Program || EEBA Summit 2022

Mini-Splits and the IAQ Dilemma

Mini-splits are growing exponentially in new and existing single and multifamily units. They provide unique installation opportunities and are the goto for smaller and high performance total electric homes in most climates. These systems are missing a key component of traditional ducted air handlers: effective filtration. Mini-splits, whether ducted or not, have a filter intended to protect the coil within the cassette (condition air unit). Post covid-19 has increased our awareness of the importance of "proper" filtration for the indoor occupants and not just for protecting the heating and cooling system.
The challenges with mini-splits do not stop at filtration. Integrating a fresh air ventilation system most often requires installing a separate system, preferably one that is balanced. But surprise! Balanced H/ERVs do not provide any filtration to existing indoor air. ANY system can only provide filtration as it operates, so there is something here for all homes that rely on a forced air heating and cooling system for filtering indoor air. This session will provide information on filtration in mini-splits and alternative solutions on localized filtration systems that are effective in all homes, even when the forced air system is not running.

Presenters

Joe Medosch, Client Success Manager, measureQuick
Aaron Johnson, US EPA

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Coronado Palomas

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

This workshop will cover the compelling trends of codes, standards and voluntary programs that will drive interest and requirements for an accounting of both the operational and embodied carbon of the materials and processes used in building new homes. Participants will then learn the essentials of the latest carbon accounting tools and how they can be used to design homes and select materials and methods that optimize the carbon implications over the next 20 to 30 years for individual homes.

The primary goal of this workshop is to empower designers, builders and building industry supply partners, to make practical and affordable choices that reduce the overall carbon footprint of new home construction. Case studies will be reviewed for different climate zones and house styles to demonstrate the impact cost effective decisions can have. These lessons could also be applied to major renovation projects as well.

Presenters

Gord Cooke, Partner - Professional Engineer, Construction Instruction

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Sedona

Luncheon - DOE's Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony & Poster Session

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
11:45 - 1:15 PM
North Forum

More Than Just a Sustainable Development

In a world, so shaken by the pandemic - to imagine, team up, and achieve a way to new-normal neighborhood development that can restore belief and calm, embrace the timeless, and live fruitfully and sustainably, come what may. A journey map here details the making of a community fit for both its people and its 19-acre, richly splendor Texas Hill Country woodland habitat to flourish forever in balance on the shores of Lake Travis, within easy range of Austin. "New Normal" pandemic era placemaking is keen recognition of what is shifting and what is timeless, what must be adaptive, and what needs to stand truthfully, and strong, and in sync with the immutable. This project boasts human talent, resolve to honor its surroundings, transform approaches to design and construction technology, to its carbon handprint, its economics, its deep respect for all members of its community, development and building value chain, and its regenerative essence as a neighborhood. The story can serve as a learning and discovery lab for others to follow, to aspire to, and to evolve even further.

Presenters

Danielle Younger, Younger Homes
Jesse Younger, Younger Homes
John McLinden, President & CEO, Digibilt
Tim Kirkby, Chief Design Officer, Digibilt

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 PM
North Forum

Resilient Barrier Systems: A Systems Approach to Air and Water Barriers

The Air and Water Barrier (AWB) is a system comprised of materials of continuity and a common namesake purpose. While its importance in resilience is undeniable, the system's proven performance is inferred too often and not tested. And when tested as an assembly, it tests their installation but not their inherent attributes as a collective whole. True resilience demands more. The predictive value of the AWB System must account for unknown conditions, installation practices having reasonable variances, and durability that spans decades. High predictive value cannot emerge from simply emulating expected service conditions or extremes that might befall fully exposed assemblies. Therefore, test methodologies must reflect greater rigor, longer duration, and increased resolution. Otherwise, buildings become our proving grounds, and resilience is unfulfilled. AWB components should be optimized and synergized with interfaces resisting air and water reliably and robustly. The system must be tested and proven as an integrated whole. And this whole performance must meet new demands in extremes.

Presenters

M. Steven Doggett, Built Environments, Inc.

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 PM
North Ballroom

Carbon for Homebuilders, Not Wall Street

Net Zero Carbon or Net Zero Energy? Scope 1, scope 2, or scope 3 emissions? Embodied vs. operational? Carbon offsets? Whether it is engaging homeowners about their carbon footprint or preparing an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report for investors, carbon accounting is coming to home building and causing many industry players to ask new questions about their homes' performance. This session will focus on the basics of carbon as it relates to homebuilding starting at the individual home and scaling up to the community and companywide reporting.

Presenters

Steve Byers, CEO, Energy Logic
Nathan Kahre, EnergyLogic

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Center Ballroom

Proven Performance – The Future of Radon Testing in New Construction

Many builders understand the value of long-term durability, improved indoor air quality (IAQ), and healthier homes. Likewise, the building industry continues to incorporate more performance-based approaches to energy efficiency and IAQ, with envelope leakage and duct testing becoming common practice. But fewer builders have taken the same performance approach to testing for IAQ issues such as radon—yet, simple and cost-effective testing methods are now widely available. In jurisdictions that are adopting 2021 IRC Appendix AF, builders may see radon testing appear as a new local requirement. And some may be asking, "Why? Isn't a passive or active radon system "enough" to minimize the risk?" Join this session to learn from decades of experience in system design and radon testing in over 20,000 new homes built with RRNC techniques across six states. Learn which techniques are most important for controlling radon, and why forward-thinking builders are testing for proven performance.

Presenters

Doug Kladder, Colorado Vintage Companies, Inc.
Nick Hurst, Program Manager - Indoor airPLUS, EPA

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Coronado Palomas

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

This workshop will cover the compelling trends of codes, standards and voluntary programs that will drive interest and requirements for an accounting of both the operational and embodied carbon of the materials and processes used in building new homes. Participants will then learn the essentials of the latest carbon accounting tools and how they can be used to design homes and select materials and methods that optimize the carbon implications over the next 20 to 30 years for individual homes.

The primary goal of this workshop is to empower designers, builders and building industry supply partners, to make practical and affordable choices that reduce the overall carbon footprint of new home construction. Case studies will be reviewed for different climate zones and house styles to demonstrate the impact cost effective decisions can have. These lessons could also be applied to major renovation projects as well.

Presenters

Gord Cooke, Partner - Professional Engineer, Construction Instruction

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Sedona

Healthy, Near-Zero Building Envelopes Faster & Better Value than Traditional Methods

Are you getting passed by innovative builders achieving net-zero easier and faster than you are at a lower overall cost? Been afraid of off site construction and what it means to your trades and incorporating them into your operations? Look no further. This session illustrates prooven examples of how structural insulated panels (SIPs) are used in a wide variety of project types from residential (single & multifamily) to light commercial (hotels, schools, churches, retail & restaurants) to retrofit - all to provide faster, less complicated, building envelopes while providing many cost synergies. This will be illustrated & proven via a newly developed True Cost Bidding Tool which easily allows for 'on the fly' data input comparing your building methods agains SIPs.

Presenters

Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect of the Building Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, TruHome Facts & Retooling the Housing Industry
Jack Armstrong, Structural Insulated Panel Association

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 PM
North Forum

Indoor airPLUS —The Sky is the Limit

Perhaps you know that EPA and consultants have been busy developing Indoor airPLUS Version 2. You may have also heard that proposed revisions include requirements for improved ventilation, filtration, humidity control, envelope leakage thresholds, and quality assurance measures. Perhaps you're one of the many stakeholders who offered feedback during public comment, suggesting that Indoor airPLUS should strategically "raise the bar", but should also seek to expand program participation—especially in the sectors of affordable housing and multifamily buildings. But did you know that while this exciting advancement was underway, an important program shift was already announced last January? For multifamily builders and advocates of healthier affordable housing, it's a game changer that shouldn't be missed. EPA updated the eligibility requirements so multifamily buildings of all heights are now eligible to earn the Indoor airPLUS label under Version 1, Rev.04 specifications. This session will review the design, construction, and operations process of buildings directly affected by this change, with field examples from recent multifamily projects. Join this session to learn how you can get started immediately with Indoor airPLUS, while also preparing to reach new heights with the advent of Indoor airPLUS Version 2.

Presenters

Karla Butterfield, Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Nick Hurst, Program Manager - Indoor airPLUS, EPA
Gayathri Vijayakumar, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Steven Winter Associates

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 PM
North Ballroom

Getting Pumped Up about Cold-Climate Variable-Capacity Air Source Heat Pumps

Training, designations, technical concepts, and promises. The title High-Performance Mechanicals triggers a bit of each of these when we hear it. In this session, the team of Dan, Dianna, and Emily will showcase what happens when we work with utilities to bring awareness, excitement, and confidence in variable capacity air source heat pumps to contractors and consumers through training and market interventions to avoid collisions and advance our common goals. Team EEBA will discuss it's partnering with industry to advance and evolve the training content around their designations, including the High-Performance HVAC Contractor and High-Performance Building Professional Designation. Along this journey the team of TRC, Slipstream, and CEE MN has begun partnering with EEBA to discuss how her designations can stay relevant and gain a broader audience. During this session, the presentation team will set the table and then engage the audience to determine what else should we all be doing and where can we go next!

Presenters

Dan Wildenhaus, TRC
Dianna Cacko, Slipstream

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Center Ballroom

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Certification, Overview and Rater’s Perspective

It's never been a better time to build a zero energy or zero energy ready home. All of the dominos are in place. The home building and home performance industries has spent the past five decades putting codes, standards, and voluntary certification programs in place - all driving to the day we can a build a home that powers itself. And we have arrived. By the EEBA Summit, version 2 of the DOE ZERH program will have been released. If you remember the release of version 3 of the EnergyStar program you may be having a little anxiety. This session will discuss the significant changes and how they impact builder's seeking DOE ZERH certification as a strategy for building zero energy homes and will look at the coalescence of codes, standards and voluntary certification programs that form the framework of the Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home certification program that make it possible to write one set of requirements that allow for a multitude of climate appropriate solutions for any size house with mix of fuels and construction systems. It's not magic, it's science.

Presenters

Janet McIlvaine, Florida Solar Energy Center
Robby Schwartz, BUILDTank, Inc.

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Coronado Palomas

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

This workshop will cover the compelling trends of codes, standards and voluntary programs that will drive interest and requirements for an accounting of both the operational and embodied carbon of the materials and processes used in building new homes. Participants will then learn the essentials of the latest carbon accounting tools and how they can be used to design homes and select materials and methods that optimize the carbon implications over the next 20 to 30 years for individual homes.

The primary goal of this workshop is to empower designers, builders and building industry supply partners, to make practical and affordable choices that reduce the overall carbon footprint of new home construction. Case studies will be reviewed for different climate zones and house styles to demonstrate the impact cost effective decisions can have. These lessons could also be applied to major renovation projects as well.

Presenters

Gord Cooke, Partner - Professional Engineer, Construction Instruction

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Sedona

ESG Trends Among the Top 10 Home Builders: A Recipe for Change

This session will explore Sustainability, emerging ESG trends and what actions the top 10 publicly traded homebuilders are disclosing/reporting relating to Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) issues. The large, publicly traded builders represent about 40% of all new homes built in the U.S. each year, so their push toward more sustainable, energy efficient homes will impact nearly every big housing market and lead to greater availability of energy efficient products.

We will begin with a recap of ESG trends from a broad (multi-industry) perspective, then will move into a brief historical look at the ESG actions and financial performance of the top 10 builders. We will review the ESG related actions the top 10 builders are currently undertaking and identify what trends are emerging in the housing industry. Then we will dive into the investor and consumer pressures that are pushing builders toward more energy efficient homes and the maturing of the home energy rating industry that is enabling growth. We will then conclude with what builders need to prepare for as we move toward a sustainable future.

Presenters

Stefanie Coleman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Doug Tarry Homes
Ryan Meres, RESNET

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Coronado Palomas

Workforce Shortages? Grow Your Own

Workforce shortages have plagued the home building industry for nearly a decade, rivaling supply chain issues and rising materials costs in their crippling impact on schedules and budgets. Some builders are tackling the issue head on with innovative tactics aimed at boosting the local labor pool and increasing the availability of skilled trades. Tim O’Brien Homes, a regional production builder with an in-house staff of 40 and over 100 subcontractors, has felt the pinch of too much work and not enough hands to complete the more than 250 semi-custom homes they aim for each year. In this presentation they’ll talk about several innovative efforts they’ve started to help deal with the labor shortage problem in a more systemic way. Among these initiatives, the builder has partnered with four regional high schools in and around Milwaukie, Wisconsin, to provide hands-on training through a four-year construction arts program spanning both classroom and on-site education and culminating in a complete, marketable home constructed by the students working along side Tim O-Brien staff and contractors. You’ll also hear about a partnership between the builder and Boys and Girls Clubs of America to found a Regional Workforce Center providing a skilled trades curriculum, certification, apprenticeships, and job placement to high school students. Other in-house efforts include internships and mentorship, including low-interest loans for entrepreneurial trades interested in starting their own contracting businesses.

Presenters

Ryan Hillgartner, Director of Marketing, Tim O'Brien Homes
Bill Rectanus, VP of Operations, Thrive Home Builders
Dave Everson, Mandalay Homes
Theresa Gilbride, Building Energy Efficiency Researcher, PNNL

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
North Ballroom

Heat Pumps, Mini-Splits & Air Conditioners-Comissioning with Smart Tools to Get It Right the First Time!

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 Meade at its highest level. Which is 8.5 trillion gallons of water.

Presenters

Joe Medosch, Client Success Manager, measureQuick
Shawn LeMons, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
North Ballroom

Wastewater Reimagined: Two Technologies that Build Water Resilience

Presenters

Joelle Wirth, Consulting Sanitarian
Dante Sassano, Business Development Associate, Hydraloop Inc.

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Sedona

Building a Zero Energy-Zero Carbon Ready Workforce with the Solar Decathlon

Regularly designing zero energy/carbon buildings requires an educated and motivated workforce. Since its inception 20 years ago, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® competition has challenged collegiate students to develop skills that uniquely prepare them for careers in the clean energy and buildings industries. Today, the program continues to advance building science education through an annual design competition and a biennial, community-based design-build competition. Both of these competition tracks demonstrate the applicability of advanced net zero energy technologies and advanced construction practices in specific locales around the world. Additionally, the Solar Decathlon provides a building science education course that was created to teach fundamentals to learners from all backgrounds. As a comprehensive educational vehicle, the Solar Decathlon program is expanding the impact and accessibility of this program to more students, more collegiate institutions, and more communities. This presentation demonstrates how the Solar Decathlon program is developing and transforming the workforce through hands-on projects and other resources that maximize the access to quality educational content for students and practicing professionals.

Presenters

Michael Young, Technical Project Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Jes Stershic, NREL
Marley Praprost, NREL
Taylor Ryan, NREL

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Center Ballroom

Introducing ENERGY STAR’s New Label to Advance Decarbonization of Homes and Apartments

EPA has announced an exciting new certification label for homes and apartments built with key next-generation features that advance operational decarbonization. The new certification will lock-in efficiency gains using the latest versions of ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes and Multifamily New Construction, plus add a set of achievable and market-ready requirements for connected space-conditioning heat pumps, connected heat pump water heaters, electric cooking, and electric vehicle charging capability.
Come learn more about what these features are, how they add value to builders and homebuyers alike, and how you can be one of the first to earn this additional level of recognition.

Presenters

Asa Foss, Technical Director, EPA ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Programs
Dean Gamble, Technical Manager, EPA

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
North Forum

Getting to Zero Carbon for Lowrise Multifamily Projects

Getting lowrise multifamily projects to zero operational carbon is a team effort. The session will touch upon the codes, standards and certification programs implementing zero carbon strategies and requirements. From design through construction and operations, we'll demonstrate how to get to zero carbon through enhanced envelope assemblies and high efficiency equipment and appliances. Using project case studies, we'll review lessons learned throughout design and installation and identify ways to streamline the construction and verification process.

Presenters

Karla Butterfield, Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
North Forum

The Path to Decarbonization: A Homebuilder Primer

“What does decarbonization mean for my business, and what can I do about it?”
As talk of building decarbonization and “zero carbon homes” moves closer to the mainstream for homebuilders, it is ever more important to understand what this means for you and how it will impact your business.
In this session, Ari Rapport (IBACOS) and Chris Magwood (RMI) describe their personal learning curves around decarbonizing new homes and share the insights they’ve gained about impacting a home’s operational and embodied carbon emissions.
Ari will present a case study in development with funding through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to benchmark the current operational and embodied carbon emissions associated with a typical new production-built home, to help homebuilders prepare for and ultimately deliver zero carbon homes by 2050.
Chris will present the results of studies carried out for the Canadian government and several Canadian cities that help to establish benchmarks for embodied carbon emissions in new homes and demonstrate how this compares to projected operational emissions from these same homes. Chris has worked with several production homebuilders in Canada to provide insights into embodied carbon and help them chart a pathway to real zero carbon homes.
This session summarizes these studies and provides clear takeaways for builders to start acting today to address the carbon emissions associated with their homes. These actions are tangible and cost-effective and can have a measurable impact on ultimately meeting the zero-carbon target. You will become familiar with the tools to calculate these emissions and analyze the results in ways that will help you make sensible and useful business decisions.

Presenters

Ari Rapport, IBACOS
Chris Magwood, RMI & Builders for Climate Action

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
North Forum

Net Zero Made Easy, Affordable & Healthy – Using Tight Envelopes & Mechanical Fresh Air Systems

The building industry is quickly moving in the direction of Net Zero single family and multifamily homes. However, there is still concern by builders, developers, architects, and home buyers that Net Zero is a goal that is hard to achieve and isn’t affordable for their project. This session will educate attendees as to how the integration of tightly sealed building envelopes and mechanical ventilation delivers net zero housing that is both much easier to achieve and affordable, even at a production level.

A tightly air sealed building envelope yields much lower heating, cooling, and electrical loads, enabling a sizeable reduction in the size and cost of the solar PV system commonly used as the source of renewable energy that is necessary to achieve a Net Zero project. A more tightly sealed envelope should be paired with effective and efficient mechanical ventilation to ensure fresh, filtered air is provided to the home’s residents when and where it is needed. This combination makes Net Zero homes more achievable and affordable, while also ensuring that healthy indoor air quality is maintained.

Different methods of achieving tightly sealed building envelopes and proper fresh air ventilation will be reviewed, along with their benefits, challenges, and cost implications. Newer innovative methods for both will also be presented, along with discussion on both effectiveness and energy efficiency. Interactive discussion with session attendees will be used to share best practices. Applications in both single family and multifamily projects will be discussed, including case studies of specific projects.

Presenters

Patrick Nielsen, Global Technical Products Manager, Broan-NuTone
Travis Rasch, Senior Product Manager, Broan-NuTone
Paul Springer, Aeroseal

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
North Forum

Supply Chain Roundtable: A Builders' Guide to Successful HPWH Adoption

Residential water heating accounts for 25-30% of home energy use, and Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) are an industry game changer since they make water heating 4-6x more efficient than conventional electric resistant or gas water heaters. New home construction represents a tremendous opportunity for achieving scale and eventual market transformation. Unique industry alliances have formed, bringing like-minded stakeholders together in a format that prioritizes collaboration while optimizing resource utilization. Home builders are at the center of one such alliance formed in the Northeast. Presented in a roundtable format, this session will explore how new builders can incorporate heat pump water heaters into their projects from a panel of manufacturers, builders, and installers. Solutions to challenging applications will be shared. A comparison to gas tankless water heaters will also be explored.

Presenters

Joe Wachunas, New Buildings Institute
Paul Campbell, Director, Energy & Sustainability Marketing, ICF International
Juan Fernandez, Founder, CVF Homes
Nathaniel Jutras, Marketing Lead, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
2:00 - 3:00 PM
North Forum

PV Alone Won't Do It: Why We Must Fully Electrify Homes to Meet Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

Although direct combustion in buildings only accounts for about 10% of US GHG emissions (total), the fact is that it is techncally feasible today to eliminate all combustion for space- and water-heating by using heat pumps. A common notion taking up enormous bandwidth in the general population is that rooftop PVs save large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and that homeowners with PVs have "done their part" to solve global warming. Although PVs are certainly useful in reducting GHGs, tthe picture changes dramatically as the US moves toward a power grid based on renewables: on-site fossil combustion becomes the dominant source of emissions in the buildings sector in the coming years unless we act. For "dual fuel" homes, homes which typically use fossil fuel for space- and water-heating, rooftop PVs do nothing to reduce emissions from direct combustion on-site. Decarbonizing homes is especially important because in other sectors it will not be feasble to elimate all combustion: for example, in the transportation sector, it's clearly feasible to electrify all light vehicles, but other parts of the transportation sector--aviation, shipping and heavy vehicles--cannot foreseeably electrify. For that reason, it is crucial that we eliminate combustion today where we can. Right now, it is not only feasible but fully cost-effective to take a full-electric path in new construction: it costs less to build and the homeowner saves on operating costs. Nearly all homes built today will still be in service by mid-century. We need builders of new homes to lead the way for building decarbonization.

Presenters

Peter Turnbull, Peter Turnbull & Associates LLC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 PM
North Forum

If They’d Only Done it Right the First Time: What New Home Builders can Learn from Five Re-Siding Retrofits

Come get inspired or confirmed in why it's so important to get the wall assembly details right the first time when you're building new homes. We'll peel back the siding on five homes with very different wall assemblies and vintages in five different U.S. climate zones to see what went wrong and what's still working. These homes were part of a field study that used re-siding retrofits as an opportunity to improve envelope performance by adding rigid exterior insulation and window upgrades, and properly integrating these with the wall assembly's air, water, and vapor control layers. Building scientists from PNNL, Building Science Corporation, and Earth Advantage teamed up with builders and contractors to come up with cost-effective workable approaches for adding rigid insulation and window upgrades to siding replacement jobs. This presentation discusses conditions encountered, alternatives proposed, and solutions achieved as the teams worked their way through the retrofit process on homes with a variety of existing siding and window types. We'll present lessons learned, specific retrofit details of each project, labor and materials costs, and decision trees to help builders and remodelers map out future projects.

Presenters

Katherine Cort, PNNL
Theresa Gilbride, Building Energy Efficiency Researcher, PNNL

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Coronado Palomas

Selling Healthy by Going Beyond Green - How Our Home Impacts Our Health

Join Jonathan as he dives into the discussion of how our homes are impacting our health. He will talk about how the body deals with environmental exposures, the symptoms that develop from that, and how our industry can identify and reduce that exposure. COVID has brought the indoor air quality of our homes to the forefront, with this increased awareness, clients, now more than ever, are looking for healthier products and services. Throughout this session you’ll learn how to prioritize healthy for this market, learn proactive techniques for selling healthy and how to use healthy within your company to retain employees.

Presenters

Jonathan Synovic, Step Beyond Green to Healthy

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
North Ballroom

10 Million Buyers Lost: Buyers of HP Homes See Increase in Purchasing Power through Total Cost of Ownership

Presenters

Paul Yankie, Green Building Consulting
Kerry Langley, Green Homes Matter
Jeff Bentley, ReMax DFW Starwood

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Sedona

Mid-sized Builders Pushing the Envelope with Cold Climate Heat Pumps

Cold Climate variable capacity heat pumps (VCHPs) are becoming an ever more common choice for new construction. And some of their hidden benefits are still yet to be fully realized. Join Thrive Home Builders and Mandalay Communities as they share some of their struggles and successes with heat pumps on their journey toward all-electric communities. We will highlight several key features of variable capacity heat pumps creating game changing short-term and long-term outcomes for builders and their homebuyers. This session should prove insightful for building professionals looking at taking their heat pump solutions to the next level.

Presenters

Bill Rectanus, VP of Operations, Thrive Home Builders
Dave Everson, Mandalay Homes
Shawn LeMons, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
North Ballroom

Closing Plenary

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
North Forum

Talking ‘bout a Heat Wave: Addressing Extreme Heat in Housing

It may not seem as catastrophic as an earthquake or tornado, but heat waves, periods of extended high temperatures, can be even more deadly than these more dramatic natural disasters. According to NOAA's National Weather Service, they are the deadliest of all weather-related hazards, causing more fatalities over the past 30 years than any other natural disaster. And annual average temperatures are predicted to increase, meaning periods of extreme heat could become more common and more frequent across the U.S. To look at just one local example, in the Pacific Northwest last summer temperatures exceeded 100°F for over a week, shattering previous high temperature records and causing several hundred deaths. Presenters will talk about research into that event and efforts by state and local agencies to address this problem and provide solutions for local residents that align with policy and efficiency goals. This talk will look at some things builders can do to construct homes to be more heat resistant. We'll draw from new construction guidance on extreme heat recently posted to the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Solution Center, a free online resource for builders, contractors, designers, raters, code officials, and home owners. This new topic is the most recent addition to the Solution Center' disaster-resistance tool, which also provides construction guidance related to wildfires, floods, hurricanes, high winds, tornadoes, earthquakes, winter weather, and pests, in addition to general best practice guidance on over 250 topics aimed at making homes more energy-efficient, durable, comfortable, and healthy.

Presenters

Chrissi Antonopoulos, Senior Analyst, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Christian Kaltreider, PNNL

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
North Ballroom

Invitation Only: Builder Benchmark & Board Luncheon

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
12:30 - 2:00 PM
North Forum

Ventilation and IAQ in New US Homes: Preliminary Results from the Building America Field Study

Energy-efficient new homes that are built tight require bath and kitchen exhaust fans and whole-house mechanical ventilation (WHMV) systems to enable good indoor air quality. ASHRAE Standard 62.2 specifies minimum airflow rates with sound limits and requires verification, but there is a lack of data on installed system performance and operation and their relationship to indoor air quality in occupied homes. This session will present findings from the Building America research study that has gathered data on mechanical ventilation systems, indoor air quality parameters, and house and household characteristics from 180+ occupied homes in CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, OR, and SC. The WHMV systems in many homes required to meet the standard did not meet airflow requirements and many with adequate capacity were not operating as found. The complexity of system design, installation errors, and unaware occupants appear to be the key factors. Indoor concentrations of air pollutants (particulate matter, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, and radon) varied greatly among homes with and without WHMV. A subset of homes were sampled for one week each with/out WHMV running to isolate the effect of ventilation on IAQ.

Presenters

Brett Singer, Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chrissi Antonopoulos, Senior Analyst, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Eric Martin, Program Director, FSEC Energy Research Center
Paul Francisco, Senior Research Engineer, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
2:00 - 3:00 PM
North Ballroom

Getting it “Just Right” with Sizing, Specifying and Installing Heat Pumps

This session with examine practical, efficient, and effective hot water, heating, and cooling choices. We will explore how to size, specify, and install to achieve net zero performance. Utilizing NEEP’s (The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership) cold climate Air Source Heat Pump Product List and Sizing for Heating Support Tool can streamline the process. This session will demonstrate how to use the tool to calculate sizing and determine backup heat. Using case studies and lessons learned, we’ll examine how to design, install, and maintain systems to improve occupant comfort and reduce carbon emissions.

Presenters

Karla Butterfield, Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Dan Wildenhaus, Technical Advisor and Industry Liaison, BetterBuiltNW

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 PM
North Ballroom

High Performance Heat Pumps and Modular Factory Building: What Success Looks Like

Growth opportunities continue to emerge as new construction builders learn to unlock the many benefits that modular manufacturing provides. Helping mitigate labor shortages and ongoing production supply challenges are just a few of the problems solved when choosing to build offsite. We'll discuss and provide examples of how the design flexibility and performance of variable capacity heat pumps (VCHPs) can improve the comfort, efficiency and performance of a factory-built home, while also reducing on-site labor costs and speeding up production time.

Presenters

David Hazel, Sr. Manager on the Performance Construction team, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC
Shawn LeMons, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Center Ballroom

Making Better Decisions in the Complex Landscape of Utility Incentives, Tax Credits, and Codes

There are thousands of energy efficient products available for home builders, and more innovative solutions coming to market every day. There are also hundreds of utility incentives, tax credits (e.g. 45L), codes, and regulations that impact how builders build their homes. How can we ensure that builders are finding the right products for their homes and making the best decision to optimize both energy efficiency and net profit, considering all the incentives available? The reality is that it's extremely difficult to gather and analyze all the critical information necessary to make the best design decisions.

In this session, we will explore the landscape of energy incentives and regulations, introduce some strategies to maximize incentive capture, and illustrate how we can better connect builders to the right products and strategies to achieve their goals. The session will leverage data and analytics from 250,000 Ekotrope HERS Ratings per year.

Presenters

Cy Kilbourn, Co-founder and Vice President of Engineering, Ekotrope

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Center Ballroom

Operating a Digital Design Center for Profit

In this session, builders who build from 1 to 300 homes will learn how to build a Digital Design Center without the expense of building a brick and mortar facility in order to achieve higher profits. You website will be your portal where you can offer many options that can achieve substantial mark-ups thus adding needed dollars to your bottom line. With offering an electronic platform, you can convey to your buyers, and more importantly prospective buyers what the actual price is of all of your options and thus gain their trust, You will actually sell more homes because of your transparency. The cost do to this is a fraction of what the option revenue will be.

Presenters

Dennis Webb, Vice President of Operations, Fulton Homes

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Center Ballroom

Understanding Home Occupant Perspectives on Decarbonization: Results from a US DOE Survey

Fossil fuel use and its impacts on climate change are a hot topic causing concern and prompting ambitious decarbonization goals at the federal and state level. Fossil fuel combustion in buildings in the United States leads to roughly 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonizing the electricity grid will not be enough to meet emission targets; electrification of residences will be a key factor in realizing decarbonization goals. However, not all residents are willing or able to make changes to lower their fossil fuel use due to a myriad of economic, social, and cultural factors. This presentation discusses findings from a preliminary survey of 150 households investigating what motivates home buyers to make upgrades related to energy efficiency and the key points factoring into decisions about buying electrical versus combustion heating equipment and appliances. The research was led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy and results will help shape an even larger national survey of more than 10,000 households. PNNL will analyze the results with input from an advisory committee comprised of stakeholder experts from industry, research, and academia. Outcomes of the study will help determine links between resident preferences, values, and decision-making processes related to home energy use. Key take-aways from the studies can help inform policy makers and builders on what barriers stand in the way of home electrification and what factors can motivate or enable home owners and buyers to choose electric versus gas appliances and equipment. Among preliminary results, health is an important motivator for home owners and many didn’t know that combustion appliances including gas ranges are often a home’s biggest sources of indoor air pollution.

Presenters

Chrissi Antonopoulos, Senior Analyst, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Saurabh Biswas, PNNL

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Center Ballroom

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Builders: Achieving High Performance with an Eye toward Low Carbon

The President has set a goal of a net zero emissions economy by 2050. Buildings play a significant role in reaching this goal and building professionals are being called upon to help with this transformation of the built environment. The U.S. Department of Energy is charting the course toward zero-emissions new homes by 2035. A critical program for achieving this goal is the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program, which has recently celebrated its 10,000 certification. The ZERH program has become the proving ground for what is possible in the new construction market, showing that extraordinary home performance can be achieved across all climate zones and regions.

Over the past several years, many ZERH builders have exceeded the version 1 requirements by incorporating innovations in technologies and construction methodologies with an eye on creating healthy, safe, livable homes with a lower ownership cost. The session will feature stories of what is happening in the field, showcasing examples of builders moving toward all-electric homes as a means to reduce the carbon impacts of their homes. These case study examples will include 2022 Housing Innovation Award winners. We'll also highlight choices that builders are making in building components in an effort to move toward a zero emissions future. The session will also introduce the newly launched ZERH version 2 national program requirements.

Presenters

Joe Nebbia, Newport Partners LLC
Theresa Gilbride, Building Energy Efficiency Researcher, PNNL
Jaime Van Mourik, US DOE

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Center Ballroom

Decarbonizing Multi-Family Housing Development: GHG Emission & Building Cost Reduction with Industrialized Construction

The housing and climate crises are interlinked; while the U.S. faces a shortage of 5M homes, the building sector generates 40% of annual GHG emissions. At the EEBA Summit, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and vertically integrated housing developer Blokable will highlight the opportunity for the housing industry to embrace manufacturing innovation, decarbonize the built environment, and make housing more affordable and accessible to all. Blokable uses a vertically integrated framework to manufacture and develop all-electric, net zero ready multi-family housing at a lower cost per door. Since 2019, Blokable has partnered with the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) and NREL to evolve its building system performance and research new efficiency standards. Evaluating a Blokable unit's performance and forecasting the impact of manufacturing learning effects, NREL and Blokable established a building design and manufacturing roadmap to eliminate 60% of GHG emissions and 90% of material waste from new multi-family housing creation. In this session, Blokable Co-CEO Aaron Holm will describe Blokable's vertically integrated development approach and discuss the company's award-winning, all-electric low-income housing project in Washington State, Blokable at Phoenix Rising, which was built for less than 50% the region's average cost per door and costs 60% less to heat and cool. NREL Mechanical Engineering Researcher Zoe Kaufman will share details of the Wells Fargo IN2 Housing Affordability CleanTech program, and will discuss the findings of the NREL report, Decarbonization During Predevelopment of Modular Building Solutions.

Presenters

Zoe Kaufman, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
Aaron Holm, CEO, Blokable, Inc.

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Coronado Palomas

Implementing a New HVAC Technology Into the Mass Market

Rheia has developed a new approach to design, install, inspect, and validate the performance of a new HVAC air distribution system resulting in improved comfort, design aesthetics, efficiency, and installation productivity. This approach encompasses a physical solution that provides value to the contractor, builder, and homeowner; and a digital solution to translate design intent into verified performance.

Change management is crucial to successfully implementing new technology at a significant scale. However, it requires a coordinated effort to be successful. Rheia had to:

Convince HVAC designer engineers to learn new design methods to integrate house performance feedback into the design process to optimize results.
Persuade HVAC contractors to adopt a knowledge and training culture in their businesses to realize increased productivity and profits.
Acknowledge the critical role Code Officials have in interpreting building codes requirements to understand and approve new technologies.
Work with home builders to adopt a system thinking approach to assess the value of new technology in a mass production environment.

Rheia worked with HVAC design engineers, home builders, contractors, and code officials to implement our HVAC technology on a mass-production scale. We will share success stories and lessons learned from installing Rheia into the top 10 production home builder's communities.

Presenters

Nigel Watts, Rheia, LLC
Nathan Good, Rheia, LLC
Robert Beach, Rheia, LLC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Coronado Palomas

Energy Codes - The Power of a One-Page Checklist!

In lots of jurisdictions, basic energy code inspection is an afterthought, if performed at all. And yet, field inspection is crucial to making sure the details are performed correctly ("to get what you expect, you must inspect"!). Learn how we've simplified the code to one page for multiple jurisdictions. We've also delivered a full-color, image and photo-filled training to provide guidance on how to use the checklist. Discuss the 3 primary opportunities for site inspections and what we've learned in the process of sharing the condensed, easy-to-use site inspection checklist.

Presenters

Mike Barcik, Senior Engineer, Southface

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Coronado Palomas

Building Net Zero Carbon Homes

Show first hand how we can and should be building homes that generate all of the utilities for the home from the environment, including powering the owners transportation. Encourage other builders that by building High performance homes they are only a short step away from true NZC homes. Give examples of looking at ALL the utility needs from that home that generate carbon and the importance of not just looking at energy only. Break down the importance of separating your business from a decades old business model of home construction that has moved at a snails pace to build better homes. Examine the 6 componets needed to meet that lofty goal of true NZC. Empower others to think outside the box, to be willing to change how you build homes today for a better community and a better planet.

Presenters

Darrel McMaster, Sustainable Homes Inc.

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Coronado Palomas

How to wire SIPS and ICF homes

One of the big issue builders have when trying to adopt newer technologies is getting their sub-contractors on-board with the means and methods required to be smooth and successful. SIPS and ICFs each have their own set of pitfalls for the plumber, HVAC professional, or electrician, but if you are armed with the right tools and techniques, it can be faster and smoother than wiring a stick-framed house. This class wil be aimed at the builder and his trade partners, so that each will know what they need to do, and in what order.

Presenters

Ted Clifton, Zero-Energy Plans LLC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Coronado Palomas

High Performance Structures. Why Off-Site Construction is The "Perfect" Solution

Take a look at where we were, where we are, and where we are going in relation to high performance strucutures. We will take a deep dive into the energy code and learn the pro's/con's of different wall systems, water management styles, and overall techniques to building a better structure. We will go thourgh high performance materials including exterior foams, liquid flashings, and sythetic materials to help you understand the benifits to each material. You will become an expert on how to control water and mositure from penetrating you structure. Lastly, we will look at how building a structure in a controlled enviroment can create a better building.

Presenters

Jim Ingman, Drexel Building Supply
Jason Blenker, Drexel Building Supply

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Sedona

The Getting to Zero Relationship in Oregon: It’s Complicated

Oregon was the first state in the nation to implement a mandatory statewide residential energy code in 1974 and has consistently been ahead of nationwide building energy codes ever since. Today, the design, construction, and verification of Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) is growing. Oregon's 2023 Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) will achieve site energy performance levels equivalent to the 2017 U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) ZERH Standard by October 1, 2023. This presentation will examine how Oregon's Building Code Division (BCD) and Department of Energy (ODOE) are working collaboratively with our governing boards and a diverse array of stakeholders to codify ZERH as the minimum statewide energy code. Oregon's experience will demonstrate how statewide leadership has both encouraged ZERH while simultaneously addressing problems and offering solutions, such as cost-effective strategies to temper the affordability crisis encountered by Low-Middle Income (LMI) homebuyers across the state. We will also establish that getting buildings to Net-Zero requires more than the development of advanced energy codes or mandating renewables. Other regulatory hurdles can, and must, be overcome for jurisdictions to achieve their zero-impact targets. Action must come from many regulatory bodies, not just those with legislative authority over building energy codes or energy efficiency programs. Outreach is essential to implement ZERH effectively and efficiently; this includes training of code officials, designers, builders, energy efficiency program administrators, utilities, and even homeowners. Finally, we'll look at what the future holds: shared and/or community renewables, demand response, energy storage and EV charging. Getting to Zero in Oregon is possible, but it's complicated.

Presenters

Kelly Thomas, State of Oregon - Building Codes Division
Blake Shelide, State of Oregon Office of Energy

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Sedona

Community-Scaled Geoexchange: Eliminating Carbon and Cutting Costs

Energy performance requirements (and associated carbon reduction regulations) continue to rise across North America for designers, engineers, contractors, and developers of all building types, increasing the need for mastery of low- and no-energy technologies and strategies. Ground-source heat exchange systems – which draw and reject heat from the earth's constant temperature to perform with as much as 70% greater efficiency than conventional systems – are highly effective throughout North America and extremely well-suited to the phased growth common to single-family residential development. In this session, Salas O'Brien's Brian Urlaub will profile the project example of a 300+ home residential community in suburban Toronto nearing full buildout in 2022. The onsite carbon-free system supporting Berczy Glen makes it the first such community in Canada to have its heating and cooling needs met in this manner. Vertical boreholes are distributed under neighborhood streets and houses are organized in pods connected to heat pumps by a single-pipe ambient water loop, facilitating phased building and demonstrating the feasibility of community-scale geoexchange systems.

Presenters

Brian Urlaub, Salas O’Brien

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Sedona

High Performance Residential Wall Assemblies for Cold Climates

There are a variety of residential wall assemblies typically constructed to help achieve the goals of a high-performance house. This interactive discussion will explore assemblies used in the Northeastern U.S. by a small custom home builder who specializes in constructing Zero Energy Homes. The discussion will explore the economics, durability, and buildability of double stud walls, Larsen-truss walls, and walls that incorporate high levels of rigid exterior insulation. Further, the presenter will explain how the wall assemblies integrate with other components of the house such as high R-value below grade walls, super-insulated concrete slabs, and high R-value roof assembles.

Presenters

John F. Slater, Energy Vision Homes, LLC

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Sedona

Significant Changes in the 2021 IECC Ensure That Minimum Does Not Mean Shitty

There have been some significant changes implemented in the 2021 IECC that continue to improve the codes expected performance ensuring that minimum does not mean the worst performance allowed. This session will explore these code updates and how building science and performance continue to be wrapped into the IECC. This continues development means that we need to adjust our perspective on what Minimum means when we build and enforce the energy code.

Presenters

Robby Schwartz, BUILDTank, Inc.
Robert De Vries, Nu Wool Co. Inc.

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Sedona

Luncheon - EPA's Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards Ceremony

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
12:15 - 1:45 PM
North Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
10:00 - 10:30 AM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
11:30 - 11:45 AM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
1:15 - 1:30 PM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
2:30 - 3:00 PM
South Forum

Network Reception in Manufacturer's Showcase

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
4:00 - 5:30 PM
South Forum

Registration & Check-in

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
7:00 - 8:30 AM
Forum Foyer

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
9:00 - 9:30 AM
South Forum

Registration & Check-in

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
7:00 - 8:00 AM
Forum Foyer

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
10:30 - 11:00 AM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
3:00 - 3:30 PM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
1:45 - 2:00 PM
South Forum

Manufacturer's Showcase Open

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
12:00 - 12:15 PM
South Forum

Network Reception in Manufacturer's Showcase

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
4:30 - 6:00 PM
South Forum

EEBA Social Event at the Fulton Homes Design Center (Ticketed Event)

Day 2: Sep 21, 2022
6:00 - 9:30 PM

Networking Break

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
9:00 - 9:30 AM

Networking Break

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
10:30 - 11:00 AM

Winning Residential and Commercial Student Designs with Solar Decathlon

Come listen to how these winning student designs are changing the net zero residential and commercial building space. These collegiate students were winners from the 2022 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge and represent the Georgia Institute of Science and Technology for the Retrofit Housing Division, University of Technology Sydney for the New Housing Division, Ryerson University for the Attached Housing Division, and University of Arizona for the Multifamily Building Division. Each team will give a short presentation on their design. This session demonstrates just how innovative early career professionals can be and who knows, you might find your next star intern or hire here too.

Day 3: Sep 22, 2022
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Center Ballroom

Sustainability Event at the Rob & Melani Walton Center For Planetary Health - Ticketed Event

Day 1: Sep 20, 2022
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Chrissi Antonopoulos

Senior Analyst, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Chrissi Antonopoulos joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Portland office in 2010 and has worked on a broad range of projects ranging from green buildings, residential energy efficiency, techno-economic analysis, appliance efficiency standards and smart grid development. Chrissi is currently Senior Analyst working with the Energy Technology Market Adoption Team to enhance the presence of green technologies in the commercial marketplace. Current work includes analysis of green building technology diffusion in the building sector, valuation of energy efficient residential homes, assessment of wall systems for residential deep energy retrofits, and residential indoor air quality.

Jack Armstrong

Structural Insulated Panel Association

John Atlee

Step Beyond Green to Healthy

John has been with Water Doctors for over 13 years in the water treatment industry. He has specialized in residential and commercial treatment needs, for large custom projects to filling the needs of tiny homes. In the residential world, he has been involved with helping chemically sensitive consumers over the past 9 years. John is an integral part of Step Beyond Green to Healthy, as he is our member trainer.

Mike Barcik

Senior Engineer, Southface

Mike Barcik is a Technical Principal at Southface and has been with the organization since 1995. With B.S and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, Mike is the author of numerous technical resources and has developed and led thousands of trainings for RESNET, EEBA, BPI, LEED, DOE, EPA and other programs. He's active in energy code development and often leads workshops on the latest code changes.
Since 1999, Mike has trained over 1,500 individuals in RESNET's Home Energy Rating System (HERS) program and in 2010, created the Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verifier program to certify over a thousand individuals for blower door and duct leakage testing, as required by the 2009 and later energy codes. Mike served as LEED Faculty for BD+C, EB O&M, and Homes as well as helped develop and teach the EarthCraft family of sustainable programs including EarthCraft House and EarthCraft Light Commercial.
Mike co-authored Decatur Georgia's High Performance Building Ordinance which requires 3rd party certification for new and substantially renovated single-family, multi-family, and commercial projects. During the second week of January, he loves leading MLK Volunteers to weatherize homes for low-income seniors.
Mike lives with his much-smarter architect wife and two daughters in a 1920 Craftsmen bungalow that they are lovingly restoring and making more efficient – thanks to efficiency improvements and a 4 kW photovoltaic array, they’ve offset 90% of their electricity consumption and reduced natural gas usage by 67%!

Robert Beach

Rheia, LLC

Robert is an expert in design. He thinks in code. As an original member of the Rheia product development team, he has influenced and generated many of the earliest prototypes and ideas currently in production. His diverse background has encompassed many angles of buildings including digital fabrication, advanced CAD methods, software development and product design. He is a creative and inventive contributor to the vision and development of Rheia products.

Jeff Bentley

ReMax DFW Starwood

A 4th generation homebuilder and 3rd generation Real Estate professional. Jeff's family has been involved in North Texas real estate since 1843. In his 49th year in the industry, Jeff has built over 4000 homes, sold over 2000 homes and is a HERS Energy Rater (RESNET), LEED Green Rater (USGBC), Certified Green Professional (NAHB) and a GREEN (NAR) professional, Instructor and National Speaker.

Since 2000, Jeff has been assisting his forward thinking clients down the path of high performance building. Integrating building features such as structural insulated panels (SIP's), geothermal systems, solar panels, net zero utility costs, total foam encapsulation and energy recovery ventilators.

Having been the Builder, the Realtor, the Energy Rater and the Consumer, Jeff's unique perspective understands the new energy code big picture and how it impacts each group.
He has made a career out of serving those that desire to live in their “best” home!

Saurabh Biswas

PNNL

Saurabh Biswas is an Energy Social Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studying the interactions of energy infrastructures, technologies, social institutions and local sustainable futures. He is particularly interested in co-producing equitable and sustainable energy futures with historically marginalized populations in places with elevated socio-ecological risks. Saurabh’s research has advanced the theoretical understanding of the energy-poverty nexus and introduced transdisciplinary methods for planning and decision-making for sustainable futures at local to national levels. His research draws from applied research projects in Brazil, Nepal, Uganda, Bolivia, Philippines, Sierra Leone, India and Puerto Rico. In his current role, Saurabh supports PNNL scientists and engineers in advancing equity, inclusive socio-economic development, environmental justice and sustainability impact of technologies. He leverages applied research skills in knowledge systems integration, stakeholder capacity building, co-design and participatory engagement. Prior to joining PNNL, Saurabh was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Energy and Society at Arizona State University, co-leading a multi-year applied research program on energy system transitions and socio-economic growth in Sierra Leone. He founded the open knowledge initiative called ‘Let Communities Lead’ which showcases stories of community-led local energy transitions from around the globe. He is a founding member of the Grassroots Energy Innovation laboratory at ASU and was a USAID Global Development Research fellow in 2016 and 2017. Saurabh currently serves as co-leader of the New Professionals Group of the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS).

Jason Blenker

Drexel Building Supply

Former Owner/President of Blenker Buildings Systems
Innovation Specialist / Visionary of Drexel Building Supply LLC
Industry leader in creating High Performance Structures through manufacturing.
Building Science Background
Built several high performance homes throughout the State of Wisconsin.
Activate participate in SBCA including a member on several committees.

Karla Butterfield

Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates

Ms. Butterfield has worked to improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of residential buildings for over 25 years. She is focused on delivering exceptional sustainability consulting services, program certification support, and implementation of high-performance building technologies. Working with architects, developers, builders, and homeowners, Karla develops tailored sustainability strategies for both new construction and renovations.
As a top expert in her field, Karla is frequently asked to speak at events and conferences nationwide, including the RESNET, WaterSmart Innovations, Northeast Indoor Air Quality & Energy, Passive House, and ENERGY STAR conferences, as well as Greenbuild and many others.
Karla is an integral part of the initial strategic planning sessions and stakeholder workshops based on program criteria; she verifies projects pursuing the LEED® for Homes, Passive House, ENERGY STAR, National Green Building Standard (NGBS), Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, and WaterSense programs. She is also one of only fourteen NGBS Master Verifiers, a voting member on the 2020 NGBS consensus committee and a technical advisor to Home Innovation Research Labs. Karla is a board member on the nationally recognized Team Zero group and member of the NAHB sustainability committee.

Steve Byers

CEO, Energy Logic

I was raised in a military family, so: Colorado, Georgia, Virginia, Germany to name a few spots. After graduating from the Air Force Academy, I flew C-130's for five years. Not knowing exactly what I wanted to do, I got out of the Air Force, married Wynne Maggi and moved to Atlanta where she was completing her PhD in Anthropology. After that, I got my start in energy at Southface Energy Institute, starting as an intern and working my way up to running field operations.

Returning to Colorado, I got started in earnest in the rating and building science world, leading me to my present position at EnergyLogic. Wynne and I have two lovely daughters and live in Berthoud, Wynne's hometown and a great place to live. Having never truly had a hometown, I am dedicated to building a sustainable community in my adoptive hometown.

I have my Bachelor's degree in Asian history from the Air Force Academy and an MPA from Georgia State University. Hiking, gardening, movies, reading and great beer are a few of my favorite things. I love to travel, see new things, meet new people and challenge myself whenever I can. I run, sometimes a long way and sometimes short but fast.

Dianna Cacko

Slipstream

Residential building analyst passionate about improving energy efficiency in new and existing construction by working with home performance and HVAC contractors to promote the acceleration of heat pump adoption in residential and commercial construction in cold climates.

Paul Campbell

Director, Energy & Sustainability Marketing, ICF International

Dav Camras

HouseSmart Green Solutions

Dav Camras, a strong believer in sustainable living, formed HouseSmart Green Solutions/HERSRaterLA in 2008. He formerly served in the non-profit sector, as National Program Director of The American Red Cross's AmeriCorps program and Business Director of a California Summer Camp and Retreat Center. With a master’s degree from Humboldt State University in Water and Wastewater Treatment and Reuse, and certification as a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater through CalCerts and CHEERS, Dav has extensive experience in the technical aspects of “green” science. In addition, Dav is a certified residential and commercial Air Balancer through the National Comfort Institute. Dav also earned a Masters of Business Administration from American Jewish University, Los Angeles and Bachelors of Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dav is an active member of Efficiency First, Build It Green, and RESNET.

Olga Cano

Environmental Engineer, EPA WaterSense Program

Olga M. Cano is an Environmental Engineer in the Homes Program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense® Program. She is involved in the development and implementation of the WaterSense Homes specification and certification system. She supports program implementation and leads educational efforts on water efficiency for industry stakeholders. Through this program, the EPA aims to promote water efficient system and practices in the residential sector. Prior to joining EPA in 2015, Ms. Cano worked as an architect in the hospitality and residential sector for 7+ years and then went on to serve in the Peace Corps as a Water & Sanitation Volunteer in Peru as part of the Peace Corps Masters International Program. Ms. Cano holds a B.A. in Architecture from Florida International University and a Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Anthony Cazazian

Managing Director, Head of U.S. Residential Real Estate, Man Group

Ted Clifton

Zero-Energy Plans LLC

Ted L. Clifton has been designing and building high-performance homes for more than 30 years, and has earned many National awards for his zero-energy and zero-energy ready homes. He has presented at EEBA in the past, and has recently realized the need for a comprehensive set of instructions for Electricians, Plumbers, and HVAC installers to help them grapple with the nuances of wiring, plumbing, and installing HVAC systems in homes using these newer building technologies.

Marla Cloos

Green Home Coach, LLC

Marla Esser Cloos is the principal of Green Home Coach with 15+ years working with green certified homes and projects and applying the knowledge gained through her accreditations - NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP, NAR Green Designee and Wellness Within Your Walls Certified Professional.
Through Green Home Coach programs and partnerships, she helps people and businesses discover and create better homes to live in or work on for healthier, more comfortable lives. When she saw a need for more outreach about the benefits and value of green homes and living, Marla founded and hosts the Everyday Green Home podcast. Her curated collection of healthier and greener products comes from her years of research and experience with green homes. Find them online in her Everyday Green Home shop online.
Marla is president-elect of the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council. She is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Sustainability and Green Building Subcommittee, NAHB Knowledge and Innovation Subcommittee and the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, as well as an affiliate member of the Edmond Board of Realtors. As a leader in the Professional Women in Building (PWB) of Central OK and Build My Future OKC she helps produce an interactive, hands-on construction career day, and Build My Future Online for high school students. She is also helping to produce Construct My Future – a day camp for middle schoolers. Although she works anywhere through the wonders of technology, she and her husband live in the Oklahoma City area with their dog, Mika.

Stefanie Coleman

Chief Sustainability Officer, Doug Tarry Homes

Stefanie Coleman is Chief Sustainability Officer of Doug Tarry Homes.

She started her career in construction in 2005 as a self-employed renovation contractor. Over the years she completed numerous building science training courses and earned a number of certifications including BCIN-House, Certified Energy Advisor (EnerGuide, ENERGY STAR for New Homes), HRAI Residential Air Systems Design Technician, Thermographer, and Radon Measurement and Mitigation. She is currently completing her Master of Environment and Business at the University of Waterloo. Before joining Doug Tarry Homes, she served as Marketing and Business Development Manager for Building Knowledge Canada, a leading building science consulting firm that helps Canadian home builders to design and construct sustainable homes people love to live in.

Stefanie has been a strong advocate and volunteer for the home building industry and served on numerous committees at the local, provincial and national levels of the association. She was a founding member of the CHBA Net Zero Council's Management Committee, served on the Building Code Conservation Advisory Council for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and currently sits on two CSA committees as well as a National Building Code sub-committee (Canada). She is the honored recipient of the EnerQuality Leader of the Year Award for 2019. Stefanie served on the Canadian Home Builders' Association Executive from 2015-2021 and served her term as CHBA National President in 2019/2020."

Gord Cooke

Partner - Professional Engineer, Construction Instruction

Gord Cooke is a Partner with Construction Instruction Inc. Gord is a professional engineer with over 25 years of experience in the low and high-rise residential building industry. As an educator, industry consultant and much sought after presenter, Gord has a unique talent for taking the building science issues that he sees in the field, and presenting them in an easily understood and practical real-world manner. Gord has particular expertise in applied building science, energy efficient housing initiatives, innovative HVAC systems, ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). He has developed and delivered a multitude of workshops in these fields, as well as sales and marketing courses for builders and real estate agents to help them best promote the features and benefits of high performance houses.

Katherine Cort

PNNL

Katherine Cort is an economist with PNNL and team lead of the Residential Windows Market Transformation program. Ms. Cort has over 20 years of experience analyzing energy-efficiency programs, technologies, and research and provides technical support for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Program. She manage research projects into high-R windows, window retrofits, and window attachments including storm windows, automated blinds, and shading devices.

Robert De Vries

Nu Wool Co. Inc.

Robert has been in the building industry for over Thirty years and has been giving AIA talks for over 13 years. He is also an approved building official course provider in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Along with the AIA and Building official programs Robert has developed instructional programs for insulation installers in the areas of HVAC loads and fireplace and flue installation as it pertains to their work. For the last ten years Robert has been presenting to groups such as USGB chapters and Home Builder groups a program that explains life cycle analysis. Robert is an ASTM member serving on several committees. C16 on Thermal insulation, secretary of C16-32 and E06 on Performance of Buildings and a charter member of E60 on Sustainability.

Robert is certified as a Building Analyst, Infiltration and Duct Leakage and Envelope Professional as well as a testing proctor for both designations from the Buildings Performance Institute. Robert developed a training program and test center for the BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional.
BPI candidate ID #5014737.

Robert served on the Energy Efficiency task group for the NAHB 2012, 2015 and the 2018 Green Building Standards

National Institute of Building Science committee member 2008-2013

ICC Member current
ICC Sustainability Membership Council Governing Committee member 2011-2013

Building Performance Institute
Accreditation Management board member Until 2014
Standards Technical Committee member 2014 -current

ASTM committees:
C-16 Thermal Insulation. Voting on sub committees 22, 23, 30, 31, 32 (Chair), 33, 40 & 94
C-16-90 executive committee secretary 2022-
E0-6 Performance of Buildings Voting on sub committees 41 & 55

Michigan state electrical license, master 6207856
Michigan state instructor #1829
Michigan state class numbers CP-17-00140, CP-19-00002, 00012 & 00035
Ohio state course approval #s Ohio BBS 2020-024, -025, -026 & -027
Pennsylvania approved instruction list added June 10, 2008
State of Kentucky approved instructor March 2015

Board of Directors Cellulose Insulation Manufactures Association (CIMA)
2019-current

M. Steven Doggett

Built Environments, Inc.

Dr. Doggett is the Principal Scientist and founder of Built Environments, Inc., a building science research firm with a special focus on resilient enclosure systems. His practice draws from extensive experience with building enclosure failures, particularly those involving air, heat, and moisture transport. He merges this expertise with durable design practices and advanced simulation techniques, including Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Dr. Doggett’s primary work centers around research & development of novel enclosure systems. He is actively engaged in product reviews, testing & failure analysis, and the evolution of product systems.
Dr. Doggett works with multi-stakeholders including investors, manufacturers, design & engineering firms, and professional organizations. He is also an avid speaker and educator.

Corey Donahue

bettr homes

Corey’s mission to utilize his talent, skills and experience to make a positive difference in the world drives the vision of bettr homes - a green, net-zero builder aimed at disrupting the entire home building industry with bettr, faster, more efficient and healthier building practices. Additionally, Mr. Donahue serves as the chief executive of SI Panels, a structural insulated panel manufacturer on a mission to transform the home building industry with Energy Efficient, Environmental Friendly, Sustainable, Family Safe building materials.

From 2017-2020 Mr. Donahue utilized his entrepreneurial spirit as Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Second Avenue, oversaw all aspects of operations from acquisition, construction and property management while providing insight into strategic planning and growth initiatives as the company scaled one of the largest end-to-end investment platforms in the SFR space. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Donahue served as Regional President - Central Florida for Invitation Homes (a Blackstone company). During his tenure, he was responsible for the deployment of over $1.2B and managed the purchase, rehabilitation, leasing, and property management of over 12,000 single family homes. Invitation Homes is the largest single family home owner in the United States, investing over $12B in nearly 80,000 homes. Mr. Donahue also has over 20 years of creative real estate investment experience with a specialty in owner financed notes and options, in both the residential and commercial markets. Recognized as a leader in the SFR space, Mr. Donahue has spoken before thousands of real estate investors regarding deal structuring and financing of various types of real estate investment projects. Mr. Donahue also served on the Board of Directors of New Beginnings of Tampa, a non-profit organization which provides recovery services for addicts and currently serves on the board of Grow Into You Foundation, an NFP serving children and young adults aging out of the foster care system.

Dave Everson

Mandalay Homes

Dave Everson is president and founder of Mandalay Homes in Prescott AZ.

Juan Fernandez

Founder, CVF Homes

Juan founded CVF homes in 2005 focusing on infill development and building energy and water efficient homes with great design. CVF homes is committed to certifying 100% of its homes to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program and is a proud winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Award in 2019 and Honorable Mention in 2020. CVF homes is a member of Build San Antonio Green and has received multiple sustainability awards from the City of San Antonio.

Juan is a Board Member of EEBA and serves on the Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee of the City of San Antonio and is a past member of the San Antonio Water System Community Conservation Committee (CCC) and past Co-Chair of the US Green Building Council of the South Texas Chapter.

Juan received his Bachelor degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) in Monterrey Mexico.

Asa Foss

Technical Director, EPA ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Programs

Asa Foss joined EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch in 2020, where he’s responsible for developing a decarbonization-focused new construction specification. He’s been in the residential efficiency industry since the early 2000s, including a decade at the US Green Building Council, where he was responsible for the development of the LEED for Homes rating systems. He renovated and lives in a designated-historic ENERGY STAR certified home in Washington, DC.

Paul Francisco

Senior Research Engineer, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Paul Francisco is a Senior Research Engineer and is the director of the Indoor Climate Research & Training (ICRT) group at the Illinois Applied Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on the intersection of energy efficiency and indoor air quality. His projects are primarily conducted in field environments, and includes indoor air quality sampling, energy use logging, and airflow and insulation characterization of buildings. Partners include other research organizations such as the National Center for Healthy Housing, Center for Energy and Environment, and other field practitioners.

Dr. Tracy Fuentes

Terrestrial Ecologist, PNNL

Dr. Tracy Fuentes is a terrestrial ecologist in the Risk & Environmental Assessment Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She joined PNNL in 2021 after completing her PhD. Her dissertation focused on the urban ecology of new homes and yards, exploring how developers and new homeowners create urban land covers and plant communities. She previously worked as a botanist for the US Forest Service and a staff scientist for the US Geological Survey. She has 20 years of natural resource management, NEPA, stakeholder engagement, and compliance experience for timber sales, land exchanges, fire recovery, and watershed analyses. Working with federal, tribal, state, and local partners, Tracy developed and implemented research and conservation plans for high priority species and landscapes. She created and monitored revegetation and restoration plans in upland, riparian, and wetland habitats. Tracy has a BS in Botany (University of Washington), an MS in Plant Biology (Arizona State University), and a PhD in Urban Design & Planning, with a concentration in Social Science Statistics (University of Washington).

Dean Gamble

Technical Manager, EPA

Dean Gamble is the technical manager for EPA’s ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes program, which he has helped support, define, and implement for over 20 years. With over 2.2 million homes certified, ENERGY STAR is the nation’s largest voluntary residential market transformation program, delivering cost-effective energy-efficient homes while improving their durability, comfort, and quality.

Theresa Gilbride

Building Energy Efficiency Researcher, PNNL

Theresa (Terri) Gilbride is a building energy efficiency researcher with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, where she supports the U.S. Department of Energy as a content manager for DOE’s Building America and Zero Energy Ready Home programs. Terri has authored or co-authored 28 reports and 35 articles on residential energy efficiency and related topics. She served as the lead editor and an author on the Building America best practice guides, a 17-volume series including climate-specific guides for high-performance home builders in all U.S. climate zones and retrofit guides on air sealing, insulation, and HVAC. She has given more than 20 talks on building performance topics at national and international conferences in the last five years. She has also published on building codes and emerging technologies such as window attachments, solid state lighting, and HVAC. Terri is the content manager for the Building America Solution Center, an online resource for home builders and remodelers that receives about 60,000 visits per month.

Nathan Good

Rheia, LLC

Nathan is an Arizona native with a background in residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC engineering. He has worked with homebuilders, architects, and other trades throughout his career to create the best HVAC solutions for a wide variety of applications. He is committed to helping Rheia continuously improve its products to deliver a better HVAC experience to residential construction.

Sara Gutterman

Green Builder Media

As Co-Founder and CEO of Green Builder Media, North America’s leading media company focused on sustainable living, Sara has established a reputation as a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. She works closely with a diverse group of stakeholders in the building industry to develop impactful, long-term green strategies that are simultaneously sustainable and profitable.
A former venture capitalist, she has participated in a portion of the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies. She graduated from Dartmouth College and holds an MBA in entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Colorado. She lives in Lake City, Colorado with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and CrossFit trainer. Sara runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado and served as a County Commissioner.

David Hazel

Sr. Manager on the Performance Construction team, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC

David Hazel is a Sr. Manager on the Performance Construction team at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC, with over 20 years serving residential and light commercial HVAC industry stakeholders. He has eared BS and AS degrees in Business/Marketing and has held numerous HVAC management, sales and business development positions. David now focuses on helping builders, architects and property developers understand new HVAC design and implementation strategies as the housing industry transitions away from fossil fuel usage and embraces variable capacity high performance heat pump technology.

Mark Heizer

State of Oregon - Building Codes Division

Mark Heizer is a licensed mechanical engineer in Oregon with more than 30 years of HVAC design and building code development experience. As a mechanical engineer, he has designed everything from a drive-through coffee shop to a full U.S. embassy compound. For over 11 years at Oregon’s Building Codes Division (BCD), Mark has demonstrated leadership in advancing energy codes via his responsibilities for code development, implementation, technical support, and interpretations for Oregon’s Mechanical, Energy, and Reach Codes. He's currently serves on ASHRAE's 90.1 Format and Compliance Sub-Committee and IECC’s Commercial Mechanical Subcommittee. Mark has also served as vice chair of the ICC Sustainability, Energy, and High-Performance Code Action Committee (SEHPAC), authoring several substantive revisions to the 2015 and 2018 International Energy Conservation Codes, as well as the 2015 International Green Construction Code. He’s been a LEED Professional since 2002.

Ryan Hillgartner

Director of Marketing, Tim O'Brien Homes

Ryan Hillgartner is head of marketing for Tim O'Brien Homes in Milwaukie, Wisconsin.

Aaron Holm

CEO, Blokable, Inc.

Aaron’s background is in building businesses that transform industries. Prior to founding Blokable in 2016, Aaron founded and led businesses and product teams, notably spearheading Amazon’s first two physical retail businesses, Amazon Go and Amazon Books. At Amazon, Aaron saw first-hand the opportunity to apply advanced technology, supply chain, and logistics to enable innovative and integrated business models in the built environment.

Nick Hurst

Program Manager - Indoor airPLUS, EPA

Nick Hurst is an Environmental Protection Specialist with the US EPA and the Program Manager of EPA’s Indoor airPLUS label for homes. He’s been involved in the construction industry for over 20 years as a framer, a self-employed remodeler, a project manager for custom homes, and a green building consultant/trainer.
Nick earned a Master’s in Technology concentrating in Building Science from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and he later served as Education and Outreach Director for the NC Energy Efficiency Alliance at ASU’s Energy Center. Before joining EPA, Nick worked as a consultant at ICF in their Federal Energy Efficiency portfolio.
Nick has done training under numerous national certification programs (BPI, RESNET, USGBC, PHIUS) and participates with standard setting organizations and technical committees, including ASHRAE 62.2 and ANSI/AARST CCAH. Nick also serves as a technical advisor for the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) Board of Directors."

Jim Ingman

Drexel Building Supply

Training and Development Leader / Building Scientist, Drexel Building Supply
2021 Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Juror - Residential Design
WI Accredited Instructor: High Performance Structures
Director of Production and Warranty (Tim O'Brien Homes)
2018 & 2019 Department of Energy Housing Innovation Award Recipient
2019 MBA Home of the Year
Reasonable Accommodations Specialist - Special Projects (Wisconsin DOT)
Certified Installer: LP Siding, Hardie Board Siding, Dupont Tyvek, Lindsey Windows, Weathershield Windows, BASF HP+ Wall System
Continuing Education: Water Management, Resilient Homes, High Performance Homes, Zero Energy Ready Structures, Continuous Air Barriers, Advance Framing

Aaron Johnson

US EPA

Presented at multiple national conferences. Currently I work with the Indoor airPLUS label at EPA. IAP is an indoor air quality label for new homes. My main job isn't a job at all, really, it's a personal mission to bring the IAP label into existing homes. Passionate is an understatement when describing my feelings on IAQ and making home performance visible and desirable. Contact me if you have questions or suggestions about IAQ in existing homes!

Nathaniel Jutras

Marketing Lead, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Nathaniel Jutras is the marketing lead for the EPA’s ENERGY STAR water heating products in residential and commercial applications. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of marketing strategies for ENERGY STAR certified water heaters and supporting adoption of new retailer/utility program models and application of best practices to expedite the transition to high efficiency water heating.

Nathan Kahre

EnergyLogic

Nathan Kahre brings his experiences working for a home builder to EnergyLogic. As the Business Development Manager, Nathan works with builders of all sizes to help find areas for improvement and opportunities to grow closer to the idea that all homes can be efficient, healthy, and durable.
After graduating with a master’s degree in building science from Appalachian State University, Nathan came to the Denver metro area to work for a high-performance production home builder. Time spent working for a builder has helped Nathan understand what is important to builders and what information they need to get the job done. He has presented on building science, renewable energy, and home builder quality assurance throughout the country including sessions at RESNET, EEBA, & IBS. Nathan is also active in the local community volunteering on issues that are important to him and doing his best to be on a mountain bike as much as possible.

Christian Kaltreider

PNNL

Christian Kaltreider joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2022, with 15 years of prior experience working in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and residential construction. His primary work at PNNL currently includes the development of Extreme Heat content for the Disaster Resistance tool of the Building America Solution Center.
Before joining PNNL he worked as an engineering consultant on energy savings performance contracts, net-zero energy projects, and high-performance HVAC design efforts. He holds a master’s degree in building systems engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Prior to his university studies Mr. Kaltreider worked in residential construction for 5 years, gaining hands-on experience with every phase of the construction process. His interests and expertise include building science, HVAC systems and controls, renewable energy, passive solar building design, biomass heating, and low-tech innovation. He was awarded U.S. Patent #11026500 as sole inventor in June 2021.

Zoe Kaufman

National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

Zoe joined NREL in 2020 with a focus on guiding building fabrication toward achieving verified and replicable low-carbon design by implementing low-load envelope technology, mechanical systems integration, and whole-building lifecycle assessment. Her other area of focus centers on hygrothermal modeling and validation of construction materials and practices, with the aim of improving envelope durability and supporting a healthy retrofit revolution.

Zoe’s background ranges from design, testing, and analysis of net-zero manufactured homes to consulting and energy modeling for multifamily Passive House (PHI & PHIUS) buildings in New York City. Her undergraduate degree in biology fostered a scientific approach that carried over to her Master’s in sustainable design, where she homed in on developing and applying contextual, methodical, and statistics-rooted approaches to building energy efficiency. Through the lens of this diverse background, she views buildings as interconnected systems and seeks to enhance these connections on a large scale by applying hands-on experimental analysis of advanced construction and evaluation methods."

Cy Kilbourn

Co-founder and Vice President of Engineering, Ekotrope

Cy Kilbourn is co-founder and Vice President of Engineering at Ekotrope, a software company that makes HERS Rating software solutions and utility program solutions used by 1 in 4 new homes, as well as business intelligence solutions for Builders and Building Product Manufacturers. He spent time at Brown University and M.I.T. developing the patented algorithms behind Ekotrope software and led the development effort to establish Ekotrope as a RESNET accredited HERS Rating software. Cy is also a member of the Board of Directors at RESNET, a leader in energy efficiency standards for new home construction. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the largest utility efficiency programs, national home builders, and HERS Rating companies to streamline processes and improve energy decisions.

Tim Kirkby

Chief Design Officer, Digibilt

Doug Kladder

Colorado Vintage Companies, Inc.

Mr. Kladder holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Michigan, and has been intimately involved with the development of radon measurement and mitigation technology since 1984. This experience formed the basis of many educational program that have been developed for radon professionals and the greater building community. Relevant to this presentation, Mr. Kladder has overseen the design, inspection and radon testing of over 21,000 new single-family homes across six states and will be offering real-world perspectives as to how radon can be cost-effectively addressed in new home construction. His experience over the last 30 years have included:

- Director Center for Environmental Research and Technology (1995-2020)
- Former Chairman of AARST-National Radon Proficiency Program Policy Advisory Board (2018-19)
- Managed creation of NEHA’s National Radon Proficiency Program, (1998-2001).
- Lead Instructor, Associate Director, Western Regional Radon Training Center
- Author of the initial US EPA Radon Mitigation Standards, 1991
- Contributor to many radon texts and curriculum, Reducing Radon in Structures, Building Radon Out, US EPA Technical Guidance and several curriculums used nationwide for entry-level and continuing education radon courses.
- Author of the U.S. and Canadian versions of the book, Protecting Your Home From in Canada
- Author of the “Radon Corner” within the Indoor Environment Connection
- Former Member and Chair of the Policy Advisory Board for the National Radon Proficiency Program
- Assistance with radon public outreach programs for several State Radon Programs, including Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, California, Guam, Michigan, Connecticut, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nevada under the U.S. EPA SIRG program"

Kerry Langley

Green Homes Matter

Mr. Langley has been a professional mortgage banker for the past 36+ years and over this period, Mr. Langley has personally negotiated and closed over $1.65 Bil in residential mortgage loans. Over the years, Mr. Langley has held various positions in the loan production side of the business, ranging from Sales Manager to Sustainable Lending Manager. Mr. Langley has won numerous production related rewards, including 5 Top Producer, 11 awards for “100% Customer Satisfaction” and 15 awards for qualifying for Chairman’s or President’s Club’s.

While working as a sponsor with the building scientists at the “EarthCraft House” / SouthFace Institute (2008), Mr. Langley was challenged to develop a financial solution to help give EarthCraft’s Builders a marketing advantage to help them sell their certified energy efficient homes. As a result, Mr. Langley developed a software program that he refers to ProjectTCO. Since it’s inception, Mr. Langley has originated approx. $250 mil in residential loans using the ProjectTCO program.

On a personal note, Mr. Langley and his wife of 36 years live in Berkeley Lake, Ga. The Langley’s have two married adult children and five grandchildren. When not working, Mr. Langley enjoys powerwalking, cooking BBQ on his Big Green Egg’s and fishing for Pompano Jacks in the Fla surf.

Shawn LeMons

Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC

Shawn LeMons is a Performance Construction Manager (CO, AZ, UT, WY)
Shawn is part of the Performance Construction Team with Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC, focused on efficient cooling and heating system for residential new construction. He has held certifications as a LEED Green Rater, PHIUS+ Verifier, HERS Rater, BPI professional, ICC Residential Energy Inspector, Level 1 Thermographer, and earned a BS in Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has 25 years of experience in the residential building industry with small and large companies, non-profits, and volunteer work. Since 2009, he has completed analysis and advising on over 6 million square feet of residential and commercial buildings. Shawn strives to expand his building science knowledge and skills at every opportunity. He enjoys sharing that knowledge through hands-on training and mentoring for all levels of building professionals.

Chris Magwood

RMI & Builders for Climate Action

Chris Magwood is obsessed with helping reverse climate change by making carbon-storing buildings that are also healthy, beautiful, efficient and inspiring and assisting others to do the same.
In 2022, Chris joined the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Embodied Carbon initiative within RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings team.
From 2011-2022, Chris was a director and teacher at The Endeavour Centre, a not-for-profit sustainable building school in Peterborough, Ontario.
In 2019, he helped to establish Builders for Climate Action, and has been leading development of the BEAM carbon estimator tool for low- rise construction. He is working closely with many levels of government to develop embodied carbon benchmarks and regulatory programs, and helping developers and builders figure out how to reverse climate change with their buildings.
Chris has authored seven books on sustainable building. His new book, Building Beyond Zero: New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture, is co-authored with Bruce King and will be available in June, 2022 from Island Press.
In 1998 he co-founded Camel’s Back Construction, a design-build firm focused on straw bale construction and renewable energy.
Chris has completed an MA at Trent University. His thesis, Opportunities for Carbon Removal and Storage in Building Materials which was published in the fall of 2019.
Chris is an active speaker and workshop instructor in Canada and internationally.

Eric Martin

Program Director, FSEC Energy Research Center

Eric Martin is a Program Director with the FSEC Energy Research Center at the University of Central Florida. Mr. Martin leads a variety of research projects focusing on comfort systems for high performance homes, ventilation and indoor air quality solutions, and other building science topics.

Janet McIlvaine

Florida Solar Energy Center

Janet McIlvaine has conducted research and provided technical in support of the quest for high performance housing since 1990 with a focus on affordable housing. She works at the University of Central Florida's FSEC Energy Research Center.

John McLinden

President & CEO, Digibilt

John McLinden is the President and CEO of Digibilt. He has 35 years of experience in the development, commercial construction, and home building industry. He developed over 2,000 residential units with the full responsibility for design and construction. Under his StreetScape brand, he pioneered the “How Do You Live?” / mass-customization process. This consumer-focused design approach has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, PBS Nightly Business Report, The Washington Post, Fortune Magazine, and the Today Show.

John has always believed the design and construction process could be transformed by technology. In 2000, he brought together a team of subject matter experts from both inside and outside the industry and created a technology solution for commercial construction. The solution was the subject of a Harvard case study, which documented the performance of the technology on a 65,000 sf headquarters facility in Los Colinas, TX. It was built 39% faster for a 19% cost savings. While these results were impressive, the timing was not right. It was way too early for the broad adoption in the industry because digital and mobile technology was not advanced enough for simplicity of use. At that point, John focused his energy on residential development.

Having never given up on the idea that technology can impact the industry, in 2017, Digibilt was founded. John went from being an active developer and home builder to serving the home building industry by creating a technology solution for builders. Digibilt takes digital control of the building process to improve product design, reduce material waste, integrate the supply chain and increase labor productivity. Importantly, Digibilt, through its affiliate company StreetScape, now offers consumer-focused product design.

John’s interests also include creating a solution for affordable housing and understanding the impact of home construction on our planet’s climate. Digibilt can be used to take out non-value-added waste in the construction process; thereby, making homes more cost effective. Digibilt can also use its digital twinning approach and automated Bill of Materials to calculate the carbon footprint of the home’s construction. That will be the basis for understanding the impact of home construction on the environment.

Darrel McMaster

Sustainable Homes Inc.

Darrel McMaster, Master builder. Darrel has been building homes for 46 years coming from a family that started building homes in 1945. He has been a licensed GC in 3 states and has built homes in 2 others. Over that time frame he has built thousands of homes in production, multi-family and custom formats. In 2005 they set course on building only homes that could generate all of their own utilities from the environment. By 2009 they built what they called a Point Source Home™, a home that could generate all of it's utility needs from the environment and power the owners transportation. Recently they completed the first of the GEN 6 Point Source Homes™, a home with better performance, resilience and healthy environment for the owners. Always willing to push the performance and inside health quality has made Sustainable Homes an example for other industry professionals.

Emily McPherson

Center for Energy & Environment

As part of the program development team for CEE MN, Emily leads the evaluation of select opportunities for new programs and services, including product definition, market assessment, financial evaluation, and creation of business plans. Emily works closely with technical staff to identify new energy efficiency service and program opportunities, assists with business development activities, and works with implementation teams to launch new programs. She has over 10 years where she worked on numerous energy efficiency market transformation programs in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Emily specializes in energy efficiency market transformation, program planning, implementation, and market actor collaboration around heat pump technologies.

Joe Medosch

Client Success Manager, measureQuick

Joe Medosch {med-osh} - Client Success Manager for measureQuick, Owner of Energy & Environmental Consulting. He is an Industry Master Trainer, national presenter, and his diverse background in multiple trades provides a unique understanding of “The House as System.” Joe has been evaluating homes for 20+ years and has been a Comfort Consultant /Trainer for over 15+ years providing solutions on Healthier/Energy Efficient Home Performance and co-creator of Retrotec rCloud app.

Ryan Meres

RESNET

Ryan Meres has 15 years of experience in energy and water efficiency, energy policy and building energy codes. As the Program Director for RESNET, Ryan currently leads numerous programs, including implementation of RESNET’s HERSH2O whole-house water efficiency rating; as well as initiatives on energy codes, HERS data and real estate. Ryan got started in the energy efficiency industry as an EarthCraft House Technical Advisor, working with builders in the Atlanta metro on EarthCraft House and Energy Star Certifications. Ryan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design and lives in upstate New York with his wife and their three children.

Gene Myers

CEO of Thrive Home Builders, Thrive Home Builders, Inc.

Gene is owner and CEO of Thrive Home Builders (formerly New Town Builders), Denver’s leader in building green, energy efficient production homes and recent winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Award.

Gene has served on numerous state and local housing groups and currently serves as a member the board of directors of Denver Civic Ventures and the Challenge Foundation. He has served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel for Housing, the Boards of Housing Colorado and the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver and co-chaired Denver’s Housing Task Force. His company is Denver’s largest builder of for-sale affordable housing.

As a production builder in the Stapleton community, Thrive has logged a number of firsts in Colorado and the Denver Area including:

First to offer standard solar panels
First to construct all of its homes with Colorado beetle-kill lumber
First to offer a Zero Energy option on all its single-family homes
First production homes with Zero Energy as a standard feature
First Department of Energy Challenge Home, which broadens criteria to include indoor air quality and water conservation

Nationally, Thrive has been recognized as EPA’s Millennium ENERGY STAR® Builder, EPA’s Leadership Award for Indoor Air Quality, Green Building Magazine’s Green Home of the Year and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grand Winner for Innovation in Housing.

Joe Nebbia

Newport Partners LLC

Joe Nebbia is a building codes expert with 20 years of experience in policy and regulatory analysis, including 16 years spent working on buildings and construction related issues. In addition to code education and advocacy, Joe serves as the Operations Director for the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program. Mr. Nebbia holds a B.A. in Public Policy from Hamilton College.

Patrick Nielsen

Global Technical Products Manager, Broan-NuTone

Patrick Nielsen is the Global Technical Products Manager for Broan, 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. Patrick is also a member of ASHRAE, RESNET, EEBA and IAQA.

Edward Osann

Senior Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Defense Council

Ed Osann is a Senior Water Policy Analyst with NRDC’s People & Communities Program. Since 2009 he has led NRDC’s work on water efficiency through building codes, product standards, utility programs, and conservation pricing. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Director of Policy and External Affairs for the US Bureau of Reclamation. Ed holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from George Washington University and a BS in International Relations from Georgetown University. In 2010, Ed received the Mike Moynihan Excellence Award for statewide innovation in water conservation from the California Urban Water Conservation Council. From 2013-16, Ed served on the 7-member Independent Technical Panel on Urban Conservation for the California Department of Water Resources. In 2016, Ed joined ISO Project Committee 305 to develop an international product standard for Sustainable Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems, serving as head of the US delegation to this committee. Ed is a member of the American Water Works Association’s Water Loss Control Committee and contributed to the pre-publication review of AWWA’s Manual M-36, Water Audits and Loss Control Programs, 4th Edition.

Marley Praprost

NREL

Marley Praprost is a Commercial Buildings Research Engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Her work focuses on the development of the ComStock analysis tool, a model of the US commercial building stock that helps states, municipalities, utilities, and manufacturers identify which building stock improvements save the most energy and money. Outside of her research role, she is the Assistant Build Challenge Competition Manager for the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a collegiate competition in which student teams design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables.

Ari Rapport

IBACOS

Ari leads IBACOS’ Homes That Give BackSM initiative, which is focused on changing the way homes are designed, constructed, and delivered. This vision is based on IBACOS’ fundamental belief that all homes must be safe, healthy, durable, comfortable, efficient, responsible, connected and affordable.

Ari has eight years of experience performing Home Energy Rating System (HERS®) home energy ratings per Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) standards, and he is a champion for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program. He works with homebuilders to certify homes under the U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR® for New Homes program. He also works directly with national and regional homebuilders to employ construction practices and technologies to reach the DOE’s Building America program performance targets in occupied test houses and community scale activities in both new and existing construction.

Ari consults with building product manufacturers regarding technologies that will result in improved energy savings, evaluating these technologies in the field under “real world” conditions.

Travis Rasch

Senior Product Manager, Broan-NuTone

Travis Rasch is the Senior Product Manager for Broan’s Fresh Air Systems segment, a leading manufacturer of residential ventilation solutions. Travis’ customer-focused approach and product engineering background have contributed to the innovative products Broan continues to bring to market. He collaborates with several industry stakeholders including builders, engineers, energy raters, and installing contractors to identify their key pain points to develop the right product to deliver better quality air for a better quality of life to the homeowner.

Sam Rashkin

Chief Architect of the Building Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, TruHome Facts & Retooling the Housing Industry

Sam Rashkin is Chief Architect of the Building Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where he leads the development of high-performance home innovations through the Building America and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home programs. Sam is a registered architect and has served on the national steering committees for NAHB’s Green Builder Guidelines, USGBC’s LEED for Homes, EPA’s Water Sense label, and on the development team for EPA’s Indoor airPLUS label. He has served as the national director of ENERGY STAR 1994-2011. Sam has delivered hundreds of presentations, articles, technical papers, reports, and seminars, and books on energy efficient and green construction.

Bill Rectanus

VP of Operations, Thrive Home Builders

Bill Rectanus, COO at Thrive Home Builders. Bill is a dynamic leader and experienced manager with business to business sales, account management, project management, and sustainability experience. Recognized as a dedicated self starter skilled at managing multiple projects in tandem. Outstanding trainer who continually creates excitement and interest while effectively presenting complex information. Passionate about the advancement of energy efficiency, building science and renewable energy.

Marc Rico

Director of Business Development for the U.S. West Region, Hydraloop Inc.

Marc Rico is Hydraloop Inc.'s Director of Business Development for the U.S. West Region. Being a California native all his life and experiencing the ongoing drought conditions over the years created a much deeper respect and understanding of the relationship we have with water. After spending a decade in the new home construction industry he has now joined forces with Hydraloop Systems to further the purpose driven mission of bringing solutions that will help solve today's ongoing water crisis. Having 3 young children of his own creates a deeper passion for helping secure a better future for the generations to come. With his knowledge of new construction development and knowing the extremely important role water plays he has a clear understanding of the path needing to be taken for water conservation efforts in the building industry.

Taylor Ryan

NREL

Taylor Ryan is a Project Coordinator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In her role, she manages a wide range of efforts spanning recruitment, competition management, communications, partnerships, and tech support across both the Solar Decathlon's Design Challenge and Build Challenge. The US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition in which student teams design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables.

Dante Sassano

Business Development Associate, Hydraloop Inc.

Jonah Schein

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Jonah Schein is the National Program Manager for Homes & Buildings at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense® Program. He has overseen the technical development and implementation of the WaterSense labeled homes program since its inception in addition to numerous efforts to better understand and influence water use in the field. In addition to the WaterSense labeled homes program, these have included the EPA Water Score for multifamily properties as well as several standards, research reports, and papers focused on modelling, quantifying, and understanding water use. Mr. Schein holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Indiana University as well as a Master of Science in Environmental Science from the Johns Hopkins University.

Robby Schwartz

BUILDTank, Inc.

Robby Schwarz has been a champion of applied building science for over 25 years. He Founded BUILDTank, Inc. in 2020 to be a practical building think tank whose mission is to use what is learned by applying building science in the field to affect meaningful change in the construction industry. To chase issues that hold the industry back and generate ideas and innovations that move sustainable building into mainstream building. Robby is a sought-after trainer and routinely presents at RESNET®, EEBA, the Colorado Chapter of the IECC®, Educode, and local Home Builders Associations, Colorado Energy Office, Xcel Energy and more.
Robby works with industry partners and builders offering a complete set of research, training, consulting, energy modeling, code and program compliance, inspections and diagnostics services designed to help clients build homes that perform. www.btankinc.com"

Blake Shelide

State of Oregon Office of Energy

Blake serves as a Facilities Engineer with the Oregon Department of Energy, providing technical expertise for a number of ODOE programs. Blake is a licensed mechanical engineer in Oregon, and his career has included work as a design engineer and consultant as well as serving as a corporate energy manager for a large industrial manufacturer. With ODOE, Blake is the lead for ODOE’s role with commercial energy codes and standards and serves on the Construction Industry Energy Board, working together with stakeholders and the Building Codes Division on energy code issues. Blake also works with state agencies and schools to assist with energy efficiency for new facility design and retrofits and to track and reduce energy consumption. Blake has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Brett Singer

Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Brett Singer is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Head of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems Department. He has conceived, conducted, and led research studies of air pollutant emissions and physical-chemical processes in both outdoor and indoor environments, aiming to understand real-world processes and systems that affect air pollutant exposures. High performance homes are a major focus of his recent work, aiming to accelerate new building standards and retrofits to improve energy performance, resilience, and indoor environmental conditions. His research also addresses low-energy systems for filtration, smart ventilation, and mitigation approaches to indoor pollutant sources including cooking.

John F. Slater

Energy Vision Homes, LLC

John F. Slater is a Passive House Institute US Certified Builder and is trained in Zero Energy Home designing and building. He is the owner of Energy Vision Homes, LLC of Hollis, NH who specialize in building high performance homes. John holds a doctorate degree in Environmental Chemistry and is an Adjunct Instructor in the Earth Science Department at the University of New Hampshire where he teaches about Sustainability and Global Climate Change.

Paul Springer

Aeroseal

Paul Springer, National Director at AeroBarrier, has been a leader on the business team since the product launched and has become an established authority on air sealing in the housing industry. With nearly 15 years in the marketing industry, he applies his entrepreneurial approach to help companies build brands and drive revenue. He has an MBA from the University of Dayton and is a board member of the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA). He has recently presented an educational session on air sealing and Net Zero homes at the 2022 Pennsylvania Housing Research Center’s Housing Conference.

Dennis Steigerwalt

Housing Innovation Alliance

Dennis is a catalyst. An expert at driving market transformation programs, he knows people, money and how to get things done. As president of the Alliance, he leads our strategic vision and smart growth of our community. Prior to the Alliance, Dennis helped change the face of the housing industry in Saudi Arabia through two key initiatives: the Ministry of Housing’s Building Technology Stimulus Initiative (BTSI) and SABIC’s Home of Innovation™ program. In BTSI, Dennis helped to create a nationwide program to develop a modular housing industry—modeling 26 strategic initiatives that would jumpstart the creation of a robust construction ecosystem, evaluating 200+ global technology providers, and securing initial approval for $4B in government investment. Within one year, the commitment grew to $40B. Dennis was also a key player in SABIC’s Home of Innovation program, a $30M+ multi-year market engagement program focused on encouraging collaboration among the housing value chain and ensuring that better construction practices are adopted throughout the region. Together with his team, Dennis established and managed a global ecosystem of more than 1,000 subject matter experts, including 46 leading manufacturer partners. The program resulted in the Middle East’s first LEED platinum home, a pilot community of 1,200 LEED Silver homes and a LEED gold interactive exhibition center, which has become the epicenter for collaboration in the region. As of 2016, the program yielded 40+ business opportunities with more than $200M in new value creation. Before and after going global, Dennis acted as a consultant to and developer of residential and mixed-use real estate projects in southwestern PA, several of which are considered pioneering examples of placemaking in North America—including Venango Trails, Edgewater and Newbury. In his spare time, he enjoys big adventures with his wife and sons on the water and in the mountains and supports the efforts of other entrepreneurs—advising and investing in their startup companies.

Jes Stershic

NREL

Jes Stershic is a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the Residential Buildings group, where she and her colleagues strive for clean energy for all. Jes focuses on the implementation of workforce development strategies from high schoolers through college students. Jes is an assistant project manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon – a collegiate competition that educates students through design and project based learning and prepares them for careers in the building industry. Jes holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama, and a master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Jonathan Synovic

Step Beyond Green to Healthy

Jon founded Step Beyond Green to Healthy in 2011 with the goal to help people achieve their goals, regardless of how hard it may be. He has experience in owning two companies, designing residential and commercial construction projects, writing specifications, managing projects, providing IT coordination and support, and educating others about healthy building and design. As part of the responsibilities above, Jon has conducted feasibility studies, competitive bidding, general contracting and maintenance, and design based on the needs and lifestyles of clients. Jon has written articles for Natural Awakenings Milwaukee magazine, serves on the Metropolitan Builders Association Board of Directors, Business to Business Networking Group Leader, has chaired the Remodeler's Council and is the current Executive of Step Beyond Green to Healthy.

Kelly Thomas

State of Oregon - Building Codes Division

Kelly is an Energy Policy Analyst for Oregon’s Building Codes Division (BCD) where he assists in the development and implementation of energy codes in order to achieve Net Zero Energy Ready (NZER). He holds the LEED AP BD+C credential, is a Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP), and was a HERS Rater. He currently serves on IECC’s Residential Modeling and Economics Subcommittee and participates in ASHRAE 90.1 development. His 30 years of experience in the built environment includes being a Program Director for State Energy Efficiency programs, a Project Manager for energy efficiency contractors and auditors, and Director for various homebuilders. He also served in the 1999 Nevada State Assembly where he introduced a package of legislation focused on sustainable development. His commitment to the implementation of sustainable building practices and principles started at UNLV’s Schools of Architecture and Business Administration in 1992, where he subsequently gradated with a joint degree.

Peter Turnbull

Peter Turnbull & Associates LLC

Peter Turnbull recently retired from Pacific Gas and Electric Company after a 38-year career focused entirely on energy efficiency. From 2010 through 2019, he led PG&E’s Zero Net Energy (ZNE) work including:
• Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings, three-volume set of case studies documenting the design, construction and performance of 17 successful commercial ZNE buildings
• Architecture at Zero, an annual architectural design competition emphasizing ZNE design. The competition is organized as a teaching tool for the design community.
• Design and implementation of the Proposition 39 Zero Net Energy Program for K-14 schools in California: this program featured ZNE design consultation and project cost buy-down for participating schools to retrofit to ZNE.
• Design and implementation of the Production Builder Pilot which provided consulting assistance, incremental cost buy-down and energy performance monitoring for homes built by production home builders. The program demonstrated that ZNE can be done cost-effectively in a production environment.
• Over the ten years of ZNE work, Peter organized guided numerous symposia, conference presentations on ZNE.

Peter likewise has extensive experience with emerging technologies, codes and standards work, analytic tool development, and market research, especially in the areas of cool roofing, daylighting, water heating and commercial food service.

Brian Urlaub

Salas O’Brien

Brian Urlaub took a hands-on approach to begin his career in the ground-source heat pump industry. As a contractor, he installed and serviced systems, acquiring an invaluable breadth of knowledge in site conditions and impact on budget and schedule. Since then, Brian has led project management, design, and procurement for geothermal systems throughout the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. As head of Salas O’Brien’s mixed-use and residential district system practice, Urlaub is part of a leadership group that has completed more than 200 geothermal projects to date, providing over 42,000 tons of system capacity.

Jaime Van Mourik

US DOE

Jaime Van Mourik, Associate AIA, LEED AP, is an ORISE Science, Technology, and Policy Fellow in the Building Technologies Office of the Department of Energy supporting the Residential Buildings Integration program working towards a zero carbon emissions future for all homes. Jaime is passionate about educating people of all ages about the impacts of the built environment on their lives. She believes that providing knowledge and opportunities for action will result in true transformation. Prior to coming to DOE, she served as the Vice President for Education Solutions at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) where she led a team to create and deploy education solutions for every learner whether that be a young child, a student pursuing a post-secondary degree or a professional looking to advance in their career path. She collaborated with higher education institutions and advocates across the country to develop and deliver innovative learning platforms that integrate sustainability and green building concepts into curriculum and create pathways to professional credentials. She has extensive experience leading colleges and universities looking to “go green,” guiding them through the planning and implementation process and advising on how the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system can help shape sustainability initiatives in teaching, research and practice.

She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and Master of Architectural History from the University of Virginia.

Gayathri Vijayakumar

Principal Mechanical Engineer, Steven Winter Associates

Gayathri Vijayakumar is a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Steven Winter Associates, Inc, with over 17 years of experience supporting high-performance multifamily buildings. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Engineering Science and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a MS in Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management. Gayathri currently provides technical support to the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program and ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction programs. She currently is the Chair of RESNET’s Standards Development Committee, SDC300, and a voting member of the 2024 IECC Residential Consensus Committee.

Joe Wachunas

New Buildings Institute

Joe’s work at NBI primarily focuses on the Advanced Water Heating Initiative, which seeks to decarbonize water heating through heat pump water heaters. He believes that electrifying everything, from transportation to homes, is the quickest path to an equitable, clean energy future. Previously he worked on electric school buses and vehicle to grid charging at Forth. Joe promotes individual action through Electrify Now, sits on the board of PACE Ghana and contributes to the blog CleanTechnica. In a previous life, he was an Italian language teacher. Joe and his family live in an all electric, net zero energy home.

Nigel Watts

Rheia, LLC

Nigel has 35 years of experience in product development, starting his career with GE Plastics before going to IBACOS in 1998 developing a series of online training, best practices, and quality assurance products to front line employees at the large national homebuilders. Nigel is passionate about innovation and developing solutions to bring innovation and positive change to the homebuilding industry.

Dennis Webb

Vice President of Operations, Fulton Homes

Dennis is the Vice President of Operations for Fulton Homes where he oversees Sales, Marketing, Operations, and the Fulton Homes Design Center. In his 25 years there he has led the charge of using technology combined with past retail experience to help transform the company into one of the most advanced homebuilders in the country in the areas of customer experience, operations, and marketing. He served on the city of Tempe’s Development Review Commission for 12 years and is President of the Board of Directors for the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA). Prior to joining Fulton Homes, he was Vice President of Stores for Eagleson’s a men’s clothing retailer owned by Ira Fulton, who sold the business to concentrate on homebuilding. Before Eaglesons, Dennis had a 20 year retail career with Hart, Schaffner and Marx, where he held increasingly responsible positions of Salesman, Store Manager, Buyer, Merchandise Manager, General Manager, and Store President. Dennis graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA, and currently resides with his wife Janis of over 40 years, in Tempe, AZ. His daughter Laura is the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, and son Darin is a lawyer in San Diego.

Dan Wildenhaus

TRC

Dan Wildenhaus

Technical Advisor and Industry Liaison, BetterBuiltNW

As a Technical Advisor and Industry Liaison for residential, multifamily, and small business programs Dan has completely immersed in the discussion of what is required to create High Performance Buildings and the technologies that operate within them. Dan has over 26 years of experience, 15 of them working directly for a contractor; performing energy audits and Ratings, weatherization and HVAC repairs, consulting, and analysis for private clients in both New Construction and the existing buildings market. Over 10 years ago, Dan transitioned to the consulting side of the business, working with program implementation companies. Dan currently provides Building Science consultation, technical management, market channel development, and training and presentation services for a variety of programs across the country.

Joelle Wirth

Consulting Sanitarian

Joelle Wirth is a Registered Sanitarian with over 30 years’ experience with onsite wastewater in management planning, permitting, design and administration. She has a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona in Resource Management. In addition to her previous work as the Program Manager for Coconino County Environmental Health, Environmental Quality Division, she was a member of the US TAG for the development of ISO 30500. Joelle currently is an active member of the National Sanitation Foundation's Joint Committee for Onsite Wastewater and a member of multiple state, national and international technical advisory committees.

Paul Yankie

Green Building Consulting

Paul Yankie, LEED AP Homes, REALTOR®, GREEN
President of Green Building Consulting
Co-Founder of HVAC Design Partners
Paul leads Green Building Consulting, a 3rd party high performance building consulting, verification and education firm and HVAC Design Partners, a one-stop mechanical design and testing firm. His companies have certified over 800 green program building projects and performance tested tens of thousands of living units across 17 states. Paul’s previous thirteen-year career as a licensed financial planner and small business consultant led his interest into green building with an eye towards Return on Investment and how it can drive the construction industry towards best practices.

Michael Young

Technical Project Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Michael Young is a technical project manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he and his colleagues lead complex energy projects that empower decision makers with the knowledge to adopt renewable energy and energy efficiency strategies and provide solutions to accelerate clean energy transitions. Michael’s work focuses on the development and deployment of workforce development initiatives for zero energy buildings, as well as greenhouse gas emissions research and analysis and decarbonization strategies. Within his zero energy buildings work, Michael is the competition manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Build Challenge – a collegiate design/build competition that educates students through project based learning and prepares them for careers in the buildings industry.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Muhlenberg College, and a master’s degree in Energy Systems Engineering from Lehigh University.

Danielle Younger

Younger Homes

Danielle grew up in the Texas Hill Country, where her love of the outdoors as a child instilled a deep respect for the environment, and a strong desire to preserve our natural surroundings. Danielle’s vision of preserving the Texas Hill Country, and building beautifully sustainable homes eventually took hold.

It was during her studies and research at Texas A&M University, Danielle began to hone her innate desire to be a part of making a real difference in creating a sustainable world for future generations. She received her Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Science with a Minor in Agronomy, as well as a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Environmental and Occupational Health. Through national and international research in Public Health and Environmental Toxicology, she began to understand the impact of the environment on human health, and the importance of protecting public health through educating individuals to make informed choices. She began a fulfilling and successful career working for a major Oil and Gas company, where she helped others better understand the impacts of Environmental Health and Safety to deliver safe operations offshore. In 2017 Danielle and Jesse formed the now award-winning, Younger Homes, building custom and semi-custom homes in Austin, Texas achieving Energy Star, EPA Indoor AirPlus, and Zero Energy Ready Home Certifications. Younger Homes is actively engaged in the EEBA Builder Benchmark Group and Danielle currently serves on the EEBA Board of Directors.
The home is where families spend the most time, energy, and resources, and it is in this place where we can all make a difference. Danielle’s background shaped beliefs that through education and awareness, environmentally sustainable and healthy homes will become standard building practice. She is confident the vision of Younger Homes will protect the health of individuals, communities, and create a sustainable and healthy world for her children and future generations."

Jesse Younger

Younger Homes

Jesse has always had the knack and love for design, constructing and understanding how things work. He started working for his dad’s home building company when he was 15. While digging holes in the Texas Summers, he learned the importance of quality construction practices, the art and science of carpentry and drafting, and about the home building industry.

While Jesse appreciated construction, he desired a new challenge that involved working with his hands, but fostered his innovative and systems approach mindset. When it came time to choose a university, it was the Texas A&M Mechanical Engineering discipline that would provide that challenge. Jesse graduated with honors, and started his career in the oil and gas industry working as an Engineer and Project Manager. This chapter of life taught Jesse how to schedule and manage multi-million dollar, highly complex projects with tight deadlines, and involvement from multiple stakeholders. Jesse worked with a diverse range of engineered systems from processing plants, drilling rigs, and architectural lighting products, but the common thread among each endeavor is always his attention to detail and strong relationship with his business partners.

Jesse has an exceptional ability to solve complex problems, and this is how green home building would sneak back into his life. He realized Green Building and Integrated Design in residential construction are rapidly changing the way homes are built. With his passion for treating the home as engineered system, he knew he could build smarter and more efficient homes. In 2017 Jesse and Danielle formed the now award-winning, Younger Homes, building custom and semi-custom homes in Austin, Texas achieving Energy Star, EPA Indoor AirPlus, and Zero Energy Ready Home Certifications. Younger Homes is actively engaged in the EEBA Builder Benchmark Group and Danielle currently serves as a founding member of the Austin Building Science (and Beer) Group.
Providing for his daughter and son, while improving the quality of life around them fills him with pure joy. While, working alongside his wife and family in the Texas Hill Country is his dream come true."

Draft Program

Track Color Key

Day 1: Tuesday, September 20, 2022

7:00AM

8:30AM

10:00AM

10:30AM

11:30AM

11:45AM

1:15PM

1:30PM

2:30PM

3:00PM

4:00PM

6:00PM

Day 2: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

7:00AM

8:00AM

9:00AM

9:30AM

10:30AM

11:00AM

12:00PM

12:15PM

1:45PM

2:00PM

3:00PM

3:30PM

4:30PM

6:00PM

Day 3: Thursday, September 22, 2022

8:00AM

9:00AM

9:30AM

10:30AM

11:00AM

12:30PM

Opening Plenary Session

Decoding the "E" in ESG

Presenters

Checking in with ENERGY STAR

Presenters

Next Level Water Efficiency with WaterSense V2 and HERS H20

Presenters

Mini-Splits and the IAQ Dilemma

Presenters

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

Presenters

Luncheon - DOE's Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony & Poster Session

More Than Just a Sustainable Development

Presenters

Resilient Barrier Systems: A Systems Approach to Air and Water Barriers

Presenters

Carbon for Homebuilders, Not Wall Street

Presenters

Proven Performance – The Future of Radon Testing in New Construction

Presenters

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

Presenters

Healthy, Near-Zero Building Envelopes Faster & Better Value than Traditional Methods

Presenters

Indoor airPLUS —The Sky is the Limit

Presenters

Getting Pumped Up about Cold-Climate Variable-Capacity Air Source Heat Pumps

Presenters

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Certification, Overview and Rater’s Perspective

Presenters

Achieving Net Zero Carbon Designation for Builders

Presenters

ESG Trends Among the Top 10 Home Builders: A Recipe for Change

Presenters

Workforce Shortages? Grow Your Own

Presenters

Heat Pumps, Mini-Splits & Air Conditioners-Comissioning with Smart Tools to Get It Right the First Time!

Presenters

Wastewater Reimagined: Two Technologies that Build Water Resilience

Presenters

Building a Zero Energy-Zero Carbon Ready Workforce with the Solar Decathlon

Presenters