PODCAST · arts
Green Architects' Lounge
by Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan
Maine Architects Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan share their experience, knowledge, music preferences, and cocktail recipes. --Imagine going to a Building Energy conference, donning your name tag lanyard, attending a great session on an interesting topic, taking a bunch of notes, and filling your quota of power point slides for the year. This podcast is nothing like that. This is like going out to a bar afterward with the speaker and fellow architects and talking about that forum session. --Chris is a principal at BRIBURN architecture for life. --Phil is a principal at Kaplan Thompson Architects
Episodes
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What Heat Pumps Actually Need to Work
00:00 Welcome To GAL 00:02:50 The Old Pal Cocktail 00:06:14 Meet Scott Libby 00:11:30 Why Heat Pumps Belong In Maine Now 00:13:47 The Right Home For Heat Pumps 00:21:55 Insulation And The Bigger Picture 00:24:05 Multi Zone vs Single Zone 00:31:53 Why Ducted Is Worth It 00:43:27 Bad Installs And...
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Low Voltage Lighting is the Future
00:00 Welcome To GAL 00:01:42 Low Voltage Spritz Cocktail 00:07:01 Why Low Voltage Now 00:08:55 Phil's Attic Fire Story 00:12:44 Rethinking LED Circuit Math 00:17:16 Copper Costs And Scarcity 00:20:03 The Real Cost Savings 00:21:09 What Electricians Think 00:24:28 Moving The Transformer To The...
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A Quick Update From Chris
Chris Briley checks in with a quick update on this week’s episode of the Green Architects Lounge. Phil is taking care of a few things outside the show, and Chris assures listeners they’ll be back on schedule soon. Until then, he’s holding down the fort with a fig old-fashioned in hand.
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Plan for Systems or Pay for It Later
00:00 Welcome To GAL 00:02:48 The Last Word Cocktail 00:11:19 Why Mechanical Rooms Keep Growing 00:17:41 How Much Space Do You Actually Need 00:20:05 Think Distribution From Day One 00:22:04 Heat Pump Water Heaters 00:25:20 Ducted vs Ductless Heat Pumps 00:31:14 New Refrigerants New Space...
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What House Burping Gets Right And Wrong
00:00 Welcome To GAL 00:33 House Burping Trend 02:47 Scorched Earth Cocktail 09:05 What Is Lüften? 11:07 Measuring CO2 13:34 Air Changes Matter 16:08 Indoor Air Problems 19:14 Burping Tradeoffs 20:19 ERVs And HRVs 23:10 Testing Old Homes 25:38 Better Material Choices 31:02 Chemicals To Avoid…
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Building Sustainably In A Housing Crisis
00:00 Show Intro 02:43 Hot Paper Toddy 06:21 Why Housing Hurts 11:36 Musical Chairs 13:07 Durability Matters 14:35 Sustainability Tradeoffs 17:07 Density And Growth 19:01 NIMBY Roadblocks 24:31 Small Project Barriers 26:11 Code Changes Coming 35:11 When Green Goes Too Far 38:38 Practical…
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The Green Spec Playbook For Cleaner Builds Part 2
05:20 Back In Play 05:26 What Makes Finishes 10:19 Drywall Alternatives 12:30 Flooring Reality Check 21:56 Low VOC Paint 28:42 Exterior Coatings 32:30 Countertop Tradeoffs 36:36 Specialties Grab Bag 44:00 Smarter Appliances 56:15 Heat Pumps Ventilation 59:20 Electrical Futureproofing
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Window Specs For Greater Comfort
00:00 Back to windows 01:11 SHGC cocktail 03:18 Sponsor break 07:00 Why windows matter 11:22 The key metrics 13:24 U-factor basics 17:36 SHGC and comfort 23:57 VT and tint 27:17 Low-E decoded 36:19 DP vs PG
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The Green Spec Playbook For Cleaner Builds Part 1
00:00:00 Welcome Back 00:04:10 Why specs matter 00:10:05 Division 01 basics 00:20:30 Site and salvage 00:26:45 Low carbon concrete 00:32:45 Masonry and metals 00:33:55 Wood and toxicity 00:44:15 Decking decisions 00:57:20 Insulation and WRBs 01:08:05 Doors and hardware
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Designing Homes That Stay Strong When It Counts
00:00 Welcome back 01:09 Storm chaser cocktail 04:05 Passive house wildfire 10:37 Resilience vs durability 15:23 Designing for hazards 22:35 Durable cold climate details 28:54 Resilience and equity 33:52 How buildings learn 38:56 Future ready services 43:04 Outboard module idea
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Stop Scope Creep with One Meeting
00:00 Welcome & scope creep defined 02:02 Cocktail: Classic Bramble 05:51 Why projects grow beyond plan 09:38 Program exercise: rooms, office & garage 14:45 Square footage reality check 17:40 Basements & garages aren’t “free” 21:54 Program–budget method (checklists & meetings) 28:33 Contingency &...
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Build Tight, Ventilate Right: Don't Be an Airhole
00:00 Intro & Cocktail of the Day 02:42 What We Mean by “Airhole” 08:05 Why Air Sealing Matters 14:47 Ventilation vs. Infiltration 21:19 Building Science in Action 36:31 Common Air Sealing Mistakes 42:50 Tools and Techniques 50:04 Audience Q&A and Wrap-up
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Don’t Let Your Basement Suck (Heat, Money, or Air)
00:00:00 Intro & setup 00:00:53 Cocktail: Whiskey Sour (recipe + dry shake) 00:06:50 Basements: the "free room" myth 00:08:48 When a basement makes sense 00:10:47 Concrete & embodied carbon reality check 00:13:52 Phil’s numbers: foundations vs CO₂e 00:19:09 Water 101: drains, dimple mat, daylight...
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Ep52_Jacob Racusin Lecture - Part 2
Welcome back for part 2 of Jacob's lecture from the PassivhausMAINE lecture series on addressing embodied carbon in our built environment. We close the episode with a song from one of the bands Jacob records with; Fantasma by Mal Maiz! Enjoy! Cheers!
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Ep51_Jacob Racusin Lecture - Part 1
Chris and Phil were not only lucky enough to attend a lecture by Jacob Racusin, but they were also able to record it! Our friends at PassivhausMAINE invited Jacob to share his insights on low-impact, high-performance building technologies and discuss some of the ground-breaking work he has been...
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Ep50_Offsite Construction and High Performance
Welcome to Episode #50!!! So many people are talking about offsite construction as an inevitable next step to solve the myriad housing issues we currently face, and we can't help but envision high-performance as going hand in hand with this movement. We discuss the evolution of these systems from...
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Ep49_Siding
We know. You want a sustainable siding that is maintenance free and affordable. The problem is that there are just so many options from which to choose and it's difficult to wade through the ocean of literature and opinion to find the perfect siding for your sustainable home. Lucky for you, Chris...
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Ep48_Embodied Carbon in Buildings
Embodied carbon is carbon that is emitted in the production of materials, and the building industry is responsible for 40% of global annual emissions. Buildings are the problem AND the solution and understanding the immediate impacts of embodied carbon is absolutely vital. We define the critical...
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Ep47_Solar Storage
In this episode, Chris and Phil head over to the Portland Pod to record because they have not one, but two guests (Geoff Sparrow and Fred Greenhalgh of Revision Energy) to talk about Solar Storage! With lithium ion batteries hitting the market at ever more affordable prices, perhaps you've...
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Ep46_Living Building Challenge
What is a Living Building? It is rooted in place yet harvests all it needs (energy, water), is adapted to its climate and site, operates pollution-free, is comprised of integrated systems, and...is BEAUTIFUL. Phil and Chris talk about Living Building Challenge, a certification program that aims…
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Ep45_The Multi-zone Heat Pump Issue with guest Dana Fischer
In cold climates, Multi-zone heat pump systems (or multi-split systems) are developing a reputation for greatly under-performing , in terms of energy efficiency. Don't freak out! Chris and Phil have special guest, Dana Fischer of Mitsubishi, over to share a beverage and get to the bottom of this...
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Ep44-Getting Schooled on Passive House
The Green Architects' Lounge is BACK! After a long hiatus, Chris and Phil are reuniting for a fresh new season of the podcast! They're kicking it of with a LIVE recording at the PassivhausMAINE 2018 Fall Forum at the Mechanics' Hall in Portland Maine. The topic: Passive House Schools! They (and…
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Ep42-Passive House: PHIUS or PHI?
If you’re working on a Passive House (or Passivhaus) project, there will come a time when you will have to decide whether to certify your project through PHI (the Passivhaus Institut) or PHIUS (the Passive House Institute U.S.). Before their split in 2011, they were essentially one and the same,...
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Ep41-Ventilation for Your Tight House-Guest Sonia Barrantes-Pt2
We’ve come to realize that we all want simple rules of thumb to guide our design process. Unfortunately, there isn’t a rule of thumb for everything and we’re going to have to rely on some common sense, good advice, and good old-fashioned engineering to get this balanced ventilation system right....
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Ep40-Ventilation for Your Tight House-Pt1
In this episode we are assuming that you are preparing to design or build a super-tight house and you’re interested in the best way to provide fresh air for its occupants. In the old days, you’d just “let the house breathe” [shudder]. But those days are long gone. A healthy house leaks, while an...
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Ep39-Don't Be an Air Hole-Pt2
Phil and I have freshened up our drinks and now we’re ready to tackle Items 8 through 15. Be sure to go back to Part 1 to listen to Items 1 through 7.
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Ep38-Don't Be an Air Hole-Pt1
It’s back to the basics with this one, folks. Back in 2013, we were asked to do a presentation at NESEA for the “Fundementals” track — something similar to our “Sprout Follies” podcast. We put together a PowerPoint presentation, and did our best to deal with the fact that our cocktails would be...
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Ep37-Foundations-Pt2
Phil and Chris have returned to continue their discussion on foundations. In Part One, they covered slabs and frost walls, and in this part they cover basements and crawl spaces.
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Ep36-Foundations-Pt1
Not too long ago I found myself in a deep conversation (pun intended) about frost-protected slabs with some other architects and building professionals. I was surprised at the energy surrounding the topic. We all seemed to have developed substantial differences in the details on our own and we…
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Ep35-An Update on the Pretty Good House -Pt2
Cocktails in hand, Phil and I pick up the conversation about the Pretty Good House. Be sure to check Part 1 of this episode for some of the basics and the origins of this nebulous building/design concept.
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Ep34-An Update on the Pretty Good House-Pt1
The status quo of newly constructed homes here in America is, well, disappointing. Despite some strong market-transforming rating systems (such as LEED, Energy Star, Passivhaus, etc.), the classic American home is still being designed and built exactly as it was 20, 30, or even 40 years ago. Why?...
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Ep33-Making Green Affordable-pt2
Part Two of this episode brings us to construction details for high-performance affordable homes. Again, we feel the need to point out that we are not talking about low-income housing or housing that makes a difference between shelter and non-shelter. We're talking about high-performance homes…
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Ep32-Making Green Affordable-Pt1
Now that “green” design (usually defined as design that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly) is arguably in the mainstream, our industry faces a challenge: to bring green design into the realm of affordability. So, join Phil and me as we knock back a cocktail, roll up our shirt...
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Green Architects' Lounge - How to Choose the Right Mechanical System
With any house, there are so many variables that influence the decision to choose one particular mechanical system over another; climate, home size, cost, local availability and cost of fuels and materials, and the life style and preferences of the occupants. There is no "one-size-fits-all"…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Solar PV - Part 2
Enter the Dollar! Now it's time to start figuring out just how much these solar sytems will cost. Moreover, we'll find out how to calculate your return on your investment. Then Phil takes us out with a great song called Earl Jean by Beachwood Sparks. Enjoy.
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Green Architects' Lounge - Solar PV - Part 1
The thing about photovoltaic(PV) Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic cell has no moving parts; electrons are energized by sunlight and result in current flow. solar (or PVPhotovoltaics. Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic (PV) cell has no...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Guest Allison Bailes
Chris and Phil have a nice chat with energy auditing guru, Allison Bailes, As a Green Building Advisor and the man behind the Energy Vanguard, Allison knows his stuff. Together they discuss the new Energy StarLabeling system sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Guest John Straube
The Lounge welcomes John Straube for a drink and chat about the latest news in Building Science. The drink ends up being of the caffeinated variety (due to the early temporal placement of the recording within the day) and the conversation covers many topics such as his new book and what…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Guest James Howard Kunstler
Some see the glass as half full, others see it as half empty. Jim tells you what the %$#@! is in the glass, how it got there, and what SHOULD be in the glass instead. Join Chris and Phil as they interview author, and social commentator, James Howard Kunstler. Jim delivers his commentary on the...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Designed to Built, Part 2
It's one thing to design a house, and it's another entirely to turn that design into a physical reality. In this episode, Chris and Phil kick back with an autumn cocktail and talk about the process of bringing on a builder and the challenges of keeping control, quality, cost, and expectations...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Designed to Built, Part 1
It's one thing to design a house, and it's another entirely to turn that design into a physical reality. In this episode, Chris and Phil kick back with an autumn cocktail and talk about the process of bringing on a builder and the challenges of keeping control, quality, cost, and expectations...
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Green Architects’ Lounge - Guest Martin Holladay, Part 2
Sprout Follies read more
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Green Architects' Lounge - Guest Martin Holladay, Part 1
You know him, you love him, (or at least his articles) it's Martin Holladay. He was in the neighborhood, so he stopped by to chat with Chris and Phil for this episode of the Green Architects' Lounge. This is your chance to get to know the man behind some of your favorite articles. Hear how he…
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Green Architects Lounge - Net Zero Homes, Part 3
Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Net Zero Homes, Part 2
Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Net Zero Homes, Part 1
Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly…
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Green Architects' Lounge - Passive House - Part 3
You've probably heard about 'Passive House' (or 'Passivhaus'). And like Phil and Chris, you can feel the buzz in the air from it within the green housing community. It's a building certification that is focused completely and only on reducing energy consumption. Join Chris and Phil as they summon...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Passive House - Part 2
You've probably heard about 'Passive House' (or 'Passivhaus'). And like Phil and Chris, you can feel the buzz in the air from it within the green housing community. It's a building certification that is focused completely and only on reducing energy consumption. Join Chris and Phil as they summon...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Passive House - Part 1
You've probably heard about 'Passive HouseA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the...
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Green Architects' Lounge - Home Energy Monitoring - Part 3
In the final part of this episode we talk about the cost of some of these home energy monitoring systems, and what the future holds for this budding industry. Phil share Hot Zigg! (a good idea) (or so he thinks) Then he takes us out with Rococ by Arcade Fire.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Maine Architects Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan share their experience, knowledge, music preferences, and cocktail recipes. --Imagine going to a Building Energy conference, donning your name tag lanyard, attending a great session on an interesting topic, taking a bunch of notes, and filling your quota of power point slides for the year. This podcast is nothing like that. This is like going out to a bar afterward with the speaker and fellow architects and talking about that forum session. --Chris is a principal at BRIBURN architecture for life. --Phil is a principal at Kaplan Thompson Architects
HOSTED BY
Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Green Architects' Lounge have?
Green Architects' Lounge currently has 63 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Green Architects' Lounge about?
Maine Architects Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan share their experience, knowledge, music preferences, and cocktail recipes. --Imagine going to a Building Energy conference, donning your name tag lanyard, attending a great session on an interesting topic, taking a bunch of notes, and filling your...
How often does Green Architects' Lounge release new episodes?
Green Architects' Lounge has 63 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Green Architects' Lounge?
You can listen to Green Architects' Lounge on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Green Architects' Lounge?
Green Architects' Lounge is created and hosted by Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan.
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