In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Eric Kaiser welcomes David Richardson from the National Comfort Institute. David shares his journey from starting as a “gopher” for his father’s HVAC business to becoming a leading advocate and instructor for high-performance HVAC systems. The discussion delves into the evolution of HVAC standards, focusing on the importance of measurements, diagnostics, and craftsmanship in delivering comfort, safety, and energy efficiency.

David introduces the concept of high-performance HVAC, emphasizing the importance of field measurements to diagnose and solve system inefficiencies. The conversation highlights tools like the TrueFlow® Grid, which have revolutionized testing accuracy and streamlined processes. They also touch on customer engagement, the challenges of breaking industry habits, and the importance of a growth mindset when adopting new practices.

The episode concludes with David encouraging HVAC professionals to embrace small, consistent improvements, measure system performance on their own projects, and engage with the growing community of like-minded industry peers who are eager to share knowledge.

 

Here is David’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-richardson-41502112/

NCI’s HOMEPAGE: https://www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com/

NCI Store on TruTech website: https://trutechtools.com/nci-store.html

Find the Digital TrueFlow® Grid at TruTechTools®: https://trutechtools.com/trueflow

 

 

This episode was recorded in January 2025.