Clean Energy Clearinghouse
Clean Energy Educational Resources
No matter where you find yourself in your career, all clean energy stakeholders—including authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), fire departments, clean energy contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, electric utilities, building owners, facility managers, and others—benefit from current and timely information related to renewable energy developments. This Clean Energy Clearinghouse offers access to free educational resources and CEU bearing courses to make sure you have the information you need, when you need it.
Please note: You may have to scroll down on some CEU bearing course links in order to access all relevant information.
EMPOWERED Solutions Clean Energy Question of the Week
Check out this week’s question and answer below. Come back each Monday to explore something new about distributed energy resources. Read previous questions and answers about solar, storage, electric vehicles, and efficient building technology here.
Code officials play a critical role in ensuring that solar PV systems are installed correctly and safely. If PV systems are new to you, or you’re getting ready to inspect your first system, you’ll want to understand how rooftop PV works and your role in ensuring that safety regulations and requirements have been followed during the design and installation process.
Learn More:
Take the next step with this resource, Preparing to Inspect Your First PV System, and learn the components of a typical system, relevant codes and standards, and permitting and inspection guides,and more.
Latest Resource:
- Efficiency, Energy, and Safety Codes: What is Working Around the Country to Foster Resilient Communities (Webinar Recording, Uploaded October 31, 2023)
Webinar Recordings:
- See the full EMPOWERED Solutions webinar series here. (Overview)
- Energy Storage Basics for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) and Beyond (Webinar Recording)
- The Possibilities of EV Charging (Webinar Recording)
- What Impacts the Safe Installation of Energy Storage Systems (Webinar Recording)
- Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps—Efficacy and Building Readiness (Webinar Recording)
- High Performance Homes and Materials Safety (Webinar Recording)
- Residential Building Electrification Pathways (Webinar Recording)
- Commercial Building Electrification Pathways (Webinar Recording)
- Building Safety Month 2023: Learn, Connect, and Contribute to a Resilient, Sustainable Future (Informational Video)
- Planning for the Equitable and Safe Deployment of Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure (Webinar Recording)
- Efficiency, Energy, and Safety Codes: What is Working Around the Country to Foster Resilient Communities (Webinar Recording)
Resources for First Responders:
- First Responders Guide to Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System Incidents (Downloadable Fact Sheet)
- Energy Storage Basics for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) and Beyond (Webinar Recording)
- What Impacts the Safe Installation of Energy Storage Systems (Webinar Recording)
- High Performance Homes and Materials Safety (Webinar Recording)
- Solar PV Safety for Firefighters (Free CEU Bearing Course)
- Recap: The Basics of Energy Storage and Beyond (Online Course)
- Energy Storage Systems: Based on the IBC, IFC, IRC, and NEC (Downloadable Report)
Training Solutions from EMPOWERED Partner: Southface Institute
- Model Codes and Distributed Energy Resources (Free CEU Online Course). Model codes set the standards for buildings and infrastructure. They are key to understanding distributed energy resources (DERs; solar panels, electric vehicles, and home weatherization, etc.) that consumers use to generate and manage energy on site.
- Utilities, DERs, and Interconnection (Interactive PDF; Article). In this course, learn about the role of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the energy sector and interconnected processes with utilities. Homeowners, government officials, developers, and other community members can benefit from understanding the changing dynamics between utilities and (DERs) on the customer end of utility transmission and distribution systems.
- High Performance Building Solutions: HVAC and Mechanical Code Training (Free CEU Online Course). Code officials must understand high-performance HVAC and mechanical systems to effectively address issues with inconsistent code compliance that occur when these systems are renovated or replaced. Learn how to select and assess proper installation and verification of HVAC and mechanical systems prior to adding other distributed energy resources.
- High Performance Building Solutions: Building Envelope Code Training (Free CEU Online Course). Use of distributed energy resources (DERs) is growing in small to mid-sized commercial buildings, driven by incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act. Architects and code officials must know the fundamentals of design, specification, and verification of high-performance building envelopes. This training will comprehensively address commercial high-performance building envelopes, including benefits and key code considerations.
Solar (PV)

- Preparing to Inspect Your First PV System (Article)
- Solar PV Systems: Job Aids for a Consistent Plan Review Process (Downloadable Checklists)
- Efficient and Accurate Validation of PV and Energy Storage System Designs: An Introduction to SolarAPP+ (Article)
- A Checklist for Building Owners Considering Solar Energy (Downloadable Checklist)
- Plan Review of Residential Rooftop PV Systems (Free CEU Bearing Course)
- How to Use SolarAPP+ for Online Permitting (Free CEU Bearing Courses)
- How to Inspect a SolarAPP+ System (Free CEU Bearing Courses)
- Solar PV Field Inspection Basics – Training Series (Free CEU Bearing Course; Includes inspections of residential rooftop and ground-mounted systems; energy storage systems; commercial carport)
- Solar PV Safety for Firefighters (Free CEU Bearing Course)

Energy Storage
- Energy Storage Systems and Generators: Some Critical Distinctions (Short Course)
- Energy Storage Basics for AHJs and Beyond Webinar (Webinar Recording)
- Recap: The Basics of Energy Storage and Beyond (Online Course)
- Energy Storage Systems: Based on the IBC, IFC, IRC, and NEC (Downloadable Report)
- What Impacts the Safe Installation of Energy Storage Systems (Webinar Recording)
- Distributed Energy Resource Codes and Standards (Downloadable Fact Sheets)
- Solar-Plus-Storage Permitting and Inspection Guidelines (Downloadable Resource)
- New Residential Energy Storage Code Requirements (Article)
- UL 9540A Fire Test Standard for Battery Energy Storage Systems (Downloadable Resource)

High Performance Buildings
- Energy Codes Then & Now, 1983 – 2021 (ICC Graphic)
- Inspecting the Building of the Future (Video)
- Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps: Efficacy and Building Readiness (Webinar Recording)
- Whole Home Performance HVAC — Good for the Contractor and the Building Owner (Interview and Resources)
- Net Zero Buildings Week: Clean Energy Resources from Industry-Leading Organizations (Article)
- ICC Guide to Energy Codes and Building Performance Standards (Downloadable Resource)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Pumps (Guidelines)
- SUNY Energy Futures: Common Advanced Control Strategies (FREE CEU Bearing Course)
- SUNY Energy Futures: Fundamentals of Building Controls Systems (FREE CEU Bearing Course)
- Life-Saving Energy Codes: What Building Safety Officials Need to Know (Article)

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
- Electric Vehicle Charging Safety (Short Course)
- Vehicle-to-Home Charging: Can I Power My House With My Car? (Short Course)
- The Possibilities of EV Charging (Webinar Recording)
- Electric Vehicle Charging for Building Owners (Short Course)
- Electric Vehicle Supply Permitting and Inspection Guidelines (Downloadable Resource)

Permitting and Inspection
- Preparing to Inspect Your First PV System (Article)
- Solar PV Systems: Job Aids for a Consistent Plan Review Process (Downloadable Checklists)
- Efficient and Accurate Validation of PV and Energy Storage System Designs: An Introduction to SolarAPP+ (Article)
- Plan Review of Residential Rooftop PV Systems (Free CEU Bearing Course)
- How to Use SolarAPP+ for Online Permitting (Free CEU Bearing Courses)
- How to Inspect a SolarAPP+ System (Free CEU Bearing Courses)
- Solar PV Field Inspection Basics – Training Series (Free CEU Bearing Course; Includes inspections of residential rooftop and ground-mounted systems, energy storage systems, commercial carport)
- ICC Process for Residential Energy Code Remote Virtual Inspections & Checklist (Downloadable Checklist)
CEU-Bearing Training Opportunities

- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): Permitting & Inspection for PV and ESS
- International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI): on-demand training for electrical inspectors
- International Code Council (ICC): I-Codes & Standards training, live online and in-person; on-demand
- National Association of Fire Marshals (NASFM): Pipeline Emergencies & Hazardous Materials
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Online learning for NFPA codes and standards
- Southface Institute: building science and workforce development trainings with a focus on building performance, health and safety, energy and water, green infrastructure and green building certifications.
- International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST): Entry-Level Heat Pump Training
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Bookmark this page and check back frequently. It will be continuously updated and we hope it will become your go-to place to learn about clean energy technologies, how to ensure safe operation of equipment and systems, associated safe work practices, and applicable codes.
Need more information, have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future resources? Contact us at [email protected].
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) in partnership with the International Code Council, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, National Association of State Fire Marshals, Slipstream, Florida Solar Energy Center, South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, New Buildings Institute, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Southface Institute, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory assembled these resources to provide you with up-to-date, reliable, vetted information and training related to existing and emerging technologies.
