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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 practicesReal-world case studies and lessons learnedBuilding performance, comfort, and indoor air qualityIndustry innovation, workforce development, and th
Latest Episodes
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- 6 days ago26 min
EP294 Pipe, Pumps & Prefab Rethinking How Mechanical Systems Get Built with Daniel Worm (September 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "A lot of it is design related." Daniel's reminder that piping material alone does not determine performance. "It's all about appropriately scaling it. It's not biting off more than you can chew." On how contractors can begin using prefabrication without making a massive investment. "Even just little incremental improvements like that have really strong downstream effects." Daniel on the impact prefab and modular thinking can have on quality and productivity What can HVAC professionals learn from plumbing, hydronics, and the growing use of prefabrication? In this episode, Bill talks with Daniel Worm, CPD, whose career began in carpentry before moving into plumbing design, hydronic systems, and prefabrication. That construction background still shapes how Daniel approaches mechanical systems, not simply as collections of components, but as systems that have to fit into the larger building and construction process.<span class="EOP Selected SCXW28619299 BCX0" data-
- 1 weeks ago25 min
EP293 A Fan Is Only as Good as the Duct Behind It with Bill Meyers (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "A fan's only as good as the ducting that's behind it." "Condensation is really what we're after when we're talking bathroom fans." "Design it right, make the right connections and terminations, install it properly using good process." Ventilation is the "V" in HVAC, but it is often the part of the system that gets the least attention. In this episode, Bill Spohn talks with Bill Meyers of Panasonic about why good ventilation requires more than simply installing a fan and flipping a switch. Meyers brings roughly 30 years of HVAC experience, beginning with mechanical and electrical technology training and progressing through wholesale distribution, manufacturers' representation, and eventually Panasonic's indoor air quality and ventilation business. He explains how Panasonic helped push the industry toward quieter bathroom ventilation and why quiet operation matters: a fan that annoys occupants, or appears ineffective, is less likely to be used. The conversation digs into ECM fan technology and selectable airflow settings, as well as the importance of designing duct systems that allow the fan to actually deliver it
- 2 weeks ago32 min
EP292 When Building Science Makes HVAC Sales More Ethical With Cameron Ferguson (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "What we think is an HVAC problem is more so a building problem." "My sales have never felt more ethical." "Rebates are the byproduct of doing a very good design from the front end." What happens when learning building science changes not only how you design HVAC systems, but how you feel about selling them? In this episode, Bill talks with Cameron Ferguson, a third-generation HVAC professional working in Colorado's Front Range. Cameron started out running flex duct as a teenager, moved through maintenance and service, and eventually found his way into HVAC sales and system design. Along the way, Manual J, NCI training, BPI Building Science Principles, and a deeper understanding of comfort fundamentally changed his approach to homeowners. Cameron explains why many apparent HVAC problems are actually building problems, and why his first conversation wit
- 3 weeks ago32 min
EP291 Buying the Technology Is the Easy Part with Brian Feenie (September 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "Are you still learning, or did you stop learning in your career?" "I would spend more time chasing the wrong problem in an analog format because I'm not measuring everything." "Some of your best growth could come from that new employee that you just brought in that's bringing in a different perspective." Buying new technology is easy. Getting people to actually use it well is another matter. In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill talks with Brian Feenie, founder of ShiftLogic, about the gap between adopting technology and successfully implementing it in an HVAC business. Brian brings a broad industry perspective from 30 years spent in contracting, manufacturing, controls, software, sales, and training. Today, much of his work centers on helping contractors implement MeasureQuick® and build the processes and culture needed to make new technology stick. Brian explains why implementation often fails before <span c
- Oct 2, 202622 min
EP290 From Apprentice to 55 Trucks: Building a Modern Plumbing Company With Max Hicks (August 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "Business doesn't care about your emotions. You just have to solve the problem." "The person that's best doing the plumbing is usually not the best person selling the plumbing." "The biggest thing is: know where your shutoff valve is to your home." What does a modern plumbing company look like, and what can HVAC and building-performance professionals learn from one? In this episode, Bill talks with Max Hicks, founder of Reliant Plumbing, about Max's path from entering the trades at 16 to building a plumbing service company with roughly 55 trucks across four Texas markets. Max shares lessons from more than two decades in the trade, including residential new construction, commercial work, union experience, and eventually business ownership. The conversation explores how technology has changed both plumbing and the business of running a service company. Max discusses the importance of CRM data, knowing your numbers, documenting processes, separating sales from installation when appropriate<span class
- Sep 25, 202638 min
EP289 Building Confidence: Making HVAC Design Visual With Russ & Connor King and Spencer Rosen of KwikModel (September 2026)
Quotes from the episode: "The HVAC system is just designed to match the rate at which that home is gaining or losing heat." — Spencer Rosen "It's part of their job…making sure that the piece of equipment they put in the house matches what the house needs." — Russ King "Don't split hairs when your job is to shave heads." — Connor King, quoting Russ What if better HVAC design started not with the equipment, but with a clearer picture of the house? In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn talks with Russ King, Connor King, and Spencer Rosen about the evolution of KwikModel, the growing connection between HVAC design and energy modeling, and why making buildings visual can make good design more accessible. Russ explains why accurate load calculations remain fundamental, especially as homes transition from furnaces to heat pumps. Replacing equipment based on what was there before can perpetuate oversizing or create entirely new prob
- Sep 18, 202628 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
- Sep 11, 202629 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
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 practicesReal-world case studies and lessons learnedBuilding performance, comfort, and indoor air qualityIndustry innovation, workforce development, and th
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