Building Science: Volume 2, Issue 11

In This Issue

• In this issue
  • Message from the Executive Director
  • Exciting News: Price Adjustment & Early Bird Special
  • New Training
  • Our Members – In Action
  • Interesting Links
  • Events
  • Thank You, Members

From SEON’s Executive Director

Happy Thanksgiving!

Exciting News: Early Bird Special!

Over the past five years, we’ve worked hard to keep our training classes affordable while maintaining the high-quality education you’ve come to expect. However, to keep up with rising costs and continue delivering exceptional programs, we will be adjusting our pricing:

• New Pricing (Effective December 9, 2024):
  • Non-Members: $550
  • Members: $500

Here’s the good news: we’re offering an Early Bird Special for our members!  Lock in the current member rate of $350 by signing up before December 31. Non-members are welcome to join to take advantage of this offer! (If you aren’t a member, come join!)

Take advantage of this exclusive offer and secure your spot today!

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We’re excited to keep growing together!

As SEON looks to wrapping up our activities for the year, I thought it would be important to highlight our accomplishments over the past year.

• Expanding Partnerships: We are collaborating with ReSOURCE VT in Chittenden County to establish a Registered Apprenticeship Program for Carpenters/High-Performance Builders. SEON will serve as the Southern Vermont Extension of this program. Our members have been actively developing the budget, curriculum, and designated location, with the goal of launching by the end of this year.
• Advancing Certification Efforts: In January 2024, SEON brought together Vermont non-profits involved in residential construction to advocate for the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) to identify key areas and courses for certification. This initiative led to 3 focus areas: Building Science, Vermont’s Energy Code, and IRC certifications; all on track for completion by mid-2025. These certifications are expected to significantly boost attendance for our programs. Establishing certification guidelines is a lengthy process requiring legislative review.
• Strengthening Collaboration: SEON has taken the lead in coordinating a coalition of 13 Vermont non-profits supporting residential homebuilders and remodelers, helping align efforts to address shared challenges.
• Managing Government Grants: We established a Memorandum of Understanding with United Way of Windham County to serve as a grant manager for major government funding initiatives.
• Training: We continue to offer our training at local building supply companies in Windham County, Manchester Area, and Central Vermont. We are looking to expand additional course offerings in 2025.
• Digital Support: SEON is offering digital support to our members who are looking to upgrade their website, increase social media presence, and increase search engine optimization (SEO).

Looking forward, we are equally excited about new opportunities, including:

• TradesUp Event: In Fall 2025, we will partner with HatchSpace (lead organizer), Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, and Windham Regional Career Center to host a TradesUp event at Brattleboro Retreat Farm (TradesUp.org). This event aims to inspire people of all ages to explore the satisfaction and complexity of hands-on work in the trades.
• Future Collaboration: We are exploring partnerships with Vermont Adult Learning (VAL) to train and mentor New Americans who are settling—or will soon settle—in Vermont.

During our last Board Retreat at the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, we recognized the need for additional funding to sustain and grow our impact. SEON’s voice is increasingly sought after by state legislators and other stakeholders, and we are committed to maintaining and expanding this influence.

Upcoming Courses: SEON is excited to add more of our Building Science and Crew Leadership courses at several locations:

• WW Building Supply in February
  For registration details, look below or visit our website to see our newest training.

Social Media: Stay tuned to our social media channels for more updates and promotions of our courses. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Onward and upward until next month!

Guy Payne
Executive Director

 

Building Training & Leadership Training!

 

Basics of High Performance Building – February 13 & 27, 2025

• February 13, 2025 & February 27, 2025
• Time: 3:30pm to 7:30pm
• Location: Newfane, VT.\Address:WW Building Suppy
  551 Vermont 30 Newfane, VT 05345Instructor: Junio Athes-Moody
  • Sign up ► here

Leadership Development for Crew Leaders: Mentoring Skills to Develop and Retain Your Workforce  – February 19 & 26, 2025

• Date: December 10 & 17 (Two-Part Training)
• Time: 3:30pm – 7:30pm
• Location: Newfane, VT
• Address:
  551 Vermont 30 Newfane, VT 05345
• Instructor: Guy Payne – Executive Director
  • Sign up ► here

  HELM Construction

  Jan 8, 2025

  Scheduling Skills (4 weeks)

  Feb 4, 2025

  Construction Business Basics 2025 (12 weeks)

 

New Member Benefit

Marketing Your Business – Online Presence Upgrade ► See what this free benefit can accomplish. Interested? Contact Sarah here.

 

Members in Action

GPI Construction We recently completed the addition and renovation for the Windham County Humane Society.  A great organization,  if you’re looking for a donation opportunity or to adopt a companion please  consider WCHS! ► Read more at GPI Construction Inc.

We had an awesome training session on Siga’s window and door tape products. The training was led by Marc Coviello, Siga’s trainer and application advisor, with support from Ken Kiefer, the Eastern Region Sales Manager. A big thank you to Marc and Ken for sharing their expertise and ensuring everyone walked away with valuable knowledge about the application of these top-quality tapes! ► Read more at Housewright Construction, Inc.

Exercising some mad telehandler skills over here installing these trusses. Maybe having too much fun with the hand signals. ► Read more at Owl’s Head Builders

Plymouth, NH and erect this small load bearing timber frame wall! @liamobriencarpentry is doing a great job with all the details! So great to see this one coming together… Note the keyed joints! ► Read more at SEED Design / Build

All of our windows are triple-glazed and never cold to the touch, providing superior insulation and energy efficiency. With three panes of glass and two insulating air spaces, they better retain indoor heat during winter and keep out excessive heat in summer, leading to lower energy bills. Triple glazing also improves soundproofing, making it an ideal choice for a quieter living space. ► Read more at Unity Homes

This subtle garage pavilion is designed to dissolve into the landscape. Its large expanses of glass, warm wood hues, and subtle detailing create a quiet and modern intervention, while its siting establishes a private courtyard behind the primary residence. ► Read more at Wright Builders, Inc.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: 475 High Performance Building Supply Retrofits New Brooklyn HQ Office With Support From @EmpireStateDevelopment ► Read more at 475 High Performance Builders

Students from the Criminal Justice program visited Champlain College campus on Friday. ► Read more at Windham Regional Career Center

We’re Proud! Ever wonder what insulation looks like after more than a decade? Well, here it is—still going strong! This results from our team’s professional care and attention to every job. We’re proud of the lasting quality of our work, and we’re incredibly grateful to all of you for trusting us with your homes. ► Read more at Farnum Insulators

This Button Up season, we are so grateful for all of our partners and sponsors. Across the state, there were 15 Button Up events where Vermonters learned about the benefits of buttoning up their homes for winter. We hope that you all stay warm this winter and remember to reach out with any questions about weatherization! ► Read more at Efficiency Vermont

Interesting Links

► CannonDesign’s Net-Zero Emissions Building

► HUD’s $1 Billion Investment in Energy Efficiency

► The Construction Method That Can Prevent Skyscrapers From Sinking | WSJ

► California’s Home Appliance and Electrification Rebates

► Retirement Communities Embrace Sustainability

► This $35k tiny house is designed to avoid building permits

► Massachusetts’ Community Heating and Cooling Pilot

 

 

Thank you, Members

475 High Performance Building Supply – Nationwide All Seasons Construction Corp – Springfield, VT Andrew Dey (individual owner) – Walpole, NH Apple Tree Builders – Southern, VT Bluetime Collaborative – Brattleboro, VT Bob Rueter Foundation  (individual owner) – Turners Falls, MA Building-Wright – Northhampton, MA Delta Energy Works (DEW) – Heat Pump Systems – Brattleboro, VT Duane Case (individual owner) – Bellows Falls, VT Earthshare Construction – Lebanon, NH Efficiency Vermont – Winooski, VT EnviroProfit, LLC (lighting) – West Wardsboro, VT Farnum Insulators – Dummerston, VT Friends of the Sun – Brattleboro, VT GPI Construction – Brattleboro, VT Helm Construction Services – Brattleboro and Montpelier, VT HempStone, LLC – Hatfield, MA Housewright Construction – Newbury, VT Integrated Solar Applications Corporation (“ISA”) – Brattleboro, VT JA Saccoccio Workshop, PLLC – Brattleboro, VT Junio Anthes-Moody (individual owner) – Vermont Mathes Hulme Builders – Brattleboro, VT Mindel & Morse Builders – Brattleboro, VT Nate Gusakov (individual owner) – Vermont Owl’s Head Builders – Guilford, VT SEED Design / Build – West Townshend, VT Shelterwood – Waitsfield, VT Sierra Pacific Windows – Nationwide Snowdog Construction – Norwich, VT Steve Sebastian (individual owner) – Vermont Sustainable Design – Dorset, VT Tim Lillis Builder – Bellows Falls, VT Tom McLoughlin (individual owner) – Brattleboro, VT Unity Homes – Walpole, NH VSECU – Brattleboro, VT Wadsworth Design | Build – Stratton, Mount Snow & Okemo, VT Windham Regional Career Center – Brattleboro, VT Wright Builders – Durham, NH WW Building Supply  – Newfane, VT

Send email to Guy@BuildingScience.org if you have news, ideas or anything else to share