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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:

EP 110 Bill's rambling again, uh oh (March 2023) Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Bill explains some of the activities that are keeping him busy lately.

The National HVACR Education Conference https://www.escogroup.org/hvac/nhetc/default.aspx

The National Home Performance Conference

https://building-performance.org/events/national/

The National Comfort Institute (NCI) HVAC Summit

https://www.gotosummit.com/sessions/

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business FREE educational program

https://www.10ksbapply.com/

This episode was recorded in March 2023.

EP109 A new product concept for contractors interested in residential electrification with John Hoehn of Duckling (February 2023) Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

What's it like to build a tech product from the ground up?

How do you validate that a market exists?

What tools can you use to gain confidence that you are on the right track?

In this week's podcast, Bill Spohn is joined by John Hoehn, CEO of Duckling.

Duckling's mission is to help contractors help their customers on their journey to electrifying their homes.

John and his co-founder, Sudeep Yegnashankaran have deep backgrounds in software development. They have been working on Duckling over the last two years and are now recruiting their first customers.

Bill is honored to join their team as an advisor alongside Elliott Trice, who brings decades of experience in tech product development and design.

Keep your eyes open and ears peeled for what Duckling hatches in the coming year!

In full disclosure, Bill has a small financial interest in Duckling.

Duckling website: www.getduckling.com

Results from the contractor survey conducted in late 2022:

https://bit.ly/HVAC-electrify

Duckling one-page overview: https://bit.ly/Duckling-1-23

Are you a contractor interested in being a design partner with Duckling?

Fill out this quick form: https://bit.ly/Duckling-EAP

Electrification Panel Discussion at the 2023 HVAC School Symposium featuring Kimberly Llewellyn, Jim Bergmann and Bill Spohn* https://hvacrschool.com/events/4th-annual-hvac-r-training-symposium/electrification-panel/

* a small fee will gain you access to all recorded sessions from the Symposium for a limited time.

Learn more about Steve Blank, who guidance John mentions in the podcast:

https://steveblank.com/books-for-startups/

This episode was recorded in February 2023.

EP108 Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn share a recap of the 2023 AHR Expo (February 2023) Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

What do we do with our time?

What did I do with my time in the last week?

The Bangles said it best:

… Time, time, time

See what's become of me

While I looked around for my possibilities

In this episode, Bill is joined by Eric Kaiser where they share observations on products and events and the interesting people they engaged with during their 4 day excursion to the AHR Expo 2023.

The AHR Expo: https://www.ahrexpo.com/

SUPCO TradeFox site and application: https://www.supcotradefox.com/

TruTech TradeFox page: https://www.trutechtools.com/supco-trade-fox.html

Diversitech TradeInvent application: https://info.diversitech.com/tradeinvent-by-diversitech

ASHRAE Standard 221: https://hvactoday.com/ashrae-221/

REFCO Inverter Checker: https://www.trutechtools.com/Refco-Inverter-Check-Kit-wData-Flow-Monitor_p_4930.html

REFCO Gobi Condensate pump: https://www.trutechtools.com/Refco-Gobi

REFCO Combi Condensate Pump: https://www.trutechtools.com/Refco-COMBI-Condensate-Removal-Pump-Universal-Voltage

REFCO Karoo Condensate pump https://www.trutechtools.com/Refco-Karoo

JB Climate Class probes: https://www.trutechtools.com/jb-climate-class.html

Sauermann Combustion Analyzers: https://www.trutechtools.com/sauermann-combustion-analysis.html

This episode was recorded in February 2023.

EP 107 Bill Spohn explains what is keeping him busy lately (Feb 2023) Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Bill explains some of the activities that have kept him busy in the first few weeks of 2023.

The HVACR Symposium:

https://hvacrschool.com/events/4th-annual-hvac-r-training-symposium/

The AHR Expo:

https://www.ahrexpo.com/

Installing a new operating system at TruTech Tools: EOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpXL2SGfkBc

https://www.eosworldwide.com/

This episode was recorded in February 2023.

EP 106 Building Science collides with Health Science, the dawn of a new era with Joe Allen (Jan 2023) Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Today, I feel very in tune with this podcast's stated mission:

Building HVAC Science covers a broad array of topics in building science and HVAC diagnostics, as well as human comfort, health, and safety….; this show will take a deep dive into all things that relate to buildings and people in the built environment.

I was very fortunate to interview Dr. Joe Allen, an esteemed Indoor Air Quality researcher, presenter, and author, as we covered what Joe has observed and educated us on regarding the collision between two disciplines: building science and health science.

Joe shares his observations, strategies, and tactics that are moving us toward an era where buildings go beyond doing no harm to occupants but focus more on maximizing the benefit to the occupants.

Joe joins the growing list of people on this podcast who talk (all or in part) about indoor air quality or healthy buildings: Dr. Stephanie Taylor, Dr. Bill Bahnfelth, Joe Medosch, Larry Zarker, Nate Adams, Jason Earle, Cheryl Cieko, Dawn Oggier, Brian Kennihan, Ereland Bolle, Casey Grey, Ray Wu, Ben Reed, Kaleb Saleeby, Steve Pascuzzo, Big Clive, Ty Newell, Dick Kornbluth, and Jaques Touillion, amongst others.

Joe Allen's links:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephgardnerallen/

Harvard Faculty page:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/joseph-allen/healthy-buildings/

Kicking off the first White House Summitt on Indoor air quality in Nov 2022:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthybuildings/2022/10/13/dr-joseph-allen-presenting-at-white-house-summit-on-indoor-air-quality/

Healthy Buildings book on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Buildings-Indoor-Performance-Productivity/dp/0674237978

9 Foundations website:https://9foundations.com/

Follow Joe on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/j_g_allen

Tune up buildings article:https://deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/how-giving-our-buildings-tune-can-make-us-healthier

36 Tips for a healthier home:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/36-expert-tips-for-a-healthier-home/

This episode was recorded in January 2023.

EP105 What's a pretty good house with Dan Kolbert and Chris Briley (Dec 2022) Dec 30, 2022

Show notes

For several years, in southern Maine, a small group of building professionals have been getting together monthly to discuss building science.

Many topics are brought up for discussion: high performance windows, venting cathedral ceilings, moisture migration in wall assemblies, slab on grade details, etc. The conversation is informal and roams a bit.

At one of those meetings, one of my guests today, builder, Dan Kolbert, expressed frustration with the status quo, and even more frustration with the various rating systems that had him jumping through many hoops to prove that his work was in fact "green" and energy efficient.

Some find these systems costly in time and money and doing little to advance the project. Rather they are simply certifying them. So Dan simply stated, "I just want to build a pretty good house."

That's where this story begins….

https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/insulation/is-a-pretty-good-house-good-enough

https://www.thebsandbeershow.com/

https://www.prettygoodhouse.org/

https://www.prettygoodhouse.org/pgh-20

This episode was recorded in December 2022.

EP104 Live in a Home that Pays You Back with Anna DeSimone (Dec 2022) Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

Today's guest, Anna Desimone has done an awesome job compiling resources for consumers to learn about factors, features and benefits of building an Energy Efficient home.

Anna is author of Live in a Home that Pays You Back--A Complete Guide to Net Zero and Energy Efficient Homes, featuring national building programs in the U.S. and Canada.

This is not a technical deep dive, but more of a consumer reference for understanding the blueprints of Building Envelope, Thermal enclosure, HVAC, Lighting and appliances, water management and more.,

Winner of three national book awards, Anna lights the way for understanding the home buying and financing process. She has written more than 40 professional handbooks on the topic of fair and responsible lending, and often serves as industry expert on news media.

Links for more about Anna and her books:

https://annadesimone.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadesimone/

https://www.amazon.com/Live-Home-that-Pays-Back/dp/1039123481

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Live_in_a_Home_that_Pays_You_Back_A_Complete_Guide

This episode was recorded in December 2022.

EP103 Myth busting with Jason, Clifton and Eugene from ESCO (Dec 2022) Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

My three esteemed guests/amigos shed some light on common misconceptions in the HVACR industry. Catch the video version here: https://youtu.be/ZL5-sEOJj0c

We talk about fun topics like:

-Heatpumps are only for the south of the Mason-Dixon line

-A1 refrigerants are Non-Flammable

-A2L refrigerants are Flammable

-R32 is a replacement for R410a

-Reclaimed refrigerant does not have any value

-SEER2 has taken us by surprise

-Equipment brand names determine the quality, performance and longevity of service

Link to the Esco Group website: https://www.escogroup.org/

Link to the National HVACR Education Conference: https://www.escogroup.org/hvac/nhetc/default.aspx

Their video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@escogroup

Email Addresses for our guests:

Clifton Beck: cbeck@escogroup.orgJason Obrzut: jobrzut@escogroup.org

Eugene Silberstein: eugene@escogroup.org

The AHR Expo: https://www.ahrexpo.com/

This episode was recorded in December 2022.

EP102 The Smart Buildings Academy with Phil Zito (Dec 2022) Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

Listen in as Phil Zito describes the journey he has taken from being bored, to blogging to building a business that provides top notch online training and workforce development programs.

Formerly known as Building Automation Monthly, a newsletter and podcast in its early years, The Smart Buildings Academy has experienced rapid growth.

As the SBA says on their website: "If you've been looking for a way to take yourself or your building automation team to the next level. Then you're in the right place. One of SBA's guiding principles is to "Focus on the customer's profit".

Phil understands from personal experience the importance of focusing on training that not only develops BAS knowledge but also teaches how to "do" building automation in a way that is profitable and efficient.

If you are a BAS professional looking to grow your skills or looking to enter the BAS field, you owe it to yourself to check out the SBA.

Phil's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipzito/

Smart Buildings Academy:

website: https://www.smartbuildingsacademy.com/

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingautomationmonthly

LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3582469/

Oh, Phil also interviewed ME on his podcast recently:https://podcast.smartbuildingsacademy.com/387

This episode was recorded in December 2022.

EP101 Creating the world's largest virtual power plant with Shawn McLaughlin of Emporia (November 2022) Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to interview Shawn McLaughlin, after having been impressed with the simplicity and value of using an Emporia Vue Energy Monitor for a year or so before I met him.

Shawn shares with us his back story that led him from commodities trader to company builder: designer and manufacturer of a suite of powerful, yet inexpensive products used for smart home energy management.

Learn some new acronyms that you will be hearing more of in the future, such as disaggregation, FERC and DERM as we hear of his vision for building the world's largest virtual power plant (VPP) and his progress along that goal.

Shawn is a man of quiet confidence coupled with courage and enthusiasm. I think you will enjoy this conversation.

His LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-mclaughlin-86249215b/

Emporia Energy website: https://www.emporiaenergy.com/

This episode was recorded in November 2022.

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