The BS+Beer Show began as a result of pandemic restrictions, so it's fitting that for our fifth anniversary show(!)--also our 125th show--our guest will be an expert on indoor air quality and how our buildings affect our health.

Dr. Stephanie Taylor brings a unique perspective to indoor air quality and its impact on our bodies and microbiomes. As a Harvard-trained medical doctor, during her clinical work she became increasingly concerned that the hospital building played a role in the healthcare-associated infections that many patients acquired during their in-patient treatment.

Determined to gain a better understanding of the impact of the built environment on patient healing, she returned to school and obtained her Master's Degree in Architecture. With new insights, she learned that building materials and indoor air characteristics affect health outcomes not only hospitalized patients, but of all building occupants.

New findings reveal the powerful role of indoor air quality in driving acute infections, chronic inflammation, cognitive impairment, and a multitude of other diseases.

Ground Source Heat Pumps—sometimes called Geothermal Heat Pumps—have been around a long time but they have been growing in popularity in recent years. What has changed? What is their appeal? How do they compare to other heating and cooling systems? What needs to be taken into account when designing a GSHP system, and what pitfalls should be avoided? Mechanical engineer Ross Trethewey joins us for a deep dive into the ups and downs of ground source heat pumps.

Installing windows isn’t hard—you apply sealant to the back of the nailing flanges, pop it into the opening, secure with a few roofing nails and--if you’re into best practices--you go over all four flanges with housewrap tape. At least that’s what many of us learned 30-40 years ago (except for the tape part) and it’s still how most windows are installed.
Why, if that system works, do windows still leak?
Building science expert and educator Peter Yost joins us this week to discuss the science behind window installation. According to Peter, “Windows are complex elements of our building enclosures and their installation is just as complicated.” He will break down what that means and some evidence-based solutions.

The IRC and IECC model codes are always evolving, with some big changes in the 2021 release that many designers and builders (and some code officials) are still getting their heads around. Soon their 2024 update will be released, with more changes. What are these changes and why were they included? What are the options to following the prescriptive options for each building element? Do the changes really make a difference to occupants or the environment? Are there situations where it makes sense to go beyond code minimums?

Robby Schwarz, founder of BUILDTank, Inc. and a frequent presenter on energy codes and similar topics, will be our guest expert.