Building Science: Volume 4, Issue 5

From SEON’s Executive Director

It’s May.

I am thrilled to share some transformative news for our organization and the Vermont building community. SEON has been awarded a $7,500 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, specifically through the “Modesty Is My Best Quality Fund.”

This support arrives at a critical juncture. As many of you feel on the ground every day, our industry faces an acute shortage of skilled carpenters. To meet this challenge head-on, these funds will be directly applied toward advancing our sustainable training standards and, most importantly, implementing a Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program for high-performance builders.

Our mission remains focused on three vital pillars:

• Recruitment: Creating a clear pathway for young adults and career changers to enter the high-performance carpentry field.
• Training: Equipping our current workforce with the advanced building science necessary to address the climate crisis.
• Retention: Utilizing leadership training and organizational consulting to foster cultures of “personal mastery” and shared purpose within building teams.

We are deeply grateful to our advisory donor for recognizing the importance of high standards and innovative practices in residential building. This grant doesn’t just fund a program; it invests in the future of Vermont’s housing stock and the professional lives of those who build it.

I encourage you to visit our website at buildingscience.org to read more about our Pre-Apprenticeship Program and see how these new initiatives might benefit your team.

Thank you for being part of this journey toward a more sustainable and professional building industry.

Onward and upward until next month,

Guy Payne
Executive Director

SEON’s Road Map to Efficiency – from then to now!

A lot has happened in eleven years. For one thing, SEON was introduced as the “Sustainability Energy Opportunity Network” (as the coordinator noted, acronyms were still new back then!).

Looking back 11 years to a June 2015 roundtable, we can see the early blueprint for what SEON has become today. The meeting wasn’t just a discussion; it was the moment SEON formalized its partnership with the

Windham Regional Commission (WRC)

and local stakeholders to create a unified ”

Road Map to Efficiency.

”

Here’s why that 2015 meeting and the resulting partnership were—and still are—so vital:

1. From “Green Building” to “Building Science”

In 2015, the conversation was often about “green” products. SEON and the WRC shifted that focus toward

Building Science

. They argued that efficiency isn’t just about adding solar panels; it’s about the physics of the house—the air/water barriers and thermal control layers you still emphasize in your newsletters today. That shift in 2015 laid the groundwork for the

High-Performance Builder certifications

SEON now issues.

Sustainable living perfection by Robert Swinburne / Bluetime Collaborative Architect

2. Economic Resilience as a Regional Strategy

The roundtable was one of the first times SEON and the WRC explicitly linked energy efficiency to economic development. They realized that if Vermont was going to meet its climate goals, it needed a “Certified High-Performance” workforce. That 11-year-old partnership is exactly why SEON is now able to secure grants, like the one from the Vermont Community Foundation, to build the Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

Sustainable living perfection by Seed Design / Build

3. Creating a “Culture of Mastery”

A key theme in that 2015 recording was the “Performance Gap”—the difference between how a building is designed and how it actually performs. The partnership recognized that the only way to close that gap was through

leadership and retention

. Today, when you write about building a “culture of personal mastery and team learning,” you are directly continuing the work started at that roundtable.

Sustainable living perfection by Mindel and Morse

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Why it matters today

The 2015 partnership proved that a non-profit (SEON) and a regional planning entity (WRC) could move the needle faster together than alone.

• Then: It was a “Road Map” on paper.
• Now: It is a reality of Level I and Level II certified carpenters working on our member sites.

This 11-year look back shows that the grant you just received isn’t a “new” idea—it’s the successful execution of a decade-long vision to professionalize the trades and protect Vermont’s environment.

And note… the photos we chose from our members? Just a reminder of “why we live where we do!”

Green Building Award!

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding work of SEON member Shelterwood Construction on their award-winning project, the Hillside Home.

This stunning residence was a 2025 Vermont Green Building Award winner at the Vermont Green Building Network’s annual celebration of high-performance buildings. Tucked away in a private location with breathtaking views of the Green Mountains, the Hillside Home is a masterclass in how aesthetic beauty and rigorous building science can coexist.

The project’s success is a testament to the power of a dedicated, high-performance team:

• Builder: Shelterwood Construction
• Architect: Joan Heaton Architects
• Engineering: Artisan Engineering
• Landscape Architecture: Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architects
• Photography: Ryan Bent Photography

Shelterwood’s commitment to quality and sustainable practices shines through in every detail of this home. It serves as a perfect example of the “Culture of Mastery” we strive for at SEON—demonstrating that when we build with precision and intention, we create lasting value for both the homeowner and the Vermont landscape.

Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved recognition!

When Two Perfect Worlds Collide

Collaborative Excellence in Newfane

When two of our standout members join forces, the results speak for themselves. This recent custom renovation in Newfane, Vermont, showcases the seamless integration of high-performance building and intentional design.

Owl’s Head Builders and Graphite Studio have delivered a masterclass in modern residential craft. The space is defined by its warm, natural material palette—from the rich wood flooring to the custom cabinetry—balanced by clean lines and an abundance of natural light. Thoughtful details, like the sleek wood-burning stove and integrated mudroom storage, ensure the home is as functional as it is beautiful.

It’s a perfect example of the caliber of work coming out of our network, proving that when expert building science meets visionary architecture, the outcome is truly elevated.

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• Builder: @owlsheadbuilders
• Architecture: @graphitestudio_
• Photography: @joshsteelephoto

Manchester Center Just Got Lucky!

Veteran-Owned Excellence: Northshire Living Moves to Manchester Center
”We made it! We are officially moved in at 34 Ways Lane! We are not *quite* ready to be open to the public – (still very much a jobsite!) but we are up and functional again administratively. If you’re interested in working together, please fill out the form on our website, we’re still waiting to get our phones transferred over so that is the best way to reach us for now.”

► see more at Northshire Living

Look Who Gave Us a Shoutout!
Thank you, Black Mountain Builders!

Policy and Market Driven News

• H.775 Officially Signed + Funded: Vermont’s Off-Site Construction Accelerator is now officially law, including a key financing mechanism that caps the state credit facility exposure at 12.5%—giving modular manufacturers and lenders clearer risk parameters as Vermont pushes faster housing production.
• RBES Flexibility Arrives: A major update to Vermont’s Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) introduced new flexibility pathways for builders struggling with the stricter 2024 code requirements—particularly around compliance tradeoffs and performance approaches.
• Vermont Housing Market Hits New Benchmark: Vermont’s statewide median home price has now climbed to roughly $495,000, with significant regional variation emerging across the state.
• Windsor County Surges: Windsor County has become one of Vermont’s hottest housing markets, with median prices approaching $565,000 as buyers continue targeting Upper Valley and second-home regions.
• Rutland Remains a Relative Bargain: Rutland County continues to offer some of the state’s most accessible housing inventory, with median pricing hovering near $398,000—well below Chittenden and Windsor County levels.
• Embodied Carbon Becomes the New Battleground: Vermont’s high-performance building sector is increasingly focusing not just on operational energy use—but on the carbon footprint of the materials themselves, including concrete, insulation, steel, and engineered wood products.
• Weatherization Incentives Expand Dramatically: Some Vermont households may now qualify for weatherization incentives covering up to 90% of project costs under expanded state and utility-backed programs.
• Businesses Can Access Up to $25,000: Vermont businesses pursuing energy upgrades and electrification improvements may qualify for incentive packages reaching $25,000 through current workforce and energy transition programs.
• November 2026 Deadlines Create Urgency: Several major Vermont energy and electrification incentive programs currently operate under funding windows or deadlines extending into November 2026, increasing pressure for contractors and property owners to act early.

Interesting Links

• The “Quiet Texture” Trend: Designers across New England are increasingly replacing flat drywall with limewash, Roman clay, and mineral paints. These materials create soft shadows and breathable wall systems that align perfectly with high-performance building goals.
• Japanese Yakisugi Siding Gains Attention: Charred wood siding (Shou Sugi Ban) is appearing in more Northeast modern cabin and ADU projects. Its natural durability and low maintenance make it an ideal fit for Vermont’s harsh freeze-thaw cycles.
• Acoustic Design as a Luxury Feature: With remote work here to stay, builders are seeing increased demand for quieter interiors. Strategies include mineral wool insulation, acoustic panels, and advanced wall assemblies to ensure peace and privacy.
• Heat Pumps Are Exposing Weak Envelopes: Vermont contractors report that the switch to heat pumps is revealing hidden insulation and air-sealing failures. Unlike fossil fuel systems that can “overpower” a drafty house, heat pumps demand the high-performance envelopes SEON champions.
• Designing Around Smoke Events: Wildfire smoke drifting into the Northeast is influencing a new era of ventilation design. Discussions now center on high-MERV filtration and “clean air rooms” to maintain indoor air quality during outdoor air events.
• Wood Stove Renewal: Despite electrification efforts, rural Vermonters are reinvesting in high-efficiency wood heat. It remains the gold standard for “backup resilience” during winter outages and grid instability.
• The Return of the Pantry: Architects report a surge in demand for true walk-in pantries. Homeowners are rethinking “supply resilience,” moving away from open-concept kitchens toward dedicated food storage and prep spaces.
• AI Rendering Reshaping Expectations: Designers report that clients are increasingly bringing AI-generated “dream homes” to initial meetings. This means AI is blurring the line between digital inspiration and buildable, code-compliant reality.
• Furniture-Integrated Small Homes: As Vermont’s smaller-home movement grows, designers are incorporating built-in desks, storage stairs, and multifunction rooms to maximize every square inch of the footprint.
• The Sauna Boom Reaches New England: Wood-fired outdoor saunas are rapidly becoming a staple of the high-end rural market. They represent the intersection of Vermont wellness, local timber use, and traditional craft.

Events

• HELM Meet-Up — Montpelier, VT
  • May 12, 2026
  • Networking for women, trans, and nonbinary professionals in construction, design, and engineering.
  • Co-hosted with Vermont Works for Women and Timberhomes VT.
• HELM is also continuing with their:
  • leadership development programs
  • project management coaching
  • business systems training
  • peer circles for high-performance builders and design-build firms.
  • for more info, click here
• Passive House Massachusetts Event: Measuring Residential Ventilation Air Flows
  • May 12, 2026 — Boston + Hybrid
  • A technical session focused on airtightness, balanced ventilation systems, commissioning, and indoor air quality in high-performance residential construction. Strong fit for builders navigating stricter enclosure standards and ventilation balancing requirements.
• Ventilation Summit 2026
  • May 13, 2026 — Boston
  • A deeper dive into Passive House ventilation design, installation, and balancing strategies — especially relevant as more Northeast projects move toward tighter envelopes and electrified HVAC systems.
• Power Perspectives: From Grid to Building
  • May 28, 2026 — Worcester, MA
  • Industry leaders discussing electrification, grid impacts, distributed energy, and how high-performance buildings interact with changing utility infrastructure. Timely for builders navigating heat pumps, storage, and future-ready electrical design.
• Western Mass Passive House Forum
  • May 28, 2026 — Northampton, MA
  • A regional gathering focused on real-world Passive House projects, field-tested lessons, and networking across western Massachusetts and southern Vermont’s high-performance building community.
• Passive House Network Conference 2026
  • June 4–5, 2026 — New Haven, CT
  • One of the largest Northeast gatherings focused on Passive House, electrification, enclosure systems, embodied carbon, and climate-ready buildings.
  • This year’s conference will be hosted at the PHI-certified Hotel Marcel — itself an adaptive reuse high-performance case study.

• NEEP Summit 2026
  • June 2–4, 2026
  • The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships summit returns with regional discussions around decarbonization, building performance, electrification, and policy implementation across New England and the Northeast.

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NESEA 2026 Pro Tour Series — Summer

NESEA’s summer tours continue showcasing real-world high-performance projects across New England:

• Affordable Passive House Development — Dorchester, MA
  • June 26, 2026
  • Focus on affordability + Passive House multifamily design.
• Net-Zero Nonprofit Headquarters — Southern NH
  • August 21, 2026
  • All-electric, low-carbon commercial construction strategies.
• All-Electric LEED High School & Tech Center — Burlington, VT
  • September 4, 2026
    • Large-scale institutional electrification and high-performance design.

Thank you, Members

• 475 High Performance Building Supply – Nationwide

• All Seasons Construction Corp – Springfield, VT

• Andrew Dey (individual owner) – Walpole, NH

• Apple Tree Builders – Marlboro, VT

• Black Mountain Builders VT – Brattleboro, VT

• Bluetime Collaborative – Brattleboro, VT

• Bob Rueter Foundation  (individual owner) – Turners Falls, MA

• Bull Creek Builders – Newfane, VT

• Building-Wright – Durham, NH

• Delta Energy Works (DEW) – Heat Pump Systems – Brattleboro, VT

• Duane Case (individual owner) – Bellows Falls, VT

• Earthshare Construction – Lebanon, NH

• EastRise – Montpelier

• Efficiency Vermont – Winooski, VT

• Farnum Insulators – Dummerston, VT

• Friends of the Sun – Brattleboro, VT

• GPI Construction – Brattleboro, VT

• Graphite Studios – Amherst, MA

• HELM Construction Solutions – Brattleboro and Montpelier, VT

• HempStone, LLC – Hatfield, MA

• Integrated Solar Applications Corporation (“ISA”) – Brattleboro, VT

• JA Saccoccio Workshop, PLLC – Brattleboro, VT

• Junio Anthes-Moody (individual owner) – Brattleboro, VT

• Mathes Hulme Builders – Brattleboro, VT

• Mindel & Morse Builders – Brattleboro, VT

• Nate Gusakov (individual owner) – Vermont

• Northshire Living – Manchester Ctr, VT

• 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) – Chesterfield, NH

• Sustainable Design – Dorset, VT

• Tim Lillis Builder – Westminster, VT

• Tom McLoughlin (individual owner) – Brattleboro, VT

• Unity Homes – Walpole, NH

• Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity (O.E.O.) – Waterbury, VT

• Wadsworth Design | Build – Jamaica, VT

• Windham Regional Career Center – Brattleboro, VT

• Wright Builders – Northampton, MA

• WW Building Supply – Newfane, VT

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