EP133 Bridging the Gap: The Future of Energy Code Compliance with RESNET® HERS® Raters with Mark Johnson and Steve Baden
Release Date: 10/07/2024
EP156 RESNET®’s Next Chapter: Listening, Learning and Growing With Shelby Gatlin and John Hensley (August 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The HERS Index isn’t just a score. It’s somebody out there in that home throughout the build, making sure that the promises are proven. — Shelby “The better our rating industry does, the better our boots-on-the-ground rating companies and RFIs and modelers are doing their job, RESNET®wins. We all win.” — John “RESNET® needs to look at themselves and say, ‘How can we do this better?’ And do that often. — John RESNET®is entering a new chapter. With Shelby Gatlin stepping into the executive director role and...
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EP155 5 Million HERS Ratings: What This Milestone Really Means (July 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: "We're not just checking boxes. We're helping builders build better homes." – Matthew Cooper "The conversation needs to shift from price per square foot to value per square foot." – Steve Byers "Professionalism, curiosity, and partnership are what make great HERS Raters." "Five million homes is impressive, but it's the quality behind those ratings that really matters." Five million HERS-rated homes is more than a milestone. It represents decades of collaboration between builders, HERS Raters, Rating Providers, manufacturers, and RESNET® to improve the quality,...
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EP154 Every Drop Counts: The Evolution of HERSH2O® (June 2026)
RESTalk
“Water efficiency is moving from a nice feature to a development necessity.” “HERSH2O® helps turn water conservation into something builders can measure, verify, and communicate.” “Water is a precious resource—and unlike energy, we cannot simply produce more of it.” Water efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of homebuilding, particularly in regions facing drought, rising tap fees, and development restrictions. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn speaks with Ryan Meres and Jacob Atalla about the continued evolution of HERSH2O® and the expansion of the...
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EP153 How Energy Codes Really Get Made, and Why Raters Should Have a Seat at the Table (May 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The people closest to the work often have the clearest view of what needs to change.” “Codes do not become practical until field experience finds its way into the conversation.” “Better data leads to better codes, and HERS® Raters are sitting on some of the most useful data in the industry.” “The future of energy codes will be shaped not only in committee rooms, but also in crawlspaces, attics, and blower door tests.” In this episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn welcomes Nathan Kahre of the National Association of Home...
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EP152 Powering ENERGY STAR Multifamily in the Southwest: SRP & Copa Health’s Blueprint for High-Performance Housing (April 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “Utilities are no longer just incentive providers. They are becoming design partners.” “High performance is not a luxury in affordable housing. It is a necessity for predictable living costs.” “If you want this to scale, it starts with early coordination and shared goals.” In this episode of RESTalk, we head to Tempe, Arizona, where extreme heat, rising energy costs, and housing needs are converging, and where a standout project is redefining what ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction can look like in a hot, dry climate. Bill is joined by Rebecca...
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EP151 Emerging Leaders, Real Talk: The Future of HERS® Starts Here (March 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “You can’t fix what you didn’t catch early. Thoroughness upfront saves everything downstream.” “It’s a young industry. That’s what makes it exciting, we’re still shaping what it becomes.” “If you don’t have a reason for being in this work, it’s going to be hard to stay in it.” In this episode of RESTalk, Bill sits down with 2026 Emerging Leader Fellows Courtney Holland and Hayden Cantoni fresh off their experience at the RESNET® Conference. Both guests share how they found their way into the HERS® and building performance industry, often...
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EP150 Women Building the Future: Voices from the RESNET® Community (March 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “You absolutely belong here. There are many paths into this industry, and there’s room for everyone to thrive.” - Cindy Zeis “Patience, facts, and science always win the day.” - Sharla Riead “The future of women in building science is unlimited.” - Nancy St. Hilaire In this milestone 150th episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn marks Women’s History Month by highlighting the voices of women from across the RESNET® community. Through a series of short conversations, industry leaders share how they entered the world of building...
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EP149 Inside the 2026 RESNET® Conference: The Next Era of HERS® (January 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The RESNET® Conference is where experience meets fresh perspective, and that’s where the real progress happens.” “This isn’t just another conference. It’s about shaping the next era of the HERS© industry.” “If you want to understand where the industry is headed, this is where the conversations are happening.” In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn sits down with Noah Kibbe from RESNET® to preview the 2026 RESNET® Conference coming to San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Noah shares what goes into planning the event, from selecting the location and shaping...
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EP148 A New Chapter for RESNET: A Conversation with Executive Director Shelby Gatlin (January 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “What raters do makes the difference. Supporting them protects the credibility of the entire ecosystem.” “Energy and water performance are not abstract. They are measurable, verifiable, and they matter to families.” “My role is to protect what works, listen carefully, and help RESNET adapt without losing what makes it special.” In the first RESTalk episode of 2026, Bill Spohn welcomes Shelby Gatlin, the new Executive Director of RESNET©, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, credibility, and the future of home energy ratings. Shelby shares her...
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EP147 Best of 2025: The Year RESNET® Hit Another Gear (December 2025)
RESTalk
In this special “Best of RESTALK 2025” episode, host Bill Spohn looks back at the ideas and conversations that defined the year across the RESNET® ecosystem. Rather than a simple highlight reel, this episode weaves four major themes that kept surfacing—from sweeping QA modernization efforts to the market forces accelerating HERS adoption to the emerging leaders reshaping the industry to the on-the-ground projects proving that high performance and affordability can coexist. Across conversations with QA directors, software leaders, conference fellows, builders, lenders, and...
info_outlineKnowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
Anton Chekhov
In this episode of the RESTalk podcast, host Bill Spohn talks with Mark Johnson from the International Code Council (ICC) and Steve Baden from RESNET® about a new collaboration to enhance energy code compliance. They discuss the growing complexities of energy codes, particularly the challenge of ensuring compliance amid increasing technical and regulatory demands. To address this, ICC and RESNET® are introducing a program to involve HERS raters as third-party verifiers, providing quality assurance and supporting local code officials, especially where resources are limited.
The conversation delves into the origins and development of this program, which has been over a decade in the making. Steve and Mark describe their journey, starting with joint training initiatives and establishing standards such as the Energy Rating Index (ERI). The latest effort includes certification of RESNET® HERS® raters to act as recognized compliance specialists under the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This certification ensures that raters understand building science and are well-versed in energy code requirements, enhancing credibility with code officials.
Mark and Steve emphasize the need for collaboration and transparency in implementing these new compliance measures. They highlight that this partnership helps jurisdictions struggling with limited code enforcement capacity and provides career growth opportunities for HERS raters. The program aims to be fully launched by the end of 2025, with both guests encouraging raters to obtain their certifications soon to position themselves at the forefront of this compliance evolution.
Here’s the link to the ICC website with all of the info on the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist Designation:
https://www.iccsafe.org/content/ecs-designation/
Flyer with a quick summary:
To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us.
Or for more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US