NAHB First Vice Chairman Carl Harris and NAHB staff traveled to Rhode Island recently to help train Rhode Island Builders Association (RIBA) members on updated energy codes.

NAHB and RIBA teamed up to create training modules to educate contractors and local building officials on upcoming changes to the energy code. The module covered recently was an overview of substantive new requirements coming to energy codes. 

The training will continue as more modules are produced in the future to feature deeper dives into specific areas with technical details important for compliance. 

The initial training session, with a focus on workforce training, attracted attention from state officials. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, state House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, state Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson, and state Sen. Victoria Gu attended the event at RIBA’s headquarters in East Providence.

Sen. Gu had worked with RIBA on legislation to encourage workforce training in the construction industry and create a structure for the state to adopt future energy codes.

Training and development is a core part of RIBA’s membership strategy. The association offers courses, many free of charge, designed to help experienced trade professionals transition to general contracting and home building. RIBA also offers many other education options, including a full suite of NAHB courses.

The energy codes training modules and training session are a great reminder of the value NAHB delivers to its members and HBAs. Working together, we can solve the biggest problems facing the industry.