Jerry Peterson

As a residential remodeler for a few decades after being a paramedic for a little longer,  I have learned to take command of a situation and solve problems quickly and efficiently. I have been able to watch the evolution of Building Science. It affects every aspect of my work; no area has been more touched than residential comfort, previously called (Energy efficiency). Frustration and speculative repairs were the coin of the realm until I met Jerry Peterson.

Jerry, who has been teaching since 2006, has been tinkering with making homes more comfortable all his life. I found that he teaches and practices what he preaches. Jerry has a list of credentials and certifications that is a mile long. He has authored books and has been instrumental in establishing standards for several industries, but his passion is HVAC and comfort in homes, which are “For the greater good.” Like a good pilot who sees the wind, Jerry sees energy.

Test To Gather The Data First

Getting the data is slow and methodical. It involves sensitive equipment for data gathering and recording sensors with an app. Data points are what matter. Only then can you interpret the data and make a single change. Then, we test again until the system is tuned to its best. Much like a physician trying to figure out what is happening, diagnostic tests are a vital step. In my emergency medicine world, there were many cases where diagnostic equipment was unavailable, and we had to react to the mechanism of injury or recent past medical history, signs, and symptoms, and what we called clinical judgment.

I About Freaked Out

As a man of action, I knew that having the fan in the “on” position was the next smart move to stop a situation of stratification during the hot days of summer. I wanted to turn the fans on to mix the air so badly. Jerry made me stop! “test first, Joe,” he said. “But it is low-hanging fruit, and we know it will help,” I replied; he calmly reminded me that if we were going to work together, it would happen his way or not at all. Over time, I have learned to love the guy and his dedication to his craft. Having a new paradigm for approaching problems is a good thing for me.

Building Science Rules

Every building has an envelope called the conditioned space we use as shelter. That shelter reacts to the environment, and once we introduce heating and cooling inside the envelope to enhance our comfort, we are no longer allowed to guess how the equipment works. The equipment has specific performance capabilities and requirements for fuel and airflow. We mostly duct-heated and cooled air through space to deliver it where we want. How the envelope reacts to that air distribution can be calculated using sensitive equipment and charted over time. “One thing at a time” is another favorite catchphrase I learned. There are a multitude of problems that can occur when something is done wrong. We love solving these problems as a byproduct of remodeling.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, click here to email me directly, or call 208-947-7261

If you or someone you know is considering remodeling or just wants to speak to a trustworthy remodeling contractor, please contact me. You’ll be glad you did.