EP144 From Checklists to Real-Time Data: The QA Evolution at RESNETš¬ With Laurel Elam and Scott Doyle (September 2025)
Release Date: 09/15/2025
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: āThe HERS Index isnāt just a score. Itās somebody out there in that home throughout the build, making sure that the promises are proven. ā Shelby āThe better our rating industry does, the better our boots-on-the-ground rating companies and RFIs and modelers are doing their job, RESNETĀ®wins. We all win.ā ā John āRESNETĀ® needs to look at themselves and say, āHow can we do this better?ā And do that often. ā John RESNETĀ®is entering a new chapter. With Shelby Gatlin stepping into the executive director role and...
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QUOTES from the episode: "We're not just checking boxes. We're helping builders build better homes." ā Matthew Cooper "The conversation needs to shift from price per square foot to value per square foot." ā 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 RESNETĀ® to improve the quality,...
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āWater efficiency is moving from a nice feature to a development necessity.ā āHERSH2OĀ® helps turn water conservation into something builders can measure, verify, and communicate.ā āWater is a precious resourceāand unlike energy, we cannot simply produce more of it.ā 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 HERSH2OĀ® and the expansion of the...
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QUOTES from the episode: āThe people closest to the work often have the clearest view of what needs to change.ā āCodes do not become practical until field experience finds its way into the conversation.ā āBetter data leads to better codes, and HERSĀ® Raters are sitting on some of the most useful data in the industry.ā āThe future of energy codes will be shaped not only in committee rooms, but also in crawlspaces, attics, and blower door tests.ā In this episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn welcomes Nathan Kahre of the National Association of Home...
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QUOTES from the episode: āUtilities are no longer just incentive providers. They are becoming design partners.ā āHigh performance is not a luxury in affordable housing. It is a necessity for predictable living costs.ā āIf you want this to scale, it starts with early coordination and shared goals.ā 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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QUOTES from the episode: āYou canāt fix what you didnāt catch early. Thoroughness upfront saves everything downstream.ā āItās a young industry. Thatās what makes it exciting, weāre still shaping what it becomes.ā āIf you donāt have a reason for being in this work, itās going to be hard to stay in it.ā In this episode of RESTalk, Bill sits down with 2026 Emerging Leader Fellows Courtney Holland and Hayden Cantoni fresh off their experience at the RESNETĀ® Conference. Both guests share how they found their way into the HERSĀ® and building performance industry, often...
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QUOTES from the episode: āYou absolutely belong here. There are many paths into this industry, and thereās room for everyone to thrive.ā - Cindy Zeis āPatience, facts, and science always win the day.ā - Sharla Riead āThe future of women in building science is unlimited.ā - Nancy St. Hilaire In this milestone 150th episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn marks Womenās History Month by highlighting the voices of women from across the RESNETĀ® community. Through a series of short conversations, industry leaders share how they entered the world of building...
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QUOTES from the episode: āThe RESNETĀ® Conference is where experience meets fresh perspective, and thatās where the real progress happens.ā āThis isnāt just another conference. Itās about shaping the next era of the HERSĀ© industry.ā āIf you want to understand where the industry is headed, this is where the conversations are happening.ā In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn sits down with Noah Kibbe from RESNETĀ® to preview the 2026 RESNETĀ® Conference coming to San Antonioās Riverwalk. Noah shares what goes into planning the event, from selecting the location and shaping...
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QUOTES from the episode: āWhat raters do makes the difference. Supporting them protects the credibility of the entire ecosystem.ā āEnergy and water performance are not abstract. They are measurable, verifiable, and they matter to families.ā āMy role is to protect what works, listen carefully, and help RESNET adapt without losing what makes it special.ā In the first RESTalk episode of 2026, Bill Spohn welcomes Shelby Gatlin, the new Executive Director of RESNETĀ©, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, credibility, and the future of home energy ratings. Shelby shares her...
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In this special āBest of RESTALK 2025ā episode, host Bill Spohn looks back at the ideas and conversations that defined the year across the RESNETĀ® ecosystem. Rather than a simple highlight reel, this episode weaves four major themes that kept surfacingāfrom 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_outlineEP144 From Checklists to Real-Time Data:
The QA Evolution at RESNETš¬ With Scott Doyle and Laurel Elam
(September 2025)
āIf youāre a professional and the rules of your profession change, you canāt afford not to keep up.ā
ā Scott Doyle
In this episode of the RESTalk podcast, host Bill Spohn sits down with two long-time leaders at RESNETš¬: Laurel Elam, Senior Director of Business and Standards Development, and Scott Doyle, Managing Director of Quality Assurance. Together, they unpack the evolution of quality assurance within RESNETš¬, culminating in the upcoming implementation of Addendum 75 to Chapter 9 of the RESNETš¬Standards.
Laurel provides historical context, reflecting on the organizationās steady improvements over the last decade and the dream of real-time QA tracking. Scott details how the QA team has expanded, the launch of the RESNET QAš¬ app, and how mandatory adoption beginning January 1, 2026, will transform consistency, feedback, and training across the provider network. Both emphasize how real-time, searchable data not only ensures compliance but also strengthens the feedback loop for raters and providers.
The conversation closes with an invitation to the RESNETš¬webinar on September 24th (link below), where the QA team will review the details of Addendum 75 and other changes to appeals and disciplinary processes. Laurel also reminds listeners about the extended deadline for conference session nominations, underscoring RESNETās ongoing commitment to engaging its community and ensuring high-quality standards across the industry.
Be sure to register for the webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3079588482659695965
This webinar will focus on the upcoming RESNET HERSš¬ Chapter 9 Standard updates, which will take effect January 1, 2026. (https://www.resnet.us/wp-content/uploads/FS-Addendum-75-Chapter-9-Update.pdf)
The webinar will highlight the key changes, including substantial updates to remote field QA requirements, the requirement to do all QA reviews via the RESNET QAĀ® app or API, and provide clarification on how the revised standard will impact verifiers, QADs, and Providers. The session will also offer guidance to help stakeholders successfully incorporate these changes.
The session will also offer guidance to help stakeholders successfully incorporate these changes.
Shortly after September 24, you can view a recording of the webinar on the RESNET YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@ResnetUs
The deadline for submitting sessions for the 2026 RESNETĀ® Conference has been extended to September 26, 2025! Conference website is here: https://www.resnet.us/2026-conference/
The theme of the conference is The Next Era of the HERSĀ® Industry. RESNET is accepting nominations for 90-minute presentations in a variety of tracks, including Energy Codes, Tapping the Existing Homes Market, and Maximizing the Value of Energy-Efficient Homes. Submit nominations here!
LinkedIn:
Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-doyle-84750823
Laurel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-elam-5404817/
OTHER EPISODE QUOTES:
āThis has been a long-time dreamāreal-time tracking of quality assurance to improve consistency and feedback.ā ā Laurel Elam
āThe checklist was great, but now itās in an app form.ā ā Laurel Elam
To the RESNETĀ® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us.
For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US