and carpenters, seeking to enhance their energy-efficiency and building science skills.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.

The learning outcomes of this training include:

• Demonstrate how to detect heat, air, and moisture flow issues in a residential building and apply appropriate strategies to improve energy efficiency and comfort.
• Align appropriate energy efficiency testing techniques and insulation/sealing procedures for improving the performance of a residential building envelope.
• Produce simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce energy waste and improve comfort in their homes.

The online asynchronous assessments are automatically scored and primarily scenario-based, using a mix of question types such as multiple choice, true/false, matching, and image-based tasks to evaluate learners’ understanding and application of course content. Each learning section also includes formative knowledge checks to help learners monitor their understanding as they progress through the course.

The in-person training assessments include small/large group discussion, rubrics, Pre-tests/Posts tests, and questionnaires. Participants will demonstrate applied knowledge and skills through hands-on projects in our well-equipped carpentry shop utilizing full size building models.

By providing applied learning in clean technologies, sustainable construction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green trades, the training prepares a workforce ready to meet industry demands, helping build a resilient and inclusive economy. The training offers accessible and regionally relevant training ensures that individuals across Canada, including rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, can participate in and benefit from the low-carbon economy. This training accelerates workforce readiness, foster clean-economy adoption, and contribute to a just and resilient low-carbon transition.

This training supports Canada’s transition to a low carbon economy by focusing on improving energy efficiency in residential buildings. It supports programs such as the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program.