The Building Science Podcast

We live in the information age. The quality of the information we receive determines the quality of our decisions and the effectiveness of our actions. It is also no secret that money holds influence, and the methods through which we obtain information, as well as the economic dynamics of the building science and construction industry, are undergoing constant change.We invite you to join us in exploring the significance of Building Science Journalism in today's world. Our conversation features two accomplished, knowledgeable, and profound authors who have dedicated themselves to this field: Brian Pontililo and Aaron Fagan. Along the way, we will delve into the evolving role of bloggers and social media influencers within the AEC industry. We will also acknowledge the fact that manufacturers now possess multiple avenues to convey their public relations and marketing messages to their target audiences.Throughout our discussion, we will highlight the value of journalism, storytelling, and the adherence to journalistic standards, such as fact-checking. We encourage you to participate in this captivating dialogue and, perhaps, gain a fresh perspective that will enable you to engage more meaningfully with your favorite building science and construction channels.———-Brian PontililoBrian Pontolilo has spent the better part of the last 20 years as a journalist, writer, and editor covering residential design and construction at Fine Homebuilding magazine and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Brian has a degree in professional writing, worked for a short time at local newspapers, and has worked in landscape construction, as a painter, and as a carpenter before coming to the Taunton Press, and during the three breaks he has taken from office life. On his current hiatus from full-time employment, Brian is designing and building what he hopes will be a pretty good house in northwest Connecticut.Aaron FaganFormer associate editor for Fine Homebuilding, Aaron has written and edited for a disparate list of publications, including The Economist, Penthouse, and Scientific American. He has also worked as a welder in a window factory, as a screw-machine operator, and as a remodel/repair carpenter. Educated at Hampshire College and Syracuse University, Aaron is the author of three poetry collections: Garage, Echo Train, and A Better Place is Hard to Find.

You’re in for a feast of ideas here. Join us as Kristof talks with Bruce King about his work as a stubborn optimist and powerful motive force in the realm of low carbon buildings. Bruce joins a wise heart with a clever mind and a deep understanding of the technical aspects and implications of the role of energy and carbon in how we, as a society, deliver buildings to ourselves. Today’s interview discusses themes from Bruce’s new-at-the-time book Build Beyond Zero written along with friend and co-conspirator, Chris Magwood, and a host of superstars in the low carbon buildings space, to remind us that the very buildings we live and work in are currently poised to be “one of the most practical and affordable climate solutions instead of leading drivers of climate change.” We all have power and agency in the future of buildings and it benefits us to listen to folks like Bruce King to show us the way and motivate us to move forward. ____Bruce KingBruce King is the founder of the Ecological Building Network (EBNet), and a registered engineer with 35 years of worldwide experience in structural engineering and construction. He is the author of Buildings of Earth and Straw, Making Better Concrete, Design of Straw Bale Buildings, ASTM International E-2392, earthen building guidelines, and dozens of papers and articles for conferences and journals. He has organized three international conferences on ecological building, and is the founder of BuildWell Source, a user-based collection of low-carbon materials knowledge, and of the BuildWell Symposia. www.bruce-king.com www.ecobuildnetwork.org____About Bruce’s BooksBuild Beyond ZeroAuthors Bruce King and Chris Magwood re-envision buildings as one of the most practical and affordable climate solutions instead of leading drivers of climate change. Build Beyond Zero provides a snapshot of a beginning and map towards a carbon-smart built environment that acts as a CO2 filter. Professional engineers, designers, and developers are invited to imaging the very real potential for our built environment to be a site of net carbon storage, a massive drawdown pool that could help to heal our climate. And if you have not yet read, or recently re-read his first book, please feel encouraged to do so!New Carbon ArchitectureImagine a building made of sky. For the first time in history, we can build pretty much anything out of carbon that we coaxed from the air. We can structure any architectural style with wood, we can insulate with straw and mushrooms, we can make concrete - better concrete - with clay, microbes, smoke, and a careful look in the rear view mirror and the microscope.All of these emerging technologies - and more - arrive in tandem with the growing understanding that the so-called embodied carbon of building materials matters a great deal more than anyone thought in the fight to halt and reverse climate change.The built environment can switch from being a problem to a solution - much nicer places to occupy that just happen to pull carbon out of the air.____TeamHosted & Produced by Kristof IrwinEngineered & Edited by Nico MignardiProduced by M. Walker

Producer’s note: after a regrettably long COVID-19 disruption, this fun bonus short episode (recorded live in 2018) finally gets to see the light of dayAre you open to rethinking how you provide lighting to your home? What if there were a lighting system that not only saves you time, money and energy,  but also enhances your experience of the living space?I think we all already know that running 120V AC around a home to power DC LEDs leads to a lot of warm AC-to-DC transformers and wasted energy. We also know that Solar runs on DC and batteries store DC power, so why do we still use AC for lighting (besides the fact that it’s traditional)? Enter direct DC lighting for homes – an approach that brings efficiency, safety, and versatility to illuminate your surroundings. With its low-voltage wiring, energy-saving direct DC to LED connection, and smart control systems, DC lighting offers a host of possibilities and benefits including:Simplifying lighting installationReducing the use and associated costs of copper wiringProviding flicker-free dimming in true white or tunable colorsSupplying backup lighting during outagesImproving the owner/end-user experience. Join us for this short interview with Murray Freeman, a pioneer and stubborn optimist in the DC Lighting space. We will learn the basics and leave you with an informed perspective on the fascinating realm of direct DC-to-LED lighting, where modern technology, sustainable living, and high quality owner/user experience converge.Murray FreemanMurray has deployed Power over Ethernet in over 3,000 buildings. Creative engineer, he has striven to design systems for better reliability, durability, and self diagnosing while achieving cost efficiency. With experience in residential construction, he realized that neither PoE nor 120 VAC are suitable for lighting in new home construction - therefore, a new standard low voltage method to light LEDs was invented. His lighting solutions equips new homes and small business with smart switches and tunable white extended lifespan LEDs. He founded ATX-LED to design and manufacture energy efficient smart lighting systems. His goal is to bring high feature and higher quality lighting solutions to new construction, changing forever how light is wired.Hosted & Produced by Kristof IrwinEdited by Nico MignardiEngineered & Produced by M. Walker

Is a building more like a river or a rock? A building seems to just sit there*, so in that sense it seems to be more like a rock. But in reality every building material, and thus the entire building itself, is a snapshot in time of a river of resources and energy flowing from natural ecosystems into our use, and then, ultimately flowing back into the environmentAll along the way, this flow of energy and resources emits carbon and other molecules into the sky, changing atmospheric chemistry and imbalancing our climate’s equilibrium. We’ve long known that this is both happening and that it’s a problem. What’s different now is that human society is waking up to the fact that we must work together to chart a new course forward. A course that recognizes the importance of reducing the both operational and embodied, or upfront, carbon emissions. That’s where our guest today comes in. Andrew Himes is all about helping groups move society forward by focusing on the convergence of technology, communication and social activism. Join us for this fast paced and compelling interview with Andrew as we talk about the theory of change for industry transformation using data & tools, policy change, and collective action. *From a building science perspective, we know that a building’s enclosure seems static and solid but is actually constantly and dynamically mediating the flows of heat, light, sound, vibration, odor, microbes, allergens, water and air (mass) between the interior and exterior conditions.Links & ResourcesCarbon Leadership ForumMEP 2040Andrew’s TEDx Seattle Talk : Save our buildings, Save our PlanetTeamHosted & Produced by Kristof IrwinEngineered & Edited by Nico MignardiProduced by M. Walker

Gary Klein is in hot water and that’s a good thing. Hot water is the often-overlooked aspect of energy use in our homes and buildings and that makes zero sense. Energy for water heating is either the second largest, or in some cases the largest single energy use and does not get enough attention.As if that were not motivation enough, hot water is also the place where convenience and energy savings align perfectly because no one wants to wait for hot water and no one (arguably) wants to needlessly waste energy. With all the product based attention on ways to heat water - air-water heat pumps, electric, gas, tankless - it may surprise you to learn that once you have hot water what you do with it can matter even more.  Join us in this action packed interview with Gary Klien, a true national treasure in the realm of water heating and distribution as he applies simple logic again and again to break down the How and the Why of having hot water arrive efficiently When and Where you need it.   Gary KleinGary Klein is the principal and founder of Gary Klein and Associates. Every day, across the United States, millions of gallons of water and millions of Btus of energy are lost in our hot-water systems through a combination of structural and behavioral waste. Ours is an era where efforts to conserve resources have led to ever-increasing complexity, be it in water heaters that are harder to understand and use, be it in the smart grid and electric meters that tell the utility all about our behavior. Given human nature, it is our responsibility to provide the infrastructure that supports efficient behaviors.Gary Klein is tackling this issue in a different way, rejecting complexity and concentrating on elegant simplicity. He works to change building codes and to get architects and builders to use plumbing systems that, by their design, deliver hot water quickly and with minimal waste. He has looked at the structural and behavioral waste and believes great resource savings are to be had in both. When he gives a presentation, it's impossible to doze in the back row. He calls on people at random to serve as props, marks lines on the floor in tape, makes people think, and makes them laugh. It works.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinProduced by M. WalkerEdited by Nico Mignardi

Knowing how to build fantastic high performing buildings is not enough; we need to cause that to actually happen. We need high performance buildings to exist. Knowing how is necessary, but also clearly not sufficient. During this time of increasing urgency to realize new performance outcomes, we need new skills in order to fulfill our roles in society as architects, engineers, builders and trades. What this means is that we need to think about what actually works and then do a lot of that right now. In this episode we interview a veteran Passive House architect who has thought deeply about this topic of “What do we do differently that will cause owners to make better decisions?” In our rational, fact-filled world, we may be leaving some powerful tools on the table. Tools that recognize that we are far more than rational decision-making computers; we are humans and as such we are powerfully influenced by relationships and by emotions. Join Kristof as he interviews Graham Irwin, AIA, CPHC and the rich discussion that follows.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

Join Kristof as he interviews architect and Passive House nerd, Trey Farmer, in a wide ranging discussion about remodeling his personal residence. The ambitious project was an endeavor to prove to the Austin architecture and construction community that beautiful, well designed single family passive houses were not only possible in the market, but also quite practical and able to be built without breaking the bank or special products. Trey’s emphasis on community and his own business endeavors all point to a deep prioritization of doing better and leading by example. This episode is awesome and we can’t wait for you to hear it. About TreyTrey Farmer, AIA received his M.Arch from The University of Texas at Austin and has 15 years of experience in sustainable design and construction.  He came to Austin from New Hampshire via New Zealand and Northern California where he worked and studied English, architecture, permaculture and natural building.  He is a LEED AP (BD+C) and a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) as well as a certified permaculture designer and teacher. Trey is on the Austin Passive House Alliance Board and the national Passive House Alliance Council.  He spends his free time with his wife, son and fur-child on the greenbelt, in their garden or in their certified Passive House home.Press & Media About Theresa Passive HousePHIUS project profileAIA Austin design awards profileMatt Risinger video about the HVAC systemMitsubishi video about the HVAC systemMatt Risinger video about the insulation levelsGreen Builder article about the house in the deep freezeTexas Architect Magazine featurePassive House Buildings feature article (on page 58)TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

Happy New Year! Welcome back to the 8th season of our little show. We can hardly believe it. In this episode, we ask the question “what is it actually like to run a business that focuses on building science?” Turns out, we know something about that. Join Kristof and Miguel in a discussion about the challenges, joys, and future of business model innovation as building scientists and entrepreneurs. You can learn more about our Performance Consulting and Residential MEP services on our company website. Be on the lookout for great new episodes in the coming weeks (we’re stacked with interview appointments at the moment and it’s exciting). TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

The famous astronomer and educator Carl Sagan once said, “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch you must first invent the universe.” What Sagan was pointing at is the fact that for us to really do anything from scratch, we have to understand the system in which we exist.The planet and all its inhabitants exists as a massive, complex system of interconnected systems that we don’t always see. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown us that public health is part of a global web, inextricably linked. On a smaller scale, the materials and energy that we use to build and operate our homes and cities rely on these natural interconnected ecosystems. Effortlessly spanning scales from the level of the planet, a vast forest or a single home, the science of Systems Ecology provides a powerful perspective and valuable set of tools that can inform skillful design and construction practices for homes, buildings and cities.How do natural ecosystems provide us with all that we need for our lives, homes and cities? What are the basic ingredients that are “cooked” in this recipe? Join Kristof as he interviews Miaomiao Hou and Dr. Bill Braham for a fast and furious dive into the infinite complexity of emergy. You’ll never be able to un-hear this. We will unpack some of the terms and concepts needed to unlock this powerful, versatile, quantitative way to understand what matters most when it comes to resources and energy, and why. Along the way we will learn about energy that remembers where it comes from and the layers of transformations it goes through along the way to us, so we can make better decisions on how to use it wisely. For complete show notes, please visit the episode’s webpage. TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

Do we really need dehumidifiers when we’ve got VRF units? How do dehumidifiers work? Why do we need dehumidifiers now when we’ve never had them before? These are valid questions that deserve scientific answers and we’re here to dig in. Join Kristof as he interviews David Treleven and Nikki Krueger of Madison Industries (makers of dehumidifiers, ERVs, and many other innovative indoor air quality products). TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

One of the most uncomfortable topics for anybody to wade through is the nearly ubiquitous and constant exposures to hazardous chemicals and compounds which we all encounter in daily products. The construction industry is no different - many building products are chock full of chemicals that are known health hazards to humans. As the body of scientific knowledge about these chemicals and their health impacts grows, it’s important that professionals and consumers have a sufficient understanding of their presence and purpose. Join Kristof as he interviews Dr. Tom Bruton, Senior Hazardous Substances Engineer at California Department of Toxic Substances Control and formerly a Senior Scientist at the Green Science Policy Institute, on a class of chemicals called PFAS, which are present in many common building materials and making their way into our bodies through a variety of exposures that are easy to forget in day-to-day life._________Dr. Bruton is a Senior Hazardous Substances Engineer at California Department of Toxic Substances Control. He works at the interface of science, business, and government to promote healthier products and a healthier environment. Trained as an environmental engineer and environmental chemist, Tom’s experience ranges from contaminated site remediation to chemicals management in supply chains to regulatory policy, with particular expertise on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)._________Dr. Bruton is a Senior Hazardous Substances Engineer at California Department of Toxic Substances Control. He works at the interface of science, business, and government to promote healthier products and a healthier environment. Trained as an environmental engineer and environmental chemist, Tom’s experience ranges from contaminated site remediation to chemicals management in supply chains to regulatory policy, with particular expertise on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)._________PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of highly fluorinated synthetic chemicals notable for their non-stick, waterproof, and grease resistant properties and also for their extreme environmental persistence. Building materials are a high-volume use of PFAS that have received relatively little attention. PFAS have many uses in the building industry, including in roofing materials, flooring, paints and coatings, sealants, glass, and more. Annual sales of PFAS-containing building materials are more than $26 billion._________Green Science Policy InstituteThe Green Science Policy Institute was founded in 2008 in Berkeley, California, by Executive Director Arlene Blum after she learned that the same chlorinated tris flame retardant that her research had helped remove from children’s pajamas in the 1970s was back in furniture and baby products. Since its founding, Green Science Policy Institute’s scientific research and policy work has contributed to preventing the use of “Six Classes” of harmful chemicals in consumer products and building materials worldwide.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

The world of indoor air quality monitoring can feel like the Wild West and it’s high time we sort it out. Join Kristof as he interviews Stanton Wong, President of RESET Standard, about the landscape of sensor technology, accuracy, data reliability, how SARS2 moves around public spaces, and a range of other indoor air quality topics. You may be surprised by how deep this field of applied science can go.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker 

Industrial hemp is poised to proliferate across many verticals in the construction materials marketplace. It’s a raw material with an unfortunately politicized history and so many potential applications it’ll make your head spin. Join Kristof and Miguel in conversation with Mattie Mead and Henry Valles as we explore the many intersections of industrial hemp and the built environment. TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

Valentines Day 2021 began a hellacious week for Texans as not one, but multiple critical infrastructure grids failed amidst prolonged record low temps. Join Kristof as he interviews Dr. Joshua Rhodes and Dr. Charles Upshaw, of IdeaSmiths (and of Positive Energy if you don't mind the bragging). In this episode we discuss what happened in Texas, separating myth from fact and understanding the role of buildings in the equation.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

We’ve talked a lot about indoor environmental quality on this show, but what how do we measure that and how do we know that our measurements were consistent and accurate? Turns out, data quality in the built world can be quite opaque and challenging to reign in. But there’s hope. Join Kristof as he interviews Anjanette Green, Director of standards at RESET about the nature of data quality in the built world and how it impacts the daily lives of practitioners and occupants across the planet.

This Old House has been the gateway experience for countless numbers of building science enthusiasts and we’d wager many of you listeners have intersected with the show at some point in your life and career. Media, whether television or podcasting, is about so much more than sharing information - it’s about telling stories. And the important stories are the ones that change paradigms and facilitate progress in the world. Join Kristof as he interviews Chris Ermides of This Old House and the Ask This Old House podcast about leveraging stories to create meaning and context for anyone building a home. Chris Ermides: Chris Ermides joined This Old House in December 2018 as the editor of pro content. Since then, he’s written and produced a wide array of digital content, including articles and videos geared towards professional tradesmen and women. He is the host of the Ask This Old House podcast, the Idea House Build series, and many interviews on This Old House: Live.His interest in home improvement began at the age of 6 when he accompanied his dad to the local hardware store on the weekends and helped him on projects around the house. It was during this time that he also started watching This Old House and New Yankee Workshop. The trades have been a strong part of his family for several generations—Chris’s grandfather, an immigrant from Greece, was a cobbler and his great grandfather was a carpenter in Greece.While studying English in college, Chris worked full-time at a local hardware store before graduating with a Master’s degree in teaching English. He went on to teach high school and middle school English while working as a house painter and repairman during the summers. After four years of teaching, Chris returned to the trades starting with a brief stint on a ranch in Wyoming.His career path continued to evolve on jobsites, working his way up from a laborer to carpenter and eventually site supervisor for a custom home builder in upstate New York. He combined his love for the trades and writing chops with his jobsite experience and became an editor at Fine Homebuilding and Tools of the Trade. He’s been a contributor to JLC, Deck Builder, and ToolBox Buzz. Throughout his career he’s reported on many aspects of residential construction including how-to, tools, materials, and building science.Follow Chris on Instagram @ChrisErmidesTOH.TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

When Ken Gehring began his career servicing dairy equipment, who would have guessed that he would go on to pioneer some of the most important equipment to hit the HVAC market? But that’s exactly what he did, leading the charge in the development and creation of the Therma-stor product lines, which include the Santa Fe and Ultra-Aire dehumidifiers that you’ve heard us talk about many times. Join Kristof as he and Ken explore a range of topics on human health, indoor air quality, dehumidification, ventilation, building envelope leakage, and more. Just FYI, we curse a little on this episode so if you’re around sensitive ears, be sure to stick some ear plugs in them.Disclaimer: Therma-stor has sponsored previous episodes of this podcast and is a current equipment sponsor of the show. Big thanks to their continued support the last 6 years that has kept this show going!_________Ken Gehring, President Emeritus, Therma-storKen Gehring is the President Emeritus and chief troublemaker at Therma-stor in Madison, Wisconsin. His career has spanned the divide between refrigeration service and engineering/product development and his expertise and leadership has led to the development of many products considered a normal part of construction in the 21st century. Ken has a treasure trove of personal stories that paint a picture of the HVAC industry’s evolution over the last 40+ years and its rapid changes in the last decade._________HVAC TalkAn online forum for HVAC professionals and homeowners to discuss and problem solve issues both normal and strange. You can find Ken’s username, teddy bear, via this link._________2016 Risinger Interview With Kenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsIq-vI_CncTeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited and Produced by M. Walker

What do we actually know and have available to us in the United States market when it comes to high performance windows? The answers may surprise you. Join Kristof as he interviews Sam McAfee of Zola Windows in a wide ranging conversation of window performance, market dynamics, and the future of high performance windows.Sam MacAfeeSam McAfee has been a student of green building ever since buying his first Earthship books back in 1988. Since then, he has received an MFA in Sculpture from UC Berkeley, designed web experiences for Gucci, HBO, & Showtime, and launched the green-contracting company Sumner Green that executed one of the first PH retrofit projects in NYC (2010).He went on to co-found 475 High-Performance Building Supply, co-design the Zola Historic Simulated-DH window being used in many landmarked Passivhaus projects around the country, and started SGbuild Consulting that worked alongside Baxt Ingui Architecture to complete the first certified Passivhaus in Manhattan (2014) and the First Landmarked Passivhaus in NYC (2014). Over the last 4 years, he was co-founder & CTO of Fentrend.com, a global window & door marketplace, and designed/developed the permit data analysis portal FenIQ (iq.fentrend.com).He is currently with Zola Windows (www.zolawindows.com) and in charge of their NYC client support & market development and has launched the NYC Low-Carbon Building Social Networking group focused on expanding the reach of high-performance building knowledge into other segments of the NYC real estate market.Zola Windows“Zola is committed to offering its customers products that stand apart from the competition. We are continuously innovating and improving our windows and doors to ensure that we can offer the highest performance and quality on the market. We are proud of the recognition that has brought us in the architectural and building communities.”https://www.zolawindows.com

How well do we understand the behavior of the novel coronavirus in our homes? What can we do to make our homes healthier? What is a CERV? These questions open the door to a rich exploration of the role of ventilation in healthy indoor environments. And you’ll be surprised to find how intimately connected ventilation is to a future powered by solar PV. Join Kristof as he interviews Ty Newell in a broad exploration of topics relevant to any building science aficionado.Ty Newell, PhD, P.E. Professor Emeritus - University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Engineer/Owner - Build EquinoxAfter a distinguished career at one of the country’s finest research institutions, Ty is now the owner/engineer at Build Equinox, focused on developing technologies for sustainable, healthy and comfortable living. They are the company responsible for manufacturing the CERV ("serve") smart ventilation system for residences. He’s an all around brainiac and kind soul.

For the first time in its 24 year history, the Westford Symposium on Building Science was forced to take a hiatus by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (it would have began as of the release of this episode). If you’ve never heard of this conference, you’ve been missing out. It’s one of the most incredible hubs of building science knowledge exchange and community building in North America. Obviously, we were sad about missing it so we decided to ask the founders and hosts of the conference for an interview. Join us as Kristof interviews Joe Lstiburek and Betsy Petit about the history, meaning, and impact of “Building Science Summer Camp.”Joseph LstiburekPh.D., P.Eng., ASHRAE FellowPrincipal, Building Science CorporationJoseph Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. Dr. Lstiburek’s work ranges widely, from providing expert witness testimony to overseeing research and development projects, to writing for the ASHRAE Journal and buildingscience.com. Dr. Lstiburek’s commitment to advancing the building industry has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices throughout the world, particularly in the areas of air barriers, vapor barriers, and vented and unvented roof assemblies. For example, his work with industry partners through the Department of Energy’s Building America program led to significant research into the wetting and drying of walls and ultimately to a major code change relaxing the requirement for vapor barriers in the International Residential Code.Dr. Lstiburek is also an acclaimed educator who has taught thousands of professionals over the past three decades and written countless papers as well as the best-selling Builder Guides. Fittingly, the Wall Street Journal has described him as "the dean of North American building science." He has a joy for telling tall tales to his protégés and audiences.Dr. Lstiburek holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Building Science. While still an undergrad, Dr. Lstiburek worked as a residential construction manager; during his Master’s degree, he developed the Air Drywall Approach to air barriers. Other formative experiences include working on the Canada-wide Super Energy Efficient Housing R-2000 program and serving as senior engineer on commercial construction projects for Trow in Toronto. Dr. Lstiburek founded BSC in 1990 with his business partner Betsy Pettit, and he has been a key figure in establishing BSC as one of the most influential, innovative, and respected building science firms in North America.Betsy PettitM.Arch., FAIAPresident, Building Science CorporationBetsy Pettit is the president of Building Science Corporation and is a registered architect with over 35 years of professional experience in the design and renovation of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. With a particular passion for and commitment to environmentally responsible design, Ms. Pettit managed Building Science Corporation’s role in the Department of Energy’s Building America project for the past twenty years, which has involved the design of over 2,000 high performance houses throughout the United States.Consistent with her philosophy that environmental responsibility ought to also be economical, Ms. Pettit has done extensive work to advance the building industry in the area of energy efficient affordable housing, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, as well as developers and builders across the United States. She is the former Director of Modernization and Redevelopment in the public housing division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Offices of Communities and Development, where she oversaw over $120 million of building improvements to Massachusetts’ 40,000 units of public housing.Ms. Pettit has given seminars on the subject of healthy and environmentally responsible housing to builders and architects across the country, and she has contributed to many procedural and technical manuals and papers to guide designers and contractors in the area of high performance design. She has also served as chair of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) Buildings Conference, where BSC staff members are frequent presenters.Ms. Pettit holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Design from Miami University and a Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University. Based on Ms. Pettit’s “notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture,” she was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in February 2008.

The world’s climate is changing and so the way we think about design needs to change with it. But before we know what that looks like, let’s dig into the science and understand how it might change. And as we think about expanding humid climate zones in the era of climate change, what does the cutting edge dehumidification technology look like? You’re going to find out. Join us as Kristof interviews Pamela Cabrera about the expansion of humid climate zones in the future and the development of passive, membrane-based dehumidification._______Pamela is currently a project climate engineer at Transsolar. Cabrera’s research centers on building science and new material assemblies for passive climate control systems. Her professional experience has alternated between New York and Lima, where she co-ran the studio CE-AD for three years. She is a partner at the Peruvian NGO Construye Identidad, where she contributes with research on the development of vernacular building and materials. She has a BArch from The Cooper Union and a Master’s in Design Studies in Energy & Environment from Harvard GSD, where she received the Daniel L. Schodek Award for Technology and Sustainability._______Abstracts For Pamela’s Research WorkUncovering Future Mold Risks in Existing Residential Walls with Climate Change Pamela. L. Cabrera1 , Holly W. Samuelson1 1 Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA, USAThis paper exposes the vulnerability of prevalent, wood-framed residential envelopes to mold-growth in predicted future weather, a topic that is yet to be explored in scientific literature. In the U.S. and elsewhere, residential exterior walls have followed a tradition of layered construction, including interior insulation to mitigate heat loss and vapor membranes to control moisture. These building assemblies, and their defining codes, have been designed for a narrow definition of historical climate which may be ill- suited for future conditions. We combine state-of-the-art hygrothermal simulation and mold-growth computation with morphed future weather data to analyze 60 prevalent code-compliant walls in three U.S. cities: New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Our results show an imminent problem in all tested wall types indicating future mold prevalence. The work serves as a framework for considering future hygrothermal risks in building envelopes and demonstrates the widespread need for further work on building resilience. The Humid Threshold: Cooling hot, humid climates via membrane dehumidification Thesis, Master in Design Studies - Energy and Environment Pamela L. Cabrera Pardo Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA, USAThe thesis centers on the design of a membrane material for cooling hot, humid climates via dehumidification, by selecting water vapor out of humid air. While membrane selectivity is a well-known field of study, found throughout nature and applied across industries, architecture has only regarded membranes as barriers. However, membranes have the potential to separate substances through diffusion, a passive process that is isothermal, and therefore a membrane selectivity system for dehumidification can be less energy intensive than typical vapor compression system used for cooling (Yang, Yuan, Gao, & Guo, 2015) (Woods, 2014) (Mahmud, Mahmood, Simonson, & Besant, 2010). Membrane dehumidification research has been developed over two decades for the enhancement of air mechanical units, but it has not yet been proposed as a building material. This thesis investigates the possibility of using membranes as a building screen material to dehumidify incoming air as it is drawn into a building. This application could lower the latent heat that drives air conditioning demand in humid climates, and thus increase natural ventilation potential and other passive dry-bulb cooling strategies.

It’s not often that you get to have a discussion with someone who has uncovered a fundamental physical law of the universe, but that’s exactly what we got to do in this unmissable episode. In a very entertaining and fascinating departure from our usual discussion of building science, we dive deeply into the concepts underlying Contstructal Law with its discoverer, Professor Adrian Bejan of Duke University. Our conversation ranged from HG TV, to the golden ratio in architecture, to the evolution of Homo sapiens, to fake news, and so much more. Join us as Kristof tries to uncover the mysteries of flow structures that prevent us from creating better buildings and we’ll also learn why a duct system, river, leaf, and lightning bolt are all shaped so similarly. Buckle up and hold on to your hats, folks!

Engineers can fulfill a vital role in their communities through civic activism, proactive engagement in shaping public policy and leading in the civic realm. This segment of the Ideas Institute will explore the future of civic activism and leadership in the public realm for engineers. It is time for the engineering community to contribute to this re-examination in the spirit of technological and environmental stewardship. Increased leadership from the engineering community is needed to help society prepare for future crises.Join Kristof in an interview with members of the Engineering Change Lab USA as they explore the future of engineering.

Join Kristof as he interviews Zack Semke and Michael Ingui of Passive House Accelerator on all the great work they’re doing to build community in the building science field.Passive House AcceleratorMissionTogether we can make a difference! We have seen the power of collaboration.The Passive House Community is creative, driven, and Collaborative. Passive House Accelerator has been created to make it easier for others to learn about Passive House, to support the community by allowing them to share ideas and solutions, to continue and expand on the incredible conversations and sessions at conferences, and to allow those who are succeeding in creating beautiful projects and/ or solutions to share their knowledge.Passive House Accelerator aggregates the already fantastic content from existing sites while also creating a new platform for people to share new ideas. This site will hopefully always be a work in progress.One of the keys to the success of Passive House Accelerator is for you to contribute -Create new short or long articlesProvide a short description and a link to an existing article on your own siteShare photos and details — lessons learnedUpload your finished Passive House ProjectsShare an upcoming event on the calendarLinks to sites, people, projects, features and anything else you feel can accelerate Passive House.If you would like to be a contributor please email [email protected] Semke (CPHC, LEED AP) is Director of Passive House Accelerator, VP of Marketing with Zola Windows, and owner of Semke Studio, a marketing consultancy for the high performance building industry. Part of Al Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Zack writes and speaks about the role that buildings can play in accelerating the clean energy transition. He studied human biology, with a focus on human ecology, at Stanford University (BA, ’93). Since then he’s worked as a policy advocate for progressive regional planning, a developer and leader of nonprofit community organizations, a taiko (Japanese drum) musician, and an evangelist for Passive House construction.Michael Ingui is a Partner at Baxt Ingui Architects, located in NYC. Baxt Ingui is a highly collaborative architectural design firm that consists of a number of talented architects and teams, most of which are also Certified Passive House Designers. Michael is active in the Passive House community, speaking at many national and international conferences. The team at Baxt Ingui have extended their collaborative efforts by opening their homes during construction to teach architects, tradespeople, homeowners, and developers to integrate better building techniques.

Allison Bailes is writing a book! Allison writes the popular Energy Vanguard Blog. With a PhD in physics and thousands of hours spent in attics and crawl spaces, he knows a thing or two about houses. Join Kristof in a discussion with his old friend and colleague as they explore common myths about houses and talk about your next book purchase.Dr. Allison Bailes IIIWith a background in physics and nearly twenty years of experience in many facets of the residential buildings industry, Allison Bailes has a good handle on what’s wrong with residential buildings and how to fix them. In 2001, he built a high-performance home and launched himself into a new career in the world of building science. Since that time, he has worked as an HVAC designer, home performance contractor, regional manager for a green-building program, and building science trainer. For most of this new career, Dr. Bailes has run his own companies. Energy Vanguard, which he started in 2008, is his current firm.At heart, though, Dr. Bailes is a teacher. He taught high school science for three years prior to earning a PhD in physics from the University of Florida and then taught physics for six years at the college level after his graduate education. Since leaving academia, he has focused his teaching on the principles of building science. Through short presentations, workshops, and extended classes, he has helped thousands of people understand how buildings work.What Dr. Bailes is most known for is writing the Energy Vanguard Blog, which gets ten thousand page views per day. He also writes regularly for Green Building Advisor and has had articles published in Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, Home Energy Magazine, and other publications. Dr. Bailes is also popular speaker at conferences, presenting keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and extended workshops. In addition, he is a runner, a juggler, and a skier as well as having the honor of being perhaps the only man included in Who’s Who of American Women.The Book! A House Needs to Breathe...Or Does It?“Of course it doesn't. But the people in the house do! That's one of many myths I'll be exploding, along with lots of advice about how to do things right (and sometimes, how not to do them wrong). And with the coronavirus on everyone's mind now, one of the topics I'll be discussing is what's most effective at combating infectious microbes in your home...and what's not.My goal with this book is to make it one of the most informative and readable building science books in the world. I want people who live in homes - and that's almost everyone - to know how their homes work and what they can do to be more comfortable, have better indoor air quality, and save money on their energy bills.”Here's some of the advance praise I've gotten for the book:Dr. Bailes is my favorite writer in building science and HVAC design because of how he simplifies and explains complex topics. This book is sure to be a must read.~ Bryan Orr, Founder of HVAC School and host of their podcastI am stoked to share my excitement about the upcoming book, "A House Needs to Breathe." Manufacturers, distributors, trades, and design professionals need to get it right - right now. There's so much bad BS (building science) floating around, it needs to be sanitized before society moves into more bad houses. Dr. Allison Bailes, a designer's designer, will clean house with this one - a recommended must-read!" ~ Robert Bean (ret.), ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer, Mechanical and Building Construction EngineeringAllison Bailes makes the complex world of building science seem intuitive. He combines the penetrating analysis of a physicist with the flowing narrative of a storyteller. And the story he tells is about what your home can and should be doing to make your life better. You're going to want to read this book!~ Kristof Irwin, P.E., host of the Building Science Podcast“If you order this book, you'll get signed copies of the book. If you order at the Six Pack level or higher, you'll also get your name listed in the book. And the top four levels have other bonuses (free consulting, webinar, workshops, or advertising in the Energy Vanguard Blog) included for the same price per book.Please go to the campaign page and then click the Pre-order button at the top right to pre-order your copies. And pass the link on to your family, friends, and coworkers.”Energy Vanguard BlogSouthface Passive House Austin

Now, more than ever, there is a tremendous amount of attention on how interconnected we are to our immediate environmental conditions (and to each other). As building science consultants. Our family, friends, colleagues and clients have asked us for years about information that will help them reduce their exposures to pollutants, like viruses, in their homes, offices, and other indoor spaces. So as we began contemplating this episode, we heavily considered talking more about the Novel Coronavirus and how our work can help prevent potentially worse future outbreaks. What we realized in the process is that creating the future we want to see is the only way out of the old paradigm. We have to internalize the fact that buildings can improve health outcomes, both for us as human beings and also for the health of our planet. This podcast episode is the first of a five part series exploring what we see to be The 5 Principles Of A Healthy Home. Join Kristof and Miguel as we explore what it means to “start with a good enclosure.” The 5 Principles Of A Healthy Home:-Start with a good enclosure-Minimize indoor emissions-Keep it dry-Effectively capture particles-Ventilate

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It’s been an incredible year. Let’s unpack it together and take a look at what’s coming your way in Season 6 of the show. Join producer Miguel & host Kristof for a fireside chat as the winter settles in around us.

It’s time to fundamentally reevaluate the way we build - not just at the level of detailing, but at the scale of the city. What are the decisions we make about density and how do they affect our daily lives? Why do we orient our urban infrastructure around cars when they’re incredibly inefficient ways to move people around? Why can’t you get to 90% of your daily needs within a 15 minute walk? Join Kristof as he interviews Ruchi Modi of the architecture and urbanism firm, PAU on a range of topics exploring how urban environments (can and will) actually benefit the entire planet.Ruchika Modi, AIARuchika Modi is an associate partner and the studio director at PAU. A registered architect, she oversees all aspects of the design process in the office. Most recently Ruchika completed design development for Riverfront Square, a 730-unit residential project in Newark, NJ. She is currently spearheading the design of the Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, NY, an adaptive reuse project to transform a factory into offices with a mixed-use ground floor; the master plan and design of forty-one buildings as part of a mixed-use new development in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and an arcade infill and POPS design for an Emery Roth–designed office building in Manhattan.Before joining PAU, Ruchika was a senior associate at Standard Architects and a founding partner of Studio r&star in New York City. She has also worked at Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects, Richard Lewis Architects, Maria McVarish Design Services, and Tim Perks Architecture.Ruchika holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University, where she was awarded the Charles McKim Prize for Excellence in Design / Saul Kaplan Traveling Fellowship, the William Kinne Fellows Prize for Study and Travel Abroad, and the Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize. She received her BA in economics from the University of Delhi and a BA with distinction in interior architecture from the California College of Arts, San Francisco. Her work has been exhibited at the Center for Architecture in New York, the International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam, and the China International Architectural Biennale in Beijing.PAUFounded by Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA FRAIC, in 2015, PAU is both an emerging and an established global practice. We embrace architecture and city planning as allied fields operating along a range of scales. We break down disciplinary boundaries by expanding the definition of architecture and rejecting the silos that have ossified it. Our designers use both sides of their brains to be as creative as they are analytical. Given the breadth and depth of our team’s talents, but also in an effort to raise labor standards in our field, we treat our personnel with the utmost respect in terms of compensation, staff development, benefits, and work-life balance. Our team of twenty, our network of experienced collaborators, and our clients all come to PAU inspired by our desire to palpably and positively impact the world. Together we thrive on constraints such as program, constructability, public process, regulation, budget, and schedule as the fuel for innovation and beauty. To achieve this, from the precise scale of an architectural detail to the large scale of a master plan, ours is a group of “swiss-army knives,” professionals who employ an unprecedented range of skills and mindsets. We are fluent in multiple languages: we speak architecture, we speak culture, we speak ecology, we speak economics, we speak academia, we speak urbanity, we speak government, and, perhaps most importantly, we speak the language of democratic public process, because the complexities of the projects we design demand no less. Below are brief descriptions of the individuals who form our unique collective, a group of thinkers who build, utopian pragmatists whose dreams of impactful design have been forged in the white heat of hard-fought experience.

Architects and engineers have great power because they make decisions that influence resource and energy use in their buildings. With great power comes great responsibility and now is the time to become fluent in the language of embodied carbon. In this episode Kristof has a lively conversation with Z. Smith and Kelsey Wotila from EskewDumezRipple on this and some adjacent topics.

While insulation and airtightness are critical elements of a high performance building, they also can significantly increase the risk of health and moisture failure issues. In addition, if using high "embodied carbon" impact materials then high performance buildings can have a higher net carbon impact by 2050 than conventional buildings. Come join us to learn how to create truly healthy, durable, comfortable, and low carbon impact buildings. Join Kristof as he interviews Lucas Johnson in a discussion about the impacts of insulation material decisions.Lucas is a building scientist who has worked as a builder, utility program manager, enclosure systems consultant, and clean tech venture capital consultant to deliver Zero Net Energy, Passive House, Living Future, and even two of his own standards: SUN Buildings and Active House. Lucas holds a degree in Physicochemical Biology as well as a Master of Environmental Science and Lucas JohnsonEcoEntrepreneurship. His position at 475 is his dream job since he gets to share his experience by collaborating with architects, engineers, and builders to make their projects cost-effective, carbon negative, healthy, durable, and enjoyable.

As houses get tighter, we know they need to be ventilated (hopefully). But many in the building industry don’t understand ventilation well. We know about the less than ideal ways to do it, like raw fresh air intakes. We’ve heard of ERVs. And it seems like everyone thinks they want them, but nobody understands them or cares enough to actually bring them into a project. Well wonder no more friends. This episode is a two part series and a deep dive into the V in HVAC - demystifying the ventilation paradigm and making ERVs a topic you can wrap your head around after a few listens.Don’t be afraid to rewind. Soak it up. Join Kristof as he interviews Chris Smith of Zehnder America about ERVs, HRVs, and all things ventilation.Chris Smith, Business Development Manager, Zehnder AmericaChris Smith is Business Development Manager for Zehnder America, a high-performance residential ventilation division of the Swiss-based Zehnder Group. Chris's technical inclinations were established as a teenager in his family's CNC machine shop and further developed as a guided-missile launcher technician in the U.S. Navy. He has spent over 15 years in the residential design/build industry as a designer and licensed construction supervisor. He is an NAHB Certified Green Professional and a Certified Passive House Tradesperson. He has designed custom, balanced ventilation systems for hundreds of projects and has personally installed many of them. Chris's professional passion is to help mature the North American building industry's knowledge and application of ventilation systems and promote best practices for healthy Indoor Air Quality.

As houses get tighter, we know they need to be ventilated (hopefully). But many in the building industry don’t understand ventilation well. We know about the less than ideal ways to do it, like raw fresh air intakes. We’ve heard of ERVs. And it seems like everyone thinks they want them, but nobody understands them or cares enough to actually bring them into a project. Well wonder no more friends. This episode is a two part series and a deep dive into the V in HVAC - demystifying the ventilation paradigm and making ERVs a topic you can wrap your head around after a few listens.Don’t be afraid to rewind. Soak it up. Join Kristof as he interviews Chris Smith of Zehnder America about ERVs, HRVs, and all things ventilation.Chris Smith, Business Development Manager, Zehnder AmericaChris Smith is Business Development Manager for Zehnder America, a high-performance residential ventilation division of the Swiss-based Zehnder Group. Chris's technical inclinations were established as a teenager in his family's CNC machine shop and further developed as a guided-missile launcher technician in the U.S. Navy. He has spent over 15 years in the residential design/build industry as a designer and licensed construction supervisor. He is an NAHB Certified Green Professional and a Certified Passive House Tradesperson. He has designed custom, balanced ventilation systems for hundreds of projects and has personally installed many of them. Chris's professional passion is to help mature the North American building industry's knowledge and application of ventilation systems and promote best practices for healthy Indoor Air Quality.

Architecture that interacts skillfully w/ the sun is needed now more than ever. Beyond just light and heat there are broader implications and deeper relationships between the building skin and aperture that are not always transparent during the design process. It's time to develop a sympathetic understanding of interrelated decision factors. Enter Matt and Dason and their new book that seeks to fill a void in the understanding and practice of designing around the Sun. This is an architects resource for moving the industry forward with the design of apertures - both the pragmatics and the poetics. This interview shares a feast of ideas related to this evolving field with two of its thought leaders.

Join Kristof as he interviews Amit Gupta, CEO of AeroBarrier and Aeroseal Technologies. The discussion dives into the particulars of a unique and fascinating technology company at the helm of the architectural and construction industry change.

David Escobedo is a fascinating character with a deep connection to his own heritage in the construction industry. Join Kristof as he interviews David for a conversation that outlines not just the path of a builder, but the path of someone who wants to leave behind a legacy.______________________David Escobedo is the active founder of Escobedo Group where he leads a six-division, vertically-integrated luxury home building company that self-performs their work.Escobedo’s focus on solid construction methods, resulting in superior aesthetic beauty, is seamlessly delivered due to the fact that the company is literally building every aspect of the project within their own stone, metal and millwork divisions.Equipped with the latest CNC technology and some of the best craftsmen in the country, Escobedo guarantees razor-edge precision, which has become the signature of his work. Today, David’s primary focus is utilizing digital fabrication and computational modeling within all the company’s divisions, leveraging his DARIO panelized construction process that delivers fully systems-integrated pre-fabricated wall, floor and roof panels that mitigate the customary high-end residential construction issues surrounding weather, labor force scarcity and site risks. Escobedo is literally revolutionizing how luxury homes are built with his DARIO process.Escobedo is known within the design and building industry for his technical design capabilities, his skills in fabricating complex and challenging structures and his problem- solving techniques. In 2016, Escobedo collaborated with colleagues from MIT, ETH-Zurich and Cambridge to design and fabricate the prestigious Armadillo Vault, a 399-piece limestone vault with a 60’x50’ footprint standing in true compression; a showstopper at the by- invitation-only 2016 La Biennale di Venezia Architettura (prototype model pictured above).Escobedo and his work have appeared in Dezeen, CNN Style, Domus, The Economist, BBC with Will Gompertz, Austin Business Journal, Houston Chronicle, HGTV, The Guardian, Architectural Record, Inhabitat, Architect, Elle Decor, Detail, Luxe, Western Interiors, Cowboys & Indians, Objektandothers. The company was deemed the #1 General Contractor in Texas in 2018 and has won the Artisan award from Texas Society of Architects, as well as the Custom Home Pacesetter Award. David Escobedo had been named one of the top 100 most influential Latin business owners in America.David lives just outside Austin,Texas with his wife Kathy, three dogs and a cat. All three of David and Kathy’s children (Matt, Jessica and Anna) work at Escobedo Group.________________________For more show notes and photos, visit our show’s website.

If you’re ever wondered what kind of salt it takes to move the needle for multi-family passive house projects, look no further than the story of architect and developer Hank Keating. We all have under utilized power in our professional roles. Join Kristof for a discussion with Hank about the work he’s done in Massachusetts to make way for passive house buildings - from codes, to renter occupants, to design - this episode’s got it all.__________________________Hank Keating, AIAMr Keating is a registered architect with more than 30 years of experience in the design and construction of multifamily affordable housing projects. Recently retired from Trinity Financial, (but consulting back on select projects) Mr Keating completed over nine affordable housing developments totaling over 1500 units in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York City while at Trinity. For the last 10 years Mr Keating has been engaged with the Passive House movement and designed and completed a passive house for himself while pushing to move Trinity’s large scale affordable projects toward the Passive House Standards. He managed the Bristol Commons / Lenox Green project in Taunton which created 160 affordable units built to near the passive house standard– 4 years of data tracking demonstrates that the project is using 80% less heating energy that comparable LEED GOLD projects in Massachusetts. Since retiring, he has been consulting with Trinity during the design of 425 Grand Concourse, a 26 story, 270 unit, affordable passive house project in NYC. Mr Keating is currently on the Passive House Massachusetts Board of Directors and has been leading the efforts of its Public Policy Committee to get passive house incentives included in the upcoming EEAC Three-Year Plan for utility company incentive programs. In addition, he is on the MassCEC Passive House Challenge Selection Committee and has been working with DHCD to encourage the addition of QAP bonus points for passive house projects._______________________Green Builder Article On Hank“This unique home’s smart and solar bells and whistles reduce its ecological footprint even more.Building a home up to standards required to be deemed “passive” might make some builders cringe. But when the Valle Group received such a request, it was almost par for the course. The Cape Cod, Mass.-based builder specializes in carefully planned, energy-efficient homes.”_________________________________Passive House MassachusettsPassive House Massachusetts is a member-based non-profit organization that promotes a healthy and comfortable built environment that significantly reduces energy consumption and lowers carbon emissions by utilizing the Passive House building standard and other high-performance building strategies, focusing on education, training, outreach, and advocacy.We regularly host meetings, trainings, tours, and other events related to Passive House design and construction and serve as a hub of knowledge for high-performance design in the state and region.PHMA members include designers, builders, engineers, policy makers, students, community leaders, and all those interested in high-performance, energy efficient buildings. From regular member meetings and educational programming to tours and special events, there are plenty of way for members to become involved and membership support is essential to our work promoting and expanding the use of Passive House and high-performance building.

Refrigerants are all around us and we barely ever notice. They are a hidden force in creating the comforts we have grown to think of as normal and yet many of us know little about them. Rethinking refrigerants is considered by many experts to be the #1 way to to combat and draw down climate change given how much carbon they can add to the atmosphere when not created and handled correctly. This episode features John Miles of Sanden Water Heaters in a ranging discussion of the effects and behaviors of refrigerants that might just blow your mind a little.

The state of our current housing industry’s understanding and treatment of HVAC systems in in quiet crisis. Systems are routinely installed incorrectly to the detriment of the environment both on a macro scale and on the micro scale of the air quality inside people’s homes. In this episode, Kristof interviews Sean and Ian Harris, the owners of IAQ Texas. You'll hear discussion on why quality duct installation is crucial for good indoor air quality outcomes.Also, we talk about Aerobarrier. It’s a little sneak peak for our full episode with the CEO of AeroBarrier, Amit Gupta, to be released soon!Sean Harris has been developing his interest in residential home construction since participating in a remodel project, certified by Austin Energy’s Green Building Program in 2005. With a degree in business administration, Sean combines his interest in green building and knowledge of business systems. Sean oversees the operations of Positive Energy and including product development, quality control, staffing, and marketing/sales. He is also a certified RESNET energy rater and conducts home performance inspections, energy code tests, ECADS, and HERS ratings. His father and business partner, Ian Harris, has worked in many aspects of the residential construction industry for decades and was a Positive Energy consultant in the early days of the company. Together, they run IAQ Texas, offering observation, cleaning, and sealing services across the state of Texas.Rooted in building science, IAQ Texas was started by testing homes to better understand how they work and how indoor air quality can improve your health and comfort. IAQ Texas has experience in hundreds of new and older homes throughout Central Texas and beyond. They aim to help builders who frequently struggle to seal building envelopes and duct systems, to prevent leaving homeowners, especially in older homes, stuck with poorly sealed houses, discomfort, and IAQ issues. Since the beginning their goal has been to resolve poor indoor air quality issues for both builders and homeowners. The team believes that the greatest possible quality of life indoors can happen by simply improving and protecting the air you breathe.

Is Dallas, Texas ready for the state’s first internationally certified Passive House? Kyle and Connor Fagin think so and they’re betting on it. Join Kristof as the Fagin Partners tell us their unique story of operating in the developer driven construction world to sacrificing profit for the principled push forward in industry transformation.Kyle FaginThe first home Kyle ever built was a tree house for his three awesome kids. Sometime after that he began a major remodel on a mid-century home for his family and was heavily involved in all aspects of the project. A year or so later he was part of a team that designed and built the family lake house in East Texas. He discovered building really suited him and it seemed that he had a knack for it as well. He built commercially for a while, but found residential much more enjoyable. His true passion is learning how to build the most efficient and sustainable homes that can be built and now does this alongside his son and partner Connor. When he's not working, Kyle enjoys biking, sailing, being outdoors and spending time with his wife, Christy, and his three kids.Connor FaginConnor is a graduate from Baylor University. He has always been deeply involved in community adventures; he helped to develop the Dallas High School Meals on Wheels advisory board, which is still active today. He is a self-proclaimed techie and stays on the leading edge of any technology that can enhance his own life as well as the customers. “I truly enjoy the fact that the changes I help people make to their little slice of the American Dream is something that they will enjoy and be proud of for years to come.”Fagin PartnersKyle and Connor are extremely proud of the homes they have built and are building; their focus is on their customers, the environment, and the union of the two.The homes built by Fagin Partners are efficient, sustainable, consistent and include the forethought to make it the most comfortable home for their customer. The attention to detail in each home allows each customer to be sure their home is uniquely theirs.Fagin Partners sees the value in doing good for the environment but also appreciate that these efficiencies greatly impacts the customers. Through innovative materials and technology we create our unique yet comfortable homes. We are constructing homes today to prepare for the changes and needs of the future.At Fagin Partners, we sacrifice profit on each project to create a high preforming product that pays our customers back every month, year after year.Fagin Partners Passive House Press'An experiment unlike any other': Father-son duo build first house of its kind in TexasA spec Passive House was built in Dallas. Will buyers bite?Designer Spotlight: Fagin Partners and the Passive HouseThe First Passive House in TexasPASSIVE HOUSE – A First of its Kind Home Makes its Mark in Texas by Making None.Texas-Sized Savings: Texas’ First Certified Passive Home Runs on $2 of Energy a DayLook Inside First 'Passive House' in TexasSense Energy Monitoring SystemEvery electrical device has a unique electronic signature — its own voice. The Sense home energy monitor listens to those voices through current sensors in your electric panel. It records them millions of times per second. Then advanced machine learning detection algorithms work to distinguish one appliance from another — to recognize each individual voice. Over time, more and more devices are discovered as the Sense community grows.https://sense.comFlo Smart Water Meter Monitoring Systemhttps://meetflo.comFlo by Moen is installed on the main water supply line to the home. Because it’s installed in-line, this allows Flo by Moen to monitor all water going into the home. The device has three sensors that actively monitor water flow, pressure, and temperature. These sensors, in combination with Flo by Moen’s algorithms, are what enable Flo by Moen to detect and protect the home from problems like leaks, burst pipes, etc.

Modern building materials are generally feats of engineering marvel - we’ve managed to manufacture countless high performing systems, yet it has often been at the cost of human exposure to harmful chemicals. But it’s not a hopeless situation. There are people who are helping the average consumer understand what’s what. Join Kristof in a wide ranging conversation with Gina Ciganik and William Weber from the Healthy Building Network.Gina CiganikChief Executive OfficerGina has been growing and scaling HBN’s vision since assuming the CEO role in 2016. Previously she served as Senior Advisor for Housing Innovation, establishing and leading the HomeFree initiative, an expansion of HBN’s healthy materials work into the affordable housing sector. Recognized as a national leader in transforming human and environmental health through strategic partnerships, innovative business practices, education, and leading-edge research, Ciganik has a proven track record of creating healthier spaces where we live, work, and play. Prior to HBN, she was Vice President of Housing Development at a Minneapolis-St. Paul area affordable housing development organization, where she spent two decades creating thousands of healthy, affordable homes. Her efforts culminated in the construction of The Rose, a 90-unit apartment building in Minneapolis that set a new national standard for healthy materials.William WeberCollective Impact DirectorBilly oversees the leadership and design of HBN’s communities of practice and educational activities, with a focus on the HomeFree Affordable Housing Initiative. A widely sought and accomplished speaker, technical advisor, and facilitator on innovative projects regionally and nationally, Weber’s work focuses on the integration of sustainability and architecture through applied research, exploring and developing tools to evaluate and compare what are often disparate aesthetic, economic, and environmental goals. Before joining HBN he served in multiple roles over a nearly 20-year stint at the University of Minnesota, including as Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Building Research and Lecturer at the School of Architecture. Weber has both a B.A. and M.Arch. from the University of Minnesota.Home Free Website - 9 Product CategoriesHealthy Building NetworkHomeFreeHomeFree ProductsChlorine/PVC ResearchChlorine and Building Materials (A Global Inventory of Production Technologies, Markets, and Pollution Phase 1: Africa, The Americas, and Europe)Antimicrobial ResearchHealthy Environments: Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients In Building Materials HPD RepositoryHPD Public RepositoryBuilding Science Report - Multivariate Insulation AnalysisMaking Affordable Multifamily Housing More Energy Efficient: A Guide to Healthier Upgrade Materials

Live from The HIVE Conference held in Austin, TX in 2018, we’re proud to bring you one of the brightest minds in the discipline of indoor air quality research, Dr. Brett Singer from Lawrence Berkley National Labs. Join Kristof as he discusses a broad array of topics that affect every single person who breathes inside a house (so, ya know, most people). It’s our last episode of 2018 and season 4 so we made sure it’s extra long (almost an hour and a half!). Enjoy it and we’ll see you next year!________________________Dr. Brett C. Singer, PhD, is a Staff Scientist and Principal Investigator (PI) in the Energy Technologies Area of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr. Singer is the Leader of the Indoor Environment Group and co-leader of Indoor Air Quality research in the Residential Building Systems Group.Dr. Singer has conceived, conducted and led research projects related to air pollutant emissions, physical-chemical processes, and pollutant exposures in both outdoor and indoor environments. His research aims to understand the real world processes and systems that affect air pollutant exposures. His guiding professional motivation is to provide the scientific basis to inform energy and environmental policy.Dr. Singer leads the Indoor Environmental Quality project within the US-China Clean Energy Research Center Building Energy Efficiency Program.A major focus of Dr. Singer’s work over the past decade has been the study of environmental quality and risk reduction in high performance homes. The goal of this research is to accelerate the adoption of IAQ, comfort, durability and sustainability measures into new homes and retrofits of existing homes. This is achieved through the mechanisms of buildings codes and standards; training of builders and contractors; public education; and technology development – all supported by robust research. The IE and RBS research groups conduct in-home studies, controlled laboratory experiments, simulation-based studies and data analysis to identify the most effective and energy efficient air quality control strategies.Dr. Singer’s early career research examined on-road motor vehicle emissions and the effectiveness of California’s Smog Check program. His first project at LBNL examined the sorption of secondhand smoke compounds, an effect that contaminates materials and leads to extended odors and pollutant exposures. This work helped launch interest in the study of “thirdhand” smoke.Dr. Singer has authored or co-authored over 50 papers in archival, peer-reviewed journals and dozens of technical reports and peer-reviewed conference papers.Education and Honors:2016: Named to the Academy of Fellows of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.1998: Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.1991: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Temple University (Summa cum Laude).____________________________Lawrence Berkley National LabsFrom the infinite scale of the universe to the infinitesimal scale of subatomic particles, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Berkeley Lab – are advancing the scope of human knowledge and seeking science solutions to some of the greatest problems facing humankind. Scientific excellence and an unparalleled record of achievement have been the hallmarks of this Laboratory since it was founded in 1931.Thirteen Nobel Prizes are associated with Berkeley Lab. Eighty Lab scientists are members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors for a scientist in the United States. Fifteen of our scientists have won the National Medal of Science, our nation’s highest award for lifetime achievement in fields of scientific research, and one (Arthur Rosenfeld) has received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. In addition, Berkeley Lab has trained tens of thousands of university science and engineering students who are advancing technological innovations across the nation and around the world.Located on a 202-acre site in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram science lab in the national laboratory system supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Science. It is managed by the University of California and is charged with conducting unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines. Technologies developed at Berkeley Lab have generated billions of dollars in revenues and thousands of jobs. Savings as a result of Berkeley Lab developments in energy-efficient technologies – from cool roofs to window coatings to appliances – have also been in the billions of dollars.Berkeley Lab was founded by Ernest Orlando Lawrence, a UC Berkeley physicist who won the 1939 Nobel Prize in physics for his invention of the cyclotron, a circular particle accelerator that opened the door to high-energy physics. It was Lawrence’s belief that scientific research is

We just wrapped an unthinkable season 4 of The Building Science Podcast. We hope you'll join us for season 5 in 2019. Hear more about what we'll be discussing.

To support the 2030 Challenge, the American Institute of Architects created the 2030 Commitment Program, aimed at transforming the practice of architecture to respond to the climate crisis in a way that is holistic, firm-wide, project-based, and data-driven. Over 400 A/E/P firms have adopted the 2030 Commitment, and firms from all over the country have been tracking and reporting projects since 2010, with over 2.7 billion ft2 of project work reported in 2016 alone. Join Kristof as he interviews Nathan Kipnis of Kipnis Architecture + Planning as they discuss the 2030 Commitment and all topics in-between._____________________________________Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+CFounder & Principal, Kipnis Architecture + PlanningNathan Kipnis has spent his career practicing and promoting the importance of sustainability and energy efficiency in architectural design. A life-long interest was initially sparked during the 1973 energy crisis, and Mr. Kipnis designed his first solar home, located in Boulder, CO, when he was just 22 years old.Master of Architecture | Emphasis: Energy Conscious Design - 1985Arizona State University, TempeBachelor of Environmental Design - 1983University of Colorado, BoulderAIA National 2030 Commitment Working Group - 2014 to current (Co-chair 2018-2019)AIA Chicago 2030 Commitment Working Group - 2010 to 2016Citizens Greener EvanstonBoard of Directors - 2010 to 2014Renewable Energy Task Force - 2008 to currentThe architectural work designed by Mr. Kipnis has been widely published both locally and nationally.Selected awards and distinctions include:2015 - Elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. The award is given to those who have made significant contributions to the profession and society on a national level.2011 - Chicago Magazine Green Award2009 - Home of the Decade, Natural Home Magazine1999 - Green Homes for ChicagoA KAP design was selected for this international design competition and built."He is one of Chicago's new breed of up-and-coming architects, who blends excellence in architecture with a social conscience. Before the advent of air conditioning, before electricity, everything that was built related to nature. Nate understands that. He made a habit of it long before it was fashionable.” — Stanley Tigerman, FAIA and co-founder of Archeworks.Viewing the mission beyond his own practice of architecture, Mr. Kipnis’s leadership was instrumental in helping to develop the idea of an offshore wind farm in Lake Michigan off Evanston's shoreline. The work led to a Design Evanston Urban Design/Planning award, and the project is now on the DOE's list of potential offshore wind farm sites.Additionally, he currently serves as Co-chair for The National AIA AIA 2030 Commitment’s working groups. In this capacity, he assists architects with the AIA 2030 Commitment, whose goal is to design full Net Zero buildings by 2030.Nathan Kipnis also lectures extensively on topics related to sustainable architectural design and renewable energy. He has been an invited speaker at numerous symposiums and conferences, including at national AIA conventions, the Chicago AIA, Archeworks, GreenBuild, The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the Center for Green Technology in Chicago, and Northwestern University's “Green City Summer Institute,” as well as being one of the keynote speakers at the Mother Earth News Fair, among others.Recognized as Chicago’s premier award winning sustainable architectural practice, Kipnis Architecture + Planning (KAP) was founded in 1993 and is based in Evanston, Illinois. KAP has practiced the architectural design philosophy of 'High Design/Low Carbon™' long before it was in vogue. They are guided by the idea that architectural design excellence need not be sacrificed for principles of sustainability. Rather, they believe sustainable design expands the possibilities for innovative architectural forms, construction methods and the use of materials. A particular expertise is the architectural integration of passive solar and bioclimatic design. They are early signatories to the AIA's 2030 Commitment, rigorously working towards having their projects be 'net zero' for their energy use by 2030.____________________________________Architecture 2030 ChallengeThe urban built environment is responsible for 75% of annual global GHG emissions: buildings alone account for 39%. Eliminating these emissions is the key to addressing climate change and meeting Paris Climate Agreement targets. To accomplish this, Architecture 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge in 2006 asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 70% below the regional (or country) average/median for that building type.At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fo

What do heat pump water heaters, ERVs, and low static VRF systems have in common? You’re picturing them and we’re talking about them! Join Kristof in a wide-ranging discussion of building science topics with consultant John Semmelhack of Think Little.John Semmelhack is the owner of Think Little. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a member of the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) Technical Committee, and is a PHIUS Trainer for the Certified Passive House Consultant and PHIUS+ Rater training programs. He sits on the boards of the Passive House Alliance U.S. (PHAUS) and the Passive House Alliance U.S. – Capital Chapter.John is also a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater, a Technical Advisor to builders in the EarthCraft House Virginia green building program, and a BPI-certified Building Analyst. He is a graduate of the Leeds School of Business (no, not that “LEED”) at the University of Colorado at Boulder.Thanks to Passive House Austin for their generous support and partnership.

If your house could go down a highway at 70MPH, would you trust your architect and builder to make sure it’s not going to fall apart?Let’s face it - most people can’t build custom homes just like most people can’t afford a Lamborghini. It’s just not a financial reality for so many of us. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t want a car that doesn’t work well and it doesn’t mean we don’t want a high quality home to live in. It sure as hell doesn’t mean we don’t want a healthy environment for ourselves and our families. So what are the economic drivers of a healthy, high quality, affordable home? Join Kristof as he interviews Ben Broughton about the trends in construction economics, job site processes, market dynamics, and the ins-and-outs of quality.Ben Broughton Ben is the Design Build Operations Director for Ames Design Build and oversees the execution of all construction projects. He holds a graduate degree in Construction Science and Management, through which his passion for research resulted in publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is a building science student who uses his extensive experience in both commercial and residential construction to vertically integrate the land development and high-end residential components of Ames Design Build. Ben is a key driver of the company’s unique business model, which focuses on building to the highest degree of quality while adhering to exacting schedules and budget control in order to ensure success in each Ames Design Build project. Ben rejects the paradigm that you can't simultaneously be on-time, on budget, and achieve high quality.

Healthy, efficient buildings shouldn't leak. Leaky buildings are unfortunately a staple of our industry norm. As you know, making change in the construction industry is like turning a super tanker. It doesn’t happen quickly, but super tankers do turn. They use a trim tab to enable the large rudder to turn the shift. What is needed now is a fresh take on the societal forces resisting change in construction practices and energy code. We need a trim tab to start the process of countering these stuck forces. Enter a Duane Jonlin, a man with technical depth, a creative mind and a sense of humor. What he has accomplished through unconventional tactics in Seattle and Washington state is nothing short of astounding. The underlying strategy he used is one we can all use in our roles in life where we encounter stickiness and dogma from those who argue for the status quo. Listen with an open mind and enjoy the episode.Duane Jonlin FAIADuane Jonlin is has been appointed by two Governors to the Washington State Building Code Council and chairs its Energy Code Technical Advisory Group. Recently he was appointed by ICC to the 2018 IECC Commercial Buildings Committee. Prior to joining the City of Seattle, Duane was a principal at NBBJ, where he led regulatory compliance and quality management initiatives. He is a professional member of AIA and ASHRAE, with 30 years' experience designing civic and institutional work, and has architectural degrees from the University of Washington and University of Michigan. Duane is an active member of the AIA Seattle Code Committee, and he writes and lectures on energy efficiency and construction technology in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.Duane was also elevated in 2016 to the American Institute of Architects’ prestigious College of Fellows. The fellowship program elevates architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession (out of AIA’s membership of 88,000, only 3,200 members are distinguished with this honor). He’s also a really kind and funny person with a lot of great thoughts on how to affect change at a pretty substantial level.Episode SponsorSpecial thanks to the BEC:Austin for their generous support. If you’re in the Austin area, be sure to check out their upcoming event called Mutations In Building Skins. More info on their website: button below!

This week’s episode features an interview with Corbett Lunsford on the HOMEChem experiments that were being conducted alongside the filming of a brand new, building science focused show called Home Diagnosis TV (be on the lookout for that). Of course, we're really excited about the potential of Indoor Air Quality education coming to the masses. It's the future fulcrum point of housing and health care. The HOMEChem experiment (House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry) took place in the month of June 2018, incorporating measurements from over 15 research groups from 9 universities to identify the most important aspects of the chemistry that controls the indoor environment. The HOMEChem field study is expected to kick-start and energize the Chemistry of Indoor Environments community of scientists, while also answering interesting preliminary science questions on the chemistry of indoor environments in a real-world experimental setting. This brings an excellent opportunity for outreach to the broader scientific community and other stakeholders, such as other funding agencies, the local and national media, and the public.Corbett Lunsford wasn't always a building forensics expert- he used to play piano for ballerinas (among many other things). Since 2008, he has been educating and advocating for better performance testing in construction.Among his goals are to package building performance so it can easily be understood and used by professionals and consumers alike, for better buildings worldwide. Corbett believes that homeowners are not just aiming for efficiency or sustainability, but that we really want what all homeowners aim for: living in a better home, and getting a better life.Since 2009, Corbett has put on his Building Performance Workshop, and has hosted over 300 YouTube videos and 80 interviews for the Building Performance Podcast. He wrote the book Home Performance Diagnostics: the Guide to Advanced Testing, and developed the APT Reports software tool.In 2016 he and his wife, Grace, built the world's highest performance tiny house on wheels, the #TinyLab, and toured the US before settling down in Atlanta, Georgia.Of course, they’ve performed hundreds of comprehensive home performance tests and building investigations, keynoted for events including InfraMation, Habitat for Humanity Michigan, the Thermal Imaging Conference, the EPA, IR Info, etc, and presented courses in partnership with National Healthy Homes, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, the RESNET and Affordable Comfort (ACI) Conferences.Home Diagnosis TVWe're excited to share and help promote a brand new show that will air on PBS in 2019 called Home Diagnosis TV. Our friend and colleague, Corbett Lunsford, and his wife Grace have been working tirelessly the last few years to make this project a reality and we are so proud of the result. You may have seen Corbett & Grace before on their Proof Is Possible U.S. tour. You'll be seeing a lot more from us about this show as it launches.Here's the description from the Home Diagnosis TV website:“Home Performance Experts Grace and Corbett Lunsford created this 6-episode 30-minute series coming to your television in 2019! Shot in cities across the U.S. as part of the Proof Is Possible Tour, the show follows Corbett and Grace as they solve mystery problems of all types in homes new and old. Presented by Georgia Public Broadcasting with post-production by ECG Productions.”SixClasses.orgMany of the products we use every day contain chemicals of concern that may be harming our health. Many of these substances can be grouped into “Six Classes”, each containing similar chemicals. The Six Classes approach allows us to better understand these chemicals, their functions, where they are used, and how they can be avoided. It can prevent a cycle of “regrettable substitution,” whereby a phased out harmful chemical is replaced with a closely related chemical which may cause similar harm.The Sloan FoundationFounded in 1934 by industrialist Alfred P. Sloan Jr., the Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution that supports high quality, impartial scientific research; fosters a robust, diverse scientific workforce; strengthens public understanding and engagement with science; and promotes the health of the institutions of scientific endeavor.

Health is the new green - this message is seemingly everywhere these days. It's clear that a shift is underway in the way we think about our homes and buildings. A quality building does more than just use energy efficiently, it needs to provide for the occupants. This means recognizing that our clients will spend their time immersed in the air we create for them and that indoor air is a dominant exposure. Now is the time to get clear on how our homes and buildings relate to health, comfort and well-being and, more importantly, what to do about it. There are myriad known and emerging contaminants that negatively impact occupants. This episode will break this complex and daunting topic down into 5 clear and actionable principles. The 5 Principles Of A Healthy Home: (1) Start with a good enclosure(2) Minimize indoor emissions(3) Keep it dry(4) Effectively capture particles(5) VentilateThis episode will cover each step to make it clear why it matters and, more importantly, how to incorporate the benefits of this succinct  approach into design and delivery decisions. Once understood, these 5 concepts will help design and construction teams make decisions all along the project lifecycle. 

We got so much great feedback from listeners who loved the last crossover episode. So much so that we figured why not do it again? This week we're proud to present to you one of our favorite building-centric shows, The Edifice Complex. Hosted by our colleague Robert Bean (who has been on our show before) and our new friend Adam Muggleton, we're thrilled to bring you an episode of their show in which they interviewed our beloved Building Science Podcast host, Kristof.In this episode, topics discussed are as follows:1. How energy is a technology, not just a fuel,2. Air filters can be a poignant moment in life!3. How “health is the new green”You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder how you got to where you are now and so much more. Give their show a listen and share this episode with a friend._________________________________________The Edifice ComplexThe Edifice Complex Podcast with Adam Muggleton and Robert Bean is a show dedicated to helping you keep up with who in the world of property design and development is innovating and doing great work, perspective on the adjacent possible, and challenges to the status quo.__________________________________________Robert BeanRobert Bean is a Registered Engineering Technologist (R.E.T.) in building construction (ASET) and a Professional Licensee (P.L.(Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering (APEGA). A design practitioner, author, and educator with over 35 years’ experience.Robert is president of Indoor Climate Consultants Inc. and director of www.healthyheating.com an on-line resource serving as a technical interpreter and consolidator of academic research within building and health sciences.Robert is a past two-term ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and has received numerous industry awards for his contributions including the ASHRAE’s Lou Flagg Award and ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award. He serves on several technical committees related to physiology and the human environment, eXergy and sustainability; and radiant based HVAC Systems. Robert is also the author of numerous industry programs addressing indoor environmental quality and building systems.Robert works at the intersection of business, buildings, science, demographics, industrial design and product ergonomics.Adam MuggletonAdam has been immersed in property and construction for 37 years. Having worked in 20 countries and held leadership positions at several firms, Adam has a unique skill set derived from experience in property development, design team management, project management, and building commissioning.Adam is passionate about promoting the concept of Commissioning Management as an effective project management tool, to hand over buildings that actually work. He devises and delivers successful project, leadership and testing strategies that achieve optimum outcomes for those involved and affected.As an industry leader, Adam served on the CIBSE Commissioning Code “A” committee for the 1996 code re-write and the UK BSRIA steering group for Application Guide 16/2002 Variable Flow Water Systems. Adam also served as an international board member for the USA Building Commissioning Association.Adam’s focus is on property development as a:• Property Industry Blogger, Podcaster, and Philosopher• Chartered Project Management Surveyor (RICS)• Qualified Building Commissioning ProfessionalPhilosophically, the question is this, “why are zero defect, high-performance buildings not normally delivered?”

Kristof is away in Europe visiting his family so today you get me - your ever faithful producer Miguel. I’ve got a treat for you today - a surprise, bonus if you will, short episode of the podcast. It’s summer and it’s been a long hot summer here in Austin so we wanted to do something new and fun with a bonus episode so here it is.Today, my friends, we’re doing a CROSSOVER EPISODE. The Building Science Podcast proudly presents a crossover episode with The Build Show. If you haven’t heard of The Build Show yet, now you have. Matt Risinger of Risinger & Co. has a widely popular YouTube channel that you should check out after you hear this episode. It’s dedicated to building science, fine craftsmanship, and exploring the products and techniques available to builders today. Matt is a great human being, a good friend, a long time colleague, and a really excellent host. He’s got a great team of people including his other host, Jordan Smith and his producer extraordinaire Joey Puterbaugh.This episode is the audio from a video episode of The Build Show called How to Design and Install a Good HVAC System for the South. It was released this summer after Matt, alongside the Journal Of Light Construction’s Senior Editor, Ted Cushman, interviewed Kristof.