Solar & heat pumps can be a dream team or a challenge when time‑of‑use rates and sloppy sizing collide. Brent Davidson joins Ben Walker and Sam Myers to share a contractor‑first playbook: fix the enclosure, model the real load, then pair PV, storage, and controls so bills go down and stay down. We discuss home battery technology, how TOU windows change design decisions, and why rules of thumb (500‑sq‑ft‑per‑ton) still wreck outcomes. Brent also previews the US Heat Pump Summit happening in November 2025. This event is built to connect technical training with business systems so good work actually scales.

Show Notes:

00:00 When solar + heat pumps backfire

00:42 Welcome + guest intro: Brent Davidson

00:56 US Heat Pump Summit in Worcester

02:06 From utility-scale solar to home performance tools

17:12 Home batteries are coming fast

19:15 Time-of-use rates and the real load profile

21:04 Order of operations and cross-trade coordination

33:41 Sizing reality and Manual J pitfalls (with better tools)

40:21 Inverters, downtime, and designing for resilience

Connect with Brent Davidson:

Personal LI Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentdavidson/

Company LI Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-heat-pump-summit/

Website: https://www.usheatpumpsummit.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577100464455

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usheatpumpsummit/

Follow Hosts:

Ben Walker (Co-CEO, Retrotec)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walker-4a05901/

Sam Myers (Building Science Specialist & Trainer)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-myers-ms-a9a4a546/

Website: https://retrotec.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrotec/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrotec/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetrotecEnergy/

Listen on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMDAhIttUTHWK41DH7KhB

Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on airtightness, ventilation strategies, and innovations in building science!

#BuildingScience #AirtightnessTesting #EnergyEfficiency #BuildingPerformance #HVAC #Retrotec #GreenStar #EnergyWaste #HomeImprovement

The basics to help you understand homes as a system. Download our FREE ebook and start solving problems like a pro. 👉 https://bit.ly/flow-lab-ebook

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In this episode of The Flow Lab Podcast, hosts Ben Walker and Sam Myers are joined by John Konstantakopoulos and Joseph Cheung to discuss the challenges of improving airtightness and energy efficiency in Australian homes. The conversation explores the nuances of building construction in Australia, where airtightness and ventilation systems are not always prioritized, leading to major inefficiencies.

John and Joseph share their insights on how to solve common issues in Australian building practices, especially regarding the impact of air leaks on energy waste, comfort, and health. They explain the importance of a whole-building approach to airtightness and ventilation, and how residential buildings could benefit from more awareness and implementation of airtightness testing.

What You’ll Learn

• The impact of air leaks on building performance and energy efficiency
• The role of ventilation in maintaining a healthy indoor environment
• How Australian homes compare to US and UK homes in terms of airtightness
• The challenges faced by Australian builders and how to address them
• Why continuous ventilation is key for airtight buildings
• Strategies for improving airtightness and reducing energy waste in various climates

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps

[00:00] - Introduction

[05:50] - How did Efficiency Matrix start

[08:38] - Green Building Council, Australia

[14:48] - Common causes of leakage rates and how to solve them

[16:27] - New Products on Efficiency Matrix

[19:06] - Efficiency Matrix isn’t just for testing

[25:43] - Design considerations for the open area and vent

[28:43] - Envelope Integrity Report

[33:43] - Logging issues after blower test

[36:44] - Closing thoughts: EIR website and Subscription

Connect with John K

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkonstan/?originalSubdomain=au
• Company Website: https://efficiencymatrix.com/
• Company website: https://envelopeir.com/
• Company website: https://doorvent.com/

Connect with Joseph Cheung

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-chun-kit-cheung-425ba837/
• Company Website: https://efficiencymatrix.com/

Follow Hosts

Ben Walker (Co-CEO,...

The basics to help you understand homes as a system. Download our FREE ebook and start solving problems like a pro. 👉 https://bit.ly/flow-lab-ebook

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In this episode of The Flow Lab Podcast, hosts Ben Walker and Sam Myers sit down with Sean Maxwell, Scheme Manager at ATTMA Australia & New Zealand, to discuss airtightness in buildings and the challenges of improving energy efficiency. From working with builders on airtightness practices to improve building codes, Sean shares his insights into the evolution of building science and the potential for large-scale improvements in comfort and energy use.

Sean walks us through his journey in building science, including his time with the Energy Star Homes program and his efforts in advancing airtightness testing in Australia. He highlights the importance of both individual apartment and whole-building tests, discusses the role of ventilation systems in airtight buildings, and shares his thoughts on the future of energy efficiency standards.

What You’ll Learn:

• How testing individual apartments can improve indoor air quality and reduce stack effect.
• The importance of airtightness testing in reducing energy waste and improving comfort.
• Strategies for improving building performance in various climates.
• Why continuous ventilation is crucial for modern buildings, and how to implement it effectively.
• Challenges with building codes in different regions and how they impact testing and energy savings.

In This Episode:

[00:00] - Introduction to Sean Maxwell and the importance of blower door testing

[01:42] - Sean's background in building science and his journey from New York to Australia

[03:33] - Discussing the challenges of airtightness in buildings and why it’s often overlooked

[05:48] - Common issues causing air leaks: windows, doors, and poor construction practices

[10:20] - How airtightness impacts building comfort and energy efficiency

[13:07] - The importance of ventilation in airtight buildings and strategies for effective implementation

[18:43] - Ventilation strategies: Exhaust fans, ERVs, and occupant-controlled systems

[19:59] - Building code issues and differences in airtightness regulations across regions

[27:19] - The need for collaboration in building science: Sharing knowledge and best practices

[36:37] - The future of building science: Tightening building standards and embracing new technologies

[45:21] - Closing thoughts: How to drive change in building performance and codes for the future

Connect with Sean Maxwell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-maxwell-b332769/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanamaxwell

Connect with Company:

Website: