EP141 Sustainability is complex, why simplicity is more important than ever with Steven Biersteker (October 2023)
Release Date: 11/10/2023
EP164 Behind the Scenes at ACCA 2024: A Dialogue with Ed Janowiak (MARCH 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast recorded at the ACCA 2024 Conference in Orlando, Florida, Eric catches up with Ed Janowiak from ACCA. Ed and Eric virtually navigate the listeners through the conference, noting the mix of technical and managerial attendees. Ed emphasizes the necessity of technical knowledge in HVAC, especially evident in a conference setting. Eric and Ed reminisce about their longstanding acquaintance, having met at a previous HVACR symposium. In this casual yet insightful conversation, Eric and Ed offer glimpses into the dynamics of the ACCA...
info_outline
EP163 Lies, Damn Lies and Manometer Readings with Jesse Smith (MARCH 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Jesse Smith, a carpenter turned HVAC enthusiast. Jesse, who has written an intriguing article titled "Lies, Damned Lies, and Manometer Readings" for Asterisk Magazine, shares his journey from carpentry to specializing in high-performance building and energy retrofits. His early exposure to energy efficiency through his father's work, combined with his professional evolution amidst the housing bubble, laid the foundation for his deep dive into HVAC systems and home performance standards. Jesse...
info_outline
EP162 Inside HVAC: Codes, Standards, and Shaping the Future at ACCA 2024 With Wes Davis, ACCA (MARCH 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode recorded at the ACCA 2024 conference in Orlando, Eric Kaiser interviews Wes Davis, the Director of Technical Services at ACCA. Wes shares his extensive experience at ACCA, noting his nearly two-decade tenure and involvement in significant initiatives like code hearings and contractor accreditation efforts. He humorously remarks on his career progression within ACCA, crediting his rise to the retirement of predecessors and finding joy in leading a talented team dedicated to advancing HVAC standards and education. Wes details the core responsibilities and recent projects of his...
info_outline
EP161 Connecting the Dots: HVAC Excellence Conference Highlights and Industry Evolution With Josh Crawley & Casey Prater (April 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosted by Eric Kaiser, guests Josh Crawley and Casey Prater from TruTech Tools discuss their experiences at the HVAC Excellence National HVACR Education Conference held in March in Las Vegas, Nevada. They share insights on the conference's focus on education and technology advancements in the HVAC industry, emphasizing the passionate learning environment and the evolution of smart tools in HVAC practices. Josh Crawley, the sales manager for TruTech Tools, recounts his journey with the company and how it has evolved to prioritize customer...
info_outline
EP160 From Recovery to Revolution: The Jason Julian HVAC Journey With Jason Julian (February 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this engaging interview on the Building HVAC Science Podcast, co-hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcomed Jason Julian, owner of Julian Heating and Air in Arkansas, to discuss his remarkable journey and the evolution of his business. Julian's story is one of resilience and transformation, beginning with his entry into the HVAC industry as a recovering drug addict and felon in need of employment. His eagerness to learn and improve not only his skills but also the comfort and satisfaction of his customers propelled him from a temporary helper to a business owner dedicated to quality service...
info_outline
EP159 Blueprints to Bytes: How Russ King is Redefining HVAC with Technology With Russ King (February 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this podcast Bill and Eric interview their friend, Russ King, AKA Mr. Load Calcs from California. Russ has extensive background in HVAC, starting from his first job in 1988 doing load calculations and energy modeling for California's Title 24 energy code. He shares his journey from working with his mentor Marshall Hunt, through running a mechanical engineering department for a big energy consulting firm, to eventually starting a company with his son, Connor, and developing software: in 2018. King emphasizes the importance of feedback from HERS raters and others on tested houses to improve...
info_outline
EP158 Comfort, Co-ops, and Climate Care: Revolutionizing HVAC in Ontario With Victor Hyman (February 2024)
Building HVAC Science
Eric and Bill welcome Victor Hyman to the podcast. Victor is the Executive Director of Climate Care Cooperative, an Ontario-based HVAC contractors' cooperative focused on residential services. Victor explains that Climate Care has been operational since 1992, and he has been its Executive Director for three and a half years. He highlights the unique nature of a contractors' cooperative, detailing how it allows companies to share best practices, training, and financial benefits, likening the structure to a franchise system democratically controlled by its members. Victor discusses the role of...
info_outline
EP157 Heat Pumps, Homes, and High Tech Amply Energy's HVAC Evolution With Ed Smith and Eric Fitz (February 2024)
Building HVAC Science
In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, co-hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcomed special guests Ed Smith and Eric Fitz from Amply Energy. The group began by sharing their experiences at the recent HVACR school symposium in Florida, highlighting the significance of personal connections and shared knowledge in the industry. Ed Smith discussed his transition from operating businesses to co-founding Amply, driven by a desire to make significant impacts, particularly in sustainable agriculture and decarbonizing chemical manufacturing. The conversation touched on the growing...
info_outline
EP156 Inside the Toolbox- Rethinking HVAC with a High-End Twist With Chris Wisniewski (December 2023)
Building HVAC Science
In the episode Eric and Bill interview Chris Wisniewski, a high-end residential HVAC contractor. Chris shares his journey from having no initial interest in HVAC, influenced by his father's work, to taking over the family business after college. He emphasizes the importance of being in the field and understanding the technical aspects, leading to his interest in control systems and the evolution of his business from industrial to high-end and standard residential services. Chris discusses the business's transition towards high-end residential work in the city (NYC), incorporating standard...
info_outline
EP155 Sustainable Spaces: The Journey from Efficiency to Humanity in Design With Vali Homes (November 2023)
Building HVAC Science
In the podcast, Austin shares his experiences with sustainable building practices, particularly highlighting the initial venture into constructing a LEED platinum-level building to demonstrate that high sustainability standards can be achieved without excessive costs or complexity. He discusses the general approach where typical construction starts with existing methods and then adapts to earn additional certification points, which often leads to either more expensive or less effective outcomes. Instead, Austin advocates starting from scratch, focusing on creating healthy, durable, and...
info_outlineAnother post on LinkedIn is what got this conversation/episode started.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7104814299386171392/
Perhaps it was the architectural rendering of a piece of cake that caught my eye – well done Steven! (FYI as of this writing this post has 564 reactions, 59 comments and 45 reposts- that’s influence!)
Meet Steven Biersteker, architect by day and content creator by night. Here is his LinkedIn page:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-biersteker/
We explore a lot of topics in this episode including why Steven entered this field and how he got to where he is today. (My favorite part of every episode.)
Other notions we discuss:
Getting to low operational carbon is simple ... in theory.
We are running highly efficient buildings on high carbon fuels.
Citizens need to demand better and use energy smarter.
Designing highly efficient buildings is critical, but so is low-carbon electricity and smart users.
We learned that he’s writing a book (ABCs of Carbon + Architecture) because he sees a big problem: There is a huge gap between the know-it-alls and the know-it-nots.
His book will be simple to read, digestible, and most importantly brief (see the book outline below).
And also see below for 10 important questions about low carbon design for every architect and builder to ask themselves/their client.
It’s on all of us to work together, you can make a difference. Be willing to ask questions.
This episode was recorded in October 2023.
Here is a sneak peak of the key topics in his book:
CARBON LINGO - The Key terms you need to know
GLOBAL WARMING 101 - The basics, nothing more
SCOPING OUT CARBON - Who's scope are carbon emissions?
MEASURING CARBON - How we measure this stuff
WHOLE LIFE CARBON - Embodied & Operational Carbon
LIFE-CYCLE STAGES - EN15978 - A1 - C
EMBODIED CARBON - What's accounted for?
MATERIALS - Emissions & carbon sequestering
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS - The intro to Epd's
OPERATIONAL CARBON - The basics of emissions
ENERGY USE - How does energy impact GHG
REFRIGERANTS - What's the issue with refrigerants?
CARBON COMPARISON - So what is a ton of carbon anyway?
BONUS: 10 simple questions to achieve a low-carbon design.
1. Does this building need to be built?
No - Great, you just saved the planet.
Yes - Move on to question 2.
2. Does this building need to be built this big?
No - Build what you need and nothing more.
Yes - Move to question 3.
3. Is there an existing building we could use instead?
No - Let's try and build the best new building we can.
Yes - Renovated buildings reduce embodied carbon by up to 70%
4. Can we use a biogenic material as our structure?
No - Focus on less material and lower impact materials.
Yes - Stick frame and mass timber are great structural options
5. Can the building be designed to come apart?
No - Concrete is the worst material for disassembly.
Yes - Steel and Mass Timber should be bolted for disassembly
6. Can we fully electrify the heating & cooling systems?
No - Maximize energy efficiency through passive system design
Yes - Heat pumps will reduce your energy use by 3x's
7. Can we reduce our mechanical system size?
No - Large mechanical systems are expensive to operate long-term
Yes - Use south-facing glazing and passive ventilation
8. Can we specify biogenic insulation and cladding materials
No - Find the lowest impact insulation materials. Try EPS over XPS
Yes - Cellulose, hemp, denim, and wool are great insulators
9. Do the users know how to best operate the building?
No - Make sure users are aware of the passive systems that reduce energy use
Yes - A great building that isn't operated well destroys the design
10. Can we minimize the impervious site materials?
No - Large parking and sidewalk areas have a large impact
Yes - Grasses and natural areas create carbon sinks
Sustainable building design is complex, but there are some basic questions that will help make the most important decisions.