Build Better is a one-day training on common sense residential construction.
Friday, May 16, 2025
Central Maine Community College
1250 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine – Tower Room 302 (See attached campus map)
In-person attendance limited to 54 people. Virtual attendance option available.
What’s new?
We recognize that residential design and construction professionals are very busy people, especially during the warmer building season. That’s why we’re reorganizing our residential construction training course from a four day to a one day in-person time commitment. For those interested in seeking our voluntary certification, we are developing an additional series of on-line training options* to provide you the extra details you’ll need to not only help you build better, but will lay the foundation for a life-long ability to design, construct, operate, and maintain homes that not only meet code, but are also healthy and environmentally sustainable for both people and the planet. The emphasis throughout the revised course series is on practical, achievable, common-sense construction for Maine.
*The on-line options are not yet available. Anticipated date of availability is June 2025.
What you’ll learn.
The one-day Build Better training will provide a comprehensive summary of necessary strategies to build a “better” house: defined as a house that not only meets code, but also meets a homeowner’s need for a healthy, energy-efficient, comfortable, and resilient place to call home.
To achieve this goal, the training will teach you:
Building Science:
Strategies for proper heat flow management, bulk water management, vapor management, air flow management, and solar gain through building orientation.
Foundation/Basement Construction:
A practical look at the most common basement option in the Northeast: the concrete foundation, with an exploration of other options. You’ll learn how to:
- Prepare the site for proper drainage
- Prevent basement cracks, as well as fix them when they occur
- Basement wall and floor insulation options
- Preventing condensation issues and dew point
- Install the radon system to meet Maine’s codes
The Building Shell:
The nitty gritty on floors, walls, roofs, windows, and doors, including:
- Floor insulation vs. no floor insulation
- Wall construction options and insulation methods to minimize conductive, convective, and radiational heat loss, with cost analysis
- Air sealing and the blower door test
- Hot roof vs. cold roof
- How to calculate dew point in your wall and roof systems
- Window and door selection and tips for proper installation
- Porch vs. no porch
- Cladding choice and critical hidden systems (rain screen, flashing)
- Verification: Introduction to ResCheck
Mechanical Systems:
A look under the hood of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and dehumidification options
- Critical code changes that impact both design and product choice
- Tips for designing/installing ductwork
- Available ventilation options, codes & standards
- Pros and cons of heating system options: heat-pumps, sealed combustion, gas-fired on demand, passive solar, plus system life-cycle and maintenance
- Proper heat pump sizing: bigger isn’t necessarily better
- Summertime dehumidification: product and installation options
Who Should Attend:
- Building contractors and subcontractors
- Architects and engineers
- Code enforcement officials (including Third Party Inspectors)
- Home Inspectors
- Home energy improvement professionals
- Building supply representatives
- Product manufacturers
- Insurance representatives and mortgage lenders
- Real estate professionals
- Students
Note: Registration for live in-person registration is limited to 54 attendees. On-line options are available.
Fees:
$199* for Maine Indoor Air Quality Council Members (in-person or on-line)
$279* for nonmembers (in-person or on-line)
(An all-you-can-eat buffet lunch is available for $13 on the day of the training. Attendees can also BYO)
*Maine resident? Access your 50% scholarship through the Alfond Workforce Compact.
Scholarships Available
Maine Residents 18 years or older with a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible for a scholarship equal to 50% of the registration fee. All your employer has to do is join the compact and register you in their Upskill Maine portal. Get started here.
Not a Maine resident and need a scholarship? Don’t ever let registration fees keep you home. If you want to attend a program but need some financial assistance to do so, please just contact us at 207-626-8115 or christy@maineindoorair.org.
About the Trainers:
Bill Turner, past president of Turner Building Science, LLC, has 30+ years’ experience in dealing with fundamental Building Science, Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality forensic principles. Bill has two renovated homes participating in the 1000 Home Challenge program, with a focus on energy efficiency and indoor air quality. He provides training both locally and nationally for a broad range of building and IAQ organizations.
David Johnston is past president and owner of David Johnston & Co., has been building healthy, energy efficient homes in Maine for more than 35 years. David currently teaches building construction trade classes at Central Maine Community College, and has served as an adjunct instructor in Residential Design and Drafting and Graphic Design at the USM Department of Industrial Technology. David currently serves on the Advisory Committees for Southern Maine Community College, Central Maine Community College, and Westbrook Region Technology Center.
Dan Kolbert is a building contractor in Portland. He is also a co-author of Pretty Good House: A Guide to Creating Better Homes, and has facilitated a building science discussion group since 2009.
Certification
We are changing the process to obtain the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council’s certification as a Residential Indoor Air Quality Professional.
- Take three badge courses in Basic Building Science, an Introduction to Indoor Air Quality, and Maine Building Codes (not yet available for 2025)
- Attend the one-day Build Better class
- Enroll in an on-line learning website to access additional resources, training videos, and unlock the certification exam. (not yet available for 2025)
- Make a non-binding pledge to follow the practices and concepts as taught in the trainings.
If you think you might be interested in being certified, please make that selection at program registration. Expressing interest does not require you to take the exam.
Continuing Education Credits
This table will be updated as approvals arrive.
| Type of Credit | Build Better Live Attendance @ CMCC | Build Better Zoom Attendance | Foundation/Basement Construction Badge Course | Building Shell Badge Course | Mechanical Systems Badge Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USGBC | 7.0 hours Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | 7.0 hours Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
| Engineers | 7.0 hours Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | 7.0 hours Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance | Self-Report with Certificate of Attendance |
| AIA | Approved for 7 HSW | Approved for 7 HSW | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted |
| Real Estate Professionals | Approved for 7 credits Program# CN276C063LE | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| BPI | Approved for 7 credits Program #22012 | Approved for 7 credits Program #22011 | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted |
| Code Enforcement | Approved for 3 Residential Energy and 3 Residential Ventilation credits | Approved for 3 Residential Energy and 3 Residential Ventilation credits | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted |
| Radon | Approved for 4 credits | Approved for 4 credits | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted | To Be Submitted |
2025 Build Better Schedule
7:30 a.m. – In-person registration starts, on-line portal opens
8:00 a.m. – The Basics of Building Science
8:30 a.m. – Foundation/Basement Construction
9:30 a.m. – Break
9:50 a.m. – The Building Shell
11:50 a.m. – Lunch Break (lunch options: a $13 all you can eat buffet (not included in registration fee or BYO)
12:50 p.m. – The Building Shell (continued)
1:50 p.m. – Break
2:10 p.m. – HVAC & D
4:10 p.m. – Wrap up, Ask Us Anything
4:40 p.m. – Adjourn
Register:
Register for the Live, In-Person Sessions at CMCC in Auburn
Register to Attend Live, On-Line
Want to be a Member to get the best rate? Join MIAQC Here
