The Building Science Podcast Positive Energy

How often do you think about modular construction? Is it an idea whose time has come? There are those who view it as the only path forward that realistically checks all the boxes - are they right?


The potential is clear, modular project delivery can save time, save money, and positively impact our current and looming labor and skills crunch on the construction side of the AEC. There is no doubt that relative to the current norm, the “holy triumvirate” of owner, architect builder*, modular delivery represents a disruptive force within the AEC. Modular may be exactly the solutions we need but also one that we are not currently embracing at scale. Why is that? What are the challenges and the opportunities for modular design, construction and delivery? Join us today to unpack those questions and more.


Whether you’re a seasoned modular developer or just a curious newcomer and novice this podcast has something for you. Kristof is joined by Chris Krager and Rommel Sulit who, collectively have soaked up decades of experience and expertise in the modular space. One of the challenges to understanding modular design and construction is that it is dynamic and evolving. This confluence of financial, technical and material perspectives means different things at different times to different stakeholders. Along with our society and the AEC industry, modular has a path quality, it is not static, by some accounts where we are now is Gen 4 modular. To fulfill its potential modelar delivery needs to reach backward to influence the design process and also to reach forward to construction. This reality, while challenging, is long overdue and it is perhaps the most relevant and powerful benefit. It forces, or at least strongly encourages, the AEC to finally do integrated project design and delivery at scale.


*Quote by Rommel in the podcast

Who knew that an indoor pickleball facility could become a touchstone for high performance construction based on passive house principles? The backstory here is worth unpacking as it relates to a powerful force that is not often discussed - money. Return on investment is the aim of the game in the realm of real estate investment and this fact typically filters out high performance passive buildings - but not this time, and it is important to understand why. Our guest today is adept in both the financial and the construction realms and has been able to make a solid case for the value of passive construction in his latest development. 

Beyond the financial angle, this project aim to showcase high quality construction while also fostering community through sport. Plus with the heat and humidity of the Texas summers playing sports indoors makes it far more accessible to people. Join us in this thought-filled interview with David Komet of Urban Earth to hear about his journey and learn what he’s doing with his new pickleball facility as he prioritizes the health of the community, the local environment, and the planet.

At a fundamental level, passive house practitioners are engaged in a rebellion against poor quality design and construction. It’s becoming quite clear that this rebellion has legs and will endure. Given this, a question worth unpacking is whether the durability of the passive house movement is emerging as an architectural style. What are the defining principles behind architectural aesthetic decisions in the context of high performance homes and buildings? What will the history books say about our little rebellion in the years to come? Join us in this rich and thoughtful discussion with two powerful voices at the top of their game in the passive house realm.

Big news! The Humid Climate Conference is coming back to ATX and it’s time for some appropriate FOMO. We’re just two weeks out. You will be so glad you made the decision to come to HCC in ATX. Both the technical knowledge and perspectives you’ll hear, as well as the realization and experience of the power, vitality and unstoppability of the growing community of folks in the AEC that are stepping up to move our industry and our society forward. 

The theme for HCC’24 is Transitions. The  work we do in the world as architects, developers, builders, trades, and even owners is important and it is also going through a series of transitions that together represent an altogether new way of delivering buildings to clients and communities. The Energy Transition, the refrigerant transition, the transition to lower carbon designs, both embodied and operational, are all “in play” right now. Now is the time to learn about them from visionary thought leaders and boots on the ground who are both showcasing these transitions and helping make them happen. 

Here’s the HCC website and here’s the link to buy tickets. 

Code to get $50 off is shared on the podcast!

Today’s episode opens up the system of systems that delivers the materials, equipment and tools we use to deliver high quality homes and buildings to ourselves. The focus is on an novel ultrasonic leak detection system. This is potentially game-changing technology that impacts the ability to confidently deliver Passive House quality air control layers. Along the way you’ll learn about the importance of the air barrier and get a glimpse of the vastness of the AEC. This is an expansive episode that covers the human side of what it will take to get us from high quality designs to high performance finished projects - and ultimately to high quality lived experiences for occupants and owners.
If you appreciate the ideas you hear on our podcast, Humid Climate Conference is the conference and the community you’re looking for.

What if it’s true that “We can not solve our problems using the same level of thinking that created them”(1)? Could it be that a building science understanding is limited? Could it be that even the clarity of understanding we gain through the building science perspective - as a collection of systems, assemblies, materials and products interacting according to the laws of science and nature - is necessary but not sufficient to cause us to build that way? Using that concept as a lens, this episode expands the systems-of-systems view of buildings to search for ways to get unstuck. Anyone working in the AEC knows that the barriers to change are solid and weighty. This is the what motivates the search for Leverage. We need leverage to multiply the force we can exert to cause change to happen in the AEC. Following the insights from Donella Meadows(2), we focus on the concept of Leverage Points - those “places within a complex system where a small change in one area can have pervasive positive impacts”. Please join us for this rich and thoughtful exploration of what it takes to bring the future we want into the present we have. Bring your caring hearts and curious minds and let’s have some fun!