Peter J. Tavino Jr. PE

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Presents a SunCam continuing education series on the topic of:

Green Geothermal Energy & Energy Audits

Contact author at:
peterjtj@aol.com
Litchfield, CT

Peter Tavino PE is the owner of the engineering consulting corporation Peter J. Tavino Jr. PEPC. He received his bachelors in civil engineering from Union College and a Master of Science in Engineering from Columbia University.

After years of work for large New York City engineering firms, Peter owned a land development company subdividing and building out lots in New York, Florida and Connecticut, where he is a registered PE. Later Peter ran Litchfield Geothermal, installing systems and training others in ground source heating and cooling, until the tax credit expired. He remains active as President of the New England Geothermal Professionals Association.

In 2016, Peter passed the Federal Aviation Administration part 107 test to become a remote pilot. He has recorded civil engineering projects from the air as shown on his web site: www.ConnecticutDroneVideo.com He has been paid by realtors to make and upload marketing videos of land and homes for sale, and by others for promotional videos. He partners with a local policeman who flies drones for his department. Peter is a registered remote pilot with Skyswoop, and lectures on drone capabilities.

Course Title Rating Hours Price

029-Geothermal Heating and Cooling

(4.4) 84 Reviews

4 $90.00

Federal Tax Credits reinstated for geothermal

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

Ground Source Heat Pump Systems harvest solar energy for heating, and they utilize soil capacities to store heat for air conditioned cooling. They use smaller amounts of electricity, without fossil fuel combustion in the building served. Geothermal Green Technology reduces CO2 emissions, and saves owners fuel and AC costs. In February of 2018 the 30% Federal Tax Credit was reinstated for residential geothermal and 10% for commercial, leading to much more business.

This SUNCAM continuing education course shows you how to design and install the outside closed loop piping under the lawn or nearby meadow of a new or existing building. At its completion, you will be able to prepare a site plan and oversee installation of the outside work, necessary for the inside work to be done by the HVAC contractor.

045-Geothermal Heat Pumps for Small Buildings

(4) 16 Reviews

4 $90.00

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

This Geothermal or Ground Source - Heat Pump Course 045 follows the SunCam Geothermal Energy - Course 029 that examined underground closed loops. Federal Tax Credits of 30% residential and 10% commercial have been reinstated in 2018 for projects from 2017 to 2022. Now experience the practical application of Heat Pump technology, aimed at Professional Engineers, who would Project Manage a geothermal heating and cooling installation for a small residential or commercial building.

Important photos and diagrams differentiate this course from other on-line articles. The highly technical information presented here is for PEs who seek an in depth understanding of how GS Heat Pumps operate. Numerous reference web site links allow further research specifics beyond the course content. Complement your existing PE skills by adding expertise in the evolving field of Energy Efficiency.

091-Geothermal Boreholes

(3.8) 15 Reviews

4 $90.00

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

The vast majority of ground source heat pump systems (Recently reapproved for 30% residential & 10% commercial federal tax credits) use vertical boreholes, instead of horizontal trenches. Following up on SUNCAM course 029-Geothermal Heating and Cooling, and course 045-Geothermal Heat Pumps for Small Buildings is this latest course on boreholes. Large commercial geo projects involving engineering design, frequently find the borehole alternate superior to trenching, where limited acreage is available for larger building loads. In the language of both the well driller and the design professional, Geothermal Borehole course 091 addresses the many facets of ground heat exchange: Rock thermal conductivity, grout installation sequence & grout thermal conductivity, software design programs, total length formula, heat fusion, manifold layout, all with site plans, web references and photos.

Uncover the technology being employed on many of the new building projects. Become informed on the latest techniques and standards used to harvest renewable energy from beneath our feet.

055-The Energy Audit of an Existing Home

(4.4) 88 Reviews

4 $90.00

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

Professional Engineers have great advantage in understanding the energy systems of a house. With new construction of homes at a slow pace today, there is time for our nation to devote resources to making our existing houses more energy efficient. Standards and techniques used by the Building Performance Institute, Inc. should be familiar to PEs, who have a knowledge foundation in this field that is greater than the populace in general. The country can use the expertise of its engineering community to stop wasting valuable energy and money. Certainly the political will is there to achieve this.

While it may not be a profession changing opportunity for most, this course will enhance what you already know from your related engineering fields. It should allow Professional Engineers to exercise more leadership in their communities, where the Home Energy Audit and Weatherization businesses are exploding. And it could motivate PEs to gain additional credentials by proceeding toward Building Analyst certification.

221-What Wetlands Boards Expect from Engineers

(3.8) 12 Reviews

3 $67.50

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

Engineers are prominent members of application teams seeking permission to begin construction projects. When pursuing a Wetlands Permit, many common issues arise across the United States. Some approaches and techniques are more successful than others.

This SUNCAM Course is written by a PE who developed his own subdivision properties for years, representing himself before Boards and New England Wetland Commissions as both the design professional civil engineer of record and the developer land owner. In recent years, he has received wetlands permits for geothermal and other construction jobs. Winning strategies are shared with Engineers who may be approaching a Board or Commission for the first time, or with Engineers who seek better knowledge on proper terminology, what will occur at a meeting, or which engineering design methods are effective.

The author's objective is to familiarize you with meeting procedure, and for you to have more efficient approvals the first time, without having to redesign and resubmit plans, in accordance with regulations that control the process.

256-Building Rebar Inspection

(4.3) 25 Reviews

4 $90.00

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

Building Rebar Inspection takes the reader through a journey across the reinforced concrete construction of a new school center. It starts with the inspection of typical foundation pile caps and grade beams. Walls, slabs and other component features are described and illustrated. Sample Forms are provided for Inspectors to use as models to get started. Even the beginning designer or related professional will gain insight into how their design or contracting function fits into the concrete work happening in the field.

294-Drones for Engineers

(4.6) 90 Reviews

4 $90.00

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Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description:

Drone technology has leaped forward as the Federal Aviation Administration issued its part 107 rules for small unmanned aircraft system drones. About 40,000 remote pilots had been certified in the first year. Engineering firms have recognized the benefits accrued by using a stable airborne platform to see and document views necessary for their facility inspections. Surveyors see the photogrammetry business evolving as an inexpensive way to create topography maps. Construction companies are using drones to track project progress.

For engineers and firms interested in exploring drone use, this course gives an overview of drone uses. Whether developing an in-house drone program, purchasing a license to use drone software for a particular function, or subcontracting out work to a drone specialty company, knowing the drone basics presented here is essential.

Peter J. Tavino Jr. PE

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