Brynn Cooksey

06/02/2026

Ever since we started performing indoor air quality (IAQ) testing years ago, I can honestly say I have never seen a truly "clean" IAQ report that didn't require some level of intervention.

The chart below highlights several of the key parameters we evaluate during customer interactions. Every home is different, but the goal is always the same: identify the factors impacting health, comfort, and building performance.

A few observations we've been seeing lately:

🔹 Formaldehyde is a big deal.
While it's not the only VOC (volatile organic compound) we track, it's one of the most important. Formaldehyde is commonly found in building materials, furniture, flooring, cabinets, and household products. Even when homeowners are diligent about cleaning and maintenance, elevated levels can still be present.

🔹 Humidity continues to be one of the biggest issues we encounter.
As outdoor temperatures rise, we're seeing more homes struggling with excess moisture. In many cases, high indoor humidity is a symptom of an improperly sized air conditioner or heat pump. When equipment is oversized, it satisfies the thermostat too quickly and doesn't run long enough to remove moisture effectively.

🔹 IAQ is more than filtration.
Carbon dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide, airborne chemicals, humidity, and temperature all play a role in how a home performs and how occupants feel.

The biggest lesson? You can't solve what you don't measure.

Testing removes assumptions and allows us to focus on real problems instead of guessing. Whether you're a contractor, auditor, or homeowner, IAQ testing provides valuable data that can help improve comfort, health, and system performance.

What IAQ issues are you seeing most often in the field?

06/02/2026

Proud moment for HVAC U.

When I started HVAC U, the goal was never just to teach a class. The goal was to create meaningful career pathways for technicians and raise the standard of training across our industry.

That's why I'm excited to share that HVAC U is now NCCER Accredited.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) is one of the most recognized organizations in the skilled trades, providing standardized training, credentials, and workforce development programs used by contractors, employers, and educational institutions across the country.

For me, this accreditation is about something bigger than another credential on the wall. It's about creating opportunities. Our industry desperately needs skilled technicians, energy auditors, installers, electricians, and building performance professionals. We need more people entering the trades, and we need better systems to train and develop them.

This accreditation strengthens our ability to do exactly that.

Thank you to everyone who has supported HVAC U along the way—our students, instructors, partners, employers, and industry organizations. Every class we teach and every certification earned moves our industry forward.

The mission remains the same: build people, build careers, and build a stronger workforce.

Big news from HVAC U!

We are proud to announce that HVAC U is now NCCER Accredited.

For those unfamiliar with NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research), it is one of the nation's most recognized organizations for standardized construction and skilled trades education. NCCER develops industry-driven curricula, credentials, assessments, and workforce development programs that help ensure technicians are trained to consistent national standards.

This accreditation represents another step in our commitment to delivering high-quality training for the HVAC, building performance, electrical, and energy efficiency industries.

As our industry continues to face workforce shortages, the need for structured, accredited training programs has never been greater. NCCER accreditation allows us to further support contractors, employers, utilities, workforce agencies, and technicians by providing pathways that lead to meaningful careers and verified competencies.

At HVAC U, our mission has always been simple: build better technicians, build better contractors, and build a stronger workforce.

Thank you to our students, instructors, industry partners, and employers who continue to trust us with their professional development. We look forward to expanding our training opportunities and helping even more individuals enter and advance within the skilled trades.

The work continues.

https://www.nccer.org/

05/29/2026

New York is built different!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a regional conference hosted by the Building Performance Association and participate in an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) panel discussion focused on industry best practices.

One of the things I love most about these events is that I often learn as much as I share. It was inspiring to hear how New York practitioners are working alongside healthcare organizations to address common health concerns through IAQ mitigation strategies. The level of collaboration, innovation, and passion for improving the health and safety of residents was incredible.

These conversations reinforce the important connection between building science, HVAC, home performance, and occupant health. There is a lot we can learn from one another, and I am looking forward to continuing the conversation and exploring future opportunities to collaborate.

A big shoutout to my amazing fellow panelists for an outstanding discussion and for sharing your knowledge and experience. The exchange of ideas was valuable, and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of it.

Halco Peter Troast Kevin Brenner

05/29/2026

🎙️ Here is Part 2 of my conversation from the National Home Performance Conference, hosted by the Building Performance Association, where I had the opportunity to sit down for a town hall-style discussion on the Building HVAC Science Podcast for the episode “Town Hall with Brynn Cooksey: Building Science, HVAC, and Home Performance.”

In the second part of our conversation, we discussed the barriers contractors face, workforce shortages, and why collaboration may be the silver bullet for solving many of the challenges our industry shares. From training and workforce development to building stronger partnerships between contractors, utilities, manufacturers, and industry organizations, there is tremendous opportunity when we work together.

A big thank you to Bill Spohn, P.E., Tersh Blissett, and Eric Kaiser (Elk) for the thoughtful conversation and for continuing to create a platform where these important discussions can happen.

Check out the episode here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QR0BXVOgBCubAblVIRmls?si=4uyJBZUsShKPnMydkTNJHg

Maggie Kelley Riggins|Dr. Janell Hills-Thomas

Building HVAC Science · Episode

05/23/2026

Congratulations to my wife, Jade! 🎉

She recently took my Building Science course and passed her BPI Certificate of Knowledge test! 👏🏽🏠📚

Now she won’t stop yapping about building science and wants to talk shop all the time. 😑😂

And to make matters worse… I’ve somehow gained a massive honey-do list because now she knows things. 😅🏠🔍

I can’t jive her anymore because she actually understands building science now. No more “that’s just how houses work” getting past her. 🤣

I really didn’t think this through… I may have created my own in-house quality control inspector. 😂

All jokes aside—I’m incredibly proud of you, Jade. Taking on something new, putting in the work, and earning that certification is no small feat.

Congratulations Jade!!! ❤️👏🏽 🐐

05/22/2026

Had a great time last month at the National Home Performance Conference, hosted by the Building Performance Association, where I had the opportunity to sit down for a town hall-style conversation on the Building HVAC Science Podcast for the episode “Town Hall with Brynn Cooksey: Building Science, HVAC, and Home Performance.”

This is Part 1 of the conversation, with Part 2 dropping next week. 🎙️

We covered building science, home performance, HVAC, and the real opportunities ahead for contractors willing to move beyond box swapping and embrace whole-home thinking. These are the conversations our industry needs—honest discussions about performance, measurement, workforce development, and delivering better outcomes for customers.

I had an absolute blast with this one. S/O to Bill Spohn, P.E., Tersh Blissett, and the ELk - Eric Kaiser for the great conversation and for creating a platform that moves the industry forward. 👏

Check out Part 1 here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ufb01kJWbPMHdRwc0IZei?si=k9T_A_51QkGw-UqhNwgSEw

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week. 👀

Building HVAC Science · Episode

05/19/2026

Honored to celebrate being named to Oakland County’s 40 Under 40! 🎉

This recognition highlights 40 emerging leaders under the age of 40 who are making a meaningful impact across Oakland County through leadership, innovation, community service, and professional achievement. It’s a celebration of individuals helping shape the future of business, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community progress in our region.

For me, this recognition reflects a journey rooted in hard work, building science, workforce development, and a passion for helping contractors, technicians, and communities thrive through better buildings and better training.

None of this happens alone. I’m incredibly grateful for my family, whose support, sacrifice, encouragement, and patience have made this journey possible. To my team, partners, students, clients, and the organizations that continue to trust and collaborate with us—thank you for being part of the mission.

The work is far from over. Let’s keep building. 💪🏾🏠⚡

05/19/2026

Proud moment for the Air Doctors team! 👏

Shoutout to Mike White and Miles for being featured in the news discussing a topic that doesn’t get enough honest attention in our industry: the installation mistakes that quietly destroy HVAC system performance.

The article covered 6 common mistakes we see far too often:

❌ Skipping load calculations (aka the infamous box swap)
❌ Ignoring duct design—and therefore airflow
❌ Lack of proper commissioning
❌ Installing to code and stopping there
❌ Knowledge gaps in whole-system thinking
❌ Small mistakes that create big consequences

This is exactly why we preach building science + verification.

A piece of equipment doesn’t deliver comfort, efficiency, or longevity just because it was installed. Systems need to be properly selected, properly designed, and properly commissioned.

Manual J. Manual D. Static pressure. Airflow verification. Refrigerant charge verification. Combustion safety. These aren’t “extras”—they’re the difference between a premium installation and a callback waiting to happen.

Proud of our team for helping elevate the conversation and pushing the industry toward better outcomes for contractors and homeowners alike.

Across the industry, gaps in system design, commissioning, airflow, and more are still rearing their ugly head, impacting contractor credibility, homeowner satisfaction, and the carefully manufactured HVAC system itself.

05/13/2026

🔥 HVAC Training in Action! 🔥

Nothing beats hands-on training when it comes to mastering HVAC design and performance. This week in our BPI AC/HP training, we’re not just talking theory—we’re in the test house putting the concepts to work.

✅ Performing real load calculations
✅ Measuring airflow and static pressure
✅ Evaluating system performance with live diagnostics
✅ Connecting building science to proper heat pump and air conditioning design

Anyone can plug numbers into software—but great technicians understand the why behind the numbers. Airflow, load calculations, duct performance, and commissioning are what separate equipment changers from true HVAC professionals.

The future of HVAC is performance-based, and that starts with training that gets your hands dirty. 💪

05/12/2026

How do you set yourself apart?

In a homeowner’s eyes, many contractors look the same.

Same truck.

Same equipment brands.

Same “free estimate.”

Same promises.

So what actually makes you different?

It usually isn’t the equipment.

It’s the experience.

✅ How clearly you communicate

✅ How well you educate the customer

✅ Whether you show up on time

✅ Whether you test instead of guess

✅ Whether you provide options instead of pressure

✅ Whether you reduce fear and build confidence

Research backs it up—customers will pay more for a better experience, not just a lower price.

Competing on price is a race to the bottom.

Competing on trust, expertise, and confidence? That’s premium positioning.

So I’ll ask the contractors, energy auditors, and building science pros in my network:

How do YOU set yourself apart?