Episodes

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, co-hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser are joined by Eric's father, Mark Kaiser, for a special father-son discussion. Mark shares his experiences with building and improving a unique energy-efficient home in Carlinville, Illinois. His journey began in the late 1970s, when he retrofitted a modest house to reduce energy consumption using insulation, solar energy, and a variety of unconventional methods. Mark talks about his motivation for energy e...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser welcome Derek Cowburn, founder of Lumen Cache, to discuss his journey from building automation in pharmaceutical facilities to pioneering smart DC power systems for homes and offices. Derek shares how his background in building controls and automation influenced his development of Lumen Cache; a company focused on creating a smart infrastructure that integrates DC power to drive lighting, sensors, and automation. He...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Eric Kaiser takes the lead in interviewing three guests from the ROCIS (Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces) initiative: Linda Wigington, Bill Collinge, and Rhett Major. Linda introduces ROCIS, sharing its 10-year mission to help participants monitor and improve indoor air quality, particularly in areas with poor outdoor air. The initiative, primarily focused in southwestern Pennsylvania, involves virtual cohorts where participants...

In the Building HVAC Science Podcast episode, hosts Bill and Eric are joined by Thomas "Huff" Hoffmaster, II to discuss his experiences transitioning from a technician to tech support and eventually into training and consulting. Huff shares his journey through the HVAC industry, beginning with his early exposure to sheet metal work through his family, moving into service because of his love for solving complex problems, and finally settling into tech support roles for major companies like Carrie...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, co-hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn interview Elana Day and her father Jordan Day, creators of the YouTube channel Little Miss Fix It. At just 12 years old, Elana has achieved remarkable feats, including passing the EPA-608 certification, possibly making her one of the youngest certified HVAC technicians. The conversation highlights Elana’s growing interest in HVAC, her passion for science, and how her curiosity and hands-on learning led her ...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Eric Kaiser is joined by Marco Radocaj from Balance HVAC, who shares insights into his HVAC journey. Marco starts by discussing his background, from an unexpected entry into the HVAC field through his father-in-law's air conditioning company to learning on the job as a new technician with no prior experience. His humorous story of hosing off a generator during his first day illustrates his initial lack of HVAC knowledge and the steep learning...

In the latest episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, host Bill Spohn speaks with Ruchir Shah, founder of Skillcat, a mobile training platform for skilled trades. Skillcat offers around 1,500 hours of training in areas such as HVAC, plumbing, appliance and electrical work, and has successfully trained over 300,000 individuals in just three years. Ruchir explains that the platform began as a free resource to make training accessible, eventually transitioning to a subscription model costing ...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science podcast, Bill Spohn and co-host Eric Kaiser welcome Steve Byers from Energy Logic in Colorado. Steve shares his background and discusses his company's focus on energy ratings, sustainability work, and program compliance, such as Energy Star and DOE Zero Energy Ready programs. He explains how Energy Logic operates across Colorado and Hawaii, working primarily in new home construction while also addressing commercial and multifamily projects. Steve high...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, host Bill Spohn is joined by co-host Eric Kaiser and guest Russ King to discuss various aspects of HVAC design, focusing on the complexities and updates to Manual S, a critical document for HVAC equipment selection. Russ King shares his extensive background in building energy modeling and HVAC design, including his journey from traditional HVAC methods to co-founding Coded Energy, a company that developed Kwik Model 3D, a 3D modeling software...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn are joined by Chris and Cheryl Moore, the founders of Harmony Turbines, to discuss their innovative approach to wind energy. Chris and Cheryl share the origin story of Harmony Turbines, which started as a personal project in Chris’s basement, driven by his desire to create a quieter, more efficient wind turbine that could operate in lower wind conditions compared to traditional propeller turbines. They explain...

In the recent episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Brynn Cooksey, the owner of Air Doctors Heating and Cooling. Brynn, who is deeply involved in the HVAC industry and building performance, shares his journey from growing up in a family-run HVAC business to becoming an influential figure in the industry. He recounts how his early exposure to the field through his parents' business and subsequent work with a utility company helped shape his career....

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser discuss their recent experiences at industry events, particularly the Westford Symposium on Building Science, also known as Building Science Summer Camp. They reflect on the event's unique blend of technical presentations and social interactions, highlighting the presentation by Keith Simon on the longevity of building designs and the importance of balancing aesthetics with functionality. The discussion emphasizes h...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser engage in a lively "duo cast" discussing the various measurements they take in their homes and the reasons behind them. They start the conversation by reflecting on their recent episode with Gary Klein, which inspired Eric to set up a data logging system to monitor hot water temperatures in his home. This leads to a broader discussion about the different tools and devices they use to track energy consumption a...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser are joined by Gary Klein, a veteran in the field of energy conservation, particularly in hot water system design. The discussion begins with Klein explaining his innovative teaching method, using tape on the floor to illustrate the distances between water heaters and home fixtures. This method helps participants understand the time it takes for hot water to reach different parts of a house. Klein emphasizes th...

In the latest Building HVAC Science Podcast episode, co-hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser welcome special guest Steven Rardon, a YouTube celebrity and owner of Smart Home Comfort. Rardon discusses his journey in the HVAC industry, which began at age 17, working for his girlfriend's father's small HVAC business. Over the years, Rardon transitioned through various roles from installer to service technician, eventually moving to North Carolina in 2005 to pursue better job opportunities. He faced num...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Jim Bergmann as their special guest. The conversation kicks off with a discussion about Jim's well-known product, MeasureQuick, and its origins. Jim elaborates on the journey from his early work with performance and diagnostics using the iManifold to the development of MeasureQuick. The goal was to leverage smart tools and smartphones to perform complex calculations and diagnostics, making advanced performan...

In this Building HVAC Science Podcast episode, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Adam Chapman from HeatGeek to discuss his insights and experiences in the HVAC industry. Adam, based in the UK, shares his journey of establishing HeatGeek, which started as a blog and YouTube channel aimed at improving heating systems' efficiency and evolved into a comprehensive training and support network for heating engineers. He emphasizes the importance of proper installation and the high efficiency of ...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn interview Karine LeBlanc, a distinguished engineer and international speaker. Karine shares her journey into the HVAC industry, which started under the influence of her father, an HVAC teacher and contractor. Despite her exposure to HVAC from a young age, she made an independent decision to pursue a career in the field after discovering the job security it offered. Her diverse career includes roles in engineer...

In this Building HVAC Science podcast episode, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn interview Dan Goodman from Building 36, a company specializing in connected home services. Dan explains the origin of the company's name, which is a nod to the MIT building where he studied electrical engineering and computer science. He shares his journey from working on semiconductors to co-founding a thermostat company and eventually creating Building 36. The company provides smart home solutions tailored for prof...

Bill Spohn welcomes Julien Stamatakis, co-founder of Attune (formerly SenseWare). Julien shares his journey from working on sensor networks for Parkinson's disease detection during his PhD in Belgium to co-founding a company focused on monitoring the built environment. Initially, their sensor technology aimed at the medical field faced funding challenges, which led them to pivot towards the built environment. They began by collecting energy data and expanded to include various sensors to monitor...

In this Building HVAC Science podcast episode, hosts Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser discuss their recent trip to Denver, Colorado, where they attended the U.S. Heat Pump Summit. They describe the event as a comprehensive gathering of professionals interested in heat pumps, covering technical presentations, regulatory updates, and industry developments. The summit featured various sponsors and exhibitors, including Daikin, Rheem, and TruTech Tools, highlighting the diverse industry support for the ev...

In this short episode, Bill Spohn provides updates on new products, presentations, resources, and interesting travel he and Eric Kaiser have been engaged with during the last few months. LINKS https://www.youtube.com/@TruTechTools/videos https://trutechtools.com/yellow-jacket/ https://trutechtools.com/jb-industries.html https://hvacrschool.com/ www.betterhvac.org www.building-performane.org www.getduckling.com https://www.zerohomes.io/ www.sealed.com https://getconduit.com/ www.amply.energy www...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, host Eric Kaiser welcomes Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Doors, creator of Home Service Expert, podcast host, Inc. Magazine Columnist, and author. Tommy shares lessons and speed bumps along his journey from his first job washing dishes, to growing a successful business. Tommy emphasizes the critical role of profitability in sustaining a business. He talks about the need for business owners to charge prices that reflect the quality of thei...

In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, hosts Eric Kaiser and Bill Spohn welcome Tony Mormino, the Technical Sales and Marketing Director for Insight Partners, an HVAC commercial rep firm operating in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Tony shares his journey in the HVAC industry, which started 25 years ago when he helped his father, a residential HVAC technician. Seeking a different path, Tony pursued an engineering degree and eventually transitioned into HVAC sales. The...