Our expectations of the performance of houses has changed faster than how we build to achieve that performance. So, at the beginning of a conversation in the construction industry, when I hear, “I have been building for 30 years” I think to myself, there are only two outcomes from this conversation. First, the person is putting up a guard and will not be receptive to an applied building science approach. You know, houses have to breath or you’re telling me to tighten up the house and then punch a hole in it for ventilation. On the other hand, the person may have amazing insights and experiences to share.
When I step back, I realize that I’ve almost been working in this industry for 30 years. With an emphasis on sustainable high-performance building, I still struggle to integrate what I do into mainstream building, yet I tend to learn something new every day that takes me one step closer. Having these difficult yet enlightening conversation is often where I learn the most.
At BuildTank, my mission is to use what I learn by applying building science in the field to affect meaningful change in the construction industry. This buildCAST is the next step. By having broad conversations with different players in the industry I learn something new from their story that will move us forward toward taking sustainable buildings to mainstream building.
I hope you will learn something as well. Enjoy!
Ed Fronapfel is a forensic engineer who I first met when he taught a thermography class I attended. Later he became the student when he participated in an Energy Rater class I taught. Ed has built and sold several successful engineering companies on the back of his ability to distill information and present it in…
Read MoreIt doesn’t matter the size of the house that’s built, Builders are passionate about what they do. Zack Giffin demonstrates that in this conversation about tiny homes. In 2018 I happened to be at the code hearing where Appendix Q for tiny homes was adopted for the International Residential Code. This year I was asked…
Read MoreJake Bruton owner of Arrow Building continues to push the home building industry forward. As a carpenter running a business and helping to mature an industry, Jake’s skill and enthusiasm has brought him national attention and a platform to continue his effort to educate our industry through online content, publications, and speaking events. He is…
Read MoreTeal Lehto has honed a short, snappy, and data driven style perfect for Instagram, to explain western water issues in the Colorado river basin. Her Instagram handle is @westernwatergirl. She first got interested in water law and issues in the west while being a raft guide on the Animas River in her hometown of Durango…
Read MoreIn this episode of the buildCAST, Alan Hubbell the residential marketing leader at Dupont and host of the Dupont Education Hubs, “Residentially Speaking” podcast, joins me for a conversation between two colleagues in the construction industry. Allan Hubbell is a scientist who cut his teeth in industry Managing all facets of operations, maintenance, safety, health,…
Read MoreThe Marshall Fire has revealed so many questions about home insurance and the process of becoming whole after an sever disaster event. My hope is to have some continuing conversation with people to understand their experiences after a sever disaster event, to better understand how the insurance industry works, maybe what the Colorado or other…
Read MoreEd Fronapfel is a forensic engineer who I first met when he taught a thermography class I attended. Later he became the student when he participated in an Energy Rater class I taught. Ed has built and sold several successful engineering companies on the back of his ability to distill information and present it in…
Read MoreIt doesn’t matter the size of the house that’s built, Builders are passionate about what they do. Zack Giffin demonstrates that in this conversation about tiny homes. In 2018 I happened to be at the code hearing where Appendix Q for tiny homes was adopted for the International Residential Code. This year I was asked…
Read MoreJake Bruton owner of Arrow Building continues to push the home building industry forward. As a carpenter running a business and helping to mature an industry, Jake’s skill and enthusiasm has brought him national attention and a platform to continue his effort to educate our industry through online content, publications, and speaking events. He is…
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