RESTalk

About RESTalk

RESTalk, produced by RESNET.us is the best way to stay up-to-date on everything going on in the world of Home Energy Ratings (HERS), including initiatives, standards, marketing, and more. Hosted by building performance veteran Bill Spohn, the show features interviews with the RESNET team and prominent guests from throughout the rating and home building industries, discussing a wide range of topics, current events and new technologies.

Publisher

Bill Spohn

Category

education · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jun 2018

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

197 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   EP157 See Something, Say Something: Why HERS Raters Belong in the Code Conversation With Phil Crone (LBA) and Paulette McGhie (RESNET®) (September 2026)

   QUOTES from the episode: "A well-run permitting system treats time as a part of affordability." — Phil Crone "If we hadn't had our ears to the ground, we might not have even known that was going to happen." — Paulette McGhie, on preserving blower door testing in Utah "Be yourself. Be the constituent that they want to hear from." — Phil Crone What role can HERS® Raters play in shaping better energy codes and housing policy? More than they may realize. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn talks with Phil Crone, Vice President of Leading Builders of America (LBA), and Paulette McGhie, Programs Manager at RESNET®, about the intersection of energy efficiency, housing affordability, code adoption, and advocacy. Phil frames effective housing policy around a practical test: Does it result in homes that are safe, durable, efficient, buildable, and still within reach of the families who will own them? Rather than prescribing a growing list of products and requirements, he argues for clear performance outcomes, reliable verification, and flexibility in how builders achieve those outcomes. Paulette explains why HERS® Raters are uniquely positioned to contribute. Raters work every day between builders, contractors, code officials, utilities, and homeowners. That field experience gives them an important perspective when proposed code changes may have unintended consequences. She shares an example from Utah, where early awareness and engagement helped preserve blower door testing that was at risk of being removed from legislation. The conversation also explores Texas' performance-based ERI pathway, California's efforts to bring greater predictability to code requirements, and Southern Nevada's collaborative approach to permitting and inspections. One recurring theme is that time itself is part of housing affordability. Predictable permitting, consistent enforcement, and qualified third-party verification can all help reduce unnecessary delays and costs. The takeaway for HERS® Raters is simple: you don't need to be a policy expert to participate. Get involved with your local HBA, pay attention to code and legislative activity, and bring what you know from the field. Good policy needs people who understand how buildings actually get built, tested, verified, and ultimately lived in. Phil Crone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-crone-49455514 Emaol: phil.crone@leadingbuildersofamerica.org Leading Builders of America:l https://leadingbuilders.org/ Paulette McGhie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulette-mcghie-559a212ba RESNET contacts mentioned: Paulette@RESNET.us, Ryan@RESNET.us, Michael@RESNET.us To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   EP156 RESNET®'s Next Chapter: Listening, Learning and Growing With Shelby Gatlin and John Hensley (August 2026)

   QUOTES from the episode: "The HERS Index isn't just a score. It's somebody out there in that home throughout the build, making sure that the promises are proven. — Shelby "The better our rating industry does, the better our boots-on-the-ground rating companies and RFIs and modelers are doing their job, RESNET®wins. We all win." — John "RESNET® needs to look at themselves and say, 'How can we do this better?' And do that often.  — John RESNET®is entering a new chapter. With Shelby Gatlin stepping into the executive director role and John Hensley serving as board president, the organization is navigating a softer housing market, major policy changes, and the transition from longtime executive director Steve Baden, while seeking new ways to strengthen the HERS community. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill talks with Shelby and John about what is changing and, perhaps more importantly, what RESNET® intends to preserve. A major theme is communication: providing raters, providers, builders, and other stakeholders with more education and guidance while continuing to rely on the regional expertise of the RESNET® provider network. Shelby discusses the HERS-IQ campaign, RESNET®'S newly released manufactured homes program, and the continued growth of HERS H2O as water availability becomes an increasingly important consideration for builders and communities. They also discuss the expiration of the 45L tax credit and why the HERS Index remains valuable even when a particular financial incentive disappears. Another significant change is RESNET®'S 2027 Professional Development Program. Rather than concentrating education primarily around one annual conference, RESNET plans to provide live and recorded learning opportunities throughout the year, including technical education as well as business, leadership, workforce, and growth topics. The conversation also explores something broader than individual RESNET®programs: the infrastructure behind them. Trained field professionals, consensus-based standards, quality assurance, registries, and verified data together create a system capable of supporting programs involving energy, water, codes, utilities, and existing homes. John also reflects on the carefully planned two-year leadership transition from Steve Baden and the growing interest in serving on RESNET®'s volunteer board. The takeaway is a RESNET®looking forward while asking a useful question of itself and its community: How can we do this better? Shelby's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-gatlin-59100926/ John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hensley-a56a84a1/ To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US

3. 

   10 Aug 2026

   EP155 5 Million HERS Ratings: What This Milestone Really Means (July 2026)

   QUOTES from the episode: "We're not just checking boxes. We're helping builders build better homes." – Matthew Cooper "The conversation needs to shift from price per square foot to value per square foot." – Steve Byers "Professionalism, curiosity, and partnership are what make great HERS Raters." "Five million homes is impressive, but it's the quality behind those ratings that really matters." Five million HERS-rated homes is more than a milestone. It represents decades of collaboration between builders, HERS Raters, Rating Providers, manufacturers, and RESNET® to improve the quality, comfort, efficiency, and durability of America's homes. Bill Spohn is joined by Marra Ingram of PEG, whose routine field inspection became the official five millionth HERS® Rating, along with PEG COO Matthew Cooper and EnergyLogic CEO Steve Byers to reflect on what this achievement says about the industry's past and future. The discussion explores how dramatically the HERS Rating process has evolved. Early raters performed only final inspections with relatively simple software, while today's professionals navigate increasingly sophisticated building assemblies, energy codes, digital tools, and quality assurance requirements. Matthew and Steve describe how Rating Providers have grown alongside the industry, managing hundreds of thousands of homes while developing advanced scheduling, automation, and data systems to keep pace with modern construction. The conversation also highlights the human side of building science. Marra shares how her Air Force construction background prepared her for a career built on technical expertise, professionalism, and builder relationships. Together, the guests discuss why successful HERS Raters are trusted partners rather than inspectors, how the industry can attract the next generation of talent, and why helping consumers understand the value of high-performance homes may be the next great challenge after reaching five million ratings. LinkedIn Profiles for our guests: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebyers/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-cooper-peg/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chamarra-i-b14275196/ To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

92

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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