Green Building


Zero net energy, geothermal heat pumps, hydronics, building science, HVAC engineering, high efficiency boiler systems, passive house. We write regularly on technical issues related to green buildings and offer some amazing free tools to help you stay in the loop.

Building Science, Zero Net Energy, Passive House

Mike Duclos’s Passive VS Conventional Floor Planing + Sample Passive House Design (PDF)

Hydronics, Boilers, and Environmental Quality & HVAC Engineering

Free Course: How to Design & Sell Mod-Con Boilers with Roy Collver
Free Course: Achieving Hydraulic Separation in Hydronic Systems with John Siegenthaler
Free Course: Integrating ASHRAE HVAC Standards with Robert Bean
Free Course: Mastering the Outdoor Reset Curve with Dave Yates

Renewable Thermal: Geothermal Heat Pumps & Biomass

Free Course: Temperature Stacking in Thermal Storage for Biomass Heating Systems with John Siegenthaler

Wes Kennedy’s Solar Shed and the Quest for Net Zero

This Fall Wes Kennedy is teaching an incredible course called “Comprehensive Solar + Storage”. Consider taking it if you want to level-up your energy storage knowledge and earn a bunch of NABCEP credits. I asked Wes what kept him busy over the summer and his answer was unsurprisingly cool.

Here’s What Wes Has Been Up To

With […]

Climate Change and COVID Crisis Boost Interest in Ventilation

The Covid-19 crisis and climate change are boosting interest in ventilation and in training that helps people calculate the amount of ventilation needed in a home or building, says HeatSpring instructor Rick Karg.

Karg, who teaches  ASHRAE 62.2 Ventilation for Single Family Dwellings, says people are increasingly interested in ventilation because it helps reduce the spread […]

Humbly Making an Impact on the Geothermal Industry

HeatSpring instructor Ryan Carda doesn’t like to brag about the positive impact he’s had on the geothermal industry.

But Brian Hayden, co-founder of HeatSpring, is happy to sing Carda’s praise.

“Ryan is the ultimate teacher because he’s so smart and so patient. Nobody is more deserving of success. He helped the geothermal industry association – IGSHPA – […]

David J. Goldstein Awarded Genius Grant for Multifamily HVAC Solution

Please join us in congratulating David J. Goldstein, the first Genius Grant award recipient for 2021. David is an engineer and an entrepreneur. He has self-funded the development of a new HVAC solution that has potential to make multifamily housing more affordable while increasing occupant comfort and reducing CO2 emissions.

We learned of David’s work through […]

Storing Embodied Carbon in Buildings to Address Climate Change

More and more, green builders and architects are looking to reduce embodied carbon, and when possible, store it in buildings, says Marc Rosenbaum, instructor of HeatSpring’s Zero Net Energy Buildings course.

“We’re changing our view from net zero energy buildings to net zero carbon or even carbon positive buildings,” he says.

Embodied carbon data focuses on the […]