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Free Webinar: Everything You Need to Know about Electric Vehicles and Bidirectional Charging, May 7, 10 am to 12 pm PT
Event Description
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are no longer the future, they are: transforming how we drive, providing a better driving experience, powering our homes, and stabilizing the grid today. Yet myths, outdated assumptions, and rapid technology changes leave many homeowners and professionals uncertain about what’s true and what’s possible.
In this dynamic two hour session, EV pioneers Robert Fortunato and Nick Brown, who have owned ten EVs over the past 14 years, tested most models on the market, and integrated solar and charging systems into their Net Zero / Zero Carbon case study homes share practical, real world insights you won’t find in a dealership brochure.
You’ll gain clarity and confidence in making EV buying, charging, and operational decisions. We’ll break down total cost of ownership, safety, performance, maintenance savings, and health benefits compared to internal combustion and hybrid vehicles. You’ll also learn how evolving regulations such as CALGreen, Net Energy Metering (NEM3), and Time of Use (TOU) rates are reshaping the economics of electrification. Most importantly, we’ll explore how bidirectional charging changes everything.
As batteries in buildings become more expensive and regulated, EVs offer a powerful alternative: a mobile battery that can power your home during outages, reduce peak electricity costs, and even support the grid by reducing summer peak usage by 1/3. If just 5 million California EVs exported 3 kW during peak hours, they could provide 15 gigawatts of power equivalent to seven Diablo Canyon nuclear plants dramatically flattening the “Duck Curve” and reducing grid costs for everyone.
Whether you’re a homeowner, builder, architect, or contractor, this foundational class equips you to make smarter decisions, maximize savings, increase resilience, and future proof your projects.
Learning Objectives -
Image - US Department of Energy
Overview of the EV market
How CalGreen and reach codes support EV adoption
Why EVs are a better driving experience and better for your health, safety, the environment, and your wallet
Challenges and perceived challenges with EV ownership/operation
Basic electrical knowledge and your electric bill
Evaluating your needs: home charging, PV, number of EVs
What’s the latest on incentives
Lease vs. own
How to plan for road trips: charging, towing, hills, with case studies
Maintenance: when you need to visit the dealer, battery life, tire selection, and optimal battery management
Can my EV power my house in an emergency or shift load to save money on utility bills
Nick Brown of Build Smart Group is an experienced educator on energy efficiency, electrification, and energy code. He will manage the project and serve as one instructor. He is a member of the statewide energy code training team (Energy Code Ace), a Board Member of CABEC, a Certified Energy Analyst (CEA), and a frequent instructor for AIA, PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E on topics including All-electric Homes, Heat Pumps, and Title 24. His training is targeted at specific audiences and engaging with clear explanation of key topics and application to the real world. He lives in an all-electric home and managed the construction process to ensure it met ZNE goals and added an all-electric ZNC ADU above the garage. Both homes produce data that is used in all of his courses to demonstrate the all-electric low-carbon lifestyle.
Robert Fortunato
Robert Fortunato is President of ForStrategy Consulting Inc. As a trusted business and sustainability advisor, Robert assists clients in empowering themselves with the tools of leadership, strategy and innovation. This results in clients consistently exceeding their ROI goals while adding meaning to their work. Robert audits developers’ building portfolios and uses that information to not only improve buildings in their pipeline but deploy an integrated design process that reduces capital and operating expenses while making the buildings more: durable, safer, futureproof, better for our health, economy and the environment. Additionally, Robert co-developed and teaches building electrification classes for Southern California Edison, 3C-REN, and EPRI. Recently, Robert built a team that won a million-dollar CEC EPIC grant to design one of the most sustainable affordable housing developments in the country. He lives in an all-electric home that is a living laboratory that he served as general contractor on.
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