the Building Performance Podcast

Today we talk with Gord Cooke of Construction Instruction about his beginnings as a home performance expert, and ways to win homeowners and contractors to your side.

Today we talk with our first panel of experts, all top trainers in the U.S. home performance industry.   Scott Suddreth of Building Performance Engineering , Anthony Cox of the New River Center for Energy Research and Training , Brett Dillon of IBS Advisors , and Allison Bailes of Energy Vanguard all pitch into a spirited discussion on classrooms, mentorship, props, and real life.

Today we talk with Joe Nagan of Home Building Technology Services, the unofficial Research and Development department of the home performance industry. Joe is one of my personal heroes, and is a true Building Scientist, not just a practitioner, and he has special insight into practical applications.

Today we talk with Neil Moyer, researcher and trainer for the Florida Solar Energy Center , about what the Performance Path REALLY means, and what building performance was like over thirty years ago.

Today we talk with Paul Raymer, chief investigator for Heyoka Solutions and Ventilation Guru, about his book, his facial hair, and the reasons for all the fuss over fresh air in homes.

Today Corbett bounces off the walls with C.R. Herro of Meritage Homes as they discuss homebuyers, how to woo them, and why Meritage rocking the boat in homebuilding markets across the U.S.

Today we talk with Teresa Lopez of Green Energy Money about the future revolution of high performance home mortgages and the current problems that plague the financial system.

Today we talk with the larger-than-life Hank Rutkowski of technical HVAC fame, about the right and wrong way to condition our homes and the who, how, and why of the ACCA Manuals.

Today we talk with Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect for the Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office, about the government's top certification for high performance new homes.

Today we talk again with Don Stevens, National Research & Development Manager at Panasonic Eco-Solutions, about the history of ASHRAE 62.2 residential ventilation standard, and the upcoming changes in 62.2-2013.

Today we talk with Mark Kuntz of Mitsubishi Heating & Cooling about the latest and greatest in heat pump technology (that you can use in Montana) and the many applications of ductless mini-split HVAC systems.

Today we talk with Lew Harriman, director of research at Mason-Grant (www.masongrant.com) and author of such books as The Dehumidification Handbook, Measured Home Performance, and ASHRAE Humidity Control Design Guide, about the impending doom of buildings around the world, and how to stop it.

Today we talk with Michael Hobbs (SRA/LEED GA), president of Pahroo Appraisals and Consultancy and member of the Appraisal Institute , about the root of the problem of appraising home performance, energy efficiency, and 'green' features in a home.

Today we talk with Brett Dillon of IBS Advisors and the RESNET Chair of both Standards Development and Technical Committees, about new developments for HERS Raters.  Brett has a problem with authority, which makes him very likable, and he actually is the authority, which makes him intimidating (and us confused).

Today we talk with guru Gord Cooke of Building Knowledge and EEBA about how to get super-duper rich doing a fantastic job at building, retrofitting, and selling home performance.  "When I grow up, I want to be Gord Cooke." -Corbett Lunsford, Host

Today we talk with David B. Goldstein, author of the book  Invisible Energy , energy program co-director at the National Resource Defense Council, award-winning physicist, and all around nice guy.  His insight into the mortgage crisis, homeowner propaganda, and analyzing the housing market as a system are fascinating.

Today we talk with Travis Pate of Texas Classic Homes and John Harmon, a HERS Rater with Thermo Dynamic Insulation about how to build an awesome home, and why they're more successful at it than run-of-the-mill builders.

Today we talk with Sam Rashkin again, this time as the Chief Architect for the DOE's Building Technologies Program and the author of the new book Retooling the U.S. Housing Industry: How It Got Here, Why It's Broken, How To Fix It .

Today we talk with the uncomprable Dennis Stroer again about the finer points of HVAC design, dewpoint, warm climate subtleties, and the future of the industry.  Dennis is the founder and President of Calcs-Plus in Venice, FL (www.calcs-plus.com).

Today we talk with Rick Helwig, founder of one of the biggest weatherization contracting firms in the Midwest.  His crew of 75 full time employees is an awesome mix of family business with large-scale organization, and of high performance science with Chicago-style practicality. 

Today we talk with Bob Davis, one of the industry's most influential figures in the development of home performance HVAC testing (duct blaster, Delta Q, and more), about where the tests came from, and where they might be taking us.

Today we talk with Mike Gorman, the mind behind the business training and consulting firm TechKnowledge, on the disconnect between building science and business practice in today's rapidly evolving high performance contracting industry.

Today we talk with Pam Cole, Building Energy Scientist and technical support guru with the Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Energy Codes (the new International Energy Conservation Code 2012 being the most famous) are gaining ground across the country, and Pam's organization assists in their research, development, and implementation.

Today we talk with Gord Cooke of Building Knowledge and EEBA, an international HVAC and Builder Trainer.  Gord has some simple and brilliant approaches to selling high performance building to builders, contractors, and homebuyers.

Today we talk with Vikki Murphy, my personal favorite at BPI (the Building Performance Institute) and a delightful person, in addition to being the Director of Affiliate (training) Development and a past director of the New York Weatherization Directors Association.