Chris Dorsi

Chris Dorsi is a managing partner with Saturn Resource Management. He brings a broad business background to our organization, with 35 years of experience in construction management, 20 years in the energy conservation business, and thousands of days of technical training along the way.

Chris is a BPI certified Building Analyst, Heating Professional, and Envelope Professional, a RESNET certified Home Energy Rater, and a retired ASHI Home Inspector. He currently works as Saturn’s head of training and curriculum development, producing training curricula, and delivering training programs to utility companies, weatherization organizations, and home builders organizations nationwide. He is also an instructor at Saturn Online.

Capabilities

Author

Chris has authored dozens of books and training manuals, and hundreds of consumer education articles:

Curriculum Developer

Chris has been involved in hundreds of curriculum development projects for utility companies, home performance organizations, home builder’s groups, the real estate industry, and both state and federal governments. He is the co-developer of the Comprehensive Home Energy Curriculum, and Saturn Online.

Technical Trainer

Chris leads online courses for Saturn Online and HVACReducation.net. Chris also delivers classroom and field seminars to home performance contractors, home builders, utility company personnel, weatherization technicians, and property managers on topics that include sustainable housing, building construction, home inspection, and environmental issues.

Building Inspector

Chris performs field audits for the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and numerous state weatherization programs. He has performed thousands of home inspections for private lending institutions and under the auspices of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Selected Experience

Colorado E-Star:

Chris led a training team that provided classroom and field training for several dozen home performance contractors in Colorado. The group also crafted retrofit projects for homes within each community, and proctored written and field exams for the BPI Building Analyst certification. 2007-2008 Contact Matt Thornberry at 303-482-2072.

GreenHomes America:

Chris produced a set of technical standards for GreenHomes America, a nationwide contractor that performs sustainable re-model projects for homeowners. This three-volume set includes specialized guidance for Energy Advisors, Heating Specialists, and Shell Technicians. 2006-2008. Contact Michelle Knaszak at 716-909-4567.

Building Performance Institute (BPI):

Chris is working with BPI and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to produce the Technician’s Guide to Photovoltaic Systems. This illustrated publication guides technicians through the process of designing and installing cost-effective and safe PV systems.

NorthWestern Energy:

Chris originally produced the Field Guide to Photovoltaic Systems as an in-house publication for NorthWestern Energy. Now available as a Saturn publication, it provides summary advice to homeowners and business managers planning to install photovoltaic systems on their buildings.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E):

Chris has delivered technical training for PG&E’s Energy Partners program, Smarter Energy Line, and House as a System programs at the Energy Training Center in Stockton. California. Contact Bill Holloway or Charles Segerstrom at 209-932-2500.

State of Minnesota

Chris evaluates the jobsite performance of insulation contractors for the NAHB certification program.

Chris collaborated with the State Energy Office to develop the Minnesota Weatherization Field Guide and Mechanical Systems Field Guide. Chris also delivered training statewide on weatherization best practices. 2003-2005. Contact David Miller at 651-284-3274.

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center

Chris performs certification audits of insulation contractors enrolled in the Insulation Contractor Certification Program. 1996 to present.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Chris managed the development of the Texas Weatherization Field Guide. He also traveled throughout the state, training contractors on mobile-home energy conservation. Contact Marco Cruz at 512-475-3935.

Energy Center of Wisconsin

Chris produced the Ventilation Field Guide as part of training series delivered to Energy Star® home performance consultants. This guide became part of the Wisconsin Weatherization Field Guide in 2004. Contact Sharon Hanrahan at 608-238-4601.

Oregon Housing & Community Services

Chris collaborated with state staff and the Oregon Energy Coordinators Association to produce a technician certification program that included the Oregon Weatherization Field Guide, the Comprehensive Home Energy Curriculum (CHEC), and a testing series. Delivered statewide training. 2003-2004. Contact Dan Elliott at 503-986-2016.

Energy Outwest

Chris collaborated with weatherization providers in California and six other states to develop the Comprehensive Home Energy Curriculum (CHEC), a computer-based training program, and the Energy Outwest Weatherization Field Guide. 2003-2005. Delivered supporting training in May 2005. Contact Alan Schein at 360-725-2952.

State of North Carolina

Chris researched and produced Homeowners Guide to Building Performance: The North Carolina Energy Saving Guidebook. 2003. Contact Lawrence Wilson at 919-715-5850.

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)

Chris inspected new commercial buildings and evaluated their code compliance for a regional NEEA study.

Chris performed an energy-code-compliance study, comprised of 34 new commercial buildings and 61 residential buildings on behalf of the NEEA. He also performed interviews of architects and engineers, reviewed plans, inspected completed buildings, and compiled reports. Completed in November 1999.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)

Chris writes Energy Articles on home energy conservation topics for NRECA and other utility companies.

State of Wyoming

Chris performed statewide monitoring of the low-income weatherization program. Also performed on-site training of field personnel, and analyzed energy-conservation performance in compliance with Department of Energy (DOE) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) guidelines. 2001.

As part of a statewide evaluation project, Chris trained agency personnel for the Louisiana Weatherization Assistance Program.

Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA)

Chris performed a statewide evaluation of the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Included site visits and training for 26 local agencies. 2002.

McGraw-Hill Books, Inc.

Chris performed a technical review and update of the mechanical ventilation chapter of the E-Source publication Heating: The Technology Atlas Series organization. 2001-2002.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Chris co-authored consumer fact sheets for NREL on efficient lighting, active and passive solar heating, heat-pump operation and maintenance, home moisture problems, window treatments, and natural-gas heating efficiency for the DOE’s Energy-Efficiency and Renewable-Energy Clearinghouse. 2001.