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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:

EP30 Making Beautiful Music in the Home with Grace & Corbett Dec 01, 2018

Show notes

You'll note no last names in this episode title, as I know Grace & Corbett so well.

And I think you need to know them better, too.

Grace McPhillips Lunsford and Corbett Lunsford have embarked on a road to change the culture of how home performance is perceived by homeowners and galvanize them into action.

A major section of this road opens in January 2019, where their TV Show, Home Diagnostics launches on PBS.

You can help spread the word on this topic by asking your local PBS station programmer to carry it. Learn more about this and see show clips ("the sizzle reel") at www.HomeDiagnosis.tv

We explore how the topic of home performance is so personal and how the human characteristics of curiosity and playing games (metrics) can transform the market where all can benefit.

We also learn what a "tent pole" is and how it has not yet been erected in the field of home performance.

Find out how these brave souls continue to walk the talk after their 32-city tour in a tiny lab and into the construction of their new high-performance home in the Atlanta area.

Listen as we gain insight into how their technical minds work in a musical fashion: how melody, harmony and timing are analogous to the relationships between materials and systems in the home and the sequencing and consequences of the decisions made in choosing, using and install these systems.

This is a really rich episode, so please listen closely! And I will have them back on the podcast.

The hub for all their activities is found at www.buildingperformanceworkshop.com/

EP29 Stop Waiting on the World to Change, a conversation with James Childre Nov 18, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Bill chats with James Childre, founder of RedPointMontana.com, a home performance specialist.

James shares with us his enthusiasm for the field and describes his persuasive persistence in preaching home performance in his role as a rater and a home inspector.

James discusses his approach with contractors and consumers as well as where he looks for improving at his trade.

We explore the topic of making change happen and not losing faith in spite of the apparent slow movement in the industry of home performance.

A review from his website well characterizes James: thorough, professional and considerate.

"I knew that James would be thorough in his inspection, Professional in the way he handled himself and be considerate in answering my sellers' questions."

You can reach James by email at James@RedPointMontana.com or visit his website at www.RedPointMontana.com

EP28 The Happy Scientist at Refrigeration Technologies Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

After 31 years in business, 3 major career changes and 10 products (and counting) later, John Pastorello shares with us how, and more importantly why he built his business, Refrigeration Technologies.

John shares with us how growing up in the Atomic Age spurred his curiosity about the atom and yearning to be a nuclear physicist.

Fast forward 30 years later and John has managed to create a successful family owned and operated specialty chemical business focusing on all aspects of the air conditioning and refrigeration trades.

Learn from John how he approaches his work and gain some insight on how he transitioned from bench chemist to HVAC Contractor, then contracting business owner to the founder of Refrigeration Technologies.

Oh, and we also find out how Nylog got its name and how this product was developed by accident.

You can reach John at JP@RefrigTech.com or visit their website at www.RefrigTech.com

EP27 Paradise found? Home performance contracting in Hawaii with Blake Reid Sep 01, 2018

Show notes

Blake Reid shares with us the challenges and rewards of doing home performance work in Hawaii which has the most expensive energy, 12 climate zones, no energy code, an active volcano, and an aggressive state climate goal.

As a knowledgeable, ethical and honest "wiz kid" contractor, Blake made a huge decision and moved his family from Ithaca, NY to Hawaii to "set up shop" as a home performance contractor.

Listen to Blake describe some of his motivations to move as well as why he choose the name www.TerraWattHome.com for his company.

Blake shares many of his business techniques which meld with his personal philosophies and encourages all contactors not to "get stuck".

Listeners are encouraged to go to his website and read his blog posts, and if interested, fill out a contact request to get in touch with Blake.

EP26 Where does LEED lead you? A Chat with Charlie Cichetti of GBES.com Aug 17, 2018

Show notes

What is LEED?

Who is involved in LEED?

Why should I care about LEED?

In today's episode, Bill Spohn welcomes one of the leaders in the green building industry, Charlie Cichetti, Owner of Green Building Education Services (www.GEBS.com) and the Sustainable Investment Group (www.SIGEarth.com).

Charlie covers the history of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as well as recent changes and where things are headed in the future. We hear about the shift in focus from buildings to the people that work, live and play in buildings.

Charlie shares with us details from his career and passion for the industry and the work he does. He also hosts a podcast where he recently interviewed Bill Spohn. You'll find it here: Green Building Matters Podcast, Episode 26:

Several times we note the Well Building Standard (www.wellcertified.com) as well as other standards and a new health oriented commercial building certification sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control (US CDC) called FitWel (www.fitwel.org)

EP 25 The Future of Housing: Reflections on the 2018 HabitatX Conference Jul 05, 2018

Show notes

What will housing look like in the future?

Who are some of the leaders?

What are some the topics driving this industry?

Bill Spohn welcomes back Chris Dorsi, contractor, educator, author and founder of HabitatX.com to give an overview of all the great discussions held at the 2018 HabitatX conference.

We discuss the human aspect of housing which ties in intimately with the nature of this conference; it's about the people. We take a walk through the 3 days of the conference* discussing how the structure of the agenda has evolved, who the participants are, including the 3 HabitatX Fellows that were sponsored this year. (Learn more about the fellowship application process by contacting CDorsi@HabitatX.com.)

* follow the agenda at www.habitatx.com/2018-summer-national-conference/agenda/

We touch upon the timely topics of passive house construction, healthy homes, building material content disclosures and generating consumer demand for high performing homes. Check out the resources at www.loveschackarchitecture.com, www.PearlCertification.com and www.HaywardScore.com and www.transparencycatalog.com to learn more.

New this year is the publication of the HabitatX journal at Medium.com. See there the write ups that mirror this year's agenda: www.medium.com/habitat-x-journal. Check it out.

You don't want to miss this conference next year… the 2019 agenda will start to take shape by Fall 2018, so check back frequently at www.HabitatX.com

Ep 24 Building a thoughtful home, career and life with Chris Dorsi of HabitatX May 19, 2018

Show notes

Bill Spohn welcomes Chris Dorsi, contractor, educator, author and founder of HabitatX.com. Chris describes the current arc of his career which he describes as serial interventions starting with cutting timber for housing.

Chris shares with us his very thoughtful, respectful and practical perspectives on the housing industry, with a focus on building better habitats for people. We discuss passive houses, factory-built homes and the lost cost of space that no one wants to live in.

You'll also be amongst the first to hear about his new initiative: House and Home: The New Pattern Language where Chris seeks to place in the context of today's world the concepts set forth in the 1977 publication: A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, et al.

In this episode, amongst many other topics, you'll learn why he founded HabitatX and the meaning for the name for this un-conference/movement.

EP 23 AirQuest- Bill Spohn's take on airflow measurements, Part 4 Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

Show notes AirQuest 4 In this episode, Bill Spohn continues where he left off in Episode 3 of his AirQuest series, discussing airflow measuring methods and techniques. Bill covers vane anemometers as well as the garbage bag method (bag inflation device or BID) For a free copy of the ANSI standard mentioned in this episode go to www.bit.ly/RESNET-380 If you'd like to see a BID in action, the EPA Energy Star program created this explanatory video which can be viewed at this link: www.bit.ly/380-BID For a 4 part video lesson by Bill, start with lesson one on YouTube, at this link: http://bit.ly/AirFlowVideos If you are interested in learning more, you can contact Bill at Bill_Spohn@BlueCollarRoots.com

EP 22 AirQuest- Bill Spohn's take on airflow measurements, Part 3 Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

Show notes AirQuest 3 In this episode, Bill Spohn continues where he left off in Episode 2 of his AirQuest series, discussing airflow measuring methods and techniques. Bill Covers the TrueFlow measuring grid, air flow capture hoods and thermal (hot wire) anemometers. For a 4 part video lesson by Bill, start with lesson one on YouTube, at this link: http://bit.ly/AirFlowVideos If you are interested in learning more, you can contact Bill at Bill_Spohn@BlueCollarRoots.com

EP21 Super tight houses using standard construction- Ed Kisiel of EKAbuild Mar 13, 2018

Show notes

Today Ed Kisiel of EKABuild Corp. joins us to discuss the way he goes about constructing super tight homes using standard construction techniques. Ed describes his process and his respect for the House as a System concept: that is the envelope, mechanicals and architectural design all need to work together in harmony. He's an open minded civil engineer turned builder who has a thirst for learning more about building science, building materials and modes of construction. Some of Ed's favorite resources include Matt Risinger (www.youtube.com/user/MattRisinger), Allison Bailles (www.energyvanguard.com), Green Building Advisor (www.greenbuildingadvisor.com) and Joe Lstiburek (www.buildingscience.com). If you are interested in learning more, you can contact Ed via his website www.EKABuild.com

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