Building HVAC Science

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/

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

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/

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

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

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/

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

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

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