The Building Science Podcast

Special Edition - Just Released. Listen and learn why you don't want to miss this event! Coming up next Friday 10/13/2017 here in Austin.  Join Kristof Irwin and guest experts Matt Carlton and Brian Roeder for lively discussion on the surprisingly rich topic of stucco cladding systems. You'll never look at a stucco wall the same way again. Special thanks to UltraAire for their generous suppor...

Join Kristof for a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Zoltan Nagy on intelligent environments and how building science principles are guiding predictive analytics to shape the future of building and home operations. As more intelligent buildings emerge, occupant-centric solutions to IAQ issues, mechanical issues, and energy issues can be addressed.  The Intelligent Environments Laborator...

It's time to find the reset button. Time to re-examine our view of what we know about delivering conditioned space to our clients, to ourselves. The upside potential in buildings is staggering. From some vantage points, it's astounding and inexplicable why the very places we live continue to be held in a laggard state of performance relative to what's possible. Our industry transition is held capt...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Stephen Colley on earthen construction.  Stephen currently practices architecture and runs his own architecture firm and is a long-time practitioner of green design and sustainable living. From 2010-2012 he served as the Program Manager in Green Initiatives for Palo Alto College in San Antonio developing training courses related to sustainable desig...

Noise can  have an adverse impact on people in offices, classrooms, hospitals and other commercial buildings ( European Agency for Safety & Health at Work, 2005 ), interfering with their daily activities at work or school and at home.  People’s performance levels and ability to concentrate can be negatively affected by noise  and it can make it harder for them to share knowledge...

How good should the building envelope be? How much energy should a building use? Finding answers require putting the building in context with the complex, interconnected, global networks of materials and resource flows in which they exist. Join Kristof for a wide ranging and slightly geeky discussion w Dr William Braham on systems ecology, exergy, emergy, and why a climax forest is a model for pow...

In this episode, Kristof interviews Sean and Ian Harris, the owners of a duct sealing company called Aeroseal of Austin  in Austin, TX. You'll hear discussion on why duct sealing is such a crucial component of healthy delivered air and energy performance of mechanical systems. Sean Harris has been developing his interest in residential home construction since participating in a remodel projec...

Join Kristof in a wide-ranging discussion of building science topics with consultant John Semmelhack of Think Little .  John Semmelhack is the owner of Think Little. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a member of the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) Technical Committee, and is a PHIUS Trainer for the Certified Passive House Consultant and PHIUS+ Rater training programs. He sits o...

In the continuation of our Indoor Environmental Quality series, Kristof discusses Indoor Light Quality with Keith Simon and Matthew Tanteri. This episode is sponsored by Risinger & Co.  Keith and Matt are so appreciated for being such rock stars and for appearing on the podcast more than once. We couldn't do it without your expansive minds! 

In this first of a two part series on VRF, The Building Science Podcast brings you a compelling argument for why VRF technology matters and will follow up with an episode about how to consider and utilize VRF technology on your projects. Thanks to the generous support of Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating , we're proud to bring you this latest installment of The Building Science Podcast foc...

In today's episode, we are joined by Keith Simon of BES/Terracon  and Dr. Allison Bailes of Energy Vanguard to discuss moisture issues associated with the use of spray foam insulation in attic assemblies. There's a little bit of background information on Joe Lstiburek's article called " Ping Pong Water & The Chemical Engineer " that you'll want to check out if you're trying to better unde...

In this special Halloween short episode, we explore a frightening tale of invisible specters in an otherwise beautifully designed home... all because nobody wanted to look at the mechanical design. 

In the continuation of our Indoor Environmental Quality series, Kristof interviews Robert Bean in a 2 part series on thermal comfort. Robert Bean is an industry leading thinker and engineer. We think you're going to love this interview. This episode is sponsored by Ultra-Aire Whole House Ventilating Dehumidifiers

In the continuation of our Indoor Environmental Quality series, Kristof interviews Robert Bean in a 2 part series on thermal comfort. Robert Bean is an industry leading thinker and engineer. We think you're going to love this interview.   Robert Bean is president of Indoor Climate Consultants Inc. and director of www.healthyheating.com . He is a Registered Engineering Technologist in Building...

This introduction marks the beginning of a series on Indoor Environmental Quality. It's one of the most important topics we can discuss because we're exploring intersections of the inextricably linked fields of health and building sciences. We will discuss the constituent parts of IEQ in detail in hopes that you come away more informed to make better decisions for your clients.

In this episode of The Building Science Podcast, Kristof explores all the great mysteries of water (especially the water you don't see). The Commonly Known Stages of Water Pure water is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Water can occur in three states:  solid  (ice),  liquid , or gas  (vapor). Solid water —ice is frozen water. When water freezes, its molecules move farther ap...

In this episode, Kristof interviews TreeHouse CEO Jason Ballard on his path into creating a more sustainable building supply retail space.  Growing up in a small town in Southeast Texas, our co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard developed a personal connection with the pine forest, coastal prairie, and “big thicket.” In exploring nature, he learned the intricate ways in which humans and the planet...

This episode will focus on the practical and philosophical motivations to shift the industry focus to a more comprehensive building process that integrate teams, systems, and deliver better results. We will attempt to provide clarity for creative and logical solutions that can enable architects and builders to make this kind of philosophical shift toward a more outcome based future. Join us a...

In this brief episode, Kristof runs down the basics of the vapor compression cycle existent in many HVAC technologies with which we're familiar. And the episode takes place in a van. So prepare yourself for the soothing background hum of the open road while Kristof records his thoughts with a mobile microphone. 

In this episode, Kristof interviews Keith Simon and John Posenecker of Building Exterior Solutions on how we can do better work in the construction and design industry. Keith A. Simon is a Registered Architect, Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), and Legacy LEED AP with over 10 years’ experience in architectural design and building enclosure consultation. Mr. Simon is a Senior Architect at...

In this episode of The Building Science Podcast, Kristof interviews Adam Reiser of Shelter Builders. We'll explore why construction practices aren't considered a public health issue and hear from Adam's personal story with a house that caused serious health issues. In 2013, Adam and his family found out that their beloved house was filled with a dangerous toxin that was making them sick. After dec...

Join The Building Science Podcast on a California adventure to learn about radiant heating and cooling panels made by Messana . Messana is a small company based in Italy and California with big ideas. They are passionate advocates of RADIANT COOLING , committed to change the way spaces are conditioned to improve the thermal comfort of their occupants, all while lowering the carbon footprint. We we...

In this episode of The Building Science Podcast, we interview the great Dr. Allison Bailes of Energy Vanguard Blog about all things HVAC.  From Dr. Bailes world renowned blog, Energy Vanguard:  Allison Bailes, III, Ph. D. "It took me a while, but I've finally figured out how best to use my PhD in physics ( University of Florida, 1998 ). I've always loved science, and I started off on the...

In this episode of The Building Science Podcast, we dive into part 5 of 5 on the control layers that we use to separate ourselves from the external environment. This episode explores the thermal barrier and how it interacts with the other control layers.

In this episode of The Building Science Podcast, we dive into part 4 of 5 on the control layers that we use to separate ourselves from the external environment. This episode explores the vapor barrier and how it interacts with the other control layers.