Better Homes, Better Future Podcast

Discover EEBA’s new sustainable products database - eeba.ecomedes.com. Easily search by product category, brand, certifications, ecolabels, or greenest products to streamline how you source and specify. You can also add products to a project and start to calculate impact and evaluate how those selected products help you achieve your project's preferred rating system. Sourcing and specifying sustainable building materials just got easy!

In this second of five webinar series, Paul will provide an overview for manufacturers interested in how EEBA supports high-performance green builders with eeba.ecomedes.com.

Discover EEBA’s new sustainable products database - eeba.ecomedes.com. Easily search by product category, brand, certifications, ecolabels, or greenest products to streamline how you source and specify. You can also add products to a project and start to calculate impact and evaluate how those selected products help you achieve your project's preferred rating system. Sourcing and specifying sustainable building materials just got easy!

Want to learn how? Join Ecomedes’ Founder Paul Shahriari for training and insights into making the most of EEBA’s ecomedes portal. In this first of five webinar series, Paul will showcase how home builders, subcontractors, and manufacturers get value from eeba.ecomedes.com.

Explore the challenges faced when building sustainable, affordable housing and providing Missing Middle Housing opportunities in existing neighborhoods. It will feature two case studies of affordable Zero Energy Ready Home developments in Western North Carolina. These include the Northstone mixed income community in Hickory and the Duke Street Cottages pocket neighborhood in Granite Falls.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define the terms "Missing Middle Housing" and "Pocket Neighborhood."
2. Explore challenges to building sustainable, affordable housing in existing neighborhoods with restrictive zoning ordinances.
3. Identify affordable strategies for meeting DOE Zero Energy Ready Home requirements.
4. Discuss high performance heating, cooling, ventilation, and dehumidification systems for low load homes.

Over a dozen studies confirmed most H/AC systems have either an air flow or refrigerant charge faults (or both). A 2018 DOE study found heating and air conditioning installations had at least one fault in 70–90% of homes, and when duct leakage is considered, this number increases to 90–100%. Improper installation leads to increased energy use, comfort issues, warranty claims, call backs and higher HVAC repair costs over the lifetime of the equipment. 

Fixing these two faults alone has the potential to decrease residential cooling energy loads by 5–10%. Researchers at NREL estimate that central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in the US waste 20.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy per year due to equipment faults. Convert that to energy generated by hydroelectric - it’s 5.7 times the volume of Lake Mead at its highest level, which is 8.5 trillion gallons of water. 

PNL believes that Smart Tools + Smart Apps. make for a system with fewer faults. Combine this with the new ANSI/ RESNET/ACCA/ICC RESNET Standard 310 and you have real solutions.

This webinar will cover practical solutions for reducing air flow and refrigerant faults using Smart Probes & Apps and we will simplify Standard 310 into bite size chunks. We will share the latest Building America study that confirms the use of these Smart Tools and Apps.

Join us to learn how to achieve installations that provide optimum efficiency and provide installations that meet the manufacturer guidelines that reduce energy use, increase comfort, and eliminate call backs.

Presented by Joe Medosch & Shawn LeMons

Aaron Smith sits down with our February Builder of The Month, Isaac Scott, owner of Clare Homes along with his business partner Kendall Gilmore. They discuss what motivated Isaac to enter the construction field, start his own business in 2021 as a sustainable builder, how he connected with EEBA, and more!

Green Energy Money, Inc. (GEM) offers Builders, Developers, REALTORS® and appraisers “high-performance” financing and valuation solutions to advance green building practices in their markets. GEM’s strategic alliances of certified energy raters, investors, and our qualified “green” appraisal panel provides economic solutions and quantified analysis that recognizes and applies a green premium value in homes.

We support education and tools to achieve exceptional results in translating green-economic, cost benefits for all stakeholders in the real estate transaction cycle.

The session will cover:  

1. Case Studies of high-performance demonstration projects and communities incorporating SIPs, rainwater harvesting and solar;
2. Identifying types of information and data appraisers and lenders need to support value and underwrite loans;
3. Marketing, listing and selling a green home – write an effective, targeted green features listing;
4. Market Differentiation for Builders and REALTORS® - Stand apart from competitors; become a trusted, recognized “TRUE GEM” in your community!

The EEBA High Performance Home Builder Summit attracts an audience of highly engaged attendees from across North America - the innovators and early adopters who believe the way we build our homes is the way we build our future. We are now seeking proposals for presentations on healthy, resilient, electrified, net zero, zero carbon homes. New this year will also be an executive educational track devoted to best business practices to help your company thrive in this challenging time. Our goal is to continuously grow and strengthen the high performance building community.  

Join CEO Aaron Smith and the EEBA team to learn more about the content our audience is looking for and submit your proposals before the deadline of March 1st!

Join Aaron Smith as he reviews the 7th EEBA Inventory of Zero Energy (ZE) Homes. EEBA Team Zero started tracking the proliferation of U.S. and Canadian ZE homes in 2015. Since then, the yearly report has shown a consistent upward trend. In the past, the multifamily sector led the pack. In the 2022 report, we see single family homes making up the majority for the first time. The report tracks Zero Energy single and multifamily home trends and leaders across the U.S. and Canada, and shows 190% in growth in total projects as well as 440% growth in single family houses.

The report sheds light on North American ZE growth patterns, high-performance technologies used, top rating systems, as well as the major players who are adopting ZE design and construction as a profitable business model.

Join EEBA CEO Aaron Smith and the team as they share exciting news around EEBA’s 2023 High-Performance Home Summit. The event will be at a new venue, with a new Summit Exhibit area and floorplan. Additionally, the team will discuss the call for proposals and how to get your information in front of the attendees. Looking for reach outside of just the Summit? Our team will also touch on EEBA’s full-year sponsorship opportunities for manufacturers, service providers and others looking to reach the building market.

WHAT IS LIFESTYLE HEALTHSMART?

LifeStyle HealthSmart is a brand-new health-centric program initiated by LifeStyle Homes in response to COVID-19. The pandemic quickly and drastically changed the world, forcing all of us to take a closer look at the role clean indoor air plays on long-term health.

With a better understanding and sharper focus on the importance of indoor air quality, LifeStyle Homes launched HealthSmart in October 2020 to markedly improve the homes we build. LifeStyle HealthSmart homes include an array of building products and practices that help stop the formation of mold and mildew, as well as keep other indoor pollutants at bay.

LifeStyle HealthSmart represents a healthy addition to our longstanding SunSmart program, which bolsters energy efficiency and structural durability. Together, these two programs provide LifeStyle homeowners superior levels of quality, comfort, and cost savings.

R-24 open-cell spray foam. Spray foam has emerged as a highly superior and extremely effective insulator in recent years. This insulation technique creates an air-tight seal to help drastically improve the energy-efficiency and the year-round comfort of your home. LifeStyle Homes uses R-24 open-cell spray foam to create a protective bubble around your home’s living areas. In addition to being a superior insulator, it has the added perks of reducing noise, as well as blocking dust, pollen, and other airborne pollutants for a cleaner, more comfortable environment.

In this webinar, Michael Arblaster will teach attendees about the specifics of pre-drywall inspections and testing. We will discuss the value of third-party pre-drywall inspections and testing for builders and raters, and how they can result in reduced callbacks. We will also examine how this aspect of the rating process has become increasingly important for consistency and defensibility for builders who choose an ERI Path for code compliance.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the specific minimum rated features which can be verified at the pre-drywall stage of construction, specifically proper optimized framing, air sealing and Grade I insulation installation practices.
2. Understand the benefits to builders of third-party inspection and testing, measurable quality control, lower HERS scores, and reduced callbacks.
3. Learn about the benefits to raters of more consistent and higher quality ratings, as well as increased inspection revenue streams.
4. Become aware of the requirements of pre-drywall inspections for several Energy Efficiency Programs

Take 12 minutes to watch George Casey's presentation about how #homebuilders can thrive during an economic downturn, presented during this week's Builder Benchmark Group retreat hosted by the Mitsubishi Electric Performance Construction Team at Georgia's beautiful Lake Lanier Islands. Go to eeba.org to learn more about how to join.

Net-zero energy and zero emission homes/buildings are being built ALL across the U.S. and yet so many buyers either don’t know this level of performance, including optimized comfort and minimized maintenance, is within their grasp. Or, if they do know about it, they too often assume it is still “too cutting-edge” and thus too expensive to be in their home. Our panelists on this episode are educating and helping dispel the misunderstanding that this type of performance is only available for the ultra-wealthy.

Paul Kriescher, Executive Producer/Host of the new PBS/YouTube series, Heart of a Building, does this by showcasing the inspiring “why” stories behind inspired homes and buildings across Colorado and soon from across the U.S. beginning with the Pittsburgh, PA and Orlando, FL areas. David Takahashi is a Boulder homeowner who renovated his 1954 “energy-hog” of a home into a net-zero energy home after Climate Change enhanced fire and flood (destroyed and damaged, respectively) previous homes he owned a decade earlier. Paul Hutton is the Director of Regenerative Design at the Cuningham Group where he specializes in optimizing daylighting and building performance for schools and commercial buildings across the U.S.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how and why people design and build/remodel net-zero energy houses/buildings.
2. Learn about the true costs of net-zero energy home construction vs. operational, maintenance and environmental impact savings (new and retrofit).
3. Understand the importance of the thermal envelope prior to electrifying heating, cooling and ventilation equipment.
4. Learn why solar PV is the “icing on the cake”, not the first step.

Installing Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) in new homes is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to incorporate high-efficiency water heating into buildings. Yet, the vast majority of builders are not familiar with and not using advanced water heating technology.  Join the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI), EEBA and Electrify Now for a webinar that will profile two American homebuilders who are installing heat pump water heaters in new homes and loving it.

Our discussion will highlight the experiences these builders have had with this important technology and cover the following topics:   Installing HPWHs in new, all-electric homes. Why builders are installing and love HPWH. What are the benefits and challenges of installing HPWH in new homes?  Are builders modifying their home designs to fit and take advantage of HPWH? What are homeowners saying when they buy homes with HPWHs?  Any lessons that can be applied to installing HPWHs in existing homes?

Learning Objectives:  Attendees will learn about general guidelines for how to install heat pump water heaters and how they differ from gas and electric resistance water heaters. Attendees will be informed about how to communicate with customers on the monetary and energy-saving potential of these devices. Attendees will become familiar with how to incorporate heat pump water heaters into new home design and construction. Attendees will understand the role water heaters play in the decarbonization and transformation of the electric grid.

Panelists:  Juan Fernandez - Owner, CVF Homes in San Antonio Texas Leigha Dickens - Green Building Program Manager, Green Built Alliance  Geoff Wickes - Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

As momentum continues to build for the adoption/deployment of ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters, one of the most attractive, cost-effective growth vehicles is the new home construction channel. Today's technology offers a multitude of energy-efficient options to meet the ever-changing demands of the home builder. ENERGY STAR Homes and Products Teams and leading manufacturers are empowering a national alliance to ensure the most comprehensive set of resources are available for any residential construction application. This session will define the technology features and product benefits of HPWH, how the product fits into a broader home electrification/decarbonization strategy, and explain strategies to overcome industry objections.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding HPWH technology and design options offered today and what's to come.
2. Defining ENERGY STAR's product specifications and the diverse toolkit available to home builders.
3. Overcoming common misperceptions/objectives regarding performance and installation.
4. Recognizing how HPWH are an integral part of a broader ENERGY STAR Homes portfolio.

Once homebuyers purchase new homes often based on infatuation with community and design, bad home performance experiences can negate all the hard work earning customer satisfaction. It is critical to get high-performance right. This course begins that process with lessons-learned from decades of experience as a residential architect and work with thousands of home builders while serving as national director for ENERGY STAR Certified Home and Zero Energy Ready Home. The resulting framework for high performance homes includes five key strategies and over 40 best practices for applying them with substantial cost savings. Most importantly, this framework has been intensively researched, vetted, and refined over five years with hundreds of housing industry executives. The goal is not to dogmatically impose one solution for all, but to engage housing professionals to high-performance as a journey and how to get on their own path.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn why user experience is the new imperative.
2. Learn what are the five key housing user experiences. 
3. Learn 4 strategies with over 40 best practices for consistently optimizing the home performance UX.
4. Learn how high-performance is a journey to chart your own path.

Sam Rashkin has earned an international reputation for his work engaging thousands of homebuilders as national director for ENERGY STAR Certified Home and Chief Architect with the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office directing Zero Energy Ready Home. Over two-and-a-half million high-performance homes have now been certified under these programs. Through this decades of experience, research, and detailed observations, Sam has learned two things. One, high-performance is a critical must-have for success in the housing industry. Two, high-performance is not nearly enough to meet the new user experience imperative. Sam’s latest work and new book, “Housing 2.0 – A Disruption Survival Guide,” provides the guidance needed for high-performance builders to become industry leaders with a comprehensive framework for optimizing the housing user experience.

Download the first two chapters of Housing 2.0 here: www.greenbuildermedia.com/housing-2.0#book

Panasonic and Swidget have combined forces to empower your homes to monitor, assess, and optimize the healthy home and a multitude of other home automation possibilities.  

• Learn how to expand the jobs to be done by upgrading traditional wiring devices to smart devices.
• Easily manage ventilation and other healthy home strategies with simple automations.
• Technology develops fast and the only solution is to provide a future-proof design that is fully customizable and re-configurable. Learn how easy it is with Swidget. 
• Understand our simple Builder Package Options that are surprisingly affordable.

Watch recording here: eeba.digitalchalk.com/learn/future-proof-healthy-home-strategies-with-panasonic-and-swidget

Recent studies show that user experience leaders compared to laggards realize 3X greater return to investors and 3X greater resilience during downturns. Housing will not be the exception to this trend. If the “house is a system” in building science, “housing is a system” in user experience. Housing professionals have to be prepared to optimize this total homebuyer experience. High-performance is not enough … not nearly enough. This webinar begins that process with the design experience based on lessons-learned from decades of residential architecture experience and work leading national high-performance home programs. The resulting design optimization framework includes five key strategies and 50 best practices for applying them with substantial cost savings. Most importantly, this framework has been intensively researched, vetted, and refined over five years with hundreds of housing industry executives. The goal is not to dogmatically impose one path, but to engage high-performance housing professionals to understand the opportunities to begin their own critical journey to industry leading user exeriences at lower cost.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn why user experience is the new imperative.
2. Learn what are the five key housing user experiences.
3. Learn 5 strategies with 50 best practices for consistently optimizing the housing design UX.
4. Learn how to customize the housing design framework for your business.

Sam Rashkin has earned an international reputation for his work engaging thousands of homebuilders as national director for ENERGY STAR Certified Home and Chief Architect with the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office directing Zero Energy Ready Home. Over two-and-a-half million high-performance homes have now been certified under these programs. Through this decades of experience, research, and detailed observations, Sam has learned two things. One, high-performance is a critical must-have for success in the housing industry. Two, high-performance is not nearly enough to meet the new user experience imperative. Sam’s latest work and new book, “Housing 2.0 – A Disruption Survival Guide,” provides the guidance needed for high-performance builders to become industry leaders with a comprehensive framework for optimizing the housing user experience.

Download the first two chapters of Housing 2.0 here: www.greenbuildermedia.com/housing-2.0#book

Software, specifically software services, has been disrupting industries since the 50's. Marc Andreesen, the founder of Netscape, 10 years ago had a famous article in the WSJ titled "Why Software is Eating the World." Today, that has proven to be true, we experience the phenomenon as online software services that we interact with every day. Sendal software services solve unhealthy living environments by disrupting the current hardware centric approach to high-performance homes. We will be discussing how software services improve the general well-being of the home's occupants and simultaneously reduce the emissions footprint of housing. Sendal services deliver meaningful results; breathable air, energy & water conservation enabling general wellness and well-being of the occupants. We will be discussing how software services recruit both builder built-in tech and consumer tech to deliver highly functional high-performance homes that consumers will be willing to pay for.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define and gain agreement around how today's static approaches to the high-performance home lead to unhealthy homes while sub optimizing energy and water conservation.
2. Explore how software is uniquely capable of addressing dynamic living environments in the delivery of healthy homes while reducing emissions.
3. Discover how leveraging existing products and making them perform better with software services creates meaningful results for consumers.
4. Why consumers care and are willing to pay for these services.

Virtually every major industry has experienced, or is in the process of experiencing, disruption. Think retail, personal transportation, automobiles, computing, music, photography, media, and the list goes on and on. Housing in the U.S. has been able to sit on the sidelines with its first cost dominated business model and uniquely disaggregated industry…but not for much longer. That’s because there are five crises driving four innovations that will disrupt an industry totally resistant to change. A certainty by simply connecting the dots. Understanding these changes and preparing for them will be critical for all high-performance housing professionals. Will you be ready?

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what five housing crises are converging on the housing industry imposing profound pain.
2. Learn what four housing innovations are waiting in the wings with impressive pain relief. 
3. Learn what housing disruption is certain by simply connecting the dots.
4. Learn how high-performance housing professionals can prepare for the disruption ahead.

Sam Rashkin has earned an international reputation for his work engaging thousands of homebuilders as national director for ENERGY STAR Certified Home and Chief Architect with the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office directing Zero Energy Ready Home. Over two-and-a-half million high-performance homes have now been certified under these programs. Through this decades of experience, research, and detailed observations, Sam has learned two things. One, high-performance is a critical must-have for success in the housing industry. Two, high-performance is not nearly enough to meet the new user experience imperative. Sam’s latest work and new book, “Housing 2.0 – A Disruption Survival Guide,” provides the guidance needed for high-performance builders to become industry leaders with a comprehensive framework for optimizing the housing user experience.

Download the first two chapters of Housing 2.0 here: www.greenbuildermedia.com/housing-2.0#book

This webinar presents the new Phius 2021 core prescriptive path and prepares Passive House practitioners to certify their buildings with it. It covers the background context, the origin of the prescriptive checklist, and provides step-by-step instruction, along with some case study examples.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the origins of the Phius 2021 prescriptive path.
2. Understand how to use the prescriptive checklist.
3. Identify the submission requirements and the process for certifying a building through the prescriptive path.
4. Review case study examples that demonstrate the use of the prescriptive checklist.

John Loercher joined the Phius certification team in 2021. He provides design review, updates our existing CPHC training curriculum and helps expand the advanced training offerings at Phius. Prior to joining the certification team, John has been an active CPHC since 2016 and has certified all building types ranging from single-family and multi-family residential, commercial, new construction and retrofits. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant and holds a Masters of Architecture from Parsons the New School for Design.

Lisa White and Aaron Smith: Phius 2021 is the next progression of the Phius passive building standards which were created to guide builders to success in the design and construction of passive buildings.

The well-known Phius performance path now has two levels related to overall building impact: the CORE target to acknowledge aggressive load reduction and energy conservation and the ZERO target to build upon CORE but also fully electrify and net out operational energy use with renewable energy. Phius ZERO marks the next step towards making net zero universal.

The Phius ZERO standard has other provisions to reduce emissions and support decarbonization efforts including banning on-site fossil fuel combustion and using a future predicted electric grid emissions scenario for calculating the impact of using electricity versus natural gas on site. Learn more about the mandatory requirements of the standard, renewable energy options to get to zero, building your project team, and next steps if you choose to pursue this for your project.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the history and origin of high performance passive buildings, passive principles, and how the standards are derived from and built upon these principles & concepts.
2. Recognize the core passive principles and how they are applied in various climate zones and result in varying passive building solutions and lay the foundation for net zero energy buildings.
3. Examine the recommendations and performance requirements for buildings pursuing Phius Certification for CORE or ZERO.
4. Recall the suggested timeline, project team members, their roles, and the Phius Certified professionals that must be involved if pursuing Phius Certification.

Established in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for sustainable living and 100% renewable energy. We share information, events and resources to cultivate community and power progress in the U.S. and beyond. As the U.S. section of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), we work with individuals and groups around the world to accelerate the equitable transition to a renewable energy and sustainable living society.

We believe knowledge and community are a powerful combination for change. Through trusted, well-researched content and comprehensive, thoughtful perspectives, we continue to nurture a transition to a more sustainable world. Through signature publications such as Solar Today magazine, the ASES Online Community network and annual events like the National Solar Tour and National Solar Conference, we engage individuals, businesses and partnering groups to advance the possibilities of sustainability and renewable energy in the U.S.

In this webinar we will dive deeper into ASES's programs to learn how you can effect change by participating in our many opportunities. This includes attending the ASES SOLAR 2022 National Solar Conference, participating in the National Solar Tour, volunteer opportunities, and engaging with industry professionals in our ASES Online Community and Webinar Series.

Carly Cipolla is the Director of Engagement for the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). She is a 2017 graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Environmental Studies and minor in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science with an emphasis in sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental justice. Prior to her joining the ASES team, Carly worked at the University of Colorado’s Environmental Center to further sustainability on campus as a Promotions and Outreach Associate. Since joining ASES as an intern in 2016, Carly has flourished into her current leadership position focusing on directing the annual National Solar Conference, managing staff and volunteers, as well as focusing on general operations for the organization. She has planned the last four conferences and successfully developed and implemented ASES’ first ever virtual conference, SOLAR 20/20: Renewable Energy Vision in 2020 and ASES’s first ever hybrid conference in 2021. Realizing the success and potential of the virtual and hybrid events, she plans to add an online component to every ASES conference in the future to allow attendees to gather from all over the world. Carly is focused on expanding the reach of ASES and their programs, and has even started a program, the ASES Webinar Series in 2019. She has most recently implemented an online community platform for ASES membership of 20,000+ members, chapters and staff/board of directors. The platform is a place for the ASES community to gather, network and share information and events. Carly looks forward to continued success with ASES.

In this session, the NAACP brings you an overview of the Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector (CESBS) Initiative and the stories of two members at the intersection of energy, equity, and housing. Lonnie Feemster, President of the Reno-Sparks Branch of the NAACP and former energy inspector, is known around town as “Solar Man.” With immense care, he built his own passive house that provides a 100% electric, low-consumption, and comfortable place for work and play for three generations. Daphany Rose Sanchez, founder of Kinetic Communities Consulting (KC3) and proud New York native, leverages partnerships and resources to help close the gap between the affordable housing and energy efficiency industry for diverse New York communities. Lonnie and Daphany share a passion for supporting Black and brown communities to understand the human cost of energy, save money, feel safe, and live in a cleaner environment. They will share a call to action through stories and lessons for building professionals to design projects, policies, and programs first and foremost for people and for justice.

With Jim Shelton & Brian Kincaid from Greenheck

Content Covers:

1. Why Home Builders need a new IAQ Partner.
2. Why the antiquated residential-grade ventilation wholesale distribution model does not work for Home Builders.
3. Why Home Builders cannot rely on residential-grade ventilation fans to perform in common installation scenarios.
4. Why everyone (Home Builders, their contractors, their homeowners, and EEBA) all win by partnering directly with Greenheck.

Module 8: Performance path options (R405 and R406), and additional efficiency path options

This class will explain how to use the various performance path options in the IECC (Section R405 and R406) - their structure, the flexibility allowed in each, and the limitations of each. The audience will explore various scenarios for which compliance path will best suit certain construction choices.  Finally, the class will explain the new required additional efficiency packages in R408 in the 2021 IECC.

This class will explain mandatory and prescriptive requirements related to duct installation, insulation, sealing, and testing, as well as requirements for heating, cooling, and hot water systems and controls. The class will also discuss mandatory requirements for mechanical ventilation and the building science rationale for these requirements. Attendees will also learn about code lighting requirements. An emphasis will be placed on explaining how these code requirements have changed through various editions of the IECC, and finally what the 2021 IECC requires.

This class will discuss the air sealing requirements of the IECC, all of which are mandatory, as well as some new flexibility added in the 2021 IECC.  The audience will learn what air sealing details are needed for compliance with the visual inspection tables, as well as air-tightness testing requirements in the code.  The class will focus on successful strategies for meeting code air sealing targets.

In this class, building code expert, Joe Nebbia will discuss mandatory and prescriptive insulation requirements in the IECC, as well as the building science rationale for these requirements. You will hear about important code compliant installation details, learn in what ways the code is flexible with multiple installation options, and understand how the new structure and details in the 2021 IECC change compliance requirements.

This is Part 4 in the exclusive 8-part series of the "Better Homes, Better Future" podcast. Joe Nebbia from Newport Partners, LLC will discuss code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements and how these requirements have changed through various code editions (2009-2021). Listeners will learn how to interpret the tables, understand different insulation types that comply and explore innovative examples. The episode will discuss how the code tables are intended to control conductive heat flow, and will explain how the code treats concepts like "effective R-value" and U-value. The episode will also discuss flexibility allowed through different compliance options within the prescriptive compliance path. This episode will cover IECC Climate Zones 6, 7, and 8 while previous modules covered other climate zones.

This is Part 3 in the exclusive 8-part series of the "Better Homes, Better Future" podcast. Joe Nebbia from Newport Partners, LLC will discuss code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements and how these requirements have changed through various code editions (2009-2021). Listeners will learn how to interpret the tables, understand different insulation types that comply and explore innovative examples. This episode will cover IECC Climate Zones 3, 4, and 5 while other modules will cover other climate zones.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize Minimum Code Requirements
• Describe the energy code compliance path options and required information/documentation for typical permit applications, compliance information on construction documents, and completion documents/certifications
• Recognize a variety of energy code compliance options related to common decision points in construction

This is Part 2 in the exclusive 8-part series of the "Better Homes, Better Future" podcast. Joe Nebbia from Newport Partners, LLC will discuss code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements and how these requirements have changed through various code editions (2009-2021). The audience will learn how to interpret the tables, understand different insulation types that comply and explore innovative examples. Joe Nebbia will also discuss flexibility allowed through different compliance options within the prescriptive compliance path.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize Minimum Code Requirements
• Describe the energy code compliance path options and required information/documentation for typical permit applications, compliance information on construction documents, and completion documents/certifications
• Recognize a variety of energy code compliance options related to common decision points in construction

In this exclusive 8-part series of the "Better Homes, Better Future" podcast, Joe Nebbia from Newport Partners, LLC will explore how the International Energy Conservation Code is structured, as well as the process for complying with the energy code and what details to put on building plans. Listeners will also gain insight into the various compliance paths, with a specific focus on how the code has changed in the 2021 version.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize Minimum Code Requirements
• Describe the energy code compliance path options and required information/documentation for typical permit applications, compliance information on construction documents, and completion documents/certifications
• Recognize a variety of energy code compliance options related to common decision points in construction

Residential energy is changing quickly with new mandates, greater demand for electricity and an aging infrastructure. Home builders today are meeting these challenges in new ways to build homes of the future today. With new strategies and solutions, home builders are building not just smart homes, but homes with smart, sustainable, resilient energy. This episode of "Better Homes, Better Future" with Schneider Electric tackles these topics and more!

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the macro forces influencing the new energy landscape.
2. Hear how homebuilders are leveraging this opportunity to differentiate themselves in the market.
3. Understand some of the solutions to simplify building smart, sustainable and resilient homes in 2022.

This episode of "Better Homes, Better Future" with special guest Sam Bowles from Newport Partners is intended for students, entry-level workers, or people experienced in the home building industry looking for career path advancement options. The discussion explores various career paths, using career map tools intended to explain various options for people interested in careers in innovative, high-performance home construction. Attendees will be introduced to basic building science concepts, as well as a variety of career path examples. The episode will establish a link between innovative building practices and career advancement options.

When it comes to understanding the components and benefits of high-performance homes, learning through experience is one of the best approaches. In this “Better Homes, Better Future” podcast, hear from Greg Davenport, a performance construction manager at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, and Andy Barrett, a high-performance builder representing Toolbox NW, who also happens to use one of his builds as a second home. The pair will join host Aaron Smith to talk about what it’s actually like to own and live in one of these homes.

Episode 3 in this exclusive 4-part series with Doug Tarry of Doug Tarry Homes concludes our review of the 11 critical steps involved in building a house as a "system." We look at managing occupant comfort and indoor air quality through system design by addressing such topics as building a better basement wall, reducing the A/C size, and creating greater comfort in the house by the windows we select, to name a few.

Episodes 2 and 3 in this exclusive 4-part series with Doug Tarry, of Doug Tarry Homes, explore the 11 critical steps involved in building a house as a ‘system.’ Customer comfort is paramount and we have to consider how the client will use their home. We must ask ourselves one simple question: “Am I making the homeowner’s life easier or harder?" Episode 2 looks at how to avoid improper planning and design from the outset, both of which can impact the entire home and create costly errors and rework.

This is the first installment in an exclusive 4-part series with Doug Tarry, President of Doug Tarry Ltd., an award winning, leading home building company in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Having built and labeled more Net Zero / Net Zero Ready homes than any other builder in Canada, Doug is currently developing a book called "From Bleeding Edge to Leading Edge: A Builders' Guide to Net Zero Homes." This discussion will provide an overview of Doug’s book and delves into what he believes are the 4 principles of modern design.

Joseph Molina and Rene Carter join us for a "Better Homes, Better Future" podcast discussion on the benefits and strategies for hiring veterans. The National Veterans Chamber serves both the individual Veteran and the organizations that support our Veterans and military families. Veterans and military families are able to access resources to find jobs, start a business, and obtain advice in current employment. Employers benefit by accessing resources to help them create a welcoming military-friendly workplace, free training programs and access tax benefits when hiring military Veterans.

This episode will cover strategies and elements of radon mitigation with Randy Nicklas, Senior Engineer at Huntsman Building Solutions. Building codes are steadily increasing the requirements for building envelope airtightness, along with mechanical ventilation. One aspect that is critical in tighter building construction is the need for maintaining a healthy indoor air environment. Outdoor pollutants entering the building include not only allergens and various chemical compounds, but also radon gas. This presentation will outline the advances in radon control.

High performance zero energy homes provide many benefits including cost savings, energy resiliency, durability, comfort, and sustainable operation. While these types of homes have been built for a long time, the knowledge of how to build them has historically been kept by few. Now with increasingly stringent building codes across the U.S., driven by long-term energy policy and growing demands on the energy grid, all builders and implementers need to know how to build high performance. This session will review key strategies to build high performance zero energy homes discussing measures that impact building envelope, heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, and other loads. The episode will highlight electric technology including heat pumps.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand key strategies to build high performance zero energy homes
2. Examine strategies to reduce building heating and cooling loads
3. Examine common mechanical systems
4. Identify key system interactions in high performance zero energy homes

Do you know how a properly installed rainscreen makes your building envelope more durable? In the first part of this webinar, Peter Barrett of Dorken Systems will look at how rainscreens work to add drainage and drying capacity to a typical residential wall. In the second part, Chris Donatelli of Donatelli Builders will discuss the real-life building and renovation of a home in Chicago. As original builder, Chris will tell his story of constructing the original home, issues he discovered, and his road to sustainable repair of the walls. You will hear his actual experience managing the moisture issues along with amazing details about when, where, and how damage occurred and was remediated.

Learning Objectives:

• Easily design rainscreen principles into your walls
• Evaluate the long-term benefits of added drainage and drying
• Understand the impact of moisture management issues
• Apply appropriate remediation techniques

Healthier Homes Awareness for Building Professionals educational program is now LIVE!

The course designed by experts from Allergy Standards, Construction Instruction, and EEBA teaches builders how to build a better air quality environment for customers. Taking care of customers health and helping them make better, more informed decisions when specifying and purchasing products and services that effect the very air they, and their loved ones, breathe.

Episode guests: Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards and Gord Cooke, President of Building Knowledge Canada and Partner of Construction Instruction.

Register and learn more about the course here in the EEBA Academy.

"Decarbonization" and "electrification" are becoming household words in some parts of the country. This discussion will demystify these terms, covering the motivations, benefits, and nuts and bolts of making the switch -- transitioning mixed-fuel homes to 100% electricity. If you have concerns about indoor air quality, resiliency, or the changing climate, there's something for you in this podcast.

Learning objectives:

• Explain the benefits of electrifying homes to clients, friends, and family
• Understand how electrification supports resiliency goals
• Differentiate between the two electric alternatives to each of the four typical residential gas appliances
• Create a customized home electrification roadmap

Episode guest: Ann Edminster, Founder and principal of Design AVEnues LLC

This special Team Zero episode explores the current and evolving definitions of high-performance homes, their components, and how they affect global populations. For this episode, we are joined by Ken Johnson, Senior Manager of Performance Construction at Mitsubishi Electric Trane US and Rich Williams, Vice President of Alliance Green Homes. The discussion tackles the growing topic of the role that Indoor Air Quality plays in the construction and maintenance of high-performance homes. Listeners will learn about the critical green certification programs related to energy efficiency, and how they can move towards creating a high-performance home.

We've all heard that we need to "Build Tight and Ventilate Right," but do we have the approaches that we need that are cost competitive, bring sales opportunities, and are beneficial to resiliency, comfort, and IEQ? In this podcast, we'll briefly cover why it’s important to use balanced ventilation in tighter homes, but we will then move on to the most common strategies for getting each component right. This includes strategies for achieving tighter buildings and then a review of the seven most common balanced ventilation strategies with some tips and tricks along the way to make it work. Join Dan Wildenhaus, Technical Advisor and Industry Liaison for BetterBuiltNW on this journey to getting homes dialed in for our codes, certification programs, and most importantly our homebuyers' future experience.

Instructor: Dan Wildenhaus

Chef Rachelle Boucher of Kitchens to Life cooks her favorite Chinese New Year dishes as two of the top experts in Indoor Air Quality bring a fresh perspective to traditional cooking and the vital role of ventilation in today's homes.

Speakers:
Rachelle Boucher, Chef & Induction Expert at Kitchens to Life
Alex Siow, San Francisco Showroom Director

This 1924 Colonial home had fallen into severe disrepair before coming up for sale. As part of the much needed renovation, the new homeowners (two Steven Winter Associates, Inc. employees) wanted to eliminate onsite combustion and produce as much of their operating electricity as possible. Other goals included lower embodied energy materials and a healthy indoor environment. LEED v4.1 for Homes offered one platform to address energy, health, and materials. The home was gutted down to the foundation, framing, and floors before the year-long renovation. After the first 8 months of occupancy (July-February), the home produced 14% more energy than it consumed.

Homeowners: Maureen Mahle and Steve Klocke
Moderator: Aaron Smith