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Building HVAC Science — Education
Building HVAC Science

Exploring the science, people, and practices shaping better buildings.

The Building HVAC Science Podcast dives into both the technical and human sides of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building performance. Hosted by industry veteran Bill Spohn, CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, the show reflects Bill’s passion for advancing the HVAC craft through practical knowledge, curiosity, and conversation.

With more than 250 episodes and counting, the podcast features discussions with contractors, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and thought leaders from across the HVAC and building science communities. Each episode blends field experience with broader industry perspective, helping professionals stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and build stronger businesses.

Topics include:

New tools, technologies, and field practices
Real-world case studies and lessons learned
Building performance, comfort, and indoor air quality
Industry innovation, workforce development, and the human side of the trades

Whether you’re a technician in the field, a business owner, a manufacturer, or simply curious about how buildings breathe and perform, Building HVAC Science connects you with the ideas and voices moving the industry forward.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This show is a production of TruTech Tools®, LTD.

Latest Episodes:

EP130 The VETO ProPac story with Roger Brouard (August 2023) Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

"Art and sweat built the tool bag."

This statement summarizes my interview with Roger Brouard, the founder of VETO Pro Pac.

Roger shares with us the full story of his work life which lead him from a Fine Arts degree in Sculpture to becoming a carpenter and building wooden lobster boats – which is not an easy task, "it's like making a zucchini out of wood."

Roger describes frustrations in using various tool boxes and tool bags that became the impetus for him creating the VETO ProPac product line

Roger opines on how to become a successful inventor: solve a real problem, have solid conversations, believe in your product, have conviction.

"I wanted a name that would convey the quality and durability of our products. Veto is a strong word that means to forbid or to stop something. I wanted our customers to know that our tool bags were built to last and would never let them down.

After working as a carpenter for over 25 years, I became fed-up with the various tool-carrying devices available on the market. In my view, they all fell short: from metal or plastic boxes to soft-sided mason bags that hold tools in a horizontal pile up. In these configurations, unnecessary tool hunts result in "D & D" (dig or dump) and challenge your patience as you search for the tool you need.

Attempts at improving tool carrying and storing have been made over the years, such as pocketed fabric inserts that fit in and around a 5-gallon bucket. However, the "deep" pockets aren't deep enough, tools stored in the exterior pockets are exposed making transportation and storage awkward, and a pile up of interlocking tools on the inside hint at the handicaps of the other bags.

Storing the loaded bucket in your truck requires a clear and secure area, and if not wedged or bungeed, "LFT" (Loose Flying Tools) occurs with sudden stops. It can be a real mess especially if the bucket bottom has become a catch all for left over nails and drywall screws. It is because of this long list of frustrations that I created VETO PRO PAC."

Learn more about the company here: https://vetopropac.com/

Veto tool bags are available at a wide variety of wholesalers including: https://trutechtools.com/vetopropac

This episode was recorded in August 2023.

EP129 Free remote training is key to the future of HVAC/R with Jennifer Manzo (August 2023) Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Jennifer Manzo is a powerhouse. I do not know where she finds the time to do all she does.

From running a HVAC business and raising a family in Maine with her partner Valentino Valeriani, to creating the HVAChicks Coalition to running a free tech support line (see below) and much much more, I really do not know how she does it!

In this podcast she mentions it is one of her goals to help save the trades by allowing people who cannot afford training to get into the industry.

Listen in to Jennifer's inspirational story and I encourage you to connect and support her efforts.

Email Jennifer at misfitsofhvac@gmail.com

HVAChicks Tech Support: 856-390-4055 24/7/365 -- also on Facebook messenger

Misti: Sunday and Tuesday

Jennifer: Monday and Wednesday

Dirk: Thursday (Residential)

Valentino: Thursday and Saturday (Commercial)

Jimmy: Friday

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Now co-hosting the Misfits of HVAC podcast with Ryan Hughes,

Misfits of HVAC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@misfitsofhvac

Misfits of HVAC podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/misfits-of-hvac/id1678018673

SkillCat for free EPA-608 certification and free training.

https://www.skillcatapp.com/

HVAChicks on social media:

https://www.tiktok.com/@hvachicksjennifer

https://www.instagram.com/hvachicks/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/groups/812323020341191

HVAC In Recovery:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094781724166

This episode was recorded in August 2023.

EP128 He blinds us all with science or not? with Allison Bailes (July 2023) Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

(He blinded us with science) (Science) (Science) (Science)

Actually he spends a lot of time illuminating us with details about building science.

Join us as Allison Bailes, "a well known troublemaker and a general pain in the asterisk" shares with us the career path that lead him to form the Energy Vanguard.

You see, a vanguard is the group of people who are at the forefront of a new movement or idea. They are the innovators and pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

And yes, Alison's business, The Energy Vanguard, moves the art and practice of well-applied building science forward by providing excellent HVAC design services, training, an awesome blog and newsletter and more recently a book!

"A House Needs to Breathe or Does it?, now available to TruTechTools, from the author and on Amazon, is a well written book describing the basic science of residential buildings.

While describing what is right, cautioning what is wrong, a few myths do get busted along the way.

Be sure you catch the discussion of the COVID Risk Reduction measures put in place at the Building Science Summer Camp Symposium in 2022.

Allison's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonabailes/

Links mentioned in the podcast:

The Energy Vanguard Website: https://www.energyvanguard.com/

Allison's book:

at TruTech: https://trutechtools.com/hardcover-a-house-needs-to-breathe-or-does-it.html

From The Energy Vanguard: https://energyvanguardstore.com/

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/House-Needs-Breathe-Does-Introduction/dp/1958711128

The Blog: https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/

SIgn up for the Newsletter: on any page on the website: https://www.energyvanguard.com/

The Building Science Boogie Band: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkwlJZKQY0aFU6nmE5BL6Xw

Joe Lstiburek's Building Science business with links to MANY Articles: https://buildingscience.com/

Bill Bahnfleth, Penn State University Prof: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbahnfleth/

How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal filter box: https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/

Also a modification called a Comparetto Cube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7eL2OAnqc8

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

EP127 ACCA Standards help contractors build knowledge and improve performance with Wes Davis (July 2023) Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Wes Davis joins us to provide some definitions, insights, and perspectives on HVAC Codes and Standards from his role as Director of Technical Services at ACCA - The AirConditioning Contractors of America.

We dig into details of the ANSI/RESNET/ACCA Standard 310, The Standard for Grading the Installation of HVAC Systems, published in June 2020.

The 310 standard was written mainly to help builders earn RESNET HERS credit for installing AND commissioning residential HVAC systems. RESNET HERS scores are given to new construction homes for a host of benefits described here:

https://www.hersindex.com/know-your-homes-hers-index-score/hers-index-understanding-the-hers-score/

Yet, the 310 standard, like the other ACCA standards, manuals, and publications (see links below), allows any technician or contractor to quickly assimilate industry and institutional knowledge from all the stakeholders that built, reviewed, and commented on the publications. This is a terrific way to build a better business.

We also touch on the vast array of other member benefits avail at ACCA, like MIX groups, advocacy, forums, and technical support.

A great way to immerse yourself and your business in this world of knowledge and connection is to attend the next ACCA Conference in October in Indianapolis: https://www.acca.org/accanextlevel/home

Wes' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesdavisacca/

Links mentioned in the podcast:

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312430000?

Link to Download ANSI/RESNET/ACCA Standard 310: https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/ANSIRESNETACCA_310-2020_v7.1.pdf

ACCA History: https://www.acca.org/about-acca

ACCA Full list of member benefits: https://www.acca.org/join

Contractor accreditation: https://www.acca.org/qa

ACCA Manual S, link to download and public review: https://www.acca.org/viewdocument/public-review-of-additional-modific

ACCA OnLine Store: https://www.acca.org/store#/storefront

Advocacy for the HVAC trade: https://www.acca.org/advocacy/government-relations

Educational info: https://www.acca.org/certification

Resources: https://www.acca.org/resources

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

EP126 Forced to learn the fundamentals in order to make the math and science work with Jim Bergmann (July 2023) Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Let me take you back to a time, long, long ago, when Jim Bergmann did not understand everything in HVAC.

Listen in as we delve into the story of Jim Bergmann and how the communities of HVAC, and more recently building science, helped to encourage and challenge Jim to become the HVAC guru that we know today.

From his self-described times of annoying the crap out of Bill Spohn, to his overlapping experiences as a contractor, educator, product specialist, TruTech Tools founder, iManifold designer, and mQ master…Jim has had, no he has created, a unique career ladder to find his reason for being.

We get into a couple of mQ topics including the new guided workflows (coming shortly) to the topic of data quality and data integrity that drove the need for paid tests.

Here is a cool quote from this Episode: "Don't service the mistakes you sell."

We finish up with some forward-looking advice Jim gives to contractors and equipment and tool manufacturers.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

mQ website https://www.MeasureQuick.com

Jim's Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-bergmann-2968178/

The Building Science Boogie Band: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkwlJZKQY0aFU6nmE5BL6Xw

Waffles Twitter account: https://twitter.com/mqwaffles

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

EP125 Breaking the cycle of settling for the status quo with Shelby Breger (July 2023) Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

Connect and support: a kind and noble mission that can span all elements of humanity.

Connect in one way to understand.

Connect in a second way to bring information streams together.

Conduit Tech is developing a means of rapidly connecting technical information to help HVAC contractors excel - what a cool basis for the name of a new company!

In this episode, I am joined by Shelby Breger cofounder of Conduit Tech who explains the motivations and synergies that brought she and Marisa Reddy together to form a company that is creating a technology solution to save time on load calculations.

The software uses LIDR enabled iPhone and iPads to collect spatial details that are rapidly turned into a load calculation (think 15 minutes to a load calc for 2400 sq ft).

The speed and accuracy should impress customers with targeted comfort and sizing insights, 3D models, and detailed project planning.

They are in the early stages of product launch (a paid beta) with 50 users.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Conduit Tech's website https://getconduit.com/

Shelby's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-ann-breger/

Mariss's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisareddy/

Shelby's email: Shelby@getconduit.com

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

EP124 Business Philosophy, why did we hire an ELK? With Eric Kaiser (July 2023) Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

A simple episode where Eric Kaiser (ELK) and Bill Spohn (OverKill Bill) riff on TruTech's business philosophies: Core Values, Purpose and Niche and what kind of actions we take to put these words into action in the world. Also what we feel it means to be a good steward to the industry.

OH and cheer on #HVACLIFE team in the Maine 70.3 Ironman on July 30, 2023 featuring Chris Hughes (TEC-13.2 miles running), Chad Simpson (Simpson Salute – 56 miles bicycling) and our own Eric Kaiser – 1.2 miles swimming).

https://www.ironman.com/im703-maine

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Alabama Power training center: https://www.alabamapower.com/business/business-customers-and-services/hvac/hvac-training.html

RESNET 2023 Proposals: https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/RESNET_Session-Topics_TOC_06-27.pdf

RESNET 2023 Session Voting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YQ0ezGAXFrmdwdaRht8K1Ga9YdGZQ7OhP9yWQDoxMGU/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1 RESNET Conference: https://www.resnet.us/conference-2023/

Magazine article on Building Science Summer Camp: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/insulation/highlights-from-building-science-summer-camp_o

Article on the 2022 United Association Event: https://www.pmmag.com/articles/104405-ua-builds-toward-the-future-with-68th-annual-instructor-training-program

TEC Train the Trainer Event: https://energyconservatory.com/september-2023-hvac-system-performance-train-the-trainer/

HPC New England: https://building-performance.org/events/regional/new-england/

This episode was recorded in July 2023.

EP123 Business owner feature When's a good time to think about succession with Laurie Barkman (June 2023) Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

This episode should be helpful to business owners.

However, anyone working IN a business should find it interesting to know more about one of the topics on the mind of many business owners: business succession planning.

After walking the walk of leading a $100M family-owned business through their transition, Laurie is now a guide to business owners providing a structured process to plan successful transitions of their companies.

Laurie hosts a podcast, Succession Stories (link below), has written a book: The Business Transition Handbook (link below) and is an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.

I have both been a guest on her podcast and read her book.

Laurie has a tremendous depth of knowledge and experience and easily understood way of speaking and teaching on a topic so near and dear to her heart.

Laurie's links:

Website: https://smalldotbig.com/

Podcast: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/succession-stories-podcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrCRoEBQhh-SP1BDwnhMZA/videos

The Business Transition Handbook: https://a.co/d/6HEY3Ap

Email: lbarkman@smalldotbig.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

This episode was recorded in June 2023.

EP122 Applying disciplined interrelationships leads to better buildings with Bryan Uhler (June 2023) Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Bryan Uhler calls himself a naturally observant builder.

This personal characteristic has served him well as understands the residential construction market with some keen observations.

Join as Bryan explains how he came to learn about building science, later building it into all projects.

Also, hear about how he found this podcast by mistake!

Here's cool description from of his brother's YouTube that shows these traits run in the family:

The purpose of this channel is promote knowledge and education in construction. Here in the US, many of us don't have any formal training or education in construction, but we learn through experience. My goal with this page is to promote learning and to that end I will show what I've learned over the years. I want to be very clear, what I show here is just a starting point. I am not claiming the tricks and methods I use are the best way to do any one thing, but rather are the end result of 20+ years of refinement with many more years to go. What I hope is that you as the reader/viewer will have an open mind and be willing to share your suggestions. Let's all view ourselves as learners first, teachers second. Then all of us will progress together.

Bryan's links:

Website: https://pioneerbuildersonline.com/

Contact: https://pioneerbuildersonline.com/contact/

Bryan's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/pioneerbuildersinc

His brother's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDg_Mo6aJAOEnlGI4iilQw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-uhler-48537577/

This episode was recorded in June 2023.

EP121 An unapologetic solocast with Bill Spohn (June 2023) Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Listen in as Bill chats with… himself!

Again!

He shares some recent, personal and business encounters and discussions that left an impression on him.

We hope you find them interesting.

This episode was recorded in June 2023.

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