October 08, 2025 EVENT:

FUNDAMENTALS OF RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND THE VT RBES (ENERGY CODE)

Wednesday, October 08 8:00am - 3:30pm

Efficiency Vermont Office, 20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, VT

6 AIA/HSW credits

This six-hour course will cover the basics of the International Residential Code (IRC), the foundational building code for residential construction in the United States, as well as Vermont’s Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES). Vermont has not adopted a building code for single family homes or duplexes, but the IRC is a solid, straightforward handbook for good construction.

The Building Safety Association of Vermont (BSA-VT) offers courses around the state for homebuilders, designers, and other construction professionals. We use the online codes and teach participants how to access them, but you can purchase a paper copy if you prefer.

!!PLEASE CHECK YOUR CART - ENSURE YOUR CART IS EMPTY BEFORE PROCEEDING!!

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

1. Understand the organization of the IRC and its basic principles, and be able to reference the code on site from your phone or laptop.

2. Understand what aspects of residential construction that Vermont does regulate.

3. Understand basic fire safety around batteries, charging devices, and solar arrays.

4. Understand and apply the 2020 RBES to residential construction. Topics include building science fundamentals, building materials choice and characteristics, and mechanical and ventilation systems.

5. Understand the differences between 2020 RBES and 2024 RBES..

Presenters

Michael Chaucer is an architect with Haven Architecture LLC, with offices in Burlington VT and Boston. Michael works on residential design projects in Vermont, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Montana. Prior to returning home to Vermont, Michael worked in construction, maintenance, and property management in Seattle WA before owning and operating a residential construction company with his wife Katie. This year Michael co-founded a real estate development company focused on developing affordable housing for middle income families in Burlington. He is a member of AIAVT and represents architects on the DFS study committee for the IRC.

Michelle Savary is the Building Inspector and Town Health Office for Montpelier VT and the Vice President of Building Safety Association of Vermont. After receiving a degree in architecture at Norwich University, Michelle worked as a designer and in construction for a variety of building types. She went on to manage construction and eventually began working as a building inspector. Michelle is a Certified Fire Inspector I & II. She is one of the few officials in Vermont who applies the IRC in permitting and inspections.

Steve Spatz is a Residential Energy Consultant and Account Manager with VEIC, working as a consultant in both the Residential New Construction and Existing Homes programs and managing the EEN contractor networks within Efficiency Vermont. Prior to coming to work at VEIC, Steve owned and operated Redbarn Design and Build Inc, a residential construction and building energy contracting company that he founded in 2002. Steve is a BPI certified Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, and Healthy Home Evaluator, as well as a Resnet certified HERS rater. Steve’s professional focus has been on educating the construction community in real building science applications and code compliance since joining Efficiency Vermont in 2015.

Registration is $65 for Vermont building officials and $80 for all other participants. The fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch and drinks, 6 CE credits, and a 1-year membership in the ICC Building Safety Association of Vermont.

Please check your cart first. Ensure your cart is empty of any old events prior to proceeding.

Please use Google Chrome or the Edge browser when registering. Some browsers may experience issues during checkout.

PICK YOUR CLASS BELOW - Come back here again for each individual registrant (see multiple registrant steps)

Multiple Registrants (SEE EXAMPLE BELOW):

STEP 1: Please enter the PRIMARY EMAIL ADDRESS for each registrant separately, then add it to your cart.

STEP 2: For the next Registrant, repeat step one above.

You may add several registrations to the cart this way.

STEP 3: Check Out

Then pay all at once!

Click on 'View Cart" to see all of the items in your cart, add, remove, or edit items in your cart.

MULTIPLE REGISTRANT EXAMPLE : See Steps above

Example continued: See steps above

Questions?

Call Sandy Vitzthum at 802.223.1806 or email her at vitzthum@proton.me

Page updated

Report abuse