A First at Efficiency First

In a room just at the bottom of the stairs of Suite #100 in the Rising Star Energy Center in Berkeley, I got my introduction to part of the community of readers for Home Energy magazine. As the first industry event I’ve attended in my new role as Assistant Editor here, I can honestly say I was impressed.
 
With a background of writing and editing in the field of travel, events and hotels (including some of the eco-friendly kind), I went into the Efficiency First chapter meeting not really knowing what to expect. On the agenda: networking, a special presentation on combustion safety by Andy Wahl, and chapter business.
 
I sat down just as Andy, a leading BPI trainer and proctor, was preparing to present and was greeted with welcoming smiles. We all introduced ourselves around the room and I heard a number of professional company representatives share a need for combustion safety information. Without further ado, Andy got started.
 
The task of explaining the steps in determining worst case depressurization and combustion wasn’t an easy one to complete in 45 minutes; however, Andy did it well. At the end, nearly everyone was begging for more with hands raised with further questions and more detail. (I, on the other hand, was furiously writing down terms I needed to look up when I got back to the office.) The response for all others requests? Take one of Andy’s full-length classes held in conjunction with PG&E at the Stockton Training Center. (These classes are designed to help BPI candidates gain the essential skills for passing their BPI Field Tests, and Energy Upgrade CA verifications.)
 
All in all, I left the meeting feeling a bit more connected to Home Energy magazine than I had before. And as a newbie, I walked away with more information about Combustion Appliance Zones (CAZ) than I personally think I will ever need.
 
If you want to learn more about CAZ safety, you can also take a look at A. Tamasin Sterner’s article in the November/December issue here.