Building HVAC Science

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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trevor Matthews shares with us his fascinating life story: from the moment he shifted his life interests from travel and surfing into the trades and as it led to forming the Refrigeration Mentor a training, education and mentorship program for the refrigeration trade. Some notable thoughts from this episode: "You can get a handle on anything with your mindset." "Be prepared to pay the price in time and effort to get what you want." "Important small experiences you have become your own." "You need to put in the reps: reading and studying to reach your goal." "Stay Focused. Don't drift." Trevor's links: Website: www.refrigerationmentor.com Contact: https://refrigerationmentor.com/contact-us/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RefrigerationMentor Trevor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejmatthews/ This episode was recorded in June 2023.