Building HVAC Science

"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 how he started and grew Halco Energy. We learn the ups and downs of growing an HVAC, Plumbing, (and more) contracting business in a mostly rural area of NY State with just 1-2 competitors. Hal uses straightforward thinking and simple insights to create a business where the goal is to earn customers for life. We also hear where Hal gains new perspectives and insights including the way he "snacks on learning." Hal is a hands-on business operator who knows and communicates with his customers. Hal Smith is founder and owner of HALCO Energy in Phelps, NY servicing Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, The Finger Lakes and surrounding areas of upstate NY. For more info go to: www.HalcoEnergy.com This episode was recorded in December 2019.

"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 his story truly inspirational. Genry is thoughtful, honest, and avid self-learner. He's also a successful business owner and devoted family man. While it now makes total sense, based on his approach to customers, I did not learn until lately that Genry has done degree work in psychology. Genry owns Comfort Dynamics, Inc. in Miami, FL. This episode was recorded in June 2021.

"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! Listen in as Clive Mitchell, better know as Big Clive, gives us his perspectives on a spectrum of IAQ improvement products from beneficial to downright dangerous. If you have not seen his YouTube Channel, you need to stop and look up BigCliveDotCom on YouTube. He's published thousands of dissection-like, teardown videos on a wide range of electrical and electronic products over the last 13 years. Clive largely focuses on "cheap junk" teardowns and publishes a video every 2 days. Yet he also finds time to ponder such challenging societal questions like: "Does pineapple belong on pizza?" "What happens when you re-distill Jägermeister?" He calls it the trashiest electronics channel on YouTube. Based on feedback, the bulk of his over 800,0000 subscribers seem to agree. Big Clive lives on the Isle of Mann, a 221 sq. mile island with population of 83,000 located in the Irish Sea. This episode was recorded in May 2021.

"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 discuss indoor air quality metrics, with a keen focus on managing the return to schools after COVID-19. Steve also shares with us his background, career path and his keen intertest in astrophotography and shares with us the 7 unusual features of Oumuamua - the first known interstellar object detected passing through our Solar System. Here is the link to the ASHRAE guideline for reopening schools and universities as mentioned in the podcast: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/reopening-of-schools-and-universities To learn more about testo products visit: www.TruTechTools.com/testo This episode was recorded in January 2021.

"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 thoughts on a variety of topics: A house needs to breathe Air as a bodily fluid Mean (and nice?) radiant temperatures and naked people Various proven (and some sketchy) means for improving indoor air quality Our favorite & reliable sources for information What's a Comparetto Cube? And more! Bill shares updates on what it's like living inside his theories. To learn more about the project you can follow Bill's blog at www.SpohnHome.com This episode was recorded in April 2021.

"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 Marilyn have taken setting out to build a high performance, likely NetZero, home. Listen in to hear what influences he used in making design and construction decisions. Hear of the goals he and his wife set at the beginning and how close they came to achieving them. Bill openly describes his thoughts on the challenges they encountered and how well the plans are working out at the time of this recording, when the house is in the final stages of finishing, but they have not yet moved in. To learn more about the project you can follow Bill's blog at www.SpohnHome.com This episode was recorded in May 2020.

"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 visible the values we build into high performance homes and retrofits? In this episode, co-founders Cynthia Adams and Robin Lebaron join us to explain how Pearl Certification is truly transforming the housing market. They're on a mission to make visible the invisible aspects that contractors know about. The elements that make all the difference in the comfort, health, safety, resilience, and energy efficiency of a home. They are achieving this by qualifying an elite network of contractors and real estate professionals. These professionals work to improve home performance and ensure Pearl Certified homes are properly marketed and valued. This isn't a one and done effort. As your customers improve their homes, they continue to get credit for these improvements over time. The value of their high-performing home becomes visible at the time of appraisal for refinance or sale. This is a nationwide for homeowners and the businesses that serve them with 45,695 homes Pearl Certified, so far. I encourage you to learn more about become Pearl Certification contractor: http://pearlcertification.com/contractors/ And here is information for Homeowners: http://pearlcertification.com/homeowners/ We have had guests from Pearl join us on this podcast before: Episode 14: CarFax for Homes with Bethany Profaizer and Amy Beley (1-17-18) Episode 18: HabitatX Reflections with Robin LeBaron (7-5-18) This episode was recorded in April 2021.

"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 value and are driving contractors wins. Providing peace of mind for both! These smart diagnostic tools have matured and now ensure verified installations and as well as remote fault detection. Joe Samel (Emerson) and successful Florida contractor Sam Troyer (Comfort Zone, Inc) describe for us real world experience with this impressive new technology that helps to differentiate Sam's pitch and his services. Contractors, like Sam, are using technology to successful separate their companies against their competition. Learn more about the product here: https://climate.emerson.com/en-us/brands/sensi/sensi-predict-for-contractors SensiPredict is available at leading distributors across the US and at https://www.trutechtools.com/sensi This episode was recorded in March 2021.

"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 trend showcasing the benefits of building beyond code requirements. Join us to hear Adam Nyborg (Tilia Restoration- the builder) and Joe Rando, a senior engineering assistant and HERS rater with GDS Associates, describe the Drive to Net Zero Competition in New Hampshire. We learn about the guests' background as well as get up to speed on details of the 2019 winning design, the process, and the competition. Mike Loughlin from Eversource (the utility sponsor for the 2019 winner) offers his contact info for anyone considering developing such a program in their area: Michael.Loughlin@Eversource.com For more info: https://nhsaves.com/blog/winning-drive-to-net-zero-competition-homes-combine-comfort-and-savings-2/ This episode was recorded in January 2021

"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.com/ Energy Circle: https://www.energycircle.com/ TruTechTools: www.TruTechTools.com