PODCAST #70 PERFORMANCE EVERYWHERE: Chris Dorsi of Habitat X

Today Corbett talks with Chris Dorsi, founder of the Habitat X Thinktank, about the state of performance-based building in Europe and what the construction industry needs next. *Listeners get a whopping $675 discount off Habitat X registration until June 15 by using code Corbett375.

For all other episodes, or more on this one, check it out on iTunes (or wherever you get your podcasts) and at: BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

Infrared Thermal Photo Art! Nerd-Out!

I now carry a tiny infrared thermal camera with me everywhere I go, and I've decided to make it my contribution to humanity. I got so tired of washing dishes and being nice- this will be much easier, as contributions go!

The sun is more than 248 degrees. Get out!

I literally am such a nerd about this that I point it at trees, the floor, anything that might be awesome. 

The floor. With a spill on it! 

Trees! 

Feet! 

Infrared is not an X-ray, you can't really see through anything, but you can see temperature changes behind objects, which is also technically a superpower. 

Infrared thermal portrait of a cathedral

People look pretty cool under infrared, as long as you don't look at their faces, which look terrifying. 

The crowd at an Indigo Girls concert

What I mainly use my infrared camera for, though, is buildings. You can't hide anything in construction anymore, thanks to tools like this. 

One brick wall: old brick on the left, new brick on the right. Very different heat signatures! 

Chicago's Thompson Center

Airport construction project

Infrared thermal cemetery

The camera I got is called the Flir ONE, and it mates with my iPhone 5 to make my pocket bulge with infrared awesomeness! For $250, I recommend it to anyone who likes having an easy superpower. 

PODCAST #67 ARCHITECT AS BUILDER: Chris Laumer-Giddens

Today Corbett talks with architect Chris Laumer-Giddens, half of LG Squared, about why he decided to tackle the whole pizza, what's wrong with the current models of architect, builder, and contractor, and what certifications like ENERGY STAR or LEED can and can not do for the industry. Sponsored by the Building Performance Workshop Online Training Portal.

PODCAST #65 TINY HOUSE HOTEL: Yes, This Is a Real Thing. Yes, It's Awesome.

Today Corbett travels all the way to Portland to talk with Kol Peterson, owner of Caravan Tiny House Hotel, and tiny house builder Ben Kovco. Tiny houses- who wants one, what are the challenges, is it a passing fad or here to stay? Sponsored by the Building Performance Workshop training portal!

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

PODCAST #63 ALL OVER THIS LAND: Taking the Temperature of Homebuilders Around the World

Today Corbett takes you on a tour of performance based building from a sampling of builders around the world, and realizes that the millionaires are going to be very angry when they realize what they're paying for isn't nearly as good as the affordable housing to be had on the other side of the tracks. Hosted by Corbett Lunsford at the International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas and the Michigan Habitat for Humanity HOMES Summit, January 2015.

Thanks to Robert & Deb Berger, Hiroshi Kuratsu, Rick Eversold, William Wright, Dustin Johnston, Scott Spencer, Bob Passkey Sr., Joey Cuzano, and Bruce Rumsberg for voicing their opinions about performance testing!

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

PODCAST #60 THE BOTTOM LINE: Russell King on HVAC Design & Energy Codes in Real Life

Today Corbett talks with Russell King of Sierra Building Science about the labratory of California, where they've been trying to whip and incentivize efficiency like nobody's business. Are Manual J, Manual D, Manual S, window placements and sizes, and a menu of prescriptive energy code requirements actually leading us toward perfection?

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

PODCAST #56 UNDERWATER BUILDINGS: Italian Building Scientists on Venezia's Age-Old Challenges

Today we talk with Piercarlo Romagnoni and Francesca Cappelletti of the Architectural Institute of Venice (IUAV) about seawater vs. brick, mold vs. air quality, and beauty vs. function in a city that's been dealing with it elegantly for 500 years. Hosted by Corbett Lunsford and sponsored by the bible for home performance testing.

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

VENICE ITALY: Amazing to Visit, Insane to Maintain

Corbett walks you around Venice, Italy on a recent trip, and teaches the implications of building science on this beautiful city that's being torn apart by seawater. Incredible case study of a lovable place where you wouldn't want to own a home:

Capillary action is the phenomenon of water soaking upwards, like in the roots of a tree. The same happens with buildings that are founded in the sea- the moisture damage to brick, wood, and plaster can be easily seen here:

And once the moisture damage has torn these homes apart, they have surgery to keep them held together for the next hundred years:

​HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a vacation spot, and the buildings are beautiful to see- but be careful what you invest in while you're there!

PODCAST #54 HOW BUILDERS THINK: Chase Ming on the Secret Sauce for Buildings and Clients

Today we talk with Chase Ming of All Development in Alabama about how to use overcommunication to make more money doing better work for happier clients. A real builder doing real business with real clients, in a state that's just starting the journey into performance codes.

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

PODCAST #50 WEST SIDE, BABY! A Bunch of Californian Rockstars Show Us What's Behind the Curtain

IT'S A PARTY! Today we talk about the universe of home performance in California with:

• Dan Perunko & Gavin Healy of Balance Point Home Performance
• Mike MacFarland & Brian Tyrrell of Energy Docs
• Natalie Freidberg & Scott Nyborg of Home-ology
• Caroline Veerman of Loisos Design
• and Judy Rachel of Green Achers Sustainable Solutions (that spells GASS, but she doesn't care- she's Judy Rachel!)

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

Passive House Explained in 90 Seconds

This video’s not one of ours, but we love it so much! If you’ve heard of Passive House (or Passivhaus) building certification, this entertaining little video breaks it down nicely! Since I just became one of the first Passive House Raters in the Midwest, we hope to be doing more and more passive construction projects soon.

Passive House Explained in 90 Seconds from Hans-Jörn Eich on Vimeo. Thanks to Hans for creating this Passive House video!

I'm a Passive House enthusiast. I'm involved in this great movement to create highly energy efficient buildings that use 80 to 90% less energy. But how? I get asked often what a Passive House is. This is the low down in 90 seconds.