Building HVAC Science

"Who is that guy and what did he just do?" My first formal introduction to Keith was shortly after he crashed his drone into a tree at the HVAC Symposium in Florida a couple years ago. While we did not discuss the drone incident in this podcast, we had a wide-ranging conversation that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope you will too. Keith is one of the most unique and fun people I know in the HVAC world. From his hobbies to his projects to the disciplines he employs in his personal and professional worlds, I think he leads quite an eclectic life. This episode is peppered with Keith's life experiences, life hints and life hacks More info on the NERDS The podcast: that we mention: Linktree:www.linktr.ee/nerdsthepodcast Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NerdsThePodcast IG: www.instagram.com/nerdpodcast/ Twitch: www.twitch.tv/NerdsThePodcast Gmail: [email protected] On Apple podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nerds/id1373170000 Keith's Email: [email protected] This episode was recorded in July 2022.

If you weren't aware up to now, I am very passionate about Home Performance. So passionate, that I volunteer my time as a board member of, and now, Treasurer of the Building Performance Association or BPA. Among many other things, BPA runs a series of excellent trade shows call Home Performance Conferences (HPCs) (formerly called the Affordable Comfort Conference that started in the late 1980s). It was at a recent HPC that I heard several people remark that they were not clear on what exactly BPA was. To overcome this lack of clarity, I will be running an intermittent series to discuss BPA and its activities, as, frankly, more people ought to know about them and tap into their resources, especially HVAC Contractors. In today's episode I interview Steve Skodak, the CEO of BPA. Steve shares with us his history as a leader of non-profits, the history and activities of BPA, including helping to set policy, state and industry outreach, apprenticeship models, as well as the paid and free membership benefits for those interested in better understanding or doing work in the field of building performance. Listen closely and you will hear of the tie in between Steve's career and expanding foam. Website: www.building-performance.org Membership www.building-performance.org/membership Email: [email protected] This episode was recorded in July 2022.

Today we chat with Bill Graber and Steve Rogers of the Energy Conservatory, also known as TEC, a 40-year-old company that is on a mission to unite the tools and test instruments used in the HVAC and Weatherization markets…an important quest I am also dedicated to. We'll talk what innovation means at TEC. The dictionary says innovation is the act or process of innovating. OK, So what is innovating? "To make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products." "To introduce something new, especially a product." Aha, that is it! It's the ACTION or ACTIVITY that is important. We learn about the challenge of creating something that is "neat" (we engineers understand that you create something because you could, versus creating something that is "neat" AND useful. This is a rare peek inside the doors of a manufacturer into their R&D labs and into the brains of an innovative company discovering the challenges and types of decisions that need to be made to satisfy their customers and advance the trades. Website links: www.energyconservatory.com www.HVACairflow.com Email: [email protected] [email protected] This episode was recorded in July 2022.

In March 2022, I was invited to be a guest on the Conscious Builder Show with Casey Grey. I guess all the conversations I have been having about my modular NetZero house had reached north of the border to Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, where Casey is based. Casey's podcast with me is available here: EP181: https://theconsciousbuilder.libsyn.com/181-indoor-air-quality-and-net-zero-custom-build-with-bill-spohn_the-conscious-builder-show_05-05-2022 With a 10-minute video excerpt of the podcast interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXyN3adkY0 We had such a great conversation, I wanted to pick his brain, hence this podcast! We talk about some of the differences in the Canadian market, as well as how he runs his business (great advice here!!) and the Conscious Builder Academy. Some Knuggets (knowledge nuggets) that emerge include: Don't believe everything you think – there can be better ways Avoid tunnel vision Website: https://www.theconsciousbuilder.com/casey-grey.html#/ Email: [email protected] This episode was recorded in May 2022.

I came to know of Ellis Prach back in the late 1990's through his traveling classes when I was design engineering manager at Bacharach. Later in 2000, when I was with Testo, I contacted him as we had just started to market a new visual inspection scope, based on plastic fiber optics. You see, I have been obsessed for years with trying to solve the problem of more thorough inspections of heat exchangers and who better to talk to than the Heat Exchanger Expert! His first reaction was, well, less than warm to the concept. However, our relationship blossomed into a true friendship as our families got to know each other. In the last few years, Ellis has handed over the reins of his HVAC and Heat Exchanger Class businesses to his very capable sons, Chris and Russell. Listen is as we discuss the important processes they use for their customers including the discussions around this important phrases: NO GUESSING We try to make the equipment last longer than us. The #1 cause of heat exchanger failure. The class reveals all in the book. Website to learn more or buy their book: https://www.heatexchangerexperts.com/ Book is also available at TruTech Tools: https://www.trutechtools.com/HXBOOK Contact form to find about classes: https://www.heatexchangerexperts.com/contact-us Their class is like NOTHING else you have seen. If you attend, you will never forget it. This episode was recorded in May 2022.

Learn about Andrew Greaves non-traditional career journey that took him from building maintenance to Director of Education and Customer Experience for NAVAC Global: www.NavacGlobal.com He received his HVAC training via Community College Night school but has self-taught in video and audio production. Andrew suggests if you are looking for a mentor, perhaps you first start with a collection of virtual mentors sourced from social media: Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn In our discussion he emphasizes there is no excuse for not learning in this trade- there are so many ways. He also notes key traits he has identified that helped in his career: integrity, authenticity, and communication. Andrew suggests you be bold, put yourself out there, you may need to discover what you can do though trying out various aspects, perhaps learning or honing a skill. He admits never saw himself in this role 5 years ago. He also notes you may learn from some what you should do and from others what you should NEVER do. Andrew suggests you leverage your experiences no matter how basic, by trying to perform the best at everything you do, never strop learning. And that you may need to ask for help, so have the humility to do so. And we close with his statement to keep your options open. YouTube Channel: Search for Andrew Greaves (formerly AK HVAC) Email: [email protected] This episode was recorded in May 2022.

"Don't let fear hold you back." "If you want something in life, go ask for it." These are just two of the many takeaways you will get when you listen to this Episode. Chris Hughes, now the HVAC Business Development Manager for the Energy Conservatory, is a long time HVAC/Mechanical contractor that is now tuned in to Building Performance – a technical area he was never aware of until the last couple of years. He continues to bring you along on his Building Performance learning journey through webinars and in person trainings acting as a two-way translator between these two worlds for example in his "10 methods of Air Flow training." Chris details out his career path and some of the crucial decision points he encountered along the way: including the time he walked out of class and his exposure to the purity embodied in the "chamber of truth." Chris is a great story teller, I am pretty sure you will enjoy this.,,, Learn more about Chris' background via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hughes-56550214b/ You can also email Chris at: [email protected] This episode was recorded in May 2022.

Listen in as we chat with Cheryl Cieko, a professional with a mission to dispel myths, create awareness, and empower both professionals and building owners, Cheryl is a one-stop source of knowledge, education, and support having been through mold exposure and illness with her own family. Cheryl describes how, as a licensed architect and industry educator, she provides strategies for professionals, building owners and individuals to better deal with water damage, mold and toxins in buildings. Her past responsibilities include 5 years as Midwest Regional Director and Senior Technical Director for the wood industry in North America. She brings tenacious research abilities, analytical thinking and experience to the topic of environmental health, while sharing design and construction solutions that make a difference. Lean more about Cheryl and her work at: https://cherylciecko.com/ or at https://www.avoidingmold.com/ - Science-Based And Expert-Guided BUILDING EDUCATION For Homeowners And Professionals You can also email Cheryl at [email protected] This episode was recorded in December 2020.

SCIENCE - In pursuit of understanding in the moment. Join us as Rachel and Eric Kaiser, a wife and husband team from Indianapolis, share with us their perspectives on HVAC Chemistry. If you've attended or watched Bryan Orr's HVACR School Symposium over the last 3 years you may have seen them present. We discuss the relative scales of time and size as well as the properties and impact of water on HVAC designs and decisions and so many other topics! We learn more about the scientific/chemical aspects of dirt on surfaces, coatings and filtration Some notable thoughts: Chemistry is like baking, only you shouldn't lick the spoon. Cooking is like jazz music- in its improvisational aspect. Watch Ty Branaman interview Rachel at the latest symposium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPqN5yUNChw And here are some links to many other podcasts that Eric has done on a wide range of topics from careers to tools to HVAC charging and more. https://ivy.fm/tag/eric-kaiser And we are proud to announce that Eric will be sharing his knowledge and skills and working with TruTech Tools on a regular basis beginning in June 2022. This episode was recorded in April 2022.

We're joined on today's podcast by Scott Ringlein, a Clean Energy & Sustainability Specialist & Consultant. Scott was raised as a farmer and educated as an engineer with a first career path in the auto industry. He ventured out on his own creating a second career in sustainability with a focus on energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy measures. Listen in as Scott shares his journey and achievements which include work for the U.S. Department of Energy and the founding of The Energy Alliance Group of North America in 2012. Scott helps us to understand PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy. There are a lot of great resources on his website where EAG has a "four cores" approach to green and renewable solutions: Technology, Financing, Incentives and Services. Learn more about the EAG here: energyalliancegroup.org And contact Scott via: [email protected] Follow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sringlein/ This episode was recorded in March 2020.

If you're in the HVAC field and you listen to podcasts, it's likely you've heard of Gary MacCreadie. If not, here's your chance to get an inside perspective on how and why Gary got into the HVAC Field and later started a podcast audaciously named HVAC Know-It-All. Throughout the episode, we flip flop as interviewer and guest. Gary has recently started his own business, as he, like many others including me, do not like taking direction from others. Follow all content of the HVAC Know It All here: https://www.hvacknowitall.com/ Gary is one of the growing list of TruFriends, talented people in the trade that we list on this page on our website: https://www.trutechtools.com/friends-of-trutech-tools.html Follow Gary and Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/billspohn/ This episode was recorded in May 2022.

On today's podcast we are joined by Bryan Cordill, the Director of Residential and Commercial Business Development at the Propane Education and Research Council. Bryan has decades of experience in the world of propane and in the energy industry in general. We cover topics ranging from propane as a source of space & water heating, cooking, mobile energy including school buses, to combined heat and power systems. We also touch on propane as a refrigerant (R-290). You might be surprised at the size of some of the systems we discuss. You can learn more about the mission and work of the Propane Education Research Council by going to: www.propane.com/ Follow Bryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-cordill-438557a/ This episode was recorded in June 2020.

Matt Golden is Founder and CEO of Recurve a company that connects the dots between efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, and DERS (distributed energy resources). Recurve's mission is to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy by integrating behind the meter demand flexibility resources into the emerging carbon-free energy grid. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) can be described as small-scale electricity generation and storage devices that are generally connect to the grid. These sources can be Solar, Wind, and battery storage, and others. Matt's focus is on energy and the climate while looking for the customer benefit. He's got an impressive career path, including the founding of Sustainable Spaces (AKA Recurve at the time) in 2004, which over 7 years grew to be the largest home performance contractor on the West coast. You can find Matt and follow his work on his website: www.recurve.com And on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/goldenmatt/ Matt's most recent TEDx talk was in Sonoma in March 2022 discussing VPPs Virtual Power Plants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knDsACZaaQc This episode was recorded in October 2019, but check the links above for more up to date info as things change quickly in this field.

Max Rohr (formerly with Rehau as the Marketing and Academy Manager for Building Solutions) spends some time explaining for us the process of creating and marketing products to move energy in water, that is radiant heating and cooling systems, as well as plumbing applications with Pex. We learn about both Max's background and the background of the Rehau company which has 20,000 employees in 55 countries and operates in 5 distinct market areas globally. This episode was recorded in February 2020.

I was impressed with Austin Klokus when I first met him on a trip to Kalos Services (The Orr Family HVAC/Mechanical business in Clermont FL) a few years ago. He was working as a senior videographer at the time where he had soaked up knowledge from Bryan Orr and others and taught himself the skills necessary to do fulfill this role. I loved it when he used the phrase "air is stuff" in one of his videos to convey the message that air has mass. I saw him again in person recently at the 3rd Annual HVAC School Symposium and he continues to mature and grow as a person. I appreciate his "young wisdom" and I hope that you do, too. This episode was recorded in November 2019.

I can easily summarize this episode with a single quote from Craig's LinkedIn bio: "Remember that we are all teachers and need to invest in others to succeed." You may have heard of Craig; as his HVAC Training books and YouTube videos continue to grow in popularity. Find him on the AC Service Tech Channel on YouTube. He's always been a problem solver including solving the problem of teaching himself how to write some of the most thoughtfully developed HVAC training materials out there. https://www.youtube.com/c/acservicetechchannel https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-migliaccio-71085a74/ [email protected] You can find his books on Amazon or via his website: https://www.amazon.com/shop/acservicetech/list/2JFZVBR572471 https://www.acservicetech.com/ This episode was recorded in April 2022.

I'm so pleased to welcome my friend Steve Coscia to the podcast! You may have heard of him; he focuses on training customer service skills especially in the world of HVAC. As a master communications trainer, he gets his points across via memorable story telling. He holds awesome in-person training sessions (he has been to TruTech Tools twice!) and has books, newsletters, materials, and videos, all of which can be found though this website and YouTube channel: Links below https://www.coscia.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/stevecoscia/videos His 3 key principles of customer problem handling are contain, qualify and correct. A lot of what he teaches may be considered life skills. You need to get a dose of Steve if you can. You will also find Steve presenting at conferences and in the media/videos via other organizations like ACCA and The New Flat Rate. This episode was recorded in September 2021.

In today's podcast we hear from John Sheff who was the director of Public and Industry Affairs for Danfoss at the time of this recording. We learn how John's passion about energy efficiency, decarbonization and sustainability combines with his professional experience in Public Affairs, Government Relations, Project Management and Business Development to help develop strong solutions that meet our industry's needs. We hear about the barriers to deep energy retrofits, limitations of the push for electrification as well as how people are thinking beyond the individual building to tackle building emissions. We also talk about the need for variable speed technology HVAC systems that can ramp up or down to accommodate commercial space that is operating at varying degrees of capacity. And we touch on need to maintain constant, variable airflow as opposed to on/off air flow in indoors spaces with respect to what we have learned in response to COVID-19. You can learn more about Danfoss products at this link: https://www.danfoss.com/en-us/ And read more on Danfoss' position on ESG at this link: https://www.danfoss.com/en-us/about-danfoss/company/sustainability/esg-ranks-and-ratings/ This episode was recorded in August 2021.

Tom Jackson has a passion for the HVAC Trades and it shows through in what he does as leader of Jackson Systems and Supply. Tom is a true entrepreneur following where his customers lead him. His company focuses on product development and support and solves some real head scratcher problems with products and services that you won't find elsewhere. Services like Filter Fetch – making it easy on contractors for their customers to do the right thing. You'll hear about his vision and perspectives and the awesome online training system they have developed. You can learn more about his company here: https://jacksonsystems.com/ We are proud to carry his iO Controls line of products at TruTech Tools: https://www.trutechtools.com/iO-HVAC-Controls This episode was recorded in Sept 2019. Tom Jackson Tom Jackson is the chief executive officer of Jackson Systems, LLC. A Purdue University graduate, Tom is a degreed engineer and spent several years as a territory manager with a large heating and cooling wholesaler in Indiana. During that time, Tom learned a great deal about controls, equipment and incredible client service. In 1997, Tom partnered with his parents to start Jackson Systems. While he is involved with most aspects of the business, he focuses on long-term strategies, product development and making Jackson Systems an incredible place to work. Tom, Ron and Bette have grown Jackson Systems from a start-up to a $20M + company with 81 employees. Jackson Systems has won "Best Places to Work" seven times for the State of Indiana. Tom was a founding Board Member of the Zoning Marketing Alliance (ZMA), which merged with the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the premiere governing body of the HVAC industry. Additionally, Tom is on the Board of Directors for the Indiana HVAC Association and serves on two national committees for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Tom also received the National Distinguished Service Award from ACCA. Tom lives in Indianapolis with his wife Jane and their two children. He is active in the Boy Scouts of America. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and has the distinct honor of being awarded the Silver Beaver, Scouting's top honor. But his great Scouting accomplishment was seeing his son earn is Eagle Scout award. Tom is also involved with Kiwanis, the Catholic Church, the Wishing Well Fund and Alpha Phi Omega service organization. Tom is committed to improving the lives of others and dedicated to his employees and community.

The title for this episode could mean a couple things: "Getting an early start" as in developing an early morning routine "Getting an early start" as in beginning to learn the trades in high school Well, Elana Day takes the second meaning to an extreme. Join us as Elana and her dad, Jordan, describe how she has become a LinkedIn phenom with a video of hers gathering thousands of views in a very short time. Elana started at age 5 and now, at age 9 has quite a repertoire of projects completed. You'll enjoy hearing from Jordan, a licensed Master Plumber and Certified HVAC technician who employs the elements of Greek Pedagogy in raising his family. Elana follows excellent safety practices and works hard to learn improve her skills. Yet, she is a "regular kid" who is just drawn to do this. Jordan is an Autodidact – a term you may have heard Bryan Orr use before. Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism You can find Elana doing her thing on YouTube at this linkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1PLmZrxcVu09_rWjy1YkmA Or by searching for Lil'MissFixIt on YouTube You'll also find her dad, Jordan Day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-day-93590220b/ …where he recently posted about Elana: "This International Women's Day, I would like to give a shoutout to my amazing daughter. She is 9 years old and wants to become an engineer, but she also has strong interests in the skilled trades. When it comes to her future career, her hobbies, her interests and yes, even her worldview, I do my best to let her carve her own path. I feel that she has already taught me more than I could ever teach her." This episode was recorded in March 2022.

This is my first interview with a founder of a publicly traded company and my second interview with a European guest! Meet Erlend Bolle, whose life journey took him from working at CERN to a building a global, publicly traded company that innovates consumer and professional grade radon and indoor Air quality Monitors. His team's initial goal was to create a product relevant for all in volume production that improves people's health. Learn how the team at Airthings works to understand consumer needs as society, homes and the world changes over time. CERN details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN 27 kM (16.77 mile) diameter particle accelerator You can find Erlend on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erlendbolle/ And learn more about this company, AirThings here: https://www.airthings.com/ And see his products for sale at TruTech Tools, here: https://www.trutechtools.com/Airthings This episode was recorded in January 2022.

Brett approaches sustainability with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. He is the Program Manager at GreenHome Institute, has been involved in residential sustainability since 2008, and holds a bachelor's in Sustainable Business. Brett has provided consulting and verification services on thousands of residential green-certified living spaces and certified four projects as a LEED Green Rater. Brett oversees education services providing training or moderations for hundreds of events with thousands of attendees. Brett lives with his family in West Michigan in a GreenStar certified home targeting zero carbon in 2021. His mission is to help you build, BETTER. Additionally, he takes personal steps along these lines and share his experiences. Learn about his radon monitoring experiences here: https://www.airthings.com/resources/brett-radon-story He shares is Carbon Zero Home renovation journey here: https://www.buildwithrise.com/stories/financing-a-carbon-zero-home-renovation You can find Brett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-little-0b3ab71b/ Brett's day job is Program Manager at the Green Home Institute: https://greenhomeinstitute.org/ This episode was recorded in January 2022.

Russ King is a rare breed. He is equally inventor, author (both technical and fiction), software developer, design practitioner, instructor and installer. Above all that, he is passionate, thoughtful, kind, smart and loves to share what he knows. If you get a chance, go see Russ present some time. You can find Russ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-king-m-e-70342913/ He's got a really cool blog with an awesome tagline: "Offering good advice, whether you want it or not." https://russellking.me/ Russ and his son Connor have developed an awesome modeling tool: www.KwikModel.com This episode was recorded in August 2021.

Joe is one of the coolest guys I know. He probably doesn't think of himself that way. He's been so influential in changing the perception and understanding of IAQ and healthy homes in the last few years. And he is SO PASSIONATE about getting people to understand. He is always testing products and building props and animations to teach others. If you get a chance, go see Joe present some time. You can find Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemedosch You can learn more about the Hayward Score at: www.HaywardScore.com This episode was recorded in Dec 2021.

Jason Earle of GotMold.com gives a fascinating tour of his personal journey and how he ended up breaking the price barrier for lab testing of mold in the air. Jason has set up a special landing page for our listeners: https://www.gotmold.com/trutech AND… a 10% discount code just for you! Trutech10 This episode was recorded in January 2022.

Paul's a unique, but complex man: equal parts scientist, inventor, business owner, practitioner, and author. Paul's technical website is https://www.heyokasolutions.com/aboutus.asp and his publishing website is https://www.paulhraymer.com/, Salty Air Publishing The Residential Ventilation Handbook is a must read for those in building science. This episode was recorded in Sept 2021.

I'm so happy to bring the voice, thoughts, and ideas of Michael Kane to the Building HVAC Podcast! You'll hear about the art and process of product development that has evolved through 2 generations of ownership of this family business. Michael is a man of patience and empathy and greatly respects the dignity, value and skill of the trades, He hopes to create the best products for people in the trades to better do their jobs. You can learn more about UEI products at Michael's website: www.UEitest.com or at www.TruTechtools.com/UEi This episode was recorded in Sept 2021.

Since January is Radon awareness month, I've invited 2 people deeply involved in the Radon industry to be my guests today. Dawn Oggier, is Manager of Market Development for RadonAway and National Director for AARST – the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (https://aarst.org/) Brian Kennihan is the Business Development Manager for AprilAire. If you are catching this episode before or during your visit to the 2022 AHR Expo you can visit with both guests! Dawn at booth N8617: Spruce Environmental Technologies And Brian at booth C3706: AprilAire a Division of Research Products LinkedIn connections: Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-oggier-3276481a3/ Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kennihan-ba3677b3/ You can learn more about their organizations:Spruce Environmental Technologies/ RadonAway: https://www.radonaway.com/ AprilAire Radon products at: www.aprilairepartners.com/ This episode was recorded in Jan 2022.

Brian is on a mission with this company, Module Housing. Their tag line says it all: Designed for people and planet powered by offsite construction. Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangaudio/ Or via his website: https://www.modulehousing.com/ This episode was recorded in July 2019.

"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi I'm certain many of our listeners have had ideas for products of their own. Trade practitioners are clever and innovative on the job and so, able to see new ways to "connect the dots" and solve a problem. How do you go from idea to successful product on the market? How long does it take to develop award winning products? Today we are joined by Bob Belvick, Product Manager for the HVACR Service Tools division of Inficon, a publicly traded, diversified industrial giant with HQ in Switzerland. Bob shares his background story and talks about INFICON's other industries and what makes them different from competitors. Bob focuses in on refrigerant leak detectors, one of the specialties of Inficon dating back to the 1969 founding of the company by scientists and engineers from GE and Syracuse University. He takes us on a walkthrough of the product development process: eg. capturing customer needs, integrating technologies, analyzing the market, alpha and beta testing, working with his development team, to give us an overview of the complexities and time it takes to do it right – that is an Inficon characteristic! Among many other tidbits, Bob also shares with us how they arrived at the name INFICON. For more info on Inficon HVAC products go to: www.inficon.com/en/markets/air-conditioning You'll also find Inifcon HVAC products at www.TruTechtools.com/Inficon This episode was recorded in July 2020.

"Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers." Elizabeth Arden Fortune may come knocking, but sometimes the sound is very faint, almost imperceptible. When someone takes you under their wing, how do you know if that's where you want to be? If the bug to start your own business bites, what do you do next? Where can you learn from others' experience and insights? We're pleased to welcome the very successful HVAC contractor Hal Smith to the podcast. Hal shares with us the story of how he started and grew Halco Energy. We learn the ups and downs of growing an HVAC, Plumbing, (and more) contracting business in a mostly rural area of NY State with just 1-2 competitors. Hal uses straightforward thinking and simple insights to create a business where the goal is to earn customers for life. We also hear where Hal gains new perspectives and insights including the way he "snacks on learning." Hal is a hands-on business operator who knows and communicates with his customers. Hal Smith is founder and owner of HALCO Energy in Phelps, NY servicing Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, The Finger Lakes and surrounding areas of upstate NY. For more info go to: www.HalcoEnergy.com This episode was recorded in December 2019.

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." Jimmy Dean Many of the people I meet in the industry have interesting stories. There are struggles and challenges in all their lives, our lives. What if a real police state was limiting your options in life? How would you direct your will? Your desire? Your drive to achieve? I met our guest today, Genry Garcia during the AHR Expo in Orlando in January 2020. As I learned more about him, I found his story truly inspirational. Genry is thoughtful, honest, and avid self-learner. He's also a successful business owner and devoted family man. While it now makes total sense, based on his approach to customers, I did not learn until lately that Genry has done degree work in psychology. Genry owns Comfort Dynamics, Inc. in Miami, FL. This episode was recorded in June 2021.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke The topic of how to manage and improve indoor air quality comes up a lot lately. With all this interest come the offer of many "solutions" and devices. Wish you could learn the back story of and technology inside some of these devices? Ever wonder about the international perspectives on the topic of IAQ? The Building HVAC Science podcast is pleased to welcome our very first guest from another continent! Listen in as Clive Mitchell, better know as Big Clive, gives us his perspectives on a spectrum of IAQ improvement products from beneficial to downright dangerous. If you have not seen his YouTube Channel, you need to stop and look up BigCliveDotCom on YouTube. He's published thousands of dissection-like, teardown videos on a wide range of electrical and electronic products over the last 13 years. Clive largely focuses on "cheap junk" teardowns and publishes a video every 2 days. Yet he also finds time to ponder such challenging societal questions like: "Does pineapple belong on pizza?" "What happens when you re-distill Jägermeister?" He calls it the trashiest electronics channel on YouTube. Based on feedback, the bulk of his over 800,0000 subscribers seem to agree. Big Clive lives on the Isle of Mann, a 221 sq. mile island with population of 83,000 located in the Irish Sea. This episode was recorded in May 2021.

"Astronomy's much more fun when you're not an astronomer." Brian May COVID-19 has impacted the way people interact for many months. Especially the way people interact with each other in spaces outside their homes. What do the air quality scientists have to say about the management of indoor air? What kind of measurements are significant and important? Will this pandemic impact the way we do things in HVAC after it subsides? Steve Pascuzzo, manager of testo's commercial division, joins us to discuss indoor air quality metrics, with a keen focus on managing the return to schools after COVID-19. Steve also shares with us his background, career path and his keen intertest in astrophotography and shares with us the 7 unusual features of Oumuamua - the first known interstellar object detected passing through our Solar System. Here is the link to the ASHRAE guideline for reopening schools and universities as mentioned in the podcast: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/reopening-of-schools-and-universities To learn more about testo products visit: www.TruTechTools.com/testo This episode was recorded in January 2021.

"When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It's very simple." Paulo Coelho The construction is finished. Bill and Mairlyn moved in months ago. What's it been like for Bill living inside his theories? Were any late course corrections necessary? Any regrets? In this podcast, recorded in April 2021, our friend Allison Bailes (The Energy Vanguard) becomes host and interviews/investigates if the SpohnHome as truly a high-performance home. Bill and Allison exchange thoughts on a variety of topics: A house needs to breathe Air as a bodily fluid Mean (and nice?) radiant temperatures and naked people Various proven (and some sketchy) means for improving indoor air quality Our favorite & reliable sources for information What's a Comparetto Cube? And more! Bill shares updates on what it's like living inside his theories. To learn more about the project you can follow Bill's blog at www.SpohnHome.com This episode was recorded in April 2021.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." William Morris His head has been wrapped up in building and HVAC performance since the late 1980s. How does he sort through bringing his personal vision for his own home to reality? What's it like actually living inside your theories? In this podcast, recorded in May 2020, our friend Nate Adams (from HVAC 2.0) becomes host and interviews Bill Spohn (normally this podcast's host) on the journey he and Marilyn have taken setting out to build a high performance, likely NetZero, home. Listen in to hear what influences he used in making design and construction decisions. Hear of the goals he and his wife set at the beginning and how close they came to achieving them. Bill openly describes his thoughts on the challenges they encountered and how well the plans are working out at the time of this recording, when the house is in the final stages of finishing, but they have not yet moved in. To learn more about the project you can follow Bill's blog at www.SpohnHome.com This episode was recorded in May 2020.

"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." Jonathan Swift Listeners to this podcast know, it is often very hard to explain what it is we do. When I try to explain this, people's' eyes and ears glaze over as I get into the technical descriptions of the invisible elements that make a home more comfortable, safer, healthier and energy efficient. (Wait, can an ear actually glaze over? I think 've done it.) What if there were an independent, third party means to capture and make visible the values we build into high performance homes and retrofits? In this episode, co-founders Cynthia Adams and Robin Lebaron join us to explain how Pearl Certification is truly transforming the housing market. They're on a mission to make visible the invisible aspects that contractors know about. The elements that make all the difference in the comfort, health, safety, resilience, and energy efficiency of a home. They are achieving this by qualifying an elite network of contractors and real estate professionals. These professionals work to improve home performance and ensure Pearl Certified homes are properly marketed and valued. This isn't a one and done effort. As your customers improve their homes, they continue to get credit for these improvements over time. The value of their high-performing home becomes visible at the time of appraisal for refinance or sale. This is a nationwide for homeowners and the businesses that serve them with 45,695 homes Pearl Certified, so far. I encourage you to learn more about become Pearl Certification contractor: http://pearlcertification.com/contractors/ And here is information for Homeowners: http://pearlcertification.com/homeowners/ We have had guests from Pearl join us on this podcast before: Episode 14: CarFax for Homes with Bethany Profaizer and Amy Beley (1-17-18) Episode 18: HabitatX Reflections with Robin LeBaron (7-5-18) This episode was recorded in April 2021.

"Data, data everywhere, and not a place to sync!" Eric Preston Sensor data and oftentimes, the corresponding analytics are popping up everywhere you look. What is happening in the HVAC world? In newer systems there are some options; most on the high end. But are there any reliable solutions that address more basic systems and the aftermarket? Here comes SensiPredict by Emerson. Emerson has designed a full eco system that helps to deliver new benefits for contractors; benefits that homeowner value and are driving contractors wins. Providing peace of mind for both! These smart diagnostic tools have matured and now ensure verified installations and as well as remote fault detection. Joe Samel (Emerson) and successful Florida contractor Sam Troyer (Comfort Zone, Inc) describe for us real world experience with this impressive new technology that helps to differentiate Sam's pitch and his services. Contractors, like Sam, are using technology to successful separate their companies against their competition. Learn more about the product here: https://climate.emerson.com/en-us/brands/sensi/sensi-predict-for-contractors SensiPredict is available at leading distributors across the US and at https://www.trutechtools.com/sensi This episode was recorded in March 2021.

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." Michael Jordan Years ago if someone said to me: "I'm building a Net Zero home." I would have thought, "What are they giving up doing so?" Fast Forward to 2021: In addition to me living in a prospective Net Zero Home (check out other episodes of this podcast), there are now several national Net Zero competitions with utilities, raters, builders and homeowners working together to raise public awareness of this accelerating trend showcasing the benefits of building beyond code requirements. Join us to hear Adam Nyborg (Tilia Restoration- the builder) and Joe Rando, a senior engineering assistant and HERS rater with GDS Associates, describe the Drive to Net Zero Competition in New Hampshire. We learn about the guests' background as well as get up to speed on details of the 2019 winning design, the process, and the competition. Mike Loughlin from Eversource (the utility sponsor for the 2019 winner) offers his contact info for anyone considering developing such a program in their area: [email protected] For more info: https://nhsaves.com/blog/winning-drive-to-net-zero-competition-homes-combine-comfort-and-savings-2/ This episode was recorded in January 2021

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn Ben Franklin Bill is joined by Peter Troast of the Energy Circle and Steve Byers of Energy Logic to share their many reasons for attending the National Home Performance Conference year after year. Sign up for the 2021 National Home Performance Conference (all virtual) now at: https://events.building-performance.org/national/ Learn more about our guests and their businesses at these links: Energy Logic: https://theenergylogic.com/ Energy Circle: https://www.energycircle.com/ TruTechTools: www.TruTechTools.com

"I've been struck again and again by how important measurement is to improving the human condition." Bill Gates Lend us your ears as Kaleb and Bill have a very fun interview with Ben Reed, VP of Products at TZOA, a relative new comer to the world of measurement products. TZOA's approach with the Haven product is totally unique: a retrofittable residential air quality monitor that lives inside the central air handler and can control 1 or 2 systems that can impact air quality. Not just measurements/sensors, but control/solutions. This product is exclusively available to qualified contractors and is NOT a DIY device. In addition to a great streamlined product, the dashboard is AMAZING, largely due to the tight ties between the contractor-beta testers and clever product developers. Learn more at these links: Tzoa: https://tzoa.com/ HVACRSchool: www.HVACRSchool.com The Haven product: https://www.trutechtools.com/haven-central-air-monitor.html This episode was recorded in December 2020.

"He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything." Thomas Carlyle Bill was honored to welcome Dr. Stephanie Taylor to the podcast where she shares the fascinating story of her career path from medicine to architecture to crusading for better building health by bridging these professional silos. He had a great time interviewing Stephanie, plumbing the depths of her knowledge and experience. We discuss many aspects of IAQ and focus in on the impact of humidity on human health. A key takeaway is our discussion of the invisible impact of a building on one's health. You can learn more about her work at www.40to60RH.com or follow her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-h-taylor-md-march-frsph-uk-cabe-ashrae-d-l-b6456b8 This episode was recorded in November 2020.

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." George Santayana Bill is joined Marty and David Indursky, a father and son team that have built Encon, an award winning, NJ-based HVAC/building solutions company. Hear how David has reinvigorated the company by implementing modern technology techniques after he took it over from his father who founded ENCON in 1968. They share best practices and what sets ENCON apart. We also hear about and what David envisions for the future of the industry. You can follow Encon via their website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube. https://enconmech.com https://www.instagram.com/enconmech/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/encon-mech https://www.facebook.com/enconmech https://www.youtube.com/enconmech This episode was recorded in August 2020.

"I grew up thinking that a research scientist was a natural thing to be." Stephen Hawking There's physical science. And there's a kind of science as to how the mind works and how people achieve their dreams. Blend one-part plasma fusion physics with one-part commercial real estate and stir this in an open and creative mind and you have Peter Capuciati, the Chairman and Founder of Bluon and the guest of today's podcast. Starting in 2011, Peter has led the team at Bluon to develop a true solution for R-22 replacement. It's called TdX-20 (R-458a), something unlike anything the HVACR world has ever seen. It truly is an energy saving product, as they are demonstrating amp draw decreases of 10-20% and increases in capacity of 3-6%. We love digging into the science of HVAC in this podcast, and Peter is the perfect tour guide for the challenging journey of creating a refrigerant chemistry that has been proven to perform in about 80% of R-22 systems. This is backed up by real-world testing on equipment, not just simulations After an easy, free registration and testing process, techs can gain full access to the operating manuals of over 22,000 types of R-22 units as well as individual retrofit instructions and compatibility ratings for each unit. Beyond all this, Bluon provides the training, know-how and demonstrates (sometimes in person) the skills necessary to successful do a successful conversion. If this sounds like a commercial for Bluon, it sort of is, as we sell Bluon at TruTech Tools. However, this is exactly the kind of product we love selling; smart, well supported and one that relieves a major pain point for our customers. Plus, it's fun working with the energetic Ninja team at Bluon, or as Peter calls them the Analog Renaissance Cowboys. You can learn more about Bloun at www.BluonEnergy.com and join the thousand technicians every month that are downloading and using the app.

"The only think I have learnt over the years is that if you enjoy your work and put in best efforts it will show. If you follow this process, things work out. But if you go chasing a formula, success will elude you." Mahesh Babu While building his own house, John Semmelhack's innate curiosity grew as he researched the best was to design and build a home. This lead him to start his own business, Think Little. The name of his business is deceptive as John is truly a big thinker, who acts in quiet ways to create comfortable, energy efficient and durable homes that have excellent indoor air quality. Lend us your ears to learn how following simple, yet important processes lead to amazing results. We discuss HVAC Air filtration and why and how to get super-inexpensive, extremely effective filtration He employs test and measurement at every appropriate juncture as well as post work, continuous monitoring for IAQ, energy and comfort. These factors are easier to measure than ever before! John also reviews aspects of running this type of business including the variety of services he has developed over the years. John Semmelhack is the owner of Think Little (www.think-little.com) and co-owner of Comparetto Comfort Solutions, a pair of home performance consulting and contracting firms based in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia. Think Little specializes in building enclosure and mechanical system design and commissioning for single-family and multi-family Passive House and zero-net-energy homes in the mid-Atlantic. Comparetto Comfort Solutions focuses on high performance HVAC installations for new homes in the Charlottesville and Richmond markets, as well as home performance contracting to help meet clients' comfort, indoor air quality, durability and energy efficiency goals.

"True genius lies not in doing the extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well." General Louis H. Wilson, Jr. Building science principles are few and fairly straightforward; ordinary, perhaps. HAM: A lot of it amounts to control the flow of Heat, Air and Moisture. But, like so many things in this world, the devil is in the details. Listen in as I chat with my good friend Nate Adams (a true genius) to get an update on his extraordinarily execution of ordinary measures in his new concept of Home Performance 2.0. This is a follow up to Episode 36, where I interview two of the HP 2.0 practitioners, Neil Comparetto and Michael Housh. Measurements (so near and dear to my heart) are at the core of what he and his HP 2.0 army are all about. For a more complete overview, tune in to a recording of his recent webinar on HP 2.0: www.bit.ly/NATE-HP20 Nate's book, The Home Comfort Book, is perfect for consumers or practitioners alike and can be found at TruTech Tools or on Amazon. You can reach Nate at [email protected].

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. George Carlin Yep, Radon is force of evil. Pure evil. Colorless. Odorless. Deadly. But sneaky. It's deadly over decades. My good friend Dick Kornbluth joins me to unravel the intricacies of all aspects of Radon – a colorless, odorless, poisonous radioactive gas. Dick explains how and where radon is formed, how it gets into the air we breathe and the health impact it has on us. He reveals where the famous 4 picocuries per liter exposure amount comes from, underscoring that there is NO SAFE LEVEL. The US EPA has a treasure trove of information on Radon at www.epa.gov/radon Dick shares with us his extensive and practical experience in how radon gas moves through a structure, how it is measured and how Radon mitigation systems work along with a note about radon resistant construction. Dick is very engaged in the home performance world, and believes an improved understanding of Radon is key part of the home performance goals of healthy, more durable and energy efficient homes and buildings. You can reach Dick at [email protected] TruTechTools carries a broad array of radon detectors. Learn more at this link: https://www.trutechtools.com/radon

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean While we picked a specific topic, this is a wide-ranging episode with my friend in the industry, Eric Stromquist of Stromquist.com – 2nd generation controls distributor based out of Atlanta, GA. We discuss our thoughts and opinions on: How hard it is to actually get access to people – cold calling is basically dead Closed vs. open architecture in building automation systems C suite execs focus on productivity, which ties in to all building systems How the internet has changed the way information is shared- knowledge hoarding is done The psychological effects of improper lighting And much, much more. Eric teams up with Ken Smyers to manage a ton of educational and informative resources centered around building controls and automation that you will find at www.ControlTrends.org They even have their own Awards ceremony that takes place before the AHR Expo! Eric is an avid podcaster and actually had me on his show in Episode 311! YouTube link: http://bit.ly/YT-ControlTrendsBS Podcast link http://bit.ly/ControlTrendBS starting 31:39

To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Buddha HVAC and building performance contractors are seeing more homes built or retrofit to tighter levels. Blower door test outs like 3, 2, 1 ACH50 or less. What do you do when the "house can't breathe?" Hopefully, you see the humor in that statement. Of course - you build it tight and ventilate it right! (Credit for that phrase likely goes to Earle Perera and Lynn Parkins as the title for their article in the June 1992 Building Services Journal a UK publication) Listen in as Ty Newell founder of BuildEquinox shares with us how he got to the point of feeling the need to create his own ventilation product, the CERV2: Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator. This unique product senses when to run, ventilates or recirculates the "fresh air stores" in the space using a small variable output heat pump. It incorporates slick controls and internet connectivity. Plus, I cannot wait to be using it the new high-performance home we are building for occupancy by the summer of 2020. Learn more about the product and more importantly the philosophies behind the product by surfing over to www.BuildEquinox.com The BuildEquinox site has numerous white papers, tech specs & installation info, recording and upcoming webinars and more. You can also learn about the net zero house (which includes the CERV 1) that Ty built.

In this age of high technology and Jedi Knights, we often overlook the need of personal involvement, but we do so at our own risk. William H. McRaven (American Solider) Attention all HVAC Techs: Soon someone will be looking over your shoulder. Not it's not the Homeowner, with severe coffee breath and a million little questions, it's going to be a Home Energy Rater giving a grade to your HVAC installation. What???!!! Yes, like it or not, this will happen. And it is justified. It's because the work done by HVAC Technicians is so important; important to the occupant's comfort, safety and health as well as their utilities bills AND the utility companies in general as they try to balance the supply and demand of energy. Residential HVAC energy demand is a big topic in the utility world. (We'll do a podcast on this later.) Listen in as Jeremy Begley of HVAC Design Partners of Cincinnati, OH shares with us how paying attention to standards as helped to shape his entrepreneurial career. Specifically, the upcoming ACCA/RESNET standard on Grading the Installation of HVAC Systems. One timely note here: the comment period on the first draft of a new RESNET standard (BSR/RESNET/ACCA 310-201x, Standard for Grading the Installation of HVAC Systems) closes on Aug 6, 2019. If you want to review and/or comment go to this link ASAP www.bit.ly/RESNET-ACCA-310 Jeremy's got a lot to share with the both the HVAC and Building Performance industries. He came on the podcast to encourage others to review and engage in this and other important HVAC Standards. The methodology in the standard has five steps – a design review, a total duct leakage test, a Blower Fan CFM test, a Blower Fan watt draw test, and a non-invasive evaluation of refrigerant charge (NIST found in MeasureQuick). These five tasks should be completed in sequence and upon completion the results are evaluated for compliance with thresholds. The result of this process is anywhere from a failing system to a grade 1, 2, or 3; with 1 being the top grade and all grades yielding extra points in the HERS rating. Besides being important to HERS ratings, it is basic physics and the methods described have positive impact outside of the rating world. Learn more about the standard itself by going to http://bit.ly/RESNET-310-INFO, where you will find a link to RESNET conference slides on this topic and a link to the other podcast I host, RESTALK, where I interviewed Wes Davis (ACCA) and Den Gamble (EPA) on this standard. If you want to learn more about the services and training (coming) that Jeremy offers you can reach out via the contact form on his website: www.HVACDesignPartners.com