In an effort to promote ongoing technical education among Vermont's builders, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network (SEON) will host a roundtable discussion, "Passing the Torch: Vermont Builders Discuss Challenges Facing the Next Generation."
It will be held in the conference room of WW Building Supply at 551 VT Route 30, Newfane, with organizers promising "an enlightening and impactful gathering for anyone invested in the future of our building industry."
Several seasoned local general contractors, carpenters, and builders are expected to participate in the workshop, including Jonathan Morse, Jonathan Klein, Stephan Mindel, Brian Ames, and Michael Wells.
They will "share their insights on the challenges currently facing the next generation of builders."
Organizers make clear that "this event is more than just a discussion; it's a call to action. As the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network strives to promote education and collaboration in high-performance building, we recognize the importance of fostering connections between seasoned professionals and emerging builders.
"By attending, you will not only gain critical insights but also contribute to shaping the future of building in southern Vermont."
Innovation requires education
With lots of rural land at affordable prices, Northern New England became a center of the back-to-the-land movement beginning in the 1960s and 1970s.
The movement often incorporated values of simple living, sustainability, and alternative energy. Passive solar building techniques, wind and solar power, and renewable energy sources all have taken on increased importance since that time, including in mainstream building.
With the advent of new techniques and materials, large and small builders find themselves in a near constant state of change, and they often struggle to keep up with the latest innovations.
Building industry regulations and mandatory certifications in Vermont require that electricians, plumbers, and other trades remain up to date with current practices. But there is particular concern among building industry leaders that the lack of continuing education among carpenters and builders in the building sciences needs increased attention.
SEON Executive Director Guy Payne said that changes in the construction industry have made leaders more aware of the need to train builders in the building sciences.
In this cold, northern climate, builders became aware decades ago that, while alternative energy sources were vital, perhaps even more important was weatherization.
When a builder applies an understanding of building sciences to weatherizing a building properly, far less energy will be needed over the building's life. At the same time, these building techniques can promote good health for those who live and work under its roof.
But if done improperly due to a lack of understanding about how insulation, vapor barriers, water management, and fresh air circulation work together, the resulting building could quickly become unhealthy and unlivable.
In a climate like New England's, improperly weatherized buildings become a breeding ground for mildew, molds, moisture and rot.
"What we're concerned with," Payne said, "is, how do we get contractors to encourage their employees to be constantly learning as they grow? Why is it so difficult for builders to see how important it is to understand the science of building?"
He added that builders now understand that water and vapor management "has to be part of the building process, and both with equal intensity," he said.
Payne said that for decades the Brattleboro region "has been a hotbed of a lot of this stuff."
He noted that Friends of the Sun, established in southern Vermont in 1976, has been at the center of weatherization innovation and education, as have other businesses.
Payne said that Peter Yost of Friends of the Sun and other organizations, including SEON, "was one of the gurus of building science, and he lived right here in Brattleboro."
Yost is principal of a consulting firm Building-Wright since 2018 and a longtime leader at Building Green, a publishing company based in Brattleboro specializing in the topic. He has worked closely with individuals and organizations like SEON to put together trainings in proper building and weatherization techniques.
Payne said that SEON has approximately 40 members, among them builders, architects, timber framers, historical preservationists, and basement specialists.
"SEON is a resource for builders in general," Payne said. "We are here to help with the energy issues builders face."
Certifications: voluntary or mandatory?
Payne said that one of the issues facing the building industry in Vermont is that certifications in construction techniques and the building sciences is not mandatory, unlike certifications in other trades.
"Some builders lack the idea that continuous learning should be a part of their education," he said. "It's true of electricians and plumbers and other trades."
He said that professional development needs to be a part of a carpenter's goals.
"Builders really struggle finding experienced carpenters who also know the science of how a building works," Payne said. "And at the same time, most of the people who come into the trades are not online workers or learners. They need hands-on and face-to-face training."
Thus, the need for events like the upcoming SEON workshop.
Payne noted that the Secretary of State's office is looking into possible mandatory certification for builders, but not without pushback from the industry.
At this point, contractors are required to be registered for jobs above $10,000, and the contractor must also have a certificate of liability insurance.
"Right now, builders can add any certifications they earn to their resumes as registered with the state," Payne said.
Necessary training
SEON and other sources are available to help train building crews, Payne said, and as long as certification has remained voluntary there have been few issues with the process.
The state has so far assumed a strategy of providing voluntary training for builders and is working on a registered apprenticeship program.
"We're trying to make sure that consumers have a way of knowing who is qualified and trained," Payne said. "This is good for the consumer and for the builders to distinguish themselves from others."
Payne pointed out that there have been "so many building failures" that can be attributed to the lack of education in the building sciences.
"Here we keep advancing the building codes," Payne said, "but some builders lack the knowledge and experience of building to the code. And it's illegal not to build according to the code."
Complicating the issue further is that meeting weatherization standards can be more expensive in the short term, he said, and builders realize that they've got to "build to the budget of the owner."
"It's the challenge of the return on investment versus the return on comfort," Payne said.
He added that a properly weatherized building, though perhaps more expensive to initially build, will save a lot of money over the life of the building, and makes the building much more comfortable and healthy to occupy.
And at the same time, Payne said, "evidence of compliance to the building code" makes the value of a building appreciate.
"It's good for the seller if you can demonstrate what you've done" to make the building energy efficient and healthy, he said.
Learning from the best
The experts working with SEON are among the more experienced contractors in the region.
"As these industry veterans prepare to retire or transition," SEON noted, "they carry invaluable knowledge about navigating an increasingly complex landscape of building codes, sustainability practices, and workforce shortages. Their experiences and advice are essential for anyone looking to thrive in today's construction environment."
Jonathan Morse, a partner in Mindel & Morse Builders, will be one of presenters. Morse has 35 years of building experience in this region, and he and Mindel were founding members of SEON.
Morse said he and Mindel started their construction business with the idea of focusing on energy efficiency and the latest building techniques and materials.
"We recruited people who had the same mindset," Morse said. "We pushed the envelope on every job we did. Even in our earliest years, we took the crew to building workshops."
He said that their company "built a culture of people who loved learning about this. It translated to our lunch conversations and our work conversations. That was the pattern of our careers."
Morse said that he and Mindel employed a lot of independent contractors who "knew our standards were very high" and who were able to meet those standards.
They have been active in organizing workshops like this over the years, noting that they've usually had good attendance.
"We found that the contractors who had not been involved in our early events - well, the majority of those were just not interested," Morse said.
"But we did find people who were interested enough to come and who became enthusiastic. These are the people carrying the torch now," he added. "The builders who were not interested in continuing education now face the possibility of being left behind."
Morse said that making a good living was not the "be all and end all" motive for how they ran their business.
Building according to best practices was not always financially expedient, he said, "but it built our business, and we became known for our integrity and quality."
"It's a whole culture of doing the right thing, of respecting everyone involved, [of] coming up with a product you're proud of," Morse continued. "When we came up with a problem, we'd sit down with our whole crew and say, 'What do we do about this?'"
That concept of involving the whole construction crew in a workplace culture of constant improvement and education is at the center of the upcoming workshop.
Workshop organizers extended the invitation to all area builders to "join us as we bridge the gap between generations, explore innovative solutions, and ensure that the expertise of retiring builders is effectively passed down.
"This is a moment for all stakeholders - contractors, suppliers, students, and community members - to come together and support the next generation."
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.