BUILDTank / buildCAST – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Patrick Nielsen is the Global Technical Products Manager for Broan Nutone, a leading manufacturer of residential ventilation solutions. Patrick has 20 years of experience with Broan including roles in product development, where he used his engineering background to launch a wide range of innovative ventilation products to solve a variety of IAQ and customer challenges. More recently his focus has been codes and standards, projecting longer-term product needs/opportunities and training.  He serves as chair on the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) Board of Directors, chairs their Codes and Standards committee and is active in multiple other committees addressing industry issues, including ASHRAE, RESNET, EEBA and IAQA.

Patrick Nielsen on LinkedIn

BROAN NUTONE

In 1982, a group of building professionals from around the world gathered in Pine Island, Minnesota for the first Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) meetup with the goal, to develop criteria for the construction of what we now call high performance and sustainable homes.

 For over 40 years now (EEBA) has been a trusted resource for building science information and education in the construction industry.  To serve the EBBA mission to advance the leading edge of building science knowledge and sustainable business practices in the residential construction community, EEBA delivers educational resources and events including an annual high performance building summit, their free webinar and podcasts, an online construction academy, and training events held around the country. You can learn more at EEBA.org 

I went to my first EEBA home building summit in the mid 1990s as I chased building science education and was introduced to a group of passionate individuals who are now called the legends of EEBA. In this podcast which was recorded at the 2025 EEBA Summit opening session titled State of our industry: Perspective from the EEBA Legends, you will hear first from Mark Laliberte with Construction Instruction then Joe Lstiburek from Building Science Corp, Gord Cook from Building Knowledge Canada and Construction Instruction, Sam Rashkin, former director of the EnergyStar program and Gene Meyers with Thrive Homebuilders. You will also hear a bit from Pat Heulman recently retired from the University of Minnesota.

Enjoy

Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA)

Over a 30-year career in construction, Fernando Ruiz has become a dedicated proponent of building innovations and their relationship with affordable housing. He is the author of Building an affordable house which became clear in our conversation is not the same as building a cheap or poorly performing house. Fernando’s fundamental goal is to use his understanding of the rules contained in building codes, science, and value engineering to break the norms of our traditional thinking, to build homes that are attainable yet still essentially meet the needs and aspirations of his clients. It became clear to me that our building philosophies are aligned with each other. First, set a goal for each project, develop design parameters and principals for the project, and determine the most cost-effective way to achieve the goal. My goals often revolve around how the home performs and Fernando’s revolve around affordability, but you will see that regardless, our paths intersect.

Fernando on LinkedIn

Building Affordable Website

Building Affordable on YouTubeFernando on Facebook

Farndon on Instagram

Moly Butz is the Managing Director of the Structural Building Components Association; she is also the hosts the Lumber connection podcast. The Lumber Connection Podcast focuses on the latest trends in the North American lumber markets. Each week, experts Justin Binning and Ken Timmins, lumber traders with American International Forest Products, provide insight into the latest trends and many factors impacting the supply and demand of the lumber used in structural components.  Although I don’t buy lumber or build roof or floor trusses and the like, I began getting the SBCA newsletter and started listening to the Lumber Connection podcast during the pandemic. I have found the information and insights in both have helped me better understand the supply chain issues in the lumber industry, as well as those facing the entirety of the construction industry. In the podcast specifically, Molly, Justin, and Ken, break down the current issues impacting lumber sales in about 15 minutes, so a quick listen has broadened my ability to speak to builders in a more educated way. I was really pleased to be able to speak with Molly, Justin, and Ken on the buildCAST to learn more about how they came together and are using their expertise to connect their listeners to lumber, but also the broader economic issues that are impacting the construction industry on a lager level. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Lumber Connection Podcast

SBCA Structural Building Components Association

Moly Butz, Managing Director, Structural Building Components Association on LinkedIn

Ken Timmins, Lumber Broker at American International Forest Products on LinkedIn

Justin Binning, Lumber Trader at American International Forest Products on LinkedIn

Brian Iverson is the CEO of US Engineered Wood, the manufacturer of the Tstud™ products. He is a character and was a joy to speak with. Brian brought the Tstud™ to market, an Innovation in framing materials that is impacting the energy performance of house and the construction of high-performance homes. Please enjoy this episode of the buildCAST.

Brian “Tstud” Iversonon LinkedIn

Tstuds™

I have been involved with the development of the IECC since the 2015 code cycle. Traditionally the International Code Council develops construction and public safety codes through a governmental consensus process. For the 2024 IECC and Chapter 11 of the IRC, which is the residential IECC reprinted in the International Residential Code, has changed. An ANSI standard development process and consensus procedures will now be used for the development of the 2024 IECC.  The resulting document will still be called the international Energy Conservation Code and will still be considered a Code, but the process of getting the next updated code is quite different.  

In this episode I explains the traditional code development process and the new development process and then speak with Gill Rossmiller, Hope Medina, Jay Crandell, Jim Meyers, Rob Salcido, and Tom Culp who are all deeply involved in the current 2024 IECC development to see how they think the new ANSI process is working.

IECC Committee website information:

Code Development Process:

IECC Committee Procedures including Scope and Intent of the development process:

ICC - LEADING THE WAY TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY, “A Path Forward on Energy and Sustainability to Confront a Changing Climate”

Solar Decathlon Build Challenge Teams will compete to earn points by operating their house successfully, and by showcasing the excellence of their solutions to industry expert jurors in the 10 focus areas which include: Architecture, Engineering, Market analysis, Durability and Resiliency, Embodies Environmental impact, Integrated performance, Occupant Experience, Comfort and environmental quality, Energy performance, Presentation.

The University of Colorado team has won the last few changes and we speak with Kyle Biega and Wes (MAC-EVOY) Mcevoy,  the team leaders to learn what they have planned for the 2022-2023 Challenge.

Solar Decathlon Build Challenge

2022 CU Team Website

CU Solar Decathlon fundraising through crowdfunding

CU Boulder’s #1 finish in 2020 Solar Decathlon Build Challenge

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

ElektrikGreen - 100% emission-free energy storage

To me Mark Willie burst onto the seen during the height of Covid when all kinds of building educational content was being created and distributed through social media. During this time, I learned about BS and Beers, Building Science Fight Club, Delta and rockwool training, and all the folks on Instagram I call the “Instagram builders”. Mark is in the mix of these people that came into my world at that point, and I was drawn to try and have a conversation with him. He works and promotes TStud, is a host of the Passive House Accelerator Construction Tech Tuesdays, as well as the Dave Cooper Friday building science show. Mark graciously spoke with me, and I hope that you enjoy this episode of the BUILDTank/buildCAST.

On LinkedIn

Passive House Accelerator

TStud

Dave Cooper Building Science Friday

Sandra Adomatis is an appraiser, consultant, and educator. Her story is one of love which also led her to her work passion, residential appraisals, specifically green appraisals. She has pioneered the art of valuation of the energy and green building features in homes that is behind the drywall. She wrote the first drafts of what, through the help of the Appraisal Institute, became the Residential Green and Energy Efficient addenda. A systematic approach for gathering the data needed to add the value of energy efficient and green building features incorporated in modern homes into the appraisal. I have seen Sandra speak several times at RESNET or EBBA conferences but never realized how important it is for builders to talk about and market their homes in a way that truly highlight the programs, energy rating index scores, and other features of value they build in. If you aren’t talking about it you are just giving it away and now thanks to Sandra we can quantify the dollar amount that builders have been giving away.

Sandra Adomatis on LinkedIn 

Residential Green Valuation Tools

Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum Fillable PDF

A Guide to the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum

Mark LaLiberte almost needs no introduction to the buildCAST audience. In the world of building science there are a few superhero promoters of doing the right thing in the houses that we build. Mark is definitely one of the Rockstar's. He is President of Construction Instruction, a tremendous educator and speaker and works with nearly 5,000 builders and architects a year. His particular gift is being able to communicate building physics in a fun and attainable way that is engaging and informative for the average nonscientist. He is now building a net zero home, and in Mark fashion, using it as a demonstration project to continue the promotion of proper applied building science. If you are a going to attend the 2022 EBBA Summit in Scotts dale Arizona, take the opportunity to tour the house.

I really enjoyed my conversation and want to thank Mark for taking some time out of his busy schedule to be on the buildCAST. Please enjoy.

Construction Instruction

Mark LaLiberte on LinkedIn