Building Science: Volume 2, Issue 1

In this issue

Message from the Executive Director
Vermont Homebuilding Coalition
Building Science Guild Meeting
SEON Spring Training Classes
Our members – in action
Interesting Links
Resources
Meetings & Conferences
Job Opportunities
Thank you, Members

From SEON’s Executive Director

It’s a New Year!

Indeed, if you’ve been keeping a close eye on the news, you’ve likely noticed our recent and impactful developments. SEON’s pivotal role in spearheading and managing the Vermont Homebuilding Coalition has garnered significant media attention and recognition:
• Vermont Biz • Brattleboro Reformer • Manchester Journal • Rutland Herald • Times Argus • Bennington Banner • Williston Observer

Gratitude to our board for their visionary leadership and unwavering support, enabling us to forge ahead with this endeavor. As well, we extend our sincere appreciation to Richard Wobby, Jr., Executive Vice President of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont and a distinguished member of our new coalition, who has graciously offered the use of their Montpelier offices for our inaugural coalition meeting this coming week on January 29, 2024.

Our primary objectives:

To design and establish a state-recognized High-Performance Builder Certification Program
To cultivate professionalism in the building industry
To build an Awareness Campaign geared towards the public and policymakers

The Phases:

Phase 1: Certification program establishment
Phase 2: Marketing campaign to target unaffiliated builders, the public, stakeholders (policy makers, lumberyards, town energy committees, etc.)
Phase 3: Designing infrastructure and funding
Phase 4: Discuss a Vermont High-Performance Builder Certification Mandate

We will also discuss the Vision After Success, because, while the State Building Certification is our core responsibility, the board will have the influence to extend far beyond simply issuing licenses. We have the unique opportunity to shape the future of the building industry by setting high standards, promoting innovation, and addressing critical issues that impact all builders and homeowners.

We’ll keep you abreast of the coalition’s work via social media and the next newsletter.

For those who did not receive our Annual Report – click here!

Last, but not least, we’ve started to schedule our Spring Classes for the Basics of High Performance Building and our Crew Leadership Development. Remember, as members, you get $50 off of the cost. See below!

Onward until February!

Guy Payne
Executive Director

Vermont Homebuilding Coalition

Building Science Guild Meeting

Fenestration – Observations from a lowly window dude
A presentation by Russell Chapman, Architectural Consultant at Sierra Pacific Windows.

Date: Wednesday, February 28th
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Location: SEON’s Conference Room, 532 Putney Rd, Suite 204, Brattleboro
Can’t make it in person? ►Join us via Zoom!

Get answers to such important questions as:

What is window fenestration?
What should contractors know when negotiating with a customer about the features of window selection and installation?
What are the classic mistakes when not taking fenestration into consideration?
What jumps out to a fenestration expert when they eyeball local construction practices?
Why is this fenestration guy so lowly?!

Spring Training

Basics of High Performance Building Classes

Date: March 4 & 11 / 5:00pm – 8:15pm
Location: Springfield, VT
Instructor: Michael Goetink
Sign up ► here
Date: March 6 & 13 / 5:00pm – 8:15pm
Location: White River Junction, VT
Instructor: Michael Goetinck
Sign up ► here
Date: March 12 & 19 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Essex Junction, VT
Instructor: Chris West
Sign up ► here
Date: March 13 & 20 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Hyde Park, VT
Instructor: Jim Bradley
Sign up ► her e
Date: May 2 & 9 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Bennington, VT
Instructor: Junio Anthes-Moody
Sign up ► her e

Leadership Development for Crew Leaders Classes

(Instructor: Guy Payne – Executive Director)

Date: March 20 and 27 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Brattleboro, VT
Sign up ► here
Date: April 17 and 24 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Springfield, VT
Sign up ► here
Date: May 1 and 8 / 3:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: White River Junction, VT
Sign up ► here

Our Members – in Action

Vermont Architect – Bluetime Collaborative

“Well that’s fun! I’m honored that Morpholio – a drawing program for the iPad – chose one of my sketches as one of the top sketches of the year.” Robert Swinburne

Housewright Construction, Inc.

“This remodel we did in Canaan, NH on a lakefront home was such an amazing project to watch unfold. From the natural textures that come through the windows, to the beautiful wood ceilings and stacked stone wall, there is so much to love about this space.”

Mindel and Morse Builders

“The things you find when remodeling. Can you guess what’s going on here?

Owl’s Head Builders

”Topping the list of things we’re grateful for at Owl’s Head Builders in 2023 is our awesome crew. This dedicated and hardworking team makes it all possible. So cheers to them and Happy New Year to all and may 2024 bring you a crew as cool as ours!”

Shelterwood Construction
”These windows went in right before the pandemic shut us down. I was really glad the building was weathertight at that point. We have changed some of the ways we install these big triple glazed European windows, but some things have stayed the same.“

Unity Homes
”Prefabricated homes, also known as prefab, are faster and more efficient to build, with flexible and affordable floor plans. Significant portions of the home are built off-site in a climate-controlled factory environment with precision machinery.”

Delta Energy Works

“What’s a good SEER rating? Just know that our TOSOT Comfort systems baseline at 21 SEER.”

Helm Construction Solutions

Kate and Paul visited our friends and colleagues at Garland Mill, a high-performance design-build company in Lancaster, New Hampshire. Great company, great team, great work!

Interesting Links

► Drunk Elves Played a Role in This Vermont DIY Home-Building Kit
►Vermont is listed as one of the 20 best states for construction jobs in the U.S.
► A Timber-Frame Company in Vermont Relies on Human Touch
► Homes made in factories were supposed to save us from the housing crisis, but why are they failing?

Resources

► Best Practices for Internal Communication & Digital Organization (HELM)

► The CARE (Carbon Avoided: Retrofit Estimator) Tool is used for calculating and comparing the embodied, operating and avoided carbon impacts and benefits of reusing and upgrading existing buildings or replacing them with new construction.

Meetings & Conferences

Better Building by Design: April 3–4, 2024 at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington, VT. The theme is “Blueprint for Equity: Energy Efficiency & the Future of Building”.

Job Opportunities

► 475 High-Performance Building Supply is actively seeking a Outside Sales – Vermont Product Consultant.

► HatchSpace community woodworking project is now accepting applications for the Executive Director position with a target start date of April 1st.

► Bensonwood Homes is hiring:

For more jobs, check out Helm’s Job Board

Thank you, Members

All Seasons Construction, Springfield, VT
Andrew Dey, Consutlant, Walpole, NH
Delta Energy Works, Brattleboro, VT
Duane Case, Bellows Falls, VT
Efficiency Vermont, Winooski, VT
Farnum Insulators, Dummerston, VT
Friendly Homes, Brattleboro, VT
GPI Construction, Inc, Brattleboro, VT
Green Mountain Enclosure Consulting, llc (Nate Gusakov), Bristol, VT
HELM Construction Solutions, LLC, Brattleboro, VT
Housewright Construction, Inc, Newbury, VT
Integrated Solar Applications Corp. Brattleboro, VT
JA Saccoccio Workshop PLLC, Brattleboro, VT
Junio Anthes-Moody
Tim Lillis, Builder, Bellows Falls, VT
Mindel & Morse Builders, Brattleboro, VT
Owl’s Head Builders, Guilford, VT
Shelterwood Construction
Sierra Pacific Windows, Red Bluff, CA
The Wadsworth Company LLC, Jamaica, VT
Wright Builders, Inc, Northampton, MA