R-Value

In this episode, IDI’s Ken Allison speaks live with Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association at the organization’s 37th annual National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show. 

The Building Performance Association has expanded its focus and reach significantly over the past few years. "Three years ago, we were communicating with maybe 7,000 to 8,000 people in our industry each week. That number is about 23,000 now." Steve emphasizes the importance of supporting market rate contractors and facilitating connections between them and state energy offices to promote energy efficiency retrofits of existing home stocks.

Ken and Steve discuss the importance of the trade show, the availability of $250 million in training dollars for the energy industry, the importance of a whole home approach and much more. 

In this podcast…

4:30 - What are some of the challenges that are facing market rate contractors?

10:38 - What is the Building Performance’s role in the industry?

16:14 - How the National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show is different from other conferences.

20:22 - What’s the future of energy policy in the US?

27:00 - “There's a lot of consumers out there not quite as concerned about energy savings as what we in the industry are. They want a cozy home, they want a safe home.”

35:23 - How the Building Performance Association can get contractors the education they need. 

39:02 - There is no way the number of contractors we have today are going to be able to do the amount of work that needs to be done 

42:41 - What got Steve excited about this industry?

Winning bids and creating a profitable business doesn't just happen accidentally. It takes great people, great products, great work, and a team dedicated to learning and adapting to constant market changes. Today we're talking to an expert in the field of building successful contracting businesses, Joe Arrigo. He shares his 5 best practices for building a contracting business that becomes profitable and more importantly, STAYS profitable. 

Joe Arrigo is the President/Owner of Resource Development Partners, a company that provides training, certification, and education for building material manufacturers. Joe specializes in building science education for residential and light commercial builders and trade contractors.

In this podcast...

1:01 - Creating a culture that wins

3:40 - Looking for talent everywhere

10:00 - Running the right software for your work

14:20 - Factoring market changes into your bidding process

15:50 - The conversation that insulation contractors should be having with general contractor

The Inflation Reduction Act may have already passed but there are still lots of questions about the credits, incentives and rebates contained within. How will the funds be distributed? Which states will benefit most? What’s the best way for contractors to ensure they can deliver these incentives to customers? Today we hope to answer these questions and more, which is why we’ve brought the foremost expert on the Inflation Reduction Act onto the podcast, Kara Saul Rinaldi. 

Kara is the principal and founder of the Anndyl Policy Group and she joins IDI’s Ken Allison in a wide ranging discussion on this important legislation. Kara and her group acted as a vital conduit between legislators in Washington D.C and home builders to make sure that the Inflation Reduction Act provided as much value as possible to contractors. 

In this podcast…

1:53 - Updates on the Inflation Reduction Act?

3:52 - Is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act mostly industrial or consumer available money?

6:21 - Shaping policy for every stakeholder from contractor to consumer

10:23 - What’s the difference between tax credits vs rebates?

15:54 - What are some of the states that are most excited about the 179D?

20:43 - Different states have different needs 

23:55 - How can you work with your state’s energy office to get these rebates on the streets?

26:45 - What are some of the elements that are of particular interest to all of the contractors and manufacturers who are going to have to move this into the marketplace?

For contractors and consumers 2023 really is the “year of the rebate” courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act. Potential customers are just starting to learn about how they can utilize these rebates to start new projects, which raises the question. How should you adjust your marketing plan to best capture the interest of these new prospects in your market?

Today on the R-Value Podcast, you will get golden nuggets of masterful marketing with our host, IDI’s own Ken Allison, and guest Peter Troast, the founder and CEO of Energy Circle. Peter is recognized as one of the country's foremost authorities on marketing for home performance, HVAC and other efficiency related contracting companies. He authors the widely-read Energy Circle blog and is a passionate advocate for the power of the whole house home performance business model. He and his team work with over 350 companies in 49 states grow their business through services like website design and development, search engine optimization, lead generation and strategic content production.

In this podcast…

2:53 - Is there already consumer interest online on for the inflation reduction act and energy efficiency topics?

7:51 - What is a building science approach and how does it work?

10:02 - What are the buckets of search terms around insulation that are most important?

15:35 - Why long-form landing pages are the ticket to the future.

18:36 - The most important forms of marketing that you need to focus on.

26:09 - When will tax credits be available and how should that affect marketing timing?

29:05 - Should I be reaching out to non-profit program managers in my area?

35:24 - What Google is looking for in your business profile.

38:24 - Other things you can be doing to move the needle higher on Google.

According to Forbes, over 40% of the US construction workforce is expected to retire over the next decade. The fact is the construction industry faces a workforce shortage and according to Associated Builders and Contractors that shortage is up to 650,000 in 2022. This means every worker is critical including workers that came to our country looking for work. For many installation contractors, migrant workers fill key roles in the operation of their company. But the rules, regulations and liabilities around these practices can be confusing for workers and employers alike. We’ve invited immigration attorney Jorge Molina on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They discuss the best practices to protect your employees and your company.

Jorge Molina is the founder of the J. Molina Law Firm in Arlington Texas. He has worked hard to protect and help build his clients’ American Dreams and prides himself in leveling the playing field for his clients. Whether defending someone facing deportation, or a company trying to expand its business.

In this podcast…

3:11 - What type of help are people looking for from an immigration attorney?

6:39 - The long road of immigration court

10:00 - The best advice to give to your undocumented workers

18:29 - “Can undocumented workers operate company equipment?” and other liability questions

21:09 - The importance of the worker’s perspective

25:04 - How business interests could be the key to solving the immigration crisis in the U.S.

A lot of changes are coming to tax credits and other ways to save contractors and their clients money with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes not only new programs, but also adjustments to regulations and extensions around exisitng credits like the 179D. It’s one of the most underused credits but it can save business lots of money. Knowing more about these credits can be a critical game-changer for your business.

In this episode, IDI Distributors’ Ken Allison sits down with Bill Harbeson, CPA/Manager at one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country, Cherry Baekert. Cherry Bekaert provides guidance and support that helps clients move forward to reach their organizational goals. They discuss the benefits and nuances of the 179D and how it can make a big impact our on your business.

In this podcast:

1:59 - What is the 179D tax credit?

8:00 - What’s necessary to qualify for the 179D tax credit?

21:47 - Who can claim the deduction for the building? How did the Inflation Reduction Act change this?

25:29 - What’s the best “bang for your buck” projects for insulators as it relates to this deduction?

29:00 - Which buildings are the best targets for this deduction?

30:45 - What if you own your own shop?

37:20  - What is Cherry Baekert’s role in helping contractors with 179D?

The Inflation Reduction Act is set to provide a lot of subsidies and other resources to contractors. But unless you know the details, you may not be able to maximize them for your business. That’s why we’ve invited Xavier Walters on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They explain how you can get access to these benefits and how to best utilize them to hire and retain the best talent.

Xavier is the State Outreach Coordinator with the Building Performance Association. He is a certified energy auditor and contractor building science trainer for over 15 years in the home performance industry. He's going to share some of his experience and how he built and ultimately sold his company by building a team of professionals, many who are still in the industry today. We discuss these rebates, how you can make sure your state actually takes advantage of them, and how to recruit, onboard, and retain workers by providing a clear career pathway. 

For more on the Inflation Reduction Act Bill, read here: https://www.idi-insulation.com/what-does-the-inflation-reduction-act-mean-for-you-and-your-company/

In this podcast...

3:06 - Why this money is NOT a guarantee for contractors and what you can do about it

7:12 - What can you do to start adding labor for new construction projects?

12:45 - Training and wage subsidies options

15:59 - Thinking differently about what newer generations of workers want

23:28 - Rethinking employee benefits for better worker retention

Doing things the right way, even when it’s harder, will help you maintain a business with great customer relationships and a reputation that attracts more customers. That’s a philosophy that is central to the success of Suburban Manufacturing and our guest today, Mike May.

Mike is the Product Manager of the Python division at Suburban Manufacturing, which is headquartered in Monticello, Minnesota. He has been working with the spray foam industry since Suburban first launched the Sidewinder Spray Foam Sleeve back in 2016, with his main focus being new product development, product line management, and new business development. 

Mike takes us behind the scenes and tells us how Suburban tests the innovative products that you count on to protect your rig. 

In this podcast...

1:00 - The importance of doing things the right way

6:00 - All of the industries that Suburban Manufacturing designs solutions for

8:23 - Keeping the contractor off the hook for very expensive hoses

11:26 - How Suburban uses “Stage Gate” to ensure that products that go to market solve the biggest problems

15:43 - Why Suburban partners with IDI to get products into contractor’s hands

17:48 - Why do people love to use the Sidewinder Hose Wrap and how the thermal elements helps contractors in all climates

23:29 - How Suburban developed a drum blanket that was actually easy to store

29:00 - Finding the best place for a drum blanket temperature

At IDI, we like to push the envelope, do the unthinkable, achieve the impossible. With this podcast, we're doing just that by welcoming Mike Swift, VP and General Manager, and Kurt Walters the National Account Sales Manager for Owens Corning. You read that right, Owens Corning, one of the world’s largest insulation manufacturers, is on the podcast and they are talking all about their recent acquisition of Natural Polymers and what that means for contractors across the United States.

Mike and Kurt take us through the history of Owens Corning’s relationship with spray foam, why they are embracing it now and how Natural Polymers became their manufacturer of choice.

Owens Corning is building a sustainable future through material innovation and now one of those materials is spray foam. 

In this podcast...

3:24 - Why Owens Corning is getting into spray foam now

5:41 - Installing spray foam the right way is the key to safety and customer satisfaction

8:36 - How spray foam is helping Owens Corning deliver the best R-Value solution to customers

13:30 - “If it wasn't Natural Polymers, we probably wouldn't be in the spray foam business right now.”

17:54 - The million dollar question…will we see pink spray foam soon?

20:38 - How this shift will not only mean new products but also new building practices and philosophies

This episode’s guest has a PHD in physics and he knows how to use it. Dr. Allison Bailes is the founder of Energy Vanguard, a company that focuses on teaching, HVAC design services, and consulting. Dr. Bailes works on the forefront of change in the way people see and use energy in homes. 

Understanding the science behind the decisions you make and equipment you use is vital in today’s hypercompetitive environment. Dr. Bailes breaks down a lot of the calculations that contractors should be making to save money, ensure customers are happy and houses stay energy efficient. 

In this podcast...

2:15 - What’s the right calculation to use when right-sizing equipment?

7:14 - How the load calculation…is actually calculated.

11:35 - Are we going to keep lowering loads?

14:04 - How air tightness regulations have improved over the years

21:36 - Dr. Allison reveals his perfect insulation contractor that he would hire on any job

24:37 - Different climates call for different solutions