“I’m paying attention to the specifications of the planet,” said Bryan Uhler, second-generation builder, YouTuber and Instagram influencer. Long-term quality and conservation within the building trade are calling cards for Pioneer Builders Inc., which Bryan’s father, Tim Sr., founded in Port Orchard, Wash., nearly 50 years ago. Today, Bryan serves as vice president of the Read more
residential construction
“I’m paying attention to the specifications of the planet,” said Bryan Uhler, second-generation builder, YouTuber and Instagram influencer.
Long-term quality and conservation within the building trade are calling cards for Pioneer Builders Inc., which Bryan’s father, Tim Sr., founded in Port Orchard, Wash., nearly 50 years ago. Today, Bryan serves as vice president of the company. His brother, Tim Jr., is lead carpenter.
Their father remains involved as an advisor, and the third generation is beginning to take shape. Bryan’s son, Ethan, helps with digital content production.
From l to r: Bryan, Ethan, Tim Sr. and Tim Jr.
In addition to handling land acquisitions, project development, permitting, sales, job costing, and payroll, Bryan emphasizes constructing homes with a strong emphasis on conservation.
While the company constructs spec homes almost exclusively, it has also built all variety of custom and pre-sale homes. Over the years, Pioneer’s emphasis on efficiency and green building technologies has outpaced Washington state’s stringent energy code, which is one of the strictest in the nation.
Taking the Next Step
“In 2024, we made a commitment to construct Zero Energy Ready homes,” said Uhler. “This is a certification through the Department of Energy (DOE) for homes built to a rigorous set of requirements, providing high levels of energy conservation, comfort, health and durability. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, homes built to this standard can qualify for the 45L tax credit worth $5,000.”
The goal behind Zero Energy Ready homes is to provide residences that are so efficient, a renewable energy source could offset the home’s power consumption. All of Pioneer’s spec homes are also ENERGY STAR certified.
As important as energy conservation is, the recent fires in southern California are the latest reminder that water conservation may soon be the nation’s greatest challenges.
Concentrating on Water Conservation
“Conserving water is as big an environmental concern as reducing energy consumption,” said Bryan. “If you curb domestic hot water use, you achieve both.”
For years, Pioneer Builders has specified water-conserving fixtures. They use Gerber’s line of faucets, toilets and shower heads.
“With properly designed equipment, the homeowner can reduce household water consumption without sacrificing comfort or even being aware of the fact that they’ve reduced water use,” said Bryan.
Bryan Uhler displays how Pioneer Builders pairs a heat pump water heater with Taco’s SmartPlus-e recirculation system.
This principle is carried into the mechanical room, where Pioneer Builders partners with Herdman Plumbing. Heat pump water heaters are used in all Pioneer’s homes. While this provides energy savings and eliminates on-site fossil fuel consumption, it does present one challenge.
“Our homes feature domestic hot water circulation, which saves a great deal of potable water, not to mention increasing the comfort level,” said Bryan. “The issue is that heat pump water heaters and conventional DHW recirculation systems don’t play well together. I’m willing to admit that we’ve done everything wrong at least once, and this is no exception.”
By using the Taco SmartPlus-e, Pioneer Builders avoids the pitfalls caused by pairing a heat pump water heater with a DHW recirculation pump.
The number one issue when pairing these two technologies is that a DHW recirculation system that runs continuously tends to disrupt stratification within the water heater. Recirculation lines, even when properly insulated, also shed heat while circulating, causing the heater to recover when the cooler water returns to the tank.
This often causes the heater to operate when there isn’t a call for DHW or switch the unit from heat pump mode to electric resistance backup. Not all recirculation pumps are created equally. Some pumps – specifically those that don’t feature ECM motors – are inefficient, and this raises the HERS rating. That’s a bad thing for an energy conscious contractor.
“I didn’t know there was a solution until Eric Aune from Mechanical-Hub suggested I look at Taco’s SmartPlus-e recirculation system,” said Bryan. “He explained that the system paired a small ECM circulator with a smart control, eliminating the problems caused by constant circulation. That’s a winning combination.”
The recirculation system’s temperature sensor is installed under pipe insulation on the hot water supply line.
The SmartPlus-e includes two components, a 006e3 circulator and a SmartPlug control, which can be paired with any recirculation pump. The SmartPlug can operate in Pulse mode, which continuously cycles the pump on and off, or Smart mode. In Smart mode, the control records hot water use patterns in the home and only operates the pump according to those patterns.
“We’ve found that the SmartPlus-e system helps us hit some of the benchmarks needed to achieve ENERGY STAR certification,” Bryan shared. “Our projects range from around 2,500-4,000 square feet with about the bathrooms. With the water heater in the garage, the potential to save water and energy with a recirculation system is considerable.”
A Holistic Approach
Bryan makes it evident that creating a durable, healthy, energy efficient home can’t be achieved by selecting one or two energy-efficient products and adding a bit more insulation. It’s a holistic approach that begins in the design phase and continues through to educating the homeowner during the final walk-through.
One of the biggest changes Pioneer has made over the past decade, especially with the use of air-to-air heat pumps, is to bring the ductwork into the conditioned space. This saves a great deal of energy being lost to the attic.
Another improvement is the careful selection of building materials in the interest of indoor air quality. Natural materials like hardwood flooring and rockwool insulation reduce the VOCs in newly constructed homes.
“We insist that each of our homes provides comfort while actively contributing to the health of its occupants and the preservation of our environment,” said Bryan. “That typically means making a lot of little improvements to the built environment, rather than one big change.”
Check out Pioneer Builders at pioneerbuildersonline.com.
Insulated Workwear Leader Delivers Updated Safety Workwear for National Safety Month RefrigiWear, the largest supplier of insulated work apparel for the cold chain and outdoor construction industries, announces additional high-visibility colors for one of its most popular lightweight work jackets in advance of National Safety Month. The HiVis Diamond Quilted Jacket is now available and Read more
Insulated Workwear Leader Delivers Updated Safety Workwear for National Safety Month
RefrigiWear, the largest supplier of insulated work apparel for the cold chain and outdoor construction industries, announces additional high-visibility colors for one of its most popular lightweight work jackets in advance of National Safety Month. The HiVis Diamond Quilted Jacket is now available and ready to ship in both high-visibility lime and high-visibility orange colors.
“This lightweight jacket is a recent addition to our popular EnduraQuilt™ Collection and is preferred by people working outdoors in the milder conditions of spring and fall,” explains Mitch Harden, Vice President of Sales for RefrigiWear’s B2B Outdoor division.
“We originally designed this jacket in high-visibility orange for people working in rail transportation. But requests for the same jacket in high-visibility lime came pouring in from people working in other areas where yellow is the preferred safety color, as well as from people working in other sectors, such as residential construction and state DOT organizations,” explains Harden.
Both the high-visibility orange and the new high-visibility lime versions of the jacket are designed to meet ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 – Type R, Class 3 and CSA Z96 – Class 2, Level 2 standards with double-rows of silver reflective tape around the waist and arms, as well as an X pattern on the back.
The durable, industrial-strength outershell is both wind-tight and water-repellent, so it’s ideal for protecting people working in the unpredictable weather of late spring, especially across the northern US and in higher elevations. The jacket is also lightly insulated and comfort-rated for temperatures as low as 30°F, delivering comfortable protection from the springtime chill for those working during the overnight hours.
For more information, or to outfit your rail operators, road crews or construction teams with the new HiVis Diamond Quilted Jacket, please visit pro.refrigiwear.com or call 800-645-3744.
Training provider Interplay Learning introduces new scalable out-of-the-box programs that help learners gain skills for in-demand jobs and connect with employers Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, today announced Interplay Academy, an out-of-the-box, easy to implement trades certificate program that provides education and workforce development organizations the tools to take learners Read more
Training provider Interplay Learning introduces new scalable out-of-the-box programs that help learners gain skills for in-demand jobs and connect with employers
Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, today announced Interplay Academy, an out-of-the-box, easy to implement trades certificate program that provides education and workforce development organizations the tools to take learners from zero trades skills to job-ready.
With Interplay Academy, novice learners can now get accessible, high-quality online trades education with a clear pathway to gain skills in their chosen field, earn industry certifications, and connect with employers to confidently take on in-demand entry-level roles.
“Interplay Academy’s Job-Ready Certificate Programs represent a significant leap forward in skilled trades education where there is a shortage of qualified skilled labor,” said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder, Interplay Learning. “Our holistic approach provides a direct pathway to job-readiness, empowering educators and workforce development program administrators with the tools needed to pave the way to future careers for learners. We believe these programs will play a pivotal role in developing a pipeline of talent for the skilled trades workforce of the future.”
Interplay Academy’s Job-Ready Certificate Programs in HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Residential Construction, Multi-Family Maintenance, Building Maintenance, and Appliance Repair feature a flexible, expert-led curriculum, recognized by the Department of Labor, to effectively prepare today’s digital-first learners to enter the workforce. Leveraging Interplay’s award-winning immersive 3D simulations, video content and industry certifications, these programs ensure a diverse range of learners can build and reinforce foundational skills through self-paced, unlimited hands-on practice in a safe, virtual environment.
Each certificate program includes a simple, out-of-the-box implementation that provides the tools and support for educators and administrators to launch and track a scalable program with ease. Expert guidance built into the learning content and live engagement managers successfully prepare learners for future careers without the need to hire on-staff industry experts or build expensive infrastructure.
In addition to earning an Interplay Learning Job-Ready Certificate, learners enrolled in Interplay Academy’s programs can earn industry-recognized certifications, including NATE Ready-to-Work certification, OSHA 10 or 30 certifications, and EPA 608 certification, enhancing a graduate’s employability. Learners, who may need additional assistance choosing a career path, can take advantage of the programs’ career exploration tool to align their chosen path to their interests and career aspirations. When a learner completes the program, they can connect with employers through Interplay Learning’s partnership with BlueRecruit, a leading job platform for skilled trades professionals.
For more information about Interplay Academy’s Job-Ready Certificate Programs, please visit https://www.interplaylearning.com/training-academy/.
The Coronavirus, unrest in the Middle East, the impeachment process, and the presidential election later this year all have had or can have an effect on the markets and people’s confidence in the new year. From everything I’ve heard, the economy still continues trending up, albeit at a bit of a slower pace for 2020 Read more
The Coronavirus, unrest in the Middle East, the impeachment process, and the presidential election later this year all have had or can have an effect on the markets and people’s confidence in the new year. From everything I’ve heard, the economy still continues trending up, albeit at a bit of a slower pace for 2020.
“With the exception of the unknowable effects from election events, we see continued moderate GDP growth with very little likelihood of recession in the near term. From a macro-economic perspective, we see 2020 will be much like 2019, but with the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the de-escalation of the trade war with China, we anticipate less uncertainty and less volatility,” says Bruce Carnevale, President & CEO, Bradford White Corporation.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), although the economy is slowing slightly, the risk of a recession is low and remodeling should keep pace with inflation into 2021.
“On balance, we are optimistic, and 2020 being an election year historically supports that view. We expect to see moderate growth and opportunity overall,” says Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America.
At this point when the economy seems to be relatively healthy, you almost hate to bring up the “R” word, but Gray says that with commercial construction flat to slightly up currently, a looming recession depends on owner and builder confidence—with development times, size of commercial projects and long lead times to completion increase risk as we move into 2021 and beyond.
Residential is trending upward, says Gray, which is balanced by affordability and consumer debt issues. Commercial is at least holding its own or up slightly from one month to the next. “So confidence is good because of all the projects in the funnel. But if people start to see storm clouds, post-election, that confidence could weaken substantially and quickly, and 2021 could become a challenging year for our industry,” says Gray.
“But even so, we expect more of a correction than a sharp downturn. I state the above with the proviso that the emergence of coronavirus is a threat, with new information surfacing daily. We are a long way from knowing what the impact on 2020 and beyond will be,” continues Gray.
(PRNewsfoto/Fairmont Supply Company)
How does the upcoming presidential election affect the economy? “The lead up to the election might affect projects not yet funded, especially projects with government funding sources, but I don’t anticipate any effect on private sector projects—those might be influenced by the stock market and interest rates, both of which are currently favorable,” says Mark Evans, Sr. Director of North American Sales, Viega.
According to Carnevale, the economy so far seems to have shrugged off the partisan bickering in Washington. “Favorable tax policy had a positive impact on the overall business environment, but we believe that regulatory relief provided an even greater level of economic stimulation. Increases in business taxes or regulatory burden would have a negative impact on overall business performance, investment, and the economy in general.”
For some, naturally, the economy affects those differently in various segments of the country. For example, with a good balance of work across residential, healthcare and commercial sectors, J.C. Cannistraro, Watertown, Mass., sees moderate growth in the short term, “The construction market in Boston is still strong and there does not appear to be any slowdown in the next several years,” says Mark Perrone, purchasing manager, J.C. Cannistraro. “Interest rates are still relatively low, and I think if there is an increase, we could see a change in if/how projects are financed.”
Residential Remodeling
According to experts from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) at this year’s International Builder’s Show (IBS), spending on residential improvements will continue to grow over the next two years at a gradual pace, citing increased consumer confidence and demand.
“NAHB estimates that real spending on home improvements will even out at a slower place of about -.6% in 2020 and an increase of 1.2% in 2020,” said Paul Emrath, Ph.D., NAHB’s assistant vice president for Surveys and Housing Policy Research. “The biggest factors prohibiting stronger growth is mainly the ongoing labor shortage.”
And that labor shortage is on the list of “things to keep an eye on” for Viega’s Evans, “Consumer debt is a concern, as is a shift in starts from single-family dwellings to multi-family construction, and a lack of skilled labor in some markets.”
Skilled Labor
The number one business challenge in our industry, says Carnevale, is still the lack of skilled labor. “The trades are ‘aging’ and the challenge of bringing young men and women into the trades continues. Many industry organizations are investing time and funding into workforce development and recruitment initiatives, but we still have a long way to go. This is a deeply embedded cultural challenge that will take a significant amount of time to address,” says Carnevale.
To emphasize this concern, according to Stephen E. Sandherr, Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)—in regard to findings detailed in the Strong Demand for Work Amid Stronger Demand for Workers: The 2020 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Report, co-produced with Sage Construction and Real Estate, “Contractors are very optimistic about demand for construction in 2020,” said Stephen E. Sandherr. “At the same time, many construction executives are troubled by labor shortages and the impacts those shortages are having on operations, training and safety programs, and bottom lines.”
Adapt and Move Forward
One thing is for certain, the companies that can adapt to today’s issues will be at the forefront of today’s modern contracting. How can contractors ready themselves responsibly? Diversification and a focus on improving business processes and systems, says Evans.
Yet, the technology landscape in construction, and every industry for that matter, is constantly evolving. This can be overwhelming since there always seems to be a new software, AI or robot that can do it faster, cheaper and better. “I believe the companies that can embrace this and find the proper balance between people and technology will be the leaders in industry,” says Perrone.
Enhanced training capabilities—video, VR, etc.—remote diagnostic capabilities, which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the contractor, and high efficiency products that can provide proactive replacement opportunities can all factor into business growth, says Carnevele. “Train with the goal to be the product experts in your trading area, and train to diversify into adjacent businesses which are of interest to and valued by your customers,” says Carnevale.