On today’s podcast we are joined by Bryan Cordill, the Director of Residential and Commercial Business Development at the Propane Education and Research Council. Bryan has decades of experience in the world of propane and in the energy industry in general. We cover topics ranging from propane as a source of space & water heating, cooking, mobile energy including school buses, to combined heat and power systems. We also touch on propane as a refrigerant (R-290). You might be surprised at the ...
Jun 03, 2022•38 min
Matt Golden is Founder and CEO of Recurve a company that connects the dots between efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, and DERS (distributed energy resources). Recurve’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy by integrating behind the meter demand flexibility resources into the emerging carbon-free energy grid. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) can be described as small-scale electricity generation and storage devices that are generally connect to the grid...
May 27, 2022•51 min
Max Rohr (formerly with Rehau as the Marketing and Academy Manager for Building Solutions) spends some time explaining for us the process of creating and marketing products to move energy in water, that is radiant heating and cooling systems, as well as plumbing applications with Pex. We learn about both Max’s background and the background of the Rehau company which has 20,000 employees in 55 countries and operates in 5 distinct market areas globally. This episode was recorded in February 2020....
May 20, 2022•26 min
I was impressed with Austin Klokus when I first met him on a trip to Kalos Services (The Orr Family HVAC/Mechanical business in Clermont FL) a few years ago. He was working as a senior videographer at the time where he had soaked up knowledge from Bryan Orr and others and taught himself the skills necessary to do fulfill this role. I loved it when he used the phrase “air is stuff” in one of his videos to convey the message that air has mass. I saw him again in person recently at the 3rd Annual H...
May 13, 2022•26 min
I can easily summarize this episode with a single quote from Craig’s LinkedIn bio: “Remember that we are all teachers and need to invest in others to succeed.” You may have heard of Craig; as his HVAC Training books and YouTube videos continue to grow in popularity. Find him on the AC Service Tech Channel on YouTube. He’s always been a problem solver including solving the problem of teaching himself how to write some of the most thoughtfully developed HVAC training materials out there. https://w...
May 06, 2022•53 min
I’m so pleased to welcome my friend Steve Coscia to the podcast! You may have heard of him; he focuses on training customer service skills especially in the world of HVAC. As a master communications trainer, he gets his points across via memorable story telling. He holds awesome in-person training sessions (he has been to TruTech Tools twice!) and has books, newsletters, materials, and videos, all of which can be found though this website and YouTube channel: Links below https://www.coscia.com/ ...
Apr 22, 2022•41 min
In today’s podcast we hear from John Sheff who was the director of Public and Industry Affairs for Danfoss at the time of this recording. We learn how John’s passion about energy efficiency, decarbonization and sustainability combines with his professional experience in Public Affairs, Government Relations, Project Management and Business Development to help develop strong solutions that meet our industry's needs. We hear about the barriers to deep energy retrofits, limitations of the push for e...
Apr 15, 2022•30 min
Tom Jackson has a passion for the HVAC Trades and it shows through in what he does as leader of Jackson Systems and Supply. Tom is a true entrepreneur following where his customers lead him. His company focuses on product development and support and solves some real head scratcher problems with products and services that you won’t find elsewhere. Services like Filter Fetch – making it easy on contractors for their customers to do the right thing. You’ll hear about his vision and perspectives and...
Apr 08, 2022•50 min
The title for this episode could mean a couple things: “Getting an early start” as in developing an early morning routine “Getting an early start” as in beginning to learn the trades in high school Well, Elana Day takes the second meaning to an extreme. Join us as Elana and her dad, Jordan, describe how she has become a LinkedIn phenom with a video of hers gathering thousands of views in a very short time. Elana started at age 5 and now, at age 9 has quite a repertoire of projects completed. You...
Apr 01, 2022•20 min
This is my first interview with a founder of a publicly traded company and my second interview with a European guest! Meet Erlend Bolle, whose life journey took him from working at CERN to a building a global, publicly traded company that innovates consumer and professional grade radon and indoor Air quality Monitors. His team’s initial goal was to create a product relevant for all in volume production that improves people’s health. Learn how the team at Airthings works to understand consumer ne...
Mar 18, 2022•30 min
Brett approaches sustainability with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. He is the Program Manager at GreenHome Institute, has been involved in residential sustainability since 2008, and holds a bachelor's in Sustainable Business. Brett has provided consulting and verification services on thousands of residential green-certified living spaces and certified four projects as a LEED Green Rater. Brett oversees education services providing training or moderations for hundreds of events with thousands of ...
Mar 11, 2022•35 min
Russ King is a rare breed. He is equally inventor, author (both technical and fiction), software developer, design practitioner, instructor and installer. Above all that, he is passionate, thoughtful, kind, smart and loves to share what he knows. If you get a chance, go see Russ present some time. You can find Russ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-king-m-e-70342913/ He’s got a really cool blog with an awesome tagline: “Offering good advice, whether you want it or not.” https://ru...
Mar 04, 2022•41 min
Joe is one of the coolest guys I know. He probably doesn’t think of himself that way. He’s been so influential in changing the perception and understanding of IAQ and healthy homes in the last few years. And he is SO PASSIONATE about getting people to understand. He is always testing products and building props and animations to teach others. If you get a chance, go see Joe present some time. You can find Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemedosch You can learn more about the Haywar...
Feb 25, 2022•47 min
Jason Earle of GotMold.com gives a fascinating tour of his personal journey and how he ended up breaking the price barrier for lab testing of mold in the air. Jason has set up a special landing page for our listeners: https://www.gotmold.com/trutech AND… a 10% discount code just for you! Trutech10 This episode was recorded in January 2022.
Feb 18, 2022•37 min
Paul’s a unique, but complex man: equal parts scientist, inventor, business owner, practitioner, and author. Paul’s technical website is https://www.heyokasolutions.com/aboutus.asp and his publishing website is https://www.paulhraymer.com/ , Salty Air Publishing The Residential Ventilation Handbook is a must read for those in building science. This episode was recorded in Sept 2021....
Feb 11, 2022•39 min
I’m so happy to bring the voice, thoughts, and ideas of Michael Kane to the Building HVAC Podcast! You’ll hear about the art and process of product development that has evolved through 2 generations of ownership of this family business. Michael is a man of patience and empathy and greatly respects the dignity, value and skill of the trades, He hopes to create the best products for people in the trades to better do their jobs. You can learn more about UEI products at Michael’s website: www.UEites...
Feb 04, 2022•39 min
Since January is Radon awareness month, I’ve invited 2 people deeply involved in the Radon industry to be my guests today. Dawn Oggier, is Manager of Market Development for RadonAway and National Director for AARST – the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists ( https://aarst.org/) Brian Kennihan is the Business Development Manager for AprilAire. If you are catching this episode before or during your visit to the 2022 AHR Expo you can visit with both guests! Dawn at booth N861...
Jan 28, 2022•38 min
Brian is on a mission with this company, Module Housing. Their tag line says it all: Designed for people and planet powered by offsite construction. Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangaudio/ Or via his website: https://www.modulehousing.com/ This episode was recorded in July 2019.
Jan 21, 2022•30 min
“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi I’m certain many of our listeners have had ideas for products of their own. Trade practitioners are clever and innovative on the job and so, able to see new ways to “connect the dots” and solve a problem. How do you go from idea to successful product on the market? How long does it take to develop award winning products? Today we are joined by Bob Belvick, Product Manager for the HV...
Aug 06, 2021•31 min
“Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.” Elizabeth Arden Fortune may come knocking, but sometimes the sound is very faint, almost imperceptible. When someone takes you under their wing, how do you know if that’s where you want to be? If the bug to start your own business bites, what do you do next? Where can you learn from others’ experience and insights? We’re pleased to welcome the very successful HVAC contractor Hal Smith to the podcast. Hal shares with us the story of ho...
Jul 30, 2021•30 min
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Jimmy Dean Many of the people I meet in the industry have interesting stories. There are struggles and challenges in all their lives, our lives. What if a real police state was limiting your options in life? How would you direct your will? Your desire? Your drive to achieve? I met our guest today, Genry Garcia during the AHR Expo in Orlando in January 2020. As I learned more about him, I found h...
Jul 23, 2021•30 min
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke The topic of how to manage and improve indoor air quality comes up a lot lately. With all this interest come the offer of many “solutions” and devices. Wish you could learn the back story of and technology inside some of these devices? Ever wonder about the international perspectives on the topic of IAQ? The Building HVAC Science podcast is pleased to welcome our very first guest from another continent! List...
Jul 16, 2021•45 min
“Astronomy’s much more fun when you’re not an astronomer.” Brian May COVID-19 has impacted the way people interact for many months. Especially the way people interact with each other in spaces outside their homes. What do the air quality scientists have to say about the management of indoor air? What kind of measurements are significant and important? Will this pandemic impact the way we do things in HVAC after it subsides? Steve Pascuzzo, manager of testo’s commercial division, joins us to disc...
Jul 09, 2021•40 min
“When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It’s very simple.” Paulo Coelho The construction is finished. Bill and Mairlyn moved in months ago. What’s it been like for Bill living inside his theories? Were any late course corrections necessary? Any regrets? In this podcast, recorded in April 2021, our friend Allison Bailes (The Energy Vanguard) becomes host and interviews/investigates if the SpohnHome as truly a high-performance home. Bill and Allison exchange th...
Jul 02, 2021•46 min
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris His head has been wrapped up in building and HVAC performance since the late 1980s. How does he sort through bringing his personal vision for his own home to reality? What’s it like actually living inside your theories? In this podcast, recorded in May 2020, our friend Nate Adams (from HVAC 2.0) becomes host and interviews Bill Spohn (normally this podcast’s host) on the journey he and Mari...
Jun 25, 2021•50 min
“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” Jonathan Swift Listeners to this podcast know, it is often very hard to explain what it is we do. When I try to explain this, people’s’ eyes and ears glaze over as I get into the technical descriptions of the invisible elements that make a home more comfortable, safer, healthier and energy efficient. (Wait, can an ear actually glaze over? I think ‘ve done it.) What if there were an independent, third party means to capture and make visib...
Jun 18, 2021•42 min
“Data, data everywhere, and not a place to sync!” Eric Preston Sensor data and oftentimes, the corresponding analytics are popping up everywhere you look. What is happening in the HVAC world? In newer systems there are some options; most on the high end. But are there any reliable solutions that address more basic systems and the aftermarket? Here comes SensiPredict by Emerson. Emerson has designed a full eco system that helps to deliver new benefits for contractors; benefits that homeowner valu...
Jun 11, 2021•27 min
“ Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. ” Michael Jordan Years ago if someone said to me: “I’m building a Net Zero home.” I would have thought, “What are they giving up doing so?” Fast Forward to 2021: In addition to me living in a prospective Net Zero Home (check out other episodes of this podcast), there are now several national Net Zero competitions with utilities, raters, builders and homeowners working together to raise public awareness of this accelerating tr...
Jun 04, 2021•37 min
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn Ben Franklin Bill is joined by Peter Troast of the Energy Circle and Steve Byers of Energy Logic to share their many reasons for attending the National Home Performance Conference year after year. Sign up for the 2021 National Home Performance Conference (all virtual) now at: https://events.building-performance.org/national/ Learn more about our guests and their businesses at these links: Energy Logic: https://theenergylogic....
Mar 25, 2021•18 min
“I’ve been struck again and again by how important measurement is to improving the human condition.” Bill Gates Lend us your ears as Kaleb and Bill have a very fun interview with Ben Reed, VP of Products at TZOA, a relative new comer to the world of measurement products. TZOA’s approach with the Haven product is totally unique: a retrofittable residential air quality monitor that lives inside the central air handler and can control 1 or 2 systems that can impact air quality. Not just measurement...
Feb 05, 2021•53 min
