EP287 BPI, Building Science, and the HVAC Opportunity With Amanda Hatherly (August 2026)
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RSS Feed Quotes from the episode:
“You don't know what you don't know.”
“That knowledge outside of energy efficiency is key for anyone working in the built environment.”
“If you are engaged and want to keep learning, this is a great space to be in.”
Eight years after her first appearance on the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Amanda Hatherly returns in a new role: CEO of the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
Amanda and Bill start by clearing up a common misconception. BPI is not a training organization. It is an ANSI-accredited standards and credentialing organization that brings industry experts together to develop standards and certifications for residential energy efficiency, home performance, weatherization, and healthy housing.
Amanda shares what has changed since taking the helm at BPI, including updating standards and certifications, simplifying technical language, expanding Spanish-language materials, refreshing the website, and making the organization and its staff more visible and approachable.
A major theme of the conversation is the continued convergence of HVAC, building performance, healthy homes, weatherization, and electrification. Amanda argues that understanding the house as a system shouldn't be limited to people working in traditional energy-efficiency programs. HVAC professionals can become much better problem solvers when they understand how mechanical systems interact with air sealing, insulation, moisture, ventilation, and occupant health.
They also explore BPI's Healthy Housing Principles and Building Science Principles programs, workforce development efforts, contractor resources, and the growing opportunity for HVAC and home performance professionals to learn from each other.
Amanda closes with a reminder that the building performance industry remains unusually collaborative and knowledge-rich. For people willing to stay curious, there is always something new to learn.
And one question finally gets answered from Amanda's original 2018 appearance: Is PowerPoint really dead? Apparently not. But terrible PowerPoint probably should be.
Website: https://www.bpi.org/
Contractor and Test Center Locator tool: https://www.bpi.org/pages/locator
This episode was recorded in August 2026.