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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:

EP10 -The most helpful guy in HVAC- Interview with Gary Reecher Dec 18, 2017

Show notes

Today Bill speaks with Gary Reecher, a dedicated HVAC/R technician from day one. Gary discusses how his background in the US Air Force as an Environmental Systems Technician helped shaped his interest and approach to HVAC/R. Gary is very active in the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (www.RSES.org) and encourages listeners to look at attending a local, regional or national meeting, subscribing to the journal or looking at the excellent training books and webinars that they produce. Gary discussed the industry shortage of technicians and installers, and more importantly instructors. He encourages listeners to get involved if able and interested. Contact your local tech school and consider joining the advisory board, if nothing else. Gary is also involved with Skills USA (www.skillsusa.org ) which is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Gary's favorite online group is the www.HVACRSchool.com, their daily tech tips and their associated FaceBook page. Gary also supports the work of the Council of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Educators (www.carehvac.org). Gary continues to help the industry in ways small even though he is well past retirement.

EP9 - Building science and practice above the Arctic Circle-Interview with Griffin Hagle Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

Today Bill speaks with Griffin Hagle, Weatherization Manager of the North Slope Borough in Barrow (Utqiagvik), Alaska. Griffin discusses what lead him to live and work above the arctic circle, as well as some of the challenges and rewards in doing so. In the show Griffin mentions the HabitatX Conference (www.HabitatX.com) and an article on the unhealthy air in rural Alaska homes, featuring the work of Griffin's friend and collaborator, AJ Salkoski, who works with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/rural-alaska/2017/08/06/unhealthy-air-in-rural-alaska-homes-targeted-in-tribal-program/

EP8 - BPI- Building Performance through the eyes of Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI Dec 06, 2017

Show notes

Today's guest is Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI, the Building Performance Institute. BPI is the nation's premier organization for certification and standards-setting for home performance professionals. You will find them on the web at www.BPI.org which is also the site for building performance professionals. The BPI standards for home performance work can be found at www.bpi.org/standards. There is a separate site for homeowners at www.bpihomeowner.org with a blog for consumers found here: http://www.bpihomeowner.org/blog Everyone is welcomed to take the home quiz to see what savings building performance is available. Just type in your US street address! www.bpihomeowner.org/take-home-quiz We discussed the consumer trend towards an interest in Healthy Homes and noted the new BPI Healthy Home Evaluator Credentials (www.bpi.org/certified-professionals/healthy-home-evaluator) as well as the new organization support them called The Healthy Home Environment Association (www.myhhea.org ) Larry noted the key conferences to attend are those from the multifaceted Home Performance Coalition: www.homeperformance.org/ including the main conference coming up in April 2108 in Philadelphia, for info on that go here: www.homeperformance.org/conferences/HPC18

EP7 - Energy Rated Homes with Steve Baden Founder of RESNET Nov 29, 2017

Show notes

Today we interviewed Steve Baden the founder and present day executive director of RESNET: The Residential Energy Services Network. There are now 2 million US homes that are energy rated from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Listen to Steve discuss his background and motivations for starting RESNET, a home energy rating system that benefits consumers and builders. There is also good potential for enterprising HVAC Contractors who might add home energy rating on to their business. Links to topics discussed in the episode: RESNET's consumer facing website: www.RESNET.us RESNET's website for Professionals: www.resnet.us/professional Info on RESNET's annual conference, coming up in Orlando Feb 26-28, 2018: www.conference.resnet.us/ (Bill Spohn will be presenting on 3 topics at this event.) Link to the RESNET Standards mentioned in the podcast: www.resnet.us/professional/standards The ANSI/ Air Conditioning Contractors of American (ACCA), HVAC Quality installation standard, QI-5 You'll find several standards at this link: www.acca.org/standards/quality NREL: The National Renewable Energy Lab: www.nrel.gov/

EP6 - AirQuest- Bill Spohn's take on airflow measurements, Part 2 Nov 15, 2017

Show notes

In AirQuest part 2 Bill shares his depth of knowledge on airflow and measuring airflow including mass flow rate, CFM and much more..

EP5 - AirQuest- Bill Spohn's take on airflow measurements, Part 1 Nov 09, 2017

Show notes

In AirQuest part 1 Bill shares his depth of knowledge on airflow and measuring airflow including mass flow rate, CFM and much more..

EP4- It takes more than a good HVAC system to deliver comfort Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

It takes more than a good HVAC system to deliver comfort.

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Bill Spohn speaks with Robert Bean about the science of true human comfort. Some of his concepts are brutally logical and may cause you to rethink your approach to selling or delivering comfort. Find out what he calls "the pet rock" of construction.

Robert is a seasoned technologist, researcher and construction professional whose mantra is "Design for People; Good Buildings Will Follow." Listen to his perspectives on code grade construction versus construction that delivers full environmental comfort. He states that a key element is to learn the language of comfort before exploring too far.

Robert will dialog with you for free via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbeanret/. For LOADS of resources and to inquire about his consultant services, reach him at www.healthyheating.com/

Other resources referred to:

His 5-page article covering key points of his concepts: https://view.imirus.com/1166/document/12309/page/8

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2017 and User Manual, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, www.ASHRAE.org

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2016 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, http://www.ashrae.org/

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2007 -- Energy Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings, http://www.ashrae.org/

CBE Comfort Tool, Center for the Built Environment: http://comfort.cbe.berkeley.edu/

Cardinal Glass Tool: http://www.cardinalcorp.com/technology/applications/energy-calculator/

Positive Energy, leaders in the application of human factored building science™, https://positiveenergy.pro/

EnergyDocs, a leading Home Performance Company, http://energydocs.net/

Matt Risinger, Risinger Fine Home Building, https://www.youtube.com/user/MattRisinger, http://mattrisinger.com/

EP3 - Infrared Thermometers, Proper Use Oct 06, 2017

Show notes

Bill covers applications for infrared thermometers, how they can be effectively used, how they work and some common mistakes to avoid.

EP2 IAQ and Humidity w/ Nate Adams Sep 20, 2017

Show notes

Nate Adams from Energy Smart Ohio joins Bill on the podcast and talks Indoor Air Quality and Humidity Control in Homes.

EP1 - Welcome to the BHS Podcast HVAC 101-BS Style Sep 12, 2017

Show notes

In this episode Bill introduces the podcast and what it is all about by dropping some huge knowledge bombs about building science for HVAC professionals.

HVAC overview book mentioned: HVAC 1.0

Available for purchase at TruTechTools

https://www.trutechtools.com/HVAC1

Get $5 off using coupon code "bookme"

ACCA QI5: Quality HVAC Installation Specification for Residential and Commercial HVAC Applications

Available free at http://bit.ly/ACCA-QI5

AHRI 1260 Standard for Performance Rating of Portable Flue Gas Combustion Analyzers

Available free at http://bit.ly/AHRI-1260

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