EP230 Beyond Smoke and CO: The Case for Natural Gas Alarms with Marc A. Adams (July 2025)
Release Date: 08/08/2025
EP231 Reimagining HVAC Sales: How Eden Is Modernizing the Home Upgrade Journey with Josh Koplin (July 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn welcomes Josh Koplin, co-founder of Eden (), to talk about how digital tools are reshaping the HVAC sales experience. Josh shares his unique journey from building power plants in Japan—where he was immersed in a heat pump-centric culture—to co-founding Eden, a company aimed at bringing transparency and ease to HVAC sales through technology. Eden offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for HVAC contractors that acts as a 24/7 digital salesperson. It allows homeowners to get instant, customized equipment quotes based on a...
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EP230 Beyond Smoke and CO: The Case for Natural Gas Alarms with Marc A. Adams (July 2025)
Building HVAC Science
“Incidents drive policy. Policy drives law.” – Marc A. Adams “You don't want to do the Scooby-Doo dance if you smell gas—evacuate and call 911.” – Marc A. Adams “An electronic nose is a better solution than relying on your own.” – Bill Spohn In this compelling episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser speak with Marc A. Adams, Vice President of New Cosmos USA, about natural gas safety and the innovative gas detection technologies behind the DeNova Detect brand. The conversation begins with Marc's fascinating career journey from telecom to...
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EP229 Smart Sensors, Healthy Patients: The Future of Healthcare IAQ with Renee Jacobs (July 2025)
Building HVAC Science
“IAQ is no longer just a maintenance issue—it’s a strategic lever for improving patient outcomes and financial performance in healthcare.” “Saving a single dollar in energy for a hospital is like generating twenty dollars in patient revenue.” “The big message: it’s not as big a lift as it used to be. Smart IAQ solutions are now turnkey and data-driven.” In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, host Bill Spohn is joined by Renée Jacobs, a seasoned expert in healthcare construction and building automation. Renée shares her career journey from hands-on...
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EP228 GRIT Camps: Where Trades Meet Transformation with Leilani Orr and Ty Branaman (July 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser sit down with two passionate leaders from the GRIT Foundation—Executive Director Leilani Orr and Head of Training Ty Branaman. Together, they unpack the origin story, purpose, and transformative impact of GRIT Camps, which introduce youth to the skilled trades in immersive, hands-on ways. The conversation explores how GRIT—which stands for Growth and Resilience in the Trades—isn't just a clever acronym but a mindset. Through personal stories, Leilani and Ty reflect on the deeper "why" behind the camps:...
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EP227 From Toolbelt to Trainer: Adam Mufich’s HVAC Journey (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this wide-ranging episode, Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome longtime HVAC pro and educator Adam Mufich to the podcast. Adam shares his unique path through the industry—from growing up in a third-generation HVAC family and starting his own company, to becoming a trainer at the National Comfort Institute (NCI). The trio dives into how social media unexpectedly played a pivotal role in Adam’s professional growth, helping him connect with future collaborators through YouTube live streams and online forums. They explore Adam’s evolution into technical writing and training, his thoughts...
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EP226 Three Miracles and a Heat Pump: Fixing Retrofit Policy from the Ground Up with Abhi Katamneni & Nate Adams (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this insightful episode, Bill and Eric are joined by Abhi Katamneni from Efficiency Canada and Nate Adams, also known as the House Whisperer, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of home performance, policy, and how HVAC contractors can play a central role in the electrification and decarbonization of housing. Abhi shares lessons from his ride-alongs with contractors across North America, emphasizing how real-world experience shapes policy that actually works. Nate dives into his shift toward consumer education and the systemic problems he’s observed in program design and...
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EP225 Beyond the Image: Lessons in Humility and Heat Transfer with Matt Schwoegler (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this engaging and insightful episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Matt Schwoegler, founder of Blaze Infrared and longtime thermography educator. Matt shares his unexpected journey into the world of infrared—from a marketing career in the ski industry to teaching thousands about heat transfer and thermal imaging. With deep humility and clarity, he walks us through critical lessons from his 20+ year career, including some humorous—and humbling—stories from the field. Matt discusses how interpreting thermal images isn't as straightforward as it...
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EP224 Beyond Vapor Compression: Smarter DOAS with Liquid Desiccants with Phil Farese (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this in-depth episode of Building HVAC Science, hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser sit down with Phil Farese, CEO of Mojave HVAC, to explore the cutting edge of desiccant dehumidification technology. Phil, whose career began in physics at Cornell and research at Princeton before moving into consulting at McKinsey and leadership roles at NREL, Enphase, and now Mojave, brings a rare mix of scientific rigor and market savvy to the HVAC space. The conversation traces the evolution of liquid desiccant systems and Mojave’s unique approach that combines vapor compression and liquid...
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EP223 AI Without the Hype: Real-World Automation with Tersh Blissett (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this high-energy episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser welcome Tersh Blissett—entrepreneur, podcaster, and automation enthusiast—for a deep dive into how AI and automation are transforming service businesses. Tersh, known for running multiple HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies, shares his journey from podcasting beginnings to becoming a Zapier expert and automation evangelist. He explains how AI voice tools, custom GPTs, and platforms like Notebook LM and PhoneTap are helping streamline operations, improve call conversions, and create more consistent...
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EP222 Airflow, Action, and Ideas: Brent Davidson’s Mission to Elevate Heat Pump Pros (June 2025)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser welcome back Brent Davidson, founder of the U.S. Heat Pump Summit, for an energizing discussion that soars from glider flights to the frontlines of heat pump education and adoption. Brent shares the story behind launching the Summit—from a hunch inspired by his solar-industry background to a growing movement that now brings together top contractors, technical experts, manufacturers, and rebate program leaders. The goal? To improve both the business and field deployment of air and water-based heat pump solutions. Brent...
info_outline“Incidents drive policy. Policy drives law.” – Marc A. Adams
“You don't want to do the Scooby-Doo dance if you smell gas—evacuate and call 911.” – Marc A. Adams
“An electronic nose is a better solution than relying on your own.” – Bill Spohn
In this compelling episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser speak with Marc A. Adams, Vice President of New Cosmos USA, about natural gas safety and the innovative gas detection technologies behind the DeNova Detect brand. The conversation begins with Marc's fascinating career journey from telecom to public safety, highlighting how his expertise in machine-to-machine and IoT communications now supports life-saving initiatives in the utility space.
Marc shares sobering statistics on gas-related incidents and explains the critical need for early-warning natural gas alarms in homes, businesses, and public spaces. The discussion covers the evolution of gas detection—from basic beeping detectors to smart, battery-powered devices that communicate over wireless networks to utilities and mobile apps. The trio also explores real-world tragedies, regulatory landscapes, and how education and advocacy can bridge the awareness gap around gas safety.
The episode wraps with a call to action: gas is an essential and generally safe energy source, but detection matters. Marc encourages listeners to understand the risks, install alarms, and engage with resources like DeNovaDetect.com and PreventNaturalGasDisasters.com to stay informed and protected.
DeNova Detect: https://denovadetect.com/
Mark’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcaadams/
What to look for in a natural gas alarm: https://denovadetect.com/blogs/posts/ul-1484-standard-gas-alarm?srsltid=AfmBOorlCy9ethVYqhgle7MMGNjkxeZF77GG-pz-WFepEwBE8iJ1FoRY
www.preventnaturalgasdisasters.com
UL 1484 Standard (Natural Gas Alarm): https://explorestandards.ul.org/gas-detectors.html
NFPA715 (Installation of a Fuel Gas Alarm): https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-715-standard-development/715
UL234 standard (CO Alarm): https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?UniqueKey=46614
NFPA 72:
https://edufire.ir/storage/Library/elam/NFPA%2072-2019.pdf
This episode was recorded in July 2025.