EP68 How low can you go? Achieving 2020's lowest average HERS score with Gene Myers - Thrive Home Builders
Release Date: 03/29/2021
EP 79 California Dreamin’ Collaboration Between RESNET and California Rating Providers on HERS-H2O with Ryan Meres and Russ King
RESTalk
“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” -Arnold H. Glasgow The ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 850 was developed over the course of years via consensus input from over 75 organizations. The standard was first issued in 2020 and is now seeing increasing use. Several steps needed to take place before the California Energy Commission’s accredited rating providers were approved by RESNET as HERS-H2O providers. At the same time, the demand for the H2O rating service had to be built along with the ability to provide...
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EP 78 RESNET 2022 Conference- Into The Future with Emma Bennett & Steve Baden (RESNET)
RESTalk
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” -Steve Jobs Events of the last year or so have it made it challenging for organizations to host live events. Many events, including the RESNET Conference went to a virtual format in 2021. What will the future hold for conferences in 2022? What will upcoming conferences look like? Will connecting the dots of the past conferences help us to know? Steve Baden and Emma Bennett join us to describe the plans for the 2022 RESNET Conference. We learn how the decision...
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EP 77 Taking Water Efficiency Efforts to New Heights with Jonah Schein (US EPA) & Ryan Meres (RESNET)
RESTalk
“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.” -Stuart Udall There’s no way around it. Water is essential to life. Water, like energy, is an environmental resource and requires (demands?) more attention from all. In fact, we’ve talked about water in 4 previous episodes of RESTALK over the last 4 years. How does the EPA WaterSense program address this topic? What are the updates in WaterSense Labeled Homes 2.0? How does the HERS H2O rating work? Seasoned water efficiency professional Jonah Schein (US EPA) and Ryan Meres...
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EP76 Meet the 2021 RESNET Emerging Leadership Fellows with Stewart Soleman and Drew Lynch
RESTalk
“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.” - J.P. Morgan Starting off a career in a new or even a related industry can be challenging as there is so much to learn. It’s not often a newbie gets a chance for “a seat at the table” at an early stage in their career. What industry perspectives do RESNET’s Emerging Leaders in have? Join us as the 2021 RESNET Emerging Leadership Fellows Stewart Soleman and Drew Lynch share their thoughts and perspectives on the HERS industry. Both Drew and Stewart submitted...
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EP75: RESNET Proposal on Factoring in Energy to Mortgage Loans with Steve Baden
RESTalk
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin How important are mortgage loans to the home performance industry? What could be the impact on single family home buyers if home energy costs were factored into the mortgage payment? How does this process make energy efficient homes more affordable for families? Most homeowners have heard of the term PITI – the summary of costs in a mortgage payment – principle and interest on the loan plus property taxes and insurance. And most all of us know the cost of energy to run a...
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EP74: HERS ratings and the PEG Fannie Mae Green MBS Program with Matthew Cooper
RESTalk
“We learned that economic growth and environmental protection can and should go hand in hand.” - Christopher Dodd How do the financial investment criteria of ESG- Environmental, Social & Governance – relate to the HERS rating world? What are FANNIE MAE Single Family Green Mortgage Backed Securities and what makes this program so unique? How could such a program help to elevate the recognition of HERS raters and the work they do? At long last, the HERS Index is breaking into the new homes mortgage market! Matthew Cooper from PEG joins us to help explain...
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EP73: Bill Spohn’s High Performance Home Journey hosted by Laurel Elam
RESTalk
“The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after, because without knowing that, you’ll never get it.” - Halle Berry How does a person deeply engaged in the world of home performance handle matters when it comes to building their own home? When it is “your own” you must strive to see the forest through the trees. What’s it like actually living inside your theories? In this podcast we spin the microphones around the table and welcome guest host, Laurel Elam (RESNET) who interviews Bill Spohn (normally the RESTalk host) on the journey he and...
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EP72: The future of the building industry resides in low carbon buildings with Dan Welch- Bundle Design
RESTalk
“The details are not the details. They make the design.” - Charles Eames Interest in net zero and low carbon homes is sweeping across the country. What drives customers in some smaller cities to ask for a net zero (plus) home? How can a small builder achieve these customer desires in a city that limits the options to energy retrofits of homes that are up to a century old? In this podcast we chat with Dan Welch founder of Bundle Design Studios – a business that grew out of his Masters work in architecture school. Dan walks the talk, living and working from a...
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EP71: Joint RESNET ICC HERS Rating Company Membership with Laurel Elam and Laurence Genest
RESTalk
"The whole point of collaboration is that you give and take from each other, and that’s how you create things that are totally new." - Virgil Abloh There is a logical tie between energy codes and HERS ratings. What is the value proposition for HERS rating companies to be involved with ICC? What qualifications do HERS raters bring to assist code officials? Laurence Genest (ICC) and Laurel Elam (RESNET) join us to describe the role that HERS raters can play in the verification of compliance to Energy Codes. We learn how a RESNET HERS Rating...
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EP70: ONE TREE PLEDGE and RESNET Collaboration with Michael Ziman
RESTalk
"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and the land." - Aldo Leopold Many of us reflect on the beauty and awe of nature. The images of clear skies and clean water are quite powerful. How did these powerful images put a builder on mission to make a difference, one tree at a time? Michael Ziman joins us on the podcast to describe the thoughtful research and personal reflection that drove him to create the One Tree Pledge. The One Tree Pledge is an easy way for anyone (builder, rater, homeowner, etc.) to make a low cost ($1) contribution to...
info_outline“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world.
For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
- Margaret Mead
Winning national housing awards year after year, comes with focused effort.
However, the efforts put forth by Thrive Home Builders are NOT focused on winning awards.
What are the simple concepts that Thrive executes so well that have put them in such a special group and allowed them to flourish (or thrive)?
What advice does Thrive have for builders who wish to start the journey to high performance and even Net Zero homes?
Our guest today is Gene Myers who founded GreenTree Homes in the Denver area in 1992, well before green was a thing. Under his leadership the company has grown into the very successful and award winning Thrive Home Builders.
Gene has developed this award-winning green building program to meet the highest standards of LEED®, Indoor airPLUS, Zero Energy Ready Homes and Energy Star®.
In 2020, Thrive also achieved the lowest average HERS score (26.9) in the country for a builder completing more than 50 homes.
Recognized as 2019’s EPA Indoor airPLUS Leader of the Year, Thrive tells potential customers they “can breathe easy knowing their Thrive home was built to the highest health standards with superior air quality.”
Gene has created a recipe for success that he shares with us in this conversation.
One of the key points is education, first of his team, then of his customer.
He uses the resources of programs, and his HERS rater in this continuum of education.
To learn more about Thrive Home Builders visit their website: www.ThriveHomeBuilders.com
RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage.
Pros can learn more at www.RESNET.us/professional
Consumers can learn more at www.RESNET.us
Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at [email protected]