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The Building Science Podcast

The Building Science Podcast

Positive Energy 163 episodes Oct 22, 2026

The Building Science Podcast is hosted by Kristof Irwin, principal of the MEP engineering firm Positive Energy. It covers the fundamentals of building science and explores adjacent scientific disciplines. The show examines how the built environment shapes human life on Earth.

Episodes

Thermal Truths
Thermal Truths Oct 22, 2026 1:09:20 Homes and buildings are more than just boxes filled with air at the right temperature; they are complex thermodynamic environments deeply coupled with our bodies, minds, and emotions. We are lucky to be alive during this time of change in how the AEC understands what creates and delivers thermal comfort. Beyond the static “thermal blandness” model of the 1970s, we now realize that transient therma
The Progress Paradox: How Codes Create Carbon
The Progress Paradox: How Codes Create Carbon Jul 22, 2026 1:01:16 An interview with Kelly Alvarez DoranWhy do our building codes encourage carbon pollution? How have we landed in a "progress paradox," where older buildings often outperform new ones in both operational and embodied energy? In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Alvarez Doran, co-founder of Ha/f Climate Design, to unpack the hidden impacts of the built environment—a sector responsible for nearly
Demystifying Decarbonization: Data Driven Design
Demystifying Decarbonization: Data Driven Design Jun 18, 2026 1:02:23 In this episode, Kristof sits down with sustainability expert Josh Jacobs to demystify the ins and outs of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Product Category Rules (PCRs) and ISO Standards that are causing a decarbonization to happen around the world. Translating the complex data of an LCA into a standardized format, EPDs function as 'nutrition labels' for b
Perspectives on Hydronics in the Real World
Perspectives on Hydronics in the Real World Apr 25, 2026 1:15:14 An interview with Robert Bean and Lance MacNevinIn this episode we unpack the rapidly transforming world of hydronic heating and cooling. We are joined by two seasoned veterans of the industry, Robert Bean and Lance MacNevin. With many decades of real-world experience and hard-earned perspective between them, they offer a thoughtful and engaging look into why hydronics is at the forefront of moder
(Un)Healthy Homes
(Un)Healthy Homes Apr 8, 2026 1:16:26 An interview with Dr. Eva KingOur homes are indoor environments of our own making. These environments exist to make our lives better but often unintentionally expose us to contaminants—chemical and microbial—that harm our health and wellbeing. For genetically susceptible individuals, these routine exposures can trigger a breakdown in the body's natural tolerance, leading to chronic inflammatory an
Our Second PSA, The Humid Climate Conference in Austin May 4th & 5th!
Our Second PSA, The Humid Climate Conference in Austin May 4th & 5th! Mar 23, 2026 16:54 The Humid Climate Conference (HCC) is officially back in Austin this May 4th & 5th, and we have a fantastic line up of speakers and topics for our 10th anniversary. It’s time to step away from the Zoom screen and have some live 3D human interaction! Today’s episode is a public service announcement to join us in Austin to recharge our collective motivation and determination. We often talk
Our Hidden Roommates
Our Hidden Roommates Feb 12, 2026 1:03:59 An interview with Dr. Sarah HainesThe Indoor Microbiome is the complex, invisible world of trillions of microorganisms living within indoor environments. Its residents include bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses. We live immersed in this ecological niche, for good or ill. A typical home can host between 500 and 1000 different species of bacteria in household dust alone, and thousands of species o
Hydronics: The OG HVAC - Part 2
Hydronics: The OG HVAC - Part 2 Jan 27, 2026 1:22:24 An interview with Benjamin Jewell.This is Part 2 of our latest series to familiarize our industry with the world of hydronics systems and air-to-water heat pumps. In Part 2 we’re rejoining the conversation to look at controls - the "central nervous systems" of these hydronics. We’re moving beyond old-school mechanical switches to a new class of microprocessor based systems that prioritize "outcome
Buildings as Habitat: Biodiversity-Informed Investments in Public Health
Buildings as Habitat: Biodiversity-Informed Investments in Public Health Jan 20, 2026 1:17:24 An interview with Helena van Vliet.“First we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.” - Winston Churchill (attributed)The natural world is humanity's original habitat. This habitat supports our physiological energy efficiency and is an important health intervention for the AEC industry. These are core perspectives that Helena van Vliet shares in this joint PHA-Building Science Podcast
Hydronics: The OG HVAC - Part 1
Hydronics: The OG HVAC - Part 1 Dec 23, 2025 1:24:14 An interview with Benjamin Jewell.In this episode we are once again diving into the world of hydronics systems and air-to-water heat pumps. These systems are poised to transform how we heat and cool homes and buildings in the US. In this Part 1 of a two part series, we’ll be tracing the historical "divergence" that pushed the US toward forced-air ducting while Europe stayed with the efficiency of
Beyond the View
Beyond the View Dec 1, 2025 1:31:29 An interview with Andrew Dryden.Windows are pivotal to the lived experience of a home. They impact the basic aesthetic and provide natural light, views, ventilation, and safety. However, they are also nearly always the largest single source of heat loss and gain - it's hard to overstate the importance of getting windows right, as they play a huge role in a building's energy use. Today, we're going
Cementing Carbon
Cementing Carbon Oct 31, 2025 1:01:15 An interview with John Mead.This is a crossover episode with the Spring Street Passive House education and advocacy series.Welcome to a pivotal conversation on the future of our built world. The concrete industry, indispensable for modern infrastructure, is facing an urgent mandate: reconcile its foundational role (pun) with its role as a source of environmental pollution. The scale of the emissio

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