RTA Learning Community

There are five (six if you have a large cooktop) systems upon which we rely for indoor environmental health + comfort… though most people are only aware of two or three. Two of these systems account for more than half of the energy consumed in the typical American home. 

Learning how these systems work and should work together can be transformative for a homeowner. We spend the vast majority of our lives indoors - we’re heavily reliant on these systems for our health.

Your health is a big part of your personal wealth. You can improve your health through better indoor air quality and indoor humidity management: reducing mold, mildew, dust mites, etc. that thrive in humid environments.

The systems also have an outsized impact on our annual household budgets because they can be expensive to install, operate and maintain. Saving money through better-performing systems grows your wealth too!

Join us to answer:

• What are the building code requirements (minimum standard) for heating, cooling and related systems?

• What are the components of central heating systems and how do they work?

• What safety concerns should be addressed with combustion (natural gas or propane) appliances?

• Do gas furnaces cause (uncomfortably) dry indoor air?

• What supplementary heating strategies can we use for greater comfort?

• What air filtration options are available and which are effective at reducing smog, pollen, fine particles, mold, pet dander, etc.?

• What are the components of central cooling (air conditioning) systems and how do they work?

• How do cooling systems deal with indoor humidity?

• Should you have a separate system to address indoor humidity?

• How do passive systems like air sealing, insulation and windows impact heating/cooling loads?

• What methods of ventilation are available to improve indoor air quality and how do those methods work?

• What is make-up air for cooktops; how do the systems work and when are they required?

• What common maintenance issues should we plan to address each year?

This course will show you how to make the most of your opportunities so you can focus on other issues. We've designed this course to give you just enough information to ask questions that will help you qualify the people with whom you’ll work and the standards/performance you wish to achieve.

As always, we’ll make our review in terms you can understand and use when speaking with contractors, home inspectors, etc.  We invite your questions as we go so we can be sure you get the most value out of this course.

Register now and plan to join us for a live discussion of architectural elements. We welcome your questions as we go. We look forward to seeing you in our Zoom presentation from 10 AM to 1 PM Eastern on August 28, 2025!

Your enrollment period (your access to the recording) is 60 days from the date of the live presentation.