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This week's Build Podcast features a conversation between Matt and builder, educator, and longtime friend Jordan Smith where they dive deep into one of the most important questions in residential construction today: how do you build high-performance homes without blowing the budget? Drawing from Jordan’s real-world experience and his recent video series, the two break down what “attainable high performance” really looks like—focusing on the four key “knobs” builders can turn to control cost: size, complexity, finishes, and labor. Along the way, Matt and Jordan share building science insights, trip stories from their time in Switzerland, and practical advice for designing details that matter more than materials. Whether you’re building custom homes, spec houses, or just trying to make smart choices on a budget, this episode is packed with the kind of wisdom that helps good builders get even better.
Huge thanks to our episode sponsors Pella and Santa Fe. Learn more at the links below:
Therma-Stor (Sante Fe)
Pella
Episodes
Energy Efficiency - I Do Not Think That Word Means What You Think It Does | Build Show Podcast Ep 216
Episode 216
Matt Risinger and Kristof Irwin of Positive Energy discuss how HVAC design, building science, and enclosure performance work together to create healthier, more durable, and energy-efficient high-performance homes. The conversation covers comfort, humidity control, indoor air quality, ventilation strategies, and the importance of integrated design and testing.
Rethinking Insulation for Modern Homes | Build Show Podcast Ep 215
Episode 215
Matt Risinger talks with Jason Todd of TimberHP about the growing role of wood fiber insulation in high-performance construction. Todd explains how wood-based insulation products fit into modern wall assemblies, offering vapor-open performance, thermal control, and compatibility with airtight building strategies. The discussion covers manufacturing, supply chain challenges, and how these materials compare to foam and mineral wool in durability and environmental impact. They also touch on prefabrication, evolving building codes, and the shift toward low-carbon materials in residential construction.
The Science Behind Air Leakage Testing | Build Show Podcast Ep 214
Episode 214
Matt Risinger explores how diagnostic testing with The Energy Conservatory informs high-performance construction, focusing on blower door testing, pressure mapping, and airflow measurement for airtightness and leakage identification.
The Tools Behind High-Performance Homes | Build Show Podcast Ep 213
Episode 213
Matt Risinger talks with Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser of Tru Tech Tools about how testing, diagnostics, and data-driven tools are transforming modern building performance, from airtightness and airflow to HVAC optimization and construction standards, with support from episode sponsor Pella.
