Interested In Becoming a Course Provider?
New Course Providers are required to submit the following completed documents for review:
Please download the appropriate form(s) for completion and send to EPP@aanb.org
Questions?
Course Description: Ron Blank & Associates: Water & Energy: The Hidden Connection and the Case for Hot Water Recirculation Systems
This course explores the critical but often overlooked relationship between water and energy consumption in the built environment, highlighting the environmental and economic impacts of inefficiencies in traditional hot water delivery systems. Attendees will gain foundational knowledge of hot water recirculation technologies, including key distinctions between traditional and on-demand systems, design considerations for new and retrofit projects, and performance optimization through smart technologies. Through a sustainability-focused lens, the course also addresses regulatory compliance, cost-benefit analysis, and occupant behavior, emphasizing how architects and engineers can play a leading role in water and energy conservation efforts. Real-world strategies and innovations will be presented to help professionals design and specify systems that enhance efficiency, occupant comfort, and environmental responsibility.
Discuss the water-energy nexus and explain how inefficient water use, particularly in hot water systems, results in significant energy waste and environmental harm.
Identify common inefficiencies in plumbing and HVAC systems and evaluate design strategies—such as hot water recirculation—that improve water and energy conservation in residential and commercial applications.
Compare traditional and on-demand hot water recirculation systems, and assess how emerging technologies, including smart controls, impact system performance, occupant health, and long-term sustainability.
Apply key principles of system design and integration, including pump sizing, code compliance, and occupancy patterns, to ensure effective, safe, and efficient implementation of hot water recirculation systems in diverse building types.