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Building HVAC Science: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Bill Spohn
Exploring the science, people, and practices shaping better buildings. The Building HVAC Science Podcast dives into both the technical and human sides of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building performance. Hosted by industry veteran Bill Spohn, CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, the show reflects Bill's passion for advancing the HVAC craft through practical knowledge, curiosity, and conversation. With more than 250 episodes and counting, the podcast features discussions with contractors, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and thought leaders from across the HVAC and building science communities. Each episode blends field experience with broader industry perspective, helping professionals stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and build stronger businesses. Topics include: New tools, technologies, and field practices Real-world case studies and lessons learned Building performance, comfort, and indoor air quality Industry innovation, workforce development, and the human side of the trades Whether you're a technician in the field, a business owner, a manufacturer, or simply curious about how buildings breathe and perform, Building HVAC Science connects you with the ideas and voices moving the industry forward.
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- 2 days ago28 min
EP288 Where Duct Cleaning Meets HVAC Performance with Zach Ortwine (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "You can't really separate good air quality from good HVAC performance." "I wouldn't recommend to someone something I wouldn't recommend to my grandma." "Once you've seen them both, they can't be separated." What does professional duct cleaning look like when you approach it through the lens of HVAC performance and building science? In this episode, Bill talks with Zach Ortwine of Southeast Clean Air, a duct-cleaning contractor who has deliberately expanded his understanding beyond cleanliness and indoor air quality into airflow, static pressure, duct leakage, system performance, and building pressure. Zach describes how his involvement with both NADCA and the National Comfort Institute (NCI) changed the way he evaluates homes. His early work focused primarily on indoor air quality concerns such as particles, odors, filtration, and ventilation. But as he learned more about HVAC performance, he realized that air quality and system performance are difficult to separate. <div class="OutlineElement
- 1 weeks ago29 min
EP287 BPI, Building Science, and the HVAC Opportunity With Amanda Hatherly (August 2026)
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
- 2 weeks ago39 min
EP286 Stop Waiting for the World to Change with James Childre (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "The only way that change is going to occur is if I make it happen." "What makes a high-performance building? It's just good building sense." "It really is about: how do we get contractors to be confident in the assemblies?" Eight years ago, James Childre joined Building HVAC Science (Episode 29) with a somewhat resigned view of change in the construction industry: maybe better building practices would have to wait for a new generation of contractors. Today, his perspective is very different. Instead of waiting for the world to change, James is working to create that change himself. James, founder of RedPoint Montana, spends his days inspecting, testing, and diagnosing buildings. After more than two decades of seeing the same failures recur, he began looking for ways to advance building science knowledge beyond the small group of professionals already committed to high-performance construction. <p class="Paragraph SCXW1876
- 3 weeks ago41 min
EP285 You Can't Control a System That's Open - Ken Allison on HVAC and the Building Envelope (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "I don't need the house to breathe. I need the people to." "You can't control a system that's open." "I would just go make them comfortable. And let them know the added benefit is that they're going to spend less on energy." What happens when an HVAC contractor fixes the equipment, but the customer still isn't comfortable? In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn talks with Ken Allsion of Insulation Distributors (IDI) about why HVAC contractors are uniquely positioned to recognize—and potentially solve - problems with the building envelope. Ken argues that comfort complaints often blamed on heating and cooling equipment actually begin with uncontrolled air leakage, poorly installed insulation, and mechanical systems operating outside the thermal envelope. <span class= "EOP Selected SCXW143917804 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{
- Aug 21, 202632 min
EP284 What I Learned Building My Own Net-Zero Home With Bill Spohn (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "Net zero wasn't the goal—it was the outcome of making hundreds of good building science decisions." "One tiny installation mistake destroyed an entire refrigerant system. Details matter." "The biggest lesson isn't that net zero works. It's that building science works." Bill Spohn turns the microphone on himself for a candid look at what he learned by designing, building, and living in his own all-electric, net-zero home. Rather than advocating for Passive House, electrification, or solar as ends in themselves, Bill explains how those decisions emerged from a much simpler goal: creating a comfortable, healthy, quiet home that would serve his family well for decades. Drawing on years of experience in HVAC instrumentation and building science, Bill shares the real-world successes, surprises, and setbacks that came with the project. He discusses why modular construction became the right fit, how careful modeling justified a surprisingly small two-ton cold-climate heat pump for a 4,000-square-foot conditioned home, and why airtightness, continuous insulation, and thoughtful solar orientation mattered more than oversized equipment. The episode also explores the challenges that <span class= "NormalTe
- Aug 14, 202653 min
EP283 AI in HVAC: Beyond the Hype With Tyler Nelson and Billy Spohn (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "This is no longer a push-pull industry. This is a thinking person's game now." "The better context you give AI, the better partner it becomes." "Ask AI to teach you how to use AI in your particular situation." Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most practical tools available to HVAC professionals—but only if it's used as a thinking partner rather than a shortcut. In this episode, Bill Spohn is joined by Tyler Nelson, a nationally recognized HVAC educator and combustion expert, and Billy Spohn, who leads AI initiatives at TruTech Tools, for an honest discussion about where AI is already delivering real value. Tyler explains how his background in combustion analysis naturally led him to AI, with both disciplines relying on measurements, analytics, and informed decision-making. He shares real-world examples of technicians using AI to troubleshoot equipment, communicate more effectively with customers, create personalized learning programs, and even build their own "AI universities" that accelerate technical growth. The result isn't replacing skilled technicians—it's helping them become better diagnosticians and better communicators. Billy offers the business perspective, describing how AI is transforming workflows by connecting systems that have traditionally operated independently. From generating better reports to automating repetitive tasks and acting as an always-available business advisor, he explains why providing AI with pro
- Aug 7, 202631 min
EP282 Building Better Leaders: Jane Sidebottom on Mentorship, Workforce, and the Future of HVACR (July 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "It's not just about features and benefits anymore. It's about the impact your products have on your customer's business." "Training teaches skills. Mentorship builds confidence." "Someone somewhere saw that we were good at something and helped us channel it." "Words matter." The HVACR industry has talked about the workforce shortage for decades—but are we finally making progress? In this episode, Bill sits down with Jane Sidebottom, President of Women in HVACR and founder of AMK, a strategic consulting firm that has helped more than 60 HVAC manufacturers grow through customer insight and product development. <span class= "EOP Selected SCXW205775252 BCX0" data-ccp-props= "{"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777
- Jul 31, 202637 min
EP281 Building a Diagnostic-First HVAC Company with Derek Aarstad
Quotes from the episode: "When your HVAC system is performing at 100%, but the home isn't, the problem isn't the equipment anymore." "Our job is to be investigators first and installers second." "Homeowners don't just need to know their HVAC system. They need to know their home." "If you think I'm doing too much testing, I'd argue you're probably not doing enough." Many HVAC contractors say they focus on comfort, but Derek Aarstad has built his entire business around proving where comfort problems actually originate. As the owner of DNA Heating & Cooling in Richmond, Virginia, Derek approaches every home as an investigator, using airflow measurements, static pressure, duct leakage testing, blower door testing, thermal imaging, and building science principles before recommending solutions. In this conversation, Bill and Derek discuss why replacing equipment often fails to solve comfort complaints, how educating homeowners builds trust, and why standardized processes
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About Building HVAC Science
Exploring the science, people, and practices shaping better buildings. The Building HVAC Science Podcast dives into both the technical and human sides of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and building performance. Hosted by industry veteran Bill Spohn, CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, the show reflects Bill's passion for advancing the HVAC craft through practical knowledge, curiosity, and conversation. With more than 250 episodes and counting, the podcast features discussions with contractors, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and thought leaders from across the HVAC and building science communities. Each episode blends field experience with broader industry perspective, helping professionals stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and build stronger businesses. Topics include: New tools, technologies, and field practices Real-world case studies and lessons learned Building performance, comfort, and indoor air quality Industry innovation, workforce development, and the human side of the trades Whether you're a technician in the field, a business owner, a manufacturer, or simply curious about how buildings breathe and perform, Building HVAC Science connects you with the ideas and voices moving the industry forward.
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