Episode 134 of “Building Knowledge” focuses on what building owners, building managers, businesses, and homeowners need to know about preparing for hurricanes and other major disasters during hurricane season.

Our guest is Stuart Betheil, a disaster preparedness expert and former Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross in Westchester County. Stuart currently volunteers with the Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter, specializing in Community Preparedness Education. He is also a former board member of the Building & Realty Institute’s Advisory Council of Managing Agents (ACMA) and a longtime guest on “Building Knowledge” and the BRI’s former radio programs.

In this episode, Stuart discusses:

1. Why September is National Preparedness Month and why being prepared is so important.
2. The basics and history of hurricanes and how they develop.
3. How El Niño and La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean can influence weather patterns and Atlantic hurricane activity.
4. Current conditions in the Atlantic and what they may mean for hurricane development.
5. How climate change can contribute to more intense hurricanes and storms that intensify and move more rapidly.
6. Why individuals, families, businesses, and buildings should be prepared to survive for at least 10 days without assistance from first-response agencies.
7. Practical steps everyone can take to prepare for hurricanes and other major disasters.
8. Why disaster preparedness should be taken seriously, with Stuart's urgent reminder: it’s not a question of if, but when.
9. Resources available to help listeners prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies.

Whether you are responsible for a multifamily building, manage a commercial property, operate a business, or simply want to better protect your household, this episode offers practical information and resources to help you prepare before disaster strikes.

Episode 133 of “Building Knowledge” provides an update on energy costs and the factors affecting the Natural Gas, Heating Oil, and Electricity markets for building owners, managers, businesses, and consumers. The episode also examines how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact energy markets and prices.

Our guest is Tim Connors, Vice President of Slattery Energy Consulting Group, Inc.

Topics discussed during the episode include:

1. The Natural Gas Market: The latest market conditions, what is driving the market, and what they mean for building owners, managers, businesses, and consumers.
2. The Oil Market: Current conditions, key market drivers, and what they mean for Heating Oil customers.
3. The Electricity Market: An update on current conditions and what customers can expect.
4. Regional Energy Costs: Why different areas of the Northeast are experiencing varying costs for Natural Gas, Heating Oil, and Electricity.
5. Managing Energy Costs: Actions consumers can take to help manage their energy expenses.
6. New York City Power Markets: Why the power markets in the New York City area continue to carry elevated risks.
7. Middle East Conflict: How the ongoing, on-again, off-again conflict in the Middle East is affecting energy markets and costs.
8. Venezuela’s Oil Reserves: Tim Connors’ perspective on whether the recent deal for the U.S. government to take a stake in Venezuela’s oil reserves could benefit gas prices and help replenish the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has fallen to historically low levels.
9. Looking Ahead: Tim Connors’ overall energy concerns for the New York metropolitan area and the United States in the weeks and months ahead.

Episode 132 of “Building Knowledge” takes an in-depth look at how Sustainable Westchester is helping buildings throughout the Hudson Valley address their energy needs. Our guest is Lauren Kroell, Senior Program Manager at Sustainable Westchester, making her first appearance on “Building Knowledge.”

Topics discussed during the episode include:

1. An overview of Sustainable Westchester and the services the organization provides;
2. The campaign Sustainable Westchester launched this summer to help buildings address their energy needs;
3. A closer look at the components of Sustainable Westchester’s new building assistance program, including Energy Studies, Building Upgrades, Solar Services, and Education;
4. How Sustainable Westchester can work with multifamily building tenants who are looking for ways to lower their utility bills;
5. Lauren Kroell’s perspective on Sustainable Westchester’s ongoing goals and initiatives; and
6. How Sustainable Westchester’s educational efforts are raising awareness of energy issues affecting the Hudson Valley region.

Episode 131 of Building Knowledge takes an in-depth look at the current state of the remodeling market across Westchester County, the Mid-Hudson Region, and the greater New York metropolitan area—and what may be ahead for the industry through the remainder of 2026.

Our guest is Michael Murphy, President of the Building & Realty Institute (BRI) and Director of Business Development for Murphy Brothers Contracting, a Mamaroneck-based construction company serving Westchester County. A regular guest on Building Knowledge, Murphy shares his perspective on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s remodeling and construction markets.

Topics discussed in Episode 131 include:

• The BRI’s recognition by City & State New York as one of New York State’s Top Trade Associations for 2026.
• The current state of the remodeling markets in Westchester County, the Mid-Hudson Region, and the New York metropolitan area.
• Current remodeling activity in the commercial real estate markets throughout the Hudson Valley and New York metro area.
• The continued rise in the cost of building materials and supplies and its impact on remodeling projects.
• Ongoing labor shortages affecting the building and remodeling industries.
• Important guidelines to consider when undertaking remodeling projects.
• Murphy’s outlook for the remodeling markets in Westchester, the Mid-Hudson Region, and the New York metro area for the remainder of 2026.
• Why remodelers and builders should consider joining the Building & Allied Construction Industries (BACI), an affiliate organization of the BRI.

Episode 130 of “Building Knowledge” focuses on what building owners, property managers, and homeowners need to know about evaluating, maintaining, repairing, and replacing windows and doors as the region transitions from summer into the colder months.

Our guest is Dan Hughes, Sales Manager at JILCO Window Corp. in Granite Springs, a hamlet of Somers in Westchester County, New York. This episode marks Dan’s first appearance on “Building Knowledge.”

During the episode, Dan discusses:

1. When building owners, managers, and homeowners should begin evaluating the condition of their windows in preparation for colder weather.
2. What JILCO Window Corp. looks for when evaluating windows.
3. The window conditions that are of greatest concern following the summer season.
4. Typical timelines for window repairs and installations.
5. Energy conservation and the window products currently helping property owners achieve greater energy efficiency.
6. What to look for when evaluating doors after the summer months and before the arrival of fall and winter weather.
7. Typical timelines for door replacements and installations.
8. Current pricing trends for building materials and supplies.
9. Dan’s perspective on current construction and renovation activity throughout the Hudson Valley.
10. How members of the business community are feeling about the current business climate in the New York metropolitan area and their outlook for the remainder of 2026.

Tune in for a practical conversation about windows, doors, energy efficiency, construction costs, and the broader business climate facing the Hudson Valley.

Episode 129 of Building Knowledge examines the Sports Field Expansion at Manhattanville University in Purchase, New York, and what it could mean for future athletic facility projects, higher education, and the Hudson Valley building industry.

Our guest is Frank Sanchez, President of Manhattanville University and a newly appointed member of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. He discusses the university's investment in a state-of-the-art, multi-use athletic complex, the project's funding, and how it will enhance opportunities for student-athletes. President Sanchez also shares his perspective on regional economic development, the current business climate in the Hudson Valley, and New York's ongoing affordable and workforce housing shortage.

Topics discussed include:

• The Sports Field Expansion project and its vision.
• Features of the new multi-use athletic facility.
• How the project is being funded.
• Whether similar projects could inspire athletic facility upgrades at colleges and high schools throughout the region.
• The mission of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and its role in supporting economic growth.
• The outlook for Hudson Valley businesses.
• The need for more affordable and workforce housing in New York.

This marks President Sanchez's first appearance on Building Knowledge.

Episode 128 of Building Knowledge explores what's happening in the Hudson Valley's real estate markets with special guest Vlora Sejdi, Immediate Past President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) and a respected Realtor with deep expertise in the region.

Vlora joins the podcast to break down the latest housing market trends, including recent data from OneKey MLS covering Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and the Bronx. She shares insights into today's homebuyers, discusses the challenges shaping the market for the rest of 2026, and offers her outlook for what's ahead in 2027.

The conversation also examines New York's ongoing affordable and workforce housing shortage, whether policymakers are making progress in addressing it, and the reasons Vlora remains optimistic about the future of the Hudson Valley real estate market.

New York has enacted the most significant reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) in nearly 50 years—but what do these changes actually mean for housing, infrastructure, and the future of development across the state?

On Episode 127 of Building Knowledge, host Jeff Hanley is joined by Joshua Berman, Campaigns Director for the Regional Plan Association (RPA) and a leader with the Unlock New York's Future coalition, to break down the sweeping SEQRA reforms signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul as part of her "Let Them Build" agenda.

Together, they discuss why the previous SEQRA process often delayed housing, clean energy, transit, and infrastructure projects, and how the new reforms aim to streamline environmental reviews, reduce unnecessary red tape, lower construction costs, and accelerate the development of much-needed housing.

The conversation also explores:

• How the reforms could reshape housing development across New York.
• What Unit Caps are and why they matter.
• How communities could benefit from faster infrastructure projects.
• An overview of the Welcome Home Westchester Coalition's August 5 webinar on the new law.
• Whether additional SEQRA reforms may still be needed in the future.

If you're interested in housing policy, land use, economic development, or the future of building in New York, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the state's biggest policy changes in decades.

Westchester County needs more housing—but what resources are available to help make it happen?

In Episode 126 of Building Knowledge, we welcome Blanca Lopez, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Planning, for a conversation about the county's housing initiatives, funding opportunities, and programs that support new development, rehabilitation, and preservation.

Commissioner Lopez explains how the Department of Planning is working to address Westchester's housing shortage and highlights the incentives available to developers, contractors, property owners, and municipalities. She also shares her perspective on how local and state leaders are responding to the region's growing housing challenges.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The role of the Westchester County Department of Planning
• Current housing needs and efforts to expand the housing supply
• Affordable housing funding opportunities and the Affordable Housing Investment Fund
• The Affordable Housing Rehabilitation and Preservation Initiative
• Lead Safe Westchester's grant program for lead hazard reduction in pre-1978 homes
• The Community Development Block Grant Program
• The future of housing policy and development in Westchester County

Whether you're involved in development, construction, real estate, property management, or simply interested in the future of housing in Westchester, this episode offers valuable insights into the programs and partnerships helping shape the county's communities.

In Episode 125 of Building Knowledge, we welcome Sarah Tavares, Campaign Organizer for Welcome Home Westchester, to discuss the coalition's ongoing efforts to address Westchester County's housing shortage.

Sarah explains the coalition's mission, membership, and the local policy options that cities, towns, and villages can adopt to expand housing opportunities. She also shares an update on the municipalities already taking action, outlines Welcome Home Westchester's revised 2026 campaign, and discusses how recent reforms to New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) support the coalition's goals. The conversation concludes with Sarah's message to local and state lawmakers on the urgent need to tackle the housing crisis facing Westchester County and New York State.

Whether you're interested in housing policy, community planning, or the future of housing in the Hudson Valley, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the region's most pressing challenges.