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Building an Affordable, High-Performance Home

Working for Habitat for Humanity is a life-changing experience. We knew going into the high-performance home build in Randolph, Vermont, that the work was important. Affordable housing is one of the most critical issues in communities all over the world – and Vermont is no exception.

But what we didn’t know, was that we would be most impacted by the people.

Join us as we work with the team of volunteers in Central Vermont, and you’ll witness the true spirit of giving back – building up your own community through hard work, patience, and laughter.

 

 

Affordable Housing in Vermont

To better understand the challenge that low-income families face, it’s important to understand the term “housing wage.” It’s the amount a full-time worker needs to earn to afford a modest apartment – while spending no more than 30% of his or her income on rent and utilities. National Low Income Housing Coalition – nlihc.org

Vermont has a housing wage of $22.40 — ranking the 13th highest in the U.S. But the gap between the average hourly wage renters make, $12.85, and housing wage ranks even higher, at fifth in the country, making affordable housing out of reach for many Vermonters. Vermont Digger – vtdigger.org

 

The High-Performance Habitat Home

The Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity (CVHH) is familiar with high-performance building. They’ve got a passive home under their belts, and considered the same for the build in Randolph.

Architect Neil Husher, Vermont Architects Collaborative, designed the home in Randolph to maximize energy-efficiency, and the focus was on tightly air-sealing the entire building envelope.

“We couldn’t do a passive house here because we didn’t have any sunshine, but we could do high-performance, so that was our target to shoot for.”

– Neil Husher, Architect, Volunteer, Vermont Architects Collaborative

 

“With all of the details, it was a learning curve for me. This is framed differently than I’ve ever framed before, it’s actually balloon framed, even up to the rafters,” said Husher. “We also attached the ledger boards for the decking on the inside of the ICF, so there are no rim joist insulation problems, which you normally have on houses.”


Efficiency Vermont

Vermont is a progressive state in regards to energy efficiency, and much of the growth has to do with Efficiency Vermont.

Founded in 2000 as the nation’s first energy-efficient utility, Efficiency Vermont provides technical and financial support to improve the energy efficiency of homes, businesses, and communities.

“Efficiency Vermont is really keen on helping with the social responsibility of living in Vermont.“

– Jennifer Severidt, Energy Consultant – Residential, Efficiency Vermont 

 

For the folks at Habitat, this meant not only a significant refund for achieving an established list of standards, but also personalized help in the support of a Residential Energy Consultant, Jennifer Severidt. Detailed air sealing and continuous insulation were essential components in this build, and Jennifer was not only on hand to explain and review installation details, she worked right along with the rest of the volunteers to install the building materials herself.


The High-Performance Building Materials

To maximize energy-efficiency, Rockwool COMFORTBATT insulation was used in the interior wall cavities, and Dow Styrofoam Blue Board continuous insulation was used on top of the sheathing, to limit thermal bridging through the studs.

“But when we started to look at putting insulation on the exterior walls,” said Severidt, “We thought – What are we going to do about the windows?”

They chose ThermalBuck, which extended the mounting point to create a flush plane with the Blue Board, and insulated the rough openings, to limit thermal bridging in the building envelope.

“ThermalBuck takes care of that problem, of how to create a thermal break at the window, and still have things line up.“

– Jennifer Severidt, Energy Consultant – Residential, Efficiency Vermont

ThermalBuck, the high-performance window buck, is made up of an extremely dense EPS, insulating 4 -times greater than wood window bucks. Coated with a waterproof resin and installed with DAP Dynaflex 800 Sealant and nails, it makes for a complete air and water barrier at the rough openings.

 


The Right Fit for the Build

The team of volunteers in Vermont is led by Project Lead Anne Walker, a former engineer with extensive knowledge of architecture and building.

Crew leaders Glen Seifert and Ken Stevens provided the ideal balance of work skills and people skills, keeping the crew moving along and enjoying the process.

The skill level for the majority of Habitat volunteers is best described as “do-it-yourselfers,” the materials used need to have simple installation methods, easily replicated by a revolving door of people. Not an easy task.

“With wood bucks, you need to have each piece at the right depth. It’s a lot fussier. ThermalBuck is much more precise, and much more forgiving.“

– Anne Walker, Project Lead, Volunteer, Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity 

 

ThermalBuck was an ideal fit, its unique “L” shape makes installing it at the right depth simple.

“ThermalBuck turned out to be a much easier approach to seal our windows, and gave us the added benefit of the thermal break,” said Anne. “With plywood, you’re creating a thermal conduit. But with ThermalBuck, it’s rigid, it’s structural, it’s much easier and faster than having to go around and manually build out the plywood bucking to get these windows aligned with our foam. It was really the perfect product.”


Just last year, The Washington Post reported statistics issued by Freddie Mac, which revealed that between 2010 and 2016, the number of apartments considered affordable for very low-income families across the United States decreased by more than 60 percent. To learn more about planning this high-performance home and the work of Habitat for Humanity, click here.  

BRINC Building Products, Inc. to Exhibit ThermalBuck at Greenbuild Nov. 14-15th

The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is a powerhouse event in the building community, bringing together a diverse community of professionals from all over the world to learn about sustainable building practices, and the latest technologies for the built environment.

BRINC Building Products, Inc. is proud to announce that we will be exhibiting ThermalBuck at this year’s event in Chicago, Illinois on November 14-15th, joining hundreds of building material manufacturers committed to the continuing advancement of sustainability in the building community.

 

Greenbuild is an ideal forum for ThermalBuck, as many architects and builders are looking for building material solutions that help fulfill their mission to design and build more sustainable buildings. “We thought we had maxed out every way to reduce a building’s carbon footprint and then we found out about ThermalBuck. It’s a key high-performance component that is helping us towards achieving our firm’s mission of designing net zero buildings,” Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C, Kipnis Architecture + Planning, Evanston, IL.

 

“We thought we had maxed out every way to reduce a building’s carbon footprint and then we found out about ThermalBuck. It’s a key high-performance component that is helping us towards achieving our firm’s mission of designing net zero buildings.”

 – Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C, Kipnis Architecture + Planning, Evanston, IL

 

2018 Greenbuild: Human x Nature

The theme for Greenbuild 2018 is Human by Nature // The Intersection of Humanity & The Built Environment. It’s message conveys that green building benefits all of humanity, by making sustainable environments accessible to everyone. Through this achievement, the natural environment will be protected and preserved for future generations.

Greenbuild began back in Austin, TX in 2002 as a small event with 4,000 attendees, and has since grown into a truly global force to promote sustainability.

The 2018 schedule is comprised of over 200 educational sessions, workshops,  green building tours, and networking opportunities throughout the entire week, kicking off Monday November 12th and ending Saturday, November 17th. The first official day of the show, Wednesday, November 14th, begins with the opening plenary by featuring Amal Clooney, international human rights lawyer and professor. The traditional (and usually sold-out) Greenbuild Celebration, held on day two of the expo, Thursday, November 15th, features locally sourced food, drink, and entertainment by seven-time Grammy Award winning blues legend Buddy Guy.

Not only does Greenbuild offer the highest quality of educational and collaborative opportunities for attendees, it also significantly impacts the local environment where the show is held. The conference encourages sustainable practices and behaviors from attendees and exhibitors alike, proactively pursuing goals of reducing waste and offsetting carbon emissions. To read more about sustainability at Greenbuild, click here.

 

Visit ThermalBuck on the Exhibit Floor

Greenbuild is a special show for us. ThermalBuck was recognized at Greenbuild 2015 by Building Green as one of the “Greenest of the Green” top ten best new products at the show.

If you haven’t experienced Greenbuild in person, we welcome you to be our guest on the trade show floor,  and see for yourself how this event provide unique opportunities for green building professionals to connect and advance the goals of sustainability for our built environment. Get your FREE exhibit floor pass (use promotional code THER0MC300), and visit us at Booth #1103 on November 14th & 15th. You’ll leave Greenbuild 2018 feeling inspired about the future of sustainable building.

ThermalBuck to Exhibit at Humid Climate Conference

ThermalBuck joins our high performance partners from Alpen windows to exhibit at the 2018 Humid Climate Conference in Austin, TX, on May 21st – 22nd. We will showcase our joint PHIUS Verified Psi-Installation, featuring the Alpen 925 Zenith Nail Fin window with 2.5″ ThermalBuck.

Hot, humid climates are not what usually comes to mind when talking about passive design. Historically, the focus has been on buildings with heavy heating needs, not cooling. Everything changed with the release of the PHIUS+ 2015 building standard, which forced the building industry to reconsider passive house design as an economically viable option for humid climates.

The Austin, Texas chapter of the PHIUS is a major advocate for building science education and training in humid climates. They recognized the need for an annual event to broaden the reach of their work, and bring together professionals in similar climates for a shared exchange of ideas and learning. The first Humid Climate Conference was held in 2016, and is rapidly becoming a notable event in the building industry.

“Our mission is to advocate for the adoption of the PHIUS+ 2015 standard in the greater Austin, TX area through education, governmental petition, and targeted industry efforts.”

– Passive House Austin (PHAUS), as quoted on passivehouseaustin.org 

 

2018 Humid Climate Conference

This year’s event will be held at the A&T Conference Center in Austin, Texas, and provides the opportunity to earn 8 hours of CEUs, with an impressive lineup of speakers and invaluable networking.

Monday begins with one of the most recognizable names in building science, Joseph Lstiburek, presenting, “Water Molecule & 4th State Moisture, Materials, Enclosure” at 10 am. It ends with sought-after media personality and building science promotor Matt Risinger of Risinger & Co., presenting “Lessons Learned in the Evolution of High Performance Enclosures”.

Tuesday’s lineup features a full day of speakers, and wraps up with an after-party at 5:30 pm. The two-day event features a number of sponsors and exhibiting companies, such as the increasingly popular Building Science Podcast, an outreach of Positive Energy, a residential engineering firm in Austin. For a full list of event sponsors, click here.  

 

ThermalBuck + Alpen HPP

Alpen 925 series fiberglass window with 2.5" ThermalBuck window buck ThermalBuck and Alpen are an ideal fit for architects and builders looking for the optimal way to install high performance nail flange windows with continuous insulation.

Alpen is a pioneer in the glazing industry, known for super-high performance insulated glass and award-winning fiberglass windows. Alpen designs and builds some of the most energy efficient window and door products in the world out of their Niwot, Colorado headquarters. They are the first North American manufacturer of passive house certified windows and doors, and offer superior technical support for their customers. Learn more at visit thinkalpen.com.

Take a look below at this quick Q&A with Alpen behind-the-scenes at one of our first Alpen + ThermalBuck installations, in Orderville, Utah.  

 

For more behind the scenes videos from this Alpen window installation, visit thermalbuck.com.

 


For additional information about the Humid Climate Conference and to register for this year’s event, visit humidclimateconference.org. You can also follow the conference updates on instagram. To learn more about Passive House Austin, click here

 

It’s time for JLC LIVE – Get Your Free Pass

ThermalBuck is headed to JLC Live 2018 on March 23rd & 24th at the Rhode Island Convention Center, in downtown Providence.

And we’d like you to be there.

JLC Live New England is widely known as the best hands-on construction show in the business. Focused on live product demonstrations and popular building clinics, this show stands out as a great training opportunity for builders who want to fine-tune their building science knowledge and installation techniques.

 

“JLC Live is the one show all year that I can promise you, we won’t miss.”

-John Brooks, President, BRINC Building Products, Inc.


Two packed floors of exhibitors await the thousands of builders in attendance, and three days of educational sessions open to all attendees. If you’re not already planning to attend this year’s show, we invite you to be our guest.

Register and enter promotion code EX255 to print your FREE PASS to the expo hall

 

ThermalBuck at JLC

The 2017 show was our first time at JLC, and it couldn’t have been better. The highlight was when the Journal of Light Construction Senior Editor, Tim Healey, stopped by to shoot a short video to introduce ThermalBuck to readers of JLC who might have missed the show.

“This is one of the coolest new products I’ve seen.”

– Tim Healey, Senior Editor, The Journal of Light Construction, JLC Live 2017

 

 

Booth #409 is where you’ll find ThermalBuck at the 2018 show, on the upper level, right in front of the BUILDING ENVELOPE clinics. We’ll be focused on how ThermalBuck solves many of the common challenges wood window bucks create:  the potential for moisture damage, shrinking, warping or rotting – all things that challenge the long term operation of windows. Not to mention wood is a thermal bridge, the very kind you’re trying to eliminate by adding continuous insulation in the first place. You’ll be able to compare the flashing steps for wood bucks vs. ThermalBuck, and see how much easier it is to install and flash.

 

Workshops & Clinics

Check out the full event program for a complete listing of clinics, and demonstrations that you won’t want to miss. Add to your to-do list “Moisture Management” through proper window installation and flashing, taught by industry veteran Bill Robinson of Train2Build. You’ll want to catch builder Steve DeMetrick too. He’ll be demonstrating new installation requirements for the “Building Envelope”. His clinics on Detailing Exterior Rigid Insulation, Innies and Outies, and The Basics of High Performance Walls, are sure to be some of the best ones at the show.

 

Networking at JLC Live

All work and no play is never a good idea, and plenty of fun is on the schedule. Check out all of the great networking events, but don’t miss the Welcome Party Friday night from 5pm – 6pm in the Level 5 JLC LIVE Lounge. Meet-ups offer great opportunities for fellow attendees and speakers to connect and relax.

Since the March weather feels a lot like winter, take a few days off of the job site to expand your knowledge and invest in your training and skills in New England. The payback will be worth it.


JLC LIVE presents multiple shows across the U.S.  The signature show is JLC Live New England, held every March on the east coast.  Out west, you’ll want to attend JLC LIVE Northwest, held in December in Portland. The Remodeling Show & Deck Expo features a more intimate format, and is scheduled for Nashville in October 2017.    The official media sponsors of JLC LIVE include The Journal of Light Construction (JLC),  Tools of the Trade, and Remodeling magazine.  

John Brooks, President, BRINC BuildingProducts, Inc

ThermalBuck Innovator Named “HIVE 50 Honoree” by Builder Magazine

John Brooks, president of BRINC Building Products, Inc., was recognized by Builder Magazine as a HIVE 50 honoree in the category of Building Technology for his development of ThermalBuck.

ThermalBuck, a high-performance window buck, is a simple solution for the challenges of mounting nail flange windows with exterior insulation.

It’s unique L-shaped design goes inside the rough openings for windows and doors, and extends outward to create a flush plane with exterior insulation and/or rainscreens.

ThermalBuck is made of a type XIV high density EPS, and coated in a waterproof resin. Not only does it have the compressive and shear strength to handle the weight of large, high-performance windows, but it also insulates the rough opening with an R-value of 4.4 per inch, to limit thermal bridging. It also simplifies flashing, and creates an additional air & water barrier in the building envelope.

To learn more about ThermalBuck, take a look at our media coverage and recognition here


HIVE – “Transforming the Conversation around Housing”

The HIVE Conference was initiated in 2016 by Hanley Wood, a premier marketing and media company in the residential and commercial construction industry. The two-day event takes place in California, and provides a unique opportunity to bring together a diverse group of talents to address the challenges in housing. Attendees include architects, builders, land developers, community planners, dealers and distributors, developers, manufacturers, policy makers, and more.

“The second annual HIVE Conference is shaping up to be our most ambitious and energizing event yet.”

-Peter Goldstone, CEO, Hanley Wood

The 2017 conference took place December 6th & 7th in downtown Los Angeles, at the Intercontinental hotel. It featured speakers such as Chip Conley, head of global hospitality and strategy, Airbnb, and Steve Case, chairman and CEO, Revolution LLC; co-founder, America Online; and author The Third Wave.

We appreciate the nomination of John Brooks for his development of ThermalBuck, and the recognition of how impactful this new building material technology is to the residential construction industry.

 

HIVE 50

The HIVE 50 are considered the top people, products, and processes that are influencing innovation and high performance technology in the housing industry.

The HIVE 50 nominees and winners are featured in the December 2017 issue of Builder Magazine, ten nominees in each of five categories: Building Technology, Capital, Design, and Strategy.

Fellow nominees that share the Building Technology with John Brooks, include notable building science veteran Joe Lstiburek, Founding Principal of Building Science Corporation, and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk.

For a complete listing of all nominees for the HIVE 50 in each of the five categories, please visit builderonline.com.

 


Hanley Wood  has focuses it’s business in three main areas: research, media, and marketing. It’s most recognizable media brands include Builder magazine, Architect magazine, and Remodeling magazine. In the conference realm, Greenbuild, ProSales, and JLC Live are just a few of their well known and respected events in the industry. To maintain the conversation with the HIVE community year-round, visit hiveforhousing.com.

ThermalBuck to Exhibit at Greenbuild 2017 – Join Us!

The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is a powerhouse event in the building community, bringing together a diverse community of professionals from all over the world to learn about sustainable building practices, and the latest technologies for the built environment.

BRINC Building Products is proud to announce that we will be exhibiting ThermalBuck this year, joining hundreds of building material manufacturers committed to the rapid expansion of the green building community.

 

Together in Boston – WE ARE ALL IN

2017 Greenbuild has more to offer than ever, as it co-locates with the largest building event in the Northeastern U.S., the Architecture Boston Expo. Commonly known as ABX, and sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects, the Architecture Boston Expo has traditionally seen attendance in the 15,000 range, and Greenbuild 18,000. The two events run simultaneously under one roof at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, present an outstanding opportunity to broaden the experience to an estimated 25,000 attendees and exhibitors.

 

 

ABX 2017

Hosted by the Boston Society of Architects (one of the oldest and largest AIA chapters), this particular event has been advancing the green building community in the Northeast for over 150 years. ABX is valued for it’s regional focus, building relationships and a local network in New England, with shared climate, economics, and politics. 

ABX 2017 features traditional educational sessions, tours, and an extensive exhibit hall, but also special events like the QUAD Social Space exhibition, Design Technology Throwdown, and an Immersive Visualization demonstration. Something truly unique being offered at this year’s show, are the Marketing Collateral Audits, which provide an opportunity to have your architectural firm’s marketing reviewed by a professional in the field.

For a full schedule of events, check out abxexpo.com


Greenbuild 

Greenbuild is THE International building event of the year. What began back in Austin, TX in 2002 as a small event with 4,000 attendees, has grown into a truly global force (and award-winning event) to promote sustainability. The schedule for Greenbuild 2017 begins on November 6th, with green building tours, workshops, and special event such as the Communities & Affordable Home Summit. The first official day of the show, November 8th, ends in the traditional ( and usually sold-out) Greenbuild Celebration, a don’t-miss event featuring locally sourced food, drinks, networking, and live entertainment by The Revivalists. One of the most anticipated events on the Greenbuild schedule will be the following day at the opening plenary, featuring former President Bill Clinton.

Not only does Greenbuild offer the highest quality of educational and collaborative opportunities for attendees, it also significantly impacts the local environment where the show is held. The conference encourages sustainable practices and behaviors from attendees and exhibitors alike, proactively pursuing goals of reducing waste and offsetting carbon emissions. To read more about sustainability at Greenbuild, click here.

 

Join ThermalBuck on the Exhibit Floor

Greenbuild is a special show for us. It’s where we launched ThermalBuck back in 2015 in Washington, D.C, and were recognized by Building Green as one of the “Greenest of the Green” top ten best new products at the show. Consider attending the 2017 ABX2017/Greenbuild, and see for yourself how this event provides unique opportunities for green building professionals to connect and advance the goals of sustainability for our built environment.

Get your FREE exhibit floor pass (use promotional code THER0MC711), and visit us at Booth #871 on November 8th & 9th. You’ll leave ABX2017/Greenbuild feeling inspired about the future of energy-efficient building.


View a complete schedule of events for Greenbuild, and for ABX 2017. For more about the Boston Society of Architects, visit architects.org. Not sure which show you should register for? You’re not alone. Start here, and be sure and register before the early bird discount expires October 16, 2017. The exhibit halls for both shows are open to all attendees. 

“One of the Coolest New Products” at JLC LIVE

The Journal of Light Construction Senior Editor Roe Osborn stopped by the ThermalBuck booth at the JLC LIVE show in Providence on day two, and the first thing he said was “I couldn’t even get near you guys yesterday!” Needless to say, we liked him right away.

The editorial team of JLC is passionate about sharing the latest in building material technology and installation techniques, and there is no better show in the Northeast to witness the latest innovations than the annual JLC LIVE show in Providence, RI.

 The 2017 show was the biggest to date, keeping JLC LIVE on track as one of the Top 250 Trade Shows in the U.S., with over 7,000 attendees.

JLC chose to feature ThermalBuck in “Seen and Heard at JLC LIVE”, published March 24th at jlconline.com.



“(ThermalBuck) might help solve some of the problems that builders face when adding insulation to the exterior of a home. It’s easy to incorporate into the thermal envelope of a house and thermally breaks the window’s connection.”

– The Journal of Light Construction

 

Take a look at the complete slideshow of innovative new products, where ThermalBuck shares the stage with products from ZipWall, Snap Power, and Zehnder.

Senior Editor Tim Healey stopped by as well to shoot a short video to introduce ThermalBuck to readers of JLC who might have missed the show.  WATCH:

We couldn’t have enjoyed the show more.  Great builders ready to learn and engage, retailers looking to provide the best in products and services to their customers – and valuable sharing of information and education.  Thank you to The Journal of Light Construction for the recognition of ThermalBuck – we couldn’t be prouder to be named “One of the Coolest New Products” @ JLC LIVE.  If you didn’t get to catch ThermalBuck in person, take a look at our installation examples from the show.

See you in 2018!

 

Tyvek WRB Exterior to CI
“One of the coolest new products I’ve seen at JLC Live” – JLC Magazine Editor, Roe Osborne
Tyvek WRB & Dow Rigid Foam
Screws penetrate through ThermalBuck into Sheathing
Head Flashing Detail

JLC LIVE presents multiple shows across the U.S.  The signature show is JLC Live New England, held every March on the east coast.  Out west, you’ll want to attend JLC LIVE Northwest, held in December in Portland. The Remodeling Show & Deck Expo features a more intimate format, and is scheduled for Nashville in October 2017.    The official media sponsors of JLC LIVE include The Journal of Light Construction (JLC),  Tools of the Trade, and Remodeling magazine.  

ThermalBuck Installation Demos @JLC LIVE 2017 – Get Your Free Pass & Join Us!

ThermalBuck is headed to JLC Live 2017 on March 24th & 25th at the Rhode Island Convention Center, in downtown Providence.

And we’d like you to be there too!  

JLC Live New England is widely known as the best hands-on construction show in the business. Focused on live product demonstrations and popular building clinics, this show stands out as a great training arena for builders who want to fine-tune their building science knowledge and installation techniques.

Two packed floors of exhibitors await the thousands of builders in attendance, and three days of educational sessions open to all attendees. Register and enter promotion code 61106 to print your FREE PASS!  

 

ThermalBuck Installation Demonstrations

Don’t miss ThermalBuck’s live installation demonstrations at Booth #117 each day at 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30 pm.  See firsthand how simple and consistent window installations are when using ThermalBuck. It solves many of the common challenges wood window bucks create when coupled with exterior insulation.

 

JLC Exhibit Hall

Check out the full event program for a complete listing of clinics, demonstrations, and events that you won’t want to miss.  Add to your to-do list Moisture Management through proper window installation and flashing, taught by industry veteran Bill Robinson of Train2Build. Builder Peter Heard, of North Country Carpentry and Restoration Inc. will be showcasing new installation requirements for the Building Envelope.

All work and no play is never a good idea, and plenty of fun is on the schedule.The key networking event is the Welcome Party Friday from 5-6pm, sponsored by Andersen Windows & Doors. Several happy hours and meet-ups offer great opportunities for fellow attendees and speakers to connect and relax.

Since the March weather feels a lot like winter, take a few days off of the job site to expand your knowledge and invest in your training and skills in New England. The payback will be worth it.


JLC LIVE presents multiple shows across the U.S.  The signature show is JLC Live New England, held every March on the east coast.  Out west, you’ll want to attend JLC LIVE Northwest, held in December in Portland. The Remodeling Show & Deck Expo features a more intimate format, and is scheduled for Nashville in October 2017.    The official media sponsors of JLC LIVE include The Journal of Light Construction (JLC),  Tools of the Trade, and Remodeling magazine.  

Austin builder Matt Risinger features ThermalBuck on an episode or Risinger Goes Rogue

ThermalBuck Goes Rogue with Austin Builder Matt Risinger

Texas has always been famous for cowboys, gunslingers, and rodeos (not to mention the best steaks and BBQ you’ll find anywhere). But you may not have realized that it’s also the home to one of the fastest growing construction industries in the U.S.

Led by multi-family housing starts, construction growth is fueled by an increasing population, a healthy housing market, and a strong environment for investment. Drive anywhere across this beautiful state and you’ll witness construction cranes, and rapid building progress in all shapes and sizes.

WATCH:  Risinger Goes Rogue featuring ThermalBuck   

Matt Risinger

Where construction is booming, you’ll find award-winning homebuilders.  At the recent Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) Conference in Dallas, TX, ThermalBuck had the good fortune to cross paths with the most famous builder to call the Lone Star State home, Matt Risinger. Not only a well-known builder, Matt is also a respected media personality in the building industry. Matt was the closing speaker for the 3 day event held at the end of September, 2016.  The close-knit and collaborative nature of this particular conference invites plenty of opportunities to interact with attendees, presenters and manufacturers alike.  Matt’s keen interest in emerging products and new technology brought him to ThermalBuck on the trade show floor, where he spent some time with our president, John Brooks.

Risinger Homes

To meet Matt in person, is to realize right away that he is the real deal. Smart, humble, hard-working and passionate about good building science, Matt has earned a considerable following of nearly 34,000 subscribers to his You Tube channel, Build with Matt Risinger.  Since it’s launch in 2008, Matt’s building videos have earned him nearly 10 million views. Pretty impressive for this full-time builder and owner of Risinger Homes, and part-time marketer.

Matt has earned his reputation for excellency the old-fashioned way, through years of hands-on construction work, and the innate desire to do things the right way.

“I build homes that are dramatically more energy efficient, durable, healthy, and comfortable than most new homes in America.”

Risinger Homes is doing just that – building some of the finest homes in Texas. Combining Matt’s work ethic with his passion for technology, easy manner and marketing savvy, Matt has crafted a great reputation as a building science expert.

Risinger Goes Rogue

Not only does Risinger Homes build multiple high-end homes a year, he also spends countless hours appearing at building events and trade shows, as well as creating videos for Risinger Goes Rogue. Matt maintains a strong presence on social media, building his audience through his natural presentation ability, straight-talk and credibility. His strong family values, faith, and outlook on life are a bonus to those who seek out his expertise. Followers of Matt’s social media accounts can watch day-to-day progress of the homes he is working on, and learn proper building techniques along the way.

matt-risinger-with-videographerRisinger Goes Rogue recently featured ThermalBuck, a smart, simple solution to the challenges builders face when installing windows with continuous insulation. 

We appreciate Matt sharing ThermalBuck with his avid followers, and look forward to collaborating with Risinger Homes in the future. One thing we can be certain of, is that we will learn a thing (or two).


Risinger Homes started building exclusively for architects in 2005.  Matt’s building science expertise has been documented in Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, and Custom Home Magazine, to name a few.  He is also an award winning blogger, the two-time winner of the JDR Best Blogger Award.  Enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship of Matt’s work through his instagram account, twitter, or facebook. The Texas building statistics sourced for this post were found at investopedia.com.  

ThermalBuck to Exhibit at EEBA in Dallas, Sept. 27th-29th

ThermalBuck will exhibit at the 2016 Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) Conference & Expo in Dallas, TX, on September 27th – 29th.

“Sustainable Building” may seem like a recent concept, but for over 30 years, EEBA has been a well-respected platform for collaboration and education across multiple fields in sustainable building.  EEBA members are committed to being “good stewards of the resources used in the construction of residential and light commercial buildings.”

The EEBA Conference & Expo isn’t a typical trade show, in that the expo hours are a small portion of the event.  Much like EEBA itself, the conference is truly all about collaboration, and education.  Over 90 presenters will offer informative sessions over three days, multiple networking opportunities, and because it’s Texas, a little bull-riding for good measure.

Notable presenters include Martin Holladay, Green Building Advisor, known for his weekly blog “Musings of an Energy Nerd”, and Achilles Karagiozis, Owens Corning, who developed some of the most advanced hygrothermal models worldwide – including WUFI.

The event wraps up with a closing presentation featuring well-known Texas builder Matt Risinger (originally a Pittsburgh native, extra points in our book). Matt is a nationally known and respected expert in building science for hot/humid climates.  With his successful blog “Build with Matt Risinger”, fast-growing You-Tube following, and marketing savvy, Matt truly emulates the ideal EEBA standard – a mix of responsible building practices in the design, marketing, and execution of the building process.

If you’re in the Dallas area next week, be sure and visit ThermalBuck at the EEBA show. For a schedule of the 2016 EEBA Conference program, click here.


Throughout the year, EEBA presents educational sessions across the U.S. Their courses often qualify for CEU credits for AIA, AIBD, BPI, RESNET, NAHB, and is approved by the USGBC for GBCI CE hours towards LEED credentialing.  To keep up-to-date with sessions in your area, visit eeba.org.