Building HVAC Science

Joe is one of the coolest guys I know. He probably doesn't think of himself that way. He's been so influential in changing the perception and understanding of IAQ and healthy homes in the last few years. And he is SO PASSIONATE about getting people to understand. He is always testing products and building props and animations to teach others. If you get a chance, go see Joe present some time. You can find Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemedosch You can learn more about the Hayward Score at: www.HaywardScore.com This episode was recorded in Dec 2021.

Jason Earle of GotMold.com gives a fascinating tour of his personal journey and how he ended up breaking the price barrier for lab testing of mold in the air. Jason has set up a special landing page for our listeners: https://www.gotmold.com/trutech AND… a 10% discount code just for you! Trutech10 This episode was recorded in January 2022.

Paul's a unique, but complex man: equal parts scientist, inventor, business owner, practitioner, and author. Paul's technical website is https://www.heyokasolutions.com/aboutus.asp and his publishing website is https://www.paulhraymer.com/, Salty Air Publishing The Residential Ventilation Handbook is a must read for those in building science. This episode was recorded in Sept 2021.

I'm so happy to bring the voice, thoughts, and ideas of Michael Kane to the Building HVAC Podcast! You'll hear about the art and process of product development that has evolved through 2 generations of ownership of this family business. Michael is a man of patience and empathy and greatly respects the dignity, value and skill of the trades, He hopes to create the best products for people in the trades to better do their jobs. You can learn more about UEI products at Michael's website: www.UEitest.com or at www.TruTechtools.com/UEi This episode was recorded in Sept 2021.

Since January is Radon awareness month, I've invited 2 people deeply involved in the Radon industry to be my guests today. Dawn Oggier, is Manager of Market Development for RadonAway and National Director for AARST – the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (https://aarst.org/) Brian Kennihan is the Business Development Manager for AprilAire. If you are catching this episode before or during your visit to the 2022 AHR Expo you can visit with both guests! Dawn at booth N8617: Spruce Environmental Technologies And Brian at booth C3706: AprilAire a Division of Research Products LinkedIn connections: Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-oggier-3276481a3/ Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kennihan-ba3677b3/ You can learn more about their organizations:Spruce Environmental Technologies/ RadonAway: https://www.radonaway.com/ AprilAire Radon products at: www.aprilairepartners.com/ This episode was recorded in Jan 2022.

Brian is on a mission with this company, Module Housing. Their tag line says it all: Designed for people and planet powered by offsite construction. Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangaudio/ Or via his website: https://www.modulehousing.com/ This episode was recorded in July 2019.

"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi I'm certain many of our listeners have had ideas for products of their own. Trade practitioners are clever and innovative on the job and so, able to see new ways to "connect the dots" and solve a problem. How do you go from idea to successful product on the market? How long does it take to develop award winning products? Today we are joined by Bob Belvick, Product Manager for the HVACR Service Tools division of Inficon, a publicly traded, diversified industrial giant with HQ in Switzerland. Bob shares his background story and talks about INFICON's other industries and what makes them different from competitors. Bob focuses in on refrigerant leak detectors, one of the specialties of Inficon dating back to the 1969 founding of the company by scientists and engineers from GE and Syracuse University. He takes us on a walkthrough of the product development process: eg. capturing customer needs, integrating technologies, analyzing the market, alpha and beta testing, working with his development team, to give us an overview of the complexities and time it takes to do it right – that is an Inficon characteristic! Among many other tidbits, Bob also shares with us how they arrived at the name INFICON. For more info on Inficon HVAC products go to: www.inficon.com/en/markets/air-conditioning You'll also find Inifcon HVAC products at www.TruTechtools.com/Inficon This episode was recorded in July 2020.

"Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers." Elizabeth Arden Fortune may come knocking, but sometimes the sound is very faint, almost imperceptible. When someone takes you under their wing, how do you know if that's where you want to be? If the bug to start your own business bites, what do you do next? Where can you learn from others' experience and insights? We're pleased to welcome the very successful HVAC contractor Hal Smith to the podcast. Hal shares with us the story of how he started and grew Halco Energy. We learn the ups and downs of growing an HVAC, Plumbing, (and more) contracting business in a mostly rural area of NY State with just 1-2 competitors. Hal uses straightforward thinking and simple insights to create a business where the goal is to earn customers for life. We also hear where Hal gains new perspectives and insights including the way he "snacks on learning." Hal is a hands-on business operator who knows and communicates with his customers. Hal Smith is founder and owner of HALCO Energy in Phelps, NY servicing Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, The Finger Lakes and surrounding areas of upstate NY. For more info go to: www.HalcoEnergy.com This episode was recorded in December 2019.

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." Jimmy Dean Many of the people I meet in the industry have interesting stories. There are struggles and challenges in all their lives, our lives. What if a real police state was limiting your options in life? How would you direct your will? Your desire? Your drive to achieve? I met our guest today, Genry Garcia during the AHR Expo in Orlando in January 2020. As I learned more about him, I found his story truly inspirational. Genry is thoughtful, honest, and avid self-learner. He's also a successful business owner and devoted family man. While it now makes total sense, based on his approach to customers, I did not learn until lately that Genry has done degree work in psychology. Genry owns Comfort Dynamics, Inc. in Miami, FL. This episode was recorded in June 2021.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke The topic of how to manage and improve indoor air quality comes up a lot lately. With all this interest come the offer of many "solutions" and devices. Wish you could learn the back story of and technology inside some of these devices? Ever wonder about the international perspectives on the topic of IAQ? The Building HVAC Science podcast is pleased to welcome our very first guest from another continent! Listen in as Clive Mitchell, better know as Big Clive, gives us his perspectives on a spectrum of IAQ improvement products from beneficial to downright dangerous. If you have not seen his YouTube Channel, you need to stop and look up BigCliveDotCom on YouTube. He's published thousands of dissection-like, teardown videos on a wide range of electrical and electronic products over the last 13 years. Clive largely focuses on "cheap junk" teardowns and publishes a video every 2 days. Yet he also finds time to ponder such challenging societal questions like: "Does pineapple belong on pizza?" "What happens when you re-distill Jägermeister?" He calls it the trashiest electronics channel on YouTube. Based on feedback, the bulk of his over 800,0000 subscribers seem to agree. Big Clive lives on the Isle of Mann, a 221 sq. mile island with population of 83,000 located in the Irish Sea. This episode was recorded in May 2021.