Episodes

  • Building Science Advocates: The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA)
    Sep 24 2020

    In this episode, we're joined by Gene Myers who is the owner and CEO of Thrive Home Builders in Denver, Colorado and current president of The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) board of directors to discuss EEBA and its commitment to provide the most trusted resources for building science information and education in the construction industry.

    About Gene Myers
    Gene is owner and CEO of Thrive Home Builders (formerly New Town Builders), Denver's leader in building green, energy efficient production homes and recent winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's Housing Innovation Award.

    Gene has served on numerous state and local housing groups and currently serves as a member the board of directors of Denver Civic Ventures and the Challenge Foundation.  He has served on the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel for Housing, the Boards of Housing Colorado and the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver and co-chaired Denver's Housing Task Force. His company is Denver's largest builder of for-sale affordable housing.

    Thrive Home Builders
    https://www.thrivehomebuilders.com/

    EEBA
    https://www.eeba.org/

    DOE Housing Innovation Awards
    https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/housing-innovation-awards

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/

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    31 mins
  • Building The Future of Trades Through Hands-On Education Programs
    Oct 9 2020

    In this episode, we're joined by Steve Olson who is the teacher of the Oconomowoc High School Building Trades class to discuss the partnership between Tim O'Brien Homes and local high schools in order to develop the future of the trade industry by giving students real, hands-on experience in homebuilding.

    About Steve Olson
    Steve has been a certified staff member at OHS since the fall of 1995.   After graduating from UW-Stout in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Education, he earned a Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction from National-Louis University in the spring of 1999.  Through the years, Steve has taught many different classes in the technology education department of OHS, including: Materials and Processes, Innovations, Inventions and Problem Solving, and Welding.

    Oconomowoc High School
    https://www.oasd.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=6767

    Oconomowoc School District
    https://www.oasd.org/

    Tim O'Brien Homes Social Responsibility
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/social-responsibility

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/

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    49 mins
  • Home Design for a Climate-Changing World with Sam Rashkin
    Oct 23 2020

     In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by Chief Architect of the Building Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Sam Rashkin, to discuss new home design as our environment continues to change around us. Sam highlights the importance of resilient, future-ready homes as well as how and why homebuilders should implement sustainable building practices going forward.

    About Sam Rashkin
    Sam is the author of the book titled “Retooling the U.S. Housing Industry: How It Got Here, Why It’s Broken, and How to Fix It” that presents a comprehensive strategy for transforming the new homebuyer consumer experience. Sam brings the lessons from this book to housing executives across the country with workshops and collaborative meetings that help them accelerate innovation. Apart from this work, Sam has earned a national reputation for his work leading housing programs that have partnered with thousands of home builders and resulted in over one million certified high-performance homes. Mr. Rashkin was recently recognized for his contributions to sustainable housing with the 2012 Hanley Award.

    He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University; and is a registered architect in California and New York. During his 20-plus years as a licensed architect, he specialized in energy efficient design and completed over 100 residential projects. He has served on the national Steering Committees for USGBC’s LEED for Homes, NAHB’s Green Builder Guidelines, and EPA’s Water Sense label, and on the development team for EPA’s Indoor airPLUS label. Sam has also prepared hundreds of articles, technical papers, reports, and seminars; and contributed to other books on energy efficient and green construction

    Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

    U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home Program
    https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-homes

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/


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    57 mins
  • Creating a Sustainable Workplace Culture with Chad Sanschagrin
    Nov 6 2020

    In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by international speaker, leadership and sales coaching expert, and founder of Cannonball Moments, Chad Sanschagrin, to discuss the importance of creating a sustainable workplace culture. Chad offers his unique experience and insight on developing a growth mindset and long-term success within an organization.

    About Chad Sanschagrin
    Chad began Cannonball to use the skills he gained as a top-rated sales professional for a national homebuilder to empower, motivate, and encourage others to reach their full potential. He is a well-known executive leadership and sales coach who has delivered keynote presentations at over 400 events, in more than 40 states, and in seven countries.

    Cannonball Moments
    https://cannonballmoments.com/

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • The Power of the Sun: Where We Are and Where We Are Going with Solar
    Nov 20 2020

    In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by Vice President of Project Development at SunVest Solar, John Daugherty, to discuss the benefits of solar energy production in new home construction for both builders and consumers alike.

    John also highlights factors such as reduced cost, surging consumer demand, and increased government subsidies as key drivers for the rapid growth in the solar industry.

    SunVest Solar
    https://www.sunvest.com/

    State Programs for Solar
    https://www.sunvest.com/state-programs/

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/


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    44 mins
  • A Breath of Fresh Air: The EPA's Commitment to Indoor Air Quality
    Dec 4 2020

    In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by Environmental Protection Specialist at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Aaron Johnson, to discuss the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program, and the increasing importance of Indoor Air Quality in our homes as it relates to our health.

    EPA Indoor airPLUS
    www.epa.gov/indoorairplus

    Indoor Air Quality
    www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq


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    35 mins
  • Broan-Nutone - A Leader in Healtheir Home Systems
    Dec 18 2020

     In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by Edwin Bender and Patrick Nielsen from Broan-Nutone, the global leader in residential indoor air quality, to discuss areas of growth in the industry as well as opportunities for residential construction to continue to innovate and develop technologies to further improve fresh air ventilation systems.

    About Edwin Bender
    Edwin Bender has over 25 years of experience in the sale and marketing of commercial and DIY products. His teams have increased the development of award-winning products that exceed customer expectations and is passionate about making sure that Broan is a leading contributor to make every home a healthy home.

    About Patrick Nielsen
    Patrick Nielsen has 18 years of expertise in the field of product development and marketing management. As the Global Technical Product Manager at Broan-Nutone, Patrick has dedicated his tenure as a leading expert in ventilation as it relates to building codes and green building trends. Nielsen currently serves as an officer on the board of the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), where he is Chair of the Codes and Standards Committee, along with being a member of EEBA and ASHRAE. He also speaks regularly at tradeshows and conferences such as RESNET and the International Builders Show.

    Broan-NuTone
    www.broan-nutone.com/en-us/home/learn

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    https://www.timobrienhomes.com/

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    38 mins
  • Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Empowers Builders and Consumers
    Jan 8 2021

    In this episode, Tim O'Brien is joined by Focus on Energy's New Home Residential Program Manager, Andy Kuc, to discuss ways in which Focus on Energy empowers the people and businesses of Wisconsin to make smart energy decisions with enduring economic benefits.

    Focus on Energy
    focusonenergy.com/

    Tim O'Brien Homes
    www.timobrienhomes.com/ 

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    48 mins