In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser are joined by Ross Trethewey, a mechanical engineer, consultant, and building science advocate who also appears on This Old House. Ross shares his journey from being a fifth-generation plumber to becoming a professional engineer with a passion for high-performance buildings. He discusses the critical interplay between building systems and science, highlighting his work in residential and commercial design through his firm, TE2 Engineering. He also delves into his unique projects, including a World War I lookout tower retrofit, which underscores the importance of holistic building assessments.

The conversation transitions into the challenges of translating the wealth of building science knowledge into practical applications. Ross emphasizes the need for a structured approach, like checklists or decision trees, to guide professionals through complex building scenarios. He praises initiatives like Better HVAC, which aim to centralize resources for the industry. Finally, Ross explores the importance of mentorship, shared resources, and ongoing learning, advocating for tools like ACCA Manual J, the Passive House Planning Package to prioritize impactful changes in building performance.

Ross’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosstrethewey/

Ross’ Engineering business:http://www.te2engineering.com/

This Old House on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse

Passive House Planning Package: https://passivehouse.com/04_phpp/04_phpp.htm

Our episode with Adam from Heat Geeks: https://www.buildinghvacscience.com/ep176-empowering-engineers-the-heatgeek-approach-to-high-efficiency-heating-with-adam-chapman-july/

Building Science Corporation classes and events: https://buildingscience.com/upcoming-events-and-training

Coffee and Caleffi webinars: https://www.caleffi.com/en-us/education/coffee-caleffitm

Enrico Bonilauri’s Emu hands on classes: https://emupassive.com/training/

Pretty Good House Concepts: https://www.prettygoodhouse.org/

Pretty Good House Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Good-House-Michael-Maines/dp/1641551658

Our episode on Pretty Good House: https://www.buildinghvacscience.com/ep105-whats-a-pretty-good-house-with-dan-kolbert-and-chris-briley-dec-2022/

Allison Bailes’ book: https://trutechtools.com/hardcover-a-house-needs-to-breathe-or-does-it.html

BetterHVAC website: www.BetterHVAC.org

Our episode with Shawna Henderson of BlueHouse Energy: https://www.buildinghvacscience.com/ep147-building-science-haiku-with-shawna-henderson-november-2023/

HVACR School Symposium: https://hvacrschool.com/events/6th-annual-hvac-r-training-symposium/

Rocky Mountain Institute Green Upgrade Calculator: https://greenup.rmi.org/

The National Institute of Building Sciences: Whole Building Design guide: https://www.wbdg.org/whole-building-design

Residential Energy Book by John Kirgger, 7th edition (530 pages):: https://srmi.biz/product/residential-energy/

Residential Energy Book by Krigger & Dorsi, 2004 edition (320 pages):: https://www.amazon.com/Residential-Energy-Savings-Existing-Buildings/dp/1880120127

 

This episode was recorded in December 2024.