BUILDTank / buildCAST

Robby Schwarz
  • 5.0 (6)
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At BuildTank, our mission is to use what we learn applying building science to affect meaningful change in the construction industry. The buildCAST is the next step. Through broad conversations, we learn something new from our guests’ story that could be the catalyst to take sustainable buildings to mainstream building. Concentrating on the quest's “story” as much as on their expertise revealing a journey and key information that can help us attain our goal to move our industry forward and make high performance building mainstream building . buildtankinc.com

  1. Jun 22

    #13-2026 Ken Nelson and whole house controlled mechanical ventilation

    Ken Nelson is well known as an applied building science and indoor air quality (IAQ) expert at Panasonic North America. Our conversation wandered through the three ventilation strategies and further explained Panasonic’s Oasys System, which I really did not realize is an innovative approach for heating and cooling not just whole house ventilation. Ken is passionate about the subject and seamlessly explains the benefits for all stakeholders as well as some of the stumbling blocks we need to look out for during installation. Ken Nelson on LinkedIn Panasonic Ventilation Panasonic Oasys

    1h 4m

  2. Jun 8

    #11-2026 Randy Plumlee and Jason Helm – What mechanical ventilation systems does the IECC require to be tested?

    Randy Plumlee specializes in energy code and building performance with SPEER or the South Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource which is one of six regional Energy Efficiency Organizations. Jason Helm is the CEO for Texas Home Energy Professionals. In this conversation you will hear the three of us debate whether the International Energy Conservation Code requires both Whole House controlled mechanical ventilation and local, or spot, exhaust ventilation systems to be tested to achieve the flow rates required by the International Residential Code or IRC.  This is of special interest to me since I introduced the proposal in the 2021 IECC for this testing requirement and I definitely have a point of view. Randy and Jason do as well.  Let’s see what you think after listening to the conversation Randy Plumlee on LinkedIn SPEER Jason Helm on LinkedIn The Home Energy Rating Systems Council RESNET Home Certification Organizations (HCOs)Building Science Institute (BSI) John Krigger's Residential Energy

    1h 7m

  3. May 24

    #11-2026 Bill Rectanus – AUAR or Automated Architecture – Turning Every Job Site into a Factory

    Bill Rectanus spent the bulk of his career in the world of construction innovation. Seeking out materials and solutions to drive production building to zero energy while being cognizant of cost effectiveness and bottom-line economics. Working for midsize regional production builders in Colorado for the bulk of his career, Bill found his next chapter aligning with Automated Architectural. AUAR as the company is known, is a company from England that has the capability to turn a job site into a factory by deploying Micro-Factories to build wall, floor, and roof panels directly on the building sites where they will be installed.  This new phase of panelized construction has potential to address skilled labor shortages, as well as the economics of constructing homes that could be the next innovation that the construction industry is looking for. Bill Rectanus on LinkedIn Automated Architecture – “AUAR”

    57 min

  4. May 11

    #10-2026 3rd Party Inspection with Rich Truitt Building official Harford County Maryland Part 2

    Welcome back to our buildCAST conversation with Rich Truitt, Harford County Maryland Deputy Code Official.  In this second half of our conversation we dive deep into the Approved Third-Party Inspection Agency section that has been expanded and better explained in the 2024 IECC. Through Rich’s experience we see again the good, the bad, the ugly, and the potential future of this relationship between jurisdictions and Approved Third-Party Inspection Agencies. Rich Truitt on LinkedIn   Harford County Maryland RESCheck Software Example Private company code implementers SHUMS Coda and Associates  SAFEbuilt

    48 min

  5. May 4

    #9-2026 Implementing the IECC with Rich Truitt Building official Harford County Maryland Part 1

    At the time of our conversation Rich Truitt worked for Harford County Maryland.  He is now with the Internation Code Council. Rich began his career in the code world as a plan reviewer with Harford County, became the Chief Building Inspector and then served as the Deputy code Official.  I met Rich through our mutual interest in the continual development of the International Energy Conservation Code, and our conversation is based on Approved Third Party Inspection Agencies and his experience working with third parties who are assisting with Energy code enforcement.  The good, the bad, and the ugly. Our conversation was long, so I broke it up into two parts.  Part one introduces Rich and defines the IECC as a stand-alone code vs. the energy code in chapter 11 of the IRC. We also speak to how code officials, architects, builders are currently understanding how to work within the energy code, and finally we speak to sections in chapter one that come before the Approved Third-Party Inspection Agency section which we speak to in Part two of our conversation. Rich Truitt on LinkedIn Harford County Maryland  RESCheck Software

    45 min

  6. Apr 13

    #8-2026 Don Worthington and the LOWTILITY Energy Efficient and Improvement Mortgages

    Unless you have your own company, most of us in the building industry have been laid off.  I was laid off in the early 1990’s and decided to start my own company rather than work for someone else.  Before getting laid off, however, I was exposed to blower door testing and energy modeling through a state of Colorado funded technical assistance program.  I then worked for that State program for a while before becoming a certified energy Rater and home inspector. My new business fully embraced the idea of being able to offer an Energy Improvement mortgage (EIM) to existing home buyers and an Energy efficient mortgage (EEM) for new construction home buyers. It became apparent very quickly that I would not be able to sustain and grow a business on the back of a mortgage product that realtors and mortgage lenders would not embrace so I pivoted with the industry writlarge to working primarily with builders. Energy related mortgages never fully died, and the golden grail has been, to figure out how to more directly adapted the mortgage Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance equation (PITI) to include Energy (PITI+E) Fast forward 30 plus years and let me introduce you to Don Worthington, a mortgage lender with Primary Residential Mortgages who is specializing in bringing back the energy efficient mortgage (EEM) and the improvement mortgage (EIM) through the LOWTILITY mortgage product. LOWTILITY is a home loan designed around the true cost of home ownership that does not ignore operational cost, or the additional costs, that traditionally always occur, to make a newly acquired home livable and comfortable. Don Worthington on LinkedIn LOWTILITY Energy Efficient Mortgages Green Builder Media Frontlines of Climate Action: TurningUtility Bills Into Buying Power Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc

    1h 3m

  7. Mar 29

    #7-2026 Kelly Davies Grace – The Nontoxic Architect on Instagram

    Kelly Grace is an accomplished architect based out of Washington DC, and the Managing Principal of Travis Price Architects, an award-winning architecture firm, widely applauded for their visionary aesthetics, informed by ecology, mythology, and technology.    Kelly is known to many as the “NONTOXARCHITECT” on social media, where she shares her advice on material selections, design details, indoor air quality, water filtration, biohacking, EMF mitigation, moisture control, and much more.  She is dedicated to designing healthy buildings, using non-toxic products, to promote wellness habits and optimal living.   Kelly is also a Founding Member of the Healthy Building Alliance, an up-and-coming platform to connect healthy building professionals; architects, builders, engineers, homeowners, consultants, and product manufacturers, to provide a network of resources and educational tools, based on proven building biology and building science principles.  Kelly Davis Grace on LinkedIn Travis Price Architect Healthy Building Alliance Indoor airPLUS Vibrant Air ERV 2030 I-Code Development Committees & Process

    1 hr

  8. Mar 29

    #6-2026 – Adam Berry on Colorado’s New State Wide Energy Code

    Adam Berry, Building Codes Advisor with the Colorado Energy Office spoke with me about Colorados path to its 3rd statewide code.  Following plumbing and electrical the state energy code is a significant step for a home rule state where building codes are normally adopted, amended, and enforced at a jurisdictional level.  In this case, through legislation Colorado has adopted a new Model Low Energy and Carbon Code (MLECC) which becomes the States mandatory minimum standard for new and renovated buildings after July 1, 2026. After that date, all cities and counties in Colorado must adopt the LECCwhenever they update any local building codes. Amendments to the adopted code are only allowed to make the code more efficient than the LECC. Currently the State has jurisdictions that have no codes, and are likely to stay that way, and jurisdictions that are currently adopting the 2021 or 2024 IECC before the July 2026 implementation date so they don’t have to adopt the LECC. There are also some jurisdictions moving straight to the LECC, so in reality it is currently all over the place with a plan to get unified over time.  The Low Energy and Carbon Code is Based on the 2024 IECC with amendments to prioritize energy efficiency, fuel neutrality, and pre-electrification or electric ready requirements, such as EV and PV readiness, to address affordability, lower utility bills, and reduce carbon emissions. Adam Berry on LinkedInColorado’s Low Energy and Carbon Code Resources Colorado's LECC Tools Building and Energy Resources at the Colorado Energy Officeincluding Codes

    1h 7m
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

At BuildTank, our mission is to use what we learn applying building science to affect meaningful change in the construction industry. The buildCAST is the next step. Through broad conversations, we learn something new from our guests’ story that could be the catalyst to take sustainable buildings to mainstream building. Concentrating on the quest's “story” as much as on their expertise revealing a journey and key information that can help us attain our goal to move our industry forward and make high performance building mainstream building . buildtankinc.com

Information

  • Creator
    Robby Schwarz
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Robby Schwarz
  • Show Website
    BUILDTank / buildCAST

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