The BuildingWell podcast from New Ecology deep-dives into the past, present, and future of sustainable development in affordable housing. Hear inspiring stories, real-life case studies, and innovations in technologies and incentives for sustainable homes and equitable communities. We’re building well, together.
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In this special season finale episode, our hosts Alina and Michelle hold a call-in style question and answer panel with New Ecology guests Rebecca Arnold, Project Manager and Alex Haworth, Senior Energy Rater. They explore the importance of understanding building systems for energy efficiency, cost savings, and improved health. This knowledge is valuable for both individuals and the broader community, with the potential to empower people to create more resilient and equitable living spaces. The episode aims to provide valuable information to help people understand and improve the places and communities in which we live.
Join hosts Alina and Michelle as they speak with Aja Kennedy, Racial Wealth Gap Research Fellow with Boston Indicators and Ph.D. Candidate at Tufts University, and Katherine Levine Einstein, Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston University, about the latest Greater Boston Housing Report Card. They discuss the severe crisis facing the housing market in Greater Boston due to exorbitant housing costs and limited housing availability, disproportionately effecting lower and moderate-income families. What are the challenges facing those living and working in Greater Boston? What are the roadblocks facing developers trying to build housing? How can public land offer a possible solution to this housing crisis? Learn this and more in this exciting episode! This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Hosts Alina and Michelle talk with Edward Hsieh, Program Director for Adult Training and Minority and Women Business Enterprise Support at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. They discuss the exciting opportunities that the clean energy sector can offer for workers in traditional trades like construction and electrical work, how to pivot into working in the clean energy sector, as well as the importance of training and education in preparing businesses and workers to transition into a clean energy economy. This episode is made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Join hosts Michelle and Alina as they talk with James Collins, Director of the Climate Equity & Impact Department at ABCD, a non-profit community action agency that builds pathways out of poverty in partnership with families and communities in Massachusetts. We chat about the goals and challenges of running large energy, electrification, decarbonization, renewable energy and resiliency programs in the Commonwealth, including a discussion on ensuring these programs are as accessible and equitable as possible for low-income residents. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
In this episode, our hosts have a frank conversation about spray foam insulation. Project Manager Kevin Collins talks about his own experience using spray foam in practice and in design. We discuss the technical ins and outs of spray foam, carbon considerations, best practices, and when and where you might use it in your own home. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Join hosts Michelle Moran and Alina Michelewicz for Bonus Banter by BuildingWell; a quick post-episode discussion and recap of Episode 7. How important is insulation? It’s something that we tend to think about when the weather gets colder, but many don’t give it a second thought the rest of the year. As the climate changes and we begin to experience more severe weather events, how will your insulation (or lack thereof) help or hurt you? In the latest episode of Bonus Banter by BuildingWell, hosts Michelle and Alina discuss this and more.
For many, predicting the future seems like a task reserved for prophets and clairvoyants. It’s no wonder, then, that energy modelers, lacking such all-seeing abilities, struggle to forecast a building’s future performance. Join hosts Alina and Michelle as they engage in a conversation with Senior Energy Modeler Ching-Wen Hsiao and Paul Eddowes, Director of Green Building Services. They’ll delve into the challenges, limitations, and thought processes involved in building energy modeling. The discussion covers a wide range of factors, from shower lengths to climate change predictions. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Join hosts Michelle Moran and Alina Michelewicz for Bonus Banter by BuildingWell; a quick post-episode discussion and recap of Episode 6. Should you be afraid of your house? Can you trust the products you buy for and use in your home? What can anyone do to prevent negative health impacts from home health hazards and materials? Which populations are most vulnerable to sick building symptoms and issues? Find out in this Bonus episode!
Is your home making you sick? In this episode, healthy homes expert Kristin Glossner explains the importance of healthy materials and the incorporation of nature into the built environment—the place where we spend 90% of our time. Kristin takes hosts Michelle and Alina room-by-room through a home to explain the associated health risks in each space. How can designers start prioritizing occupant health and mitigate the effects of unhealthy buildings? Every little detail, whether it be natural lighting, fresh air, nontoxic materials, or water quality, all have an impact on human health and should be considered alongside other principals of environmentalism and sustainability. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Join hosts Michelle Moran and Alina Michelewicz for Bonus Banter by BuildingWell; a quick post-episode discussion and recap of Episode 5. Are we using hot water in buildings differently now than we were 40 years ago? How can owners use real data to prepare for upcoming regulations and electrify their properties? And how does this relate to Tik Tok trends? Find out in this Bonus episode!
Join host Alina Michelewicz and co-host Michelle Moran for their deep-dive into hot water. In this episode, Neil Donnelly and Charlie Simek, Energy Engineers at New Ecology specializing in data-focused decarbonization planning and building system optimization, follow up on their recent NESEA BuildingEnergy Boston presentation, “Equitable, Data Driven, Domestic Hot Water Decarbonization” to show how real data from real buildings can guide more efficient and lower-cost systems when its time to replace them. We explore the opportunities within recently monitored domestic hot water systems and the steps for owners, operators, engineers and utility program administrators. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
Join hosts Michelle Moran and Alina Michelewicz for Bonus Banter by BuildingWell; a quick post-episode discussion and recap of Episode 4. Why is it important to decarbonize existing buildings? What tools do owners need to make the most significant environmental and impact? What drivers incentivize owners to decarbonize?
Join host Michelle Moran and co-host Alina Michelewicz for a deep dive into decarbonization. In this episode, Marty Josten and Pat Coleman, two leaders at New Ecology specializing in making existing buildings sustainable, explain what it takes to transform our existing building stock into efficient, healthy, affordable, and resilient homes. We explore the concepts of benchmarking, zero over time, and the energy auditing process. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
What exactly is a green building? What does it mean for a building to be green certified? How do building occupants and members of a community experience green and sustainable features? In this episode, host Alina Michelewicz and co-host Michelle Moran find the answers to these questions and more with two leaders of Green Building Services at New Ecology, L.J. Eldredge and Joshua Galloway. Tune in for a comprehensive discussion on the state of green building and how it fits into the modern affordable housing market. This episode was made possible by a Mass Save Community Education Grant.
In this episode host Alina Michelewicz engages co-host Michelle Moran and New Ecology Project Manager Lisa Reed in an open conversation about their journey into the green building industry. They share insights into the challenges they’ve faced and reflect on their experiences as women in the field. Offering candid advice and tips, they provide valuable guidance for anyone considering a career in green building. This episode offers a relaxed and informal discussion on navigating entering the industry.
In our premier episode, we interviewed New Ecology President Ed Connelly upon his retirement about his experiences in sustainable development over the past 20 years, and how he sees the field progressing in the next 20 years. Recorded on December 21, 2023.
