GHI announces founding technical committee members

Technical Advisory Committee Member Announcement:

As activities that are central to our mission, the quality of the GreenHome Institute’s green building consultation services and certification programs is essential!  To this end, we have established a Technical Advisory Committee to guide our certification programs and consultation services. This committee will be a forum and vehicle to ensure key decisions are made with input from multiple expert perspectives and will provide input on program development and improvement.

We are excited to introduce the five founding members of the committee!

Larry Bridge | Harvey Bell | Debbie Coleman | Matt Ahearn | Rick Hall

Larry Bridge

Larry (Lawrence) Bridge – Larry has 36 years of industry experience at Procter & Gamble (P&G) in

engineering, third party governance, change management, facilities, environmental sustainability, real estate and information technology. Larry holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan State University. He is a US Green Business Council Accredited Professional (USGBC AP) and GreenHome Institute Certified Green Professional (CGP). He was a founding board member of the Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council and USGBC Southwest Ohio Area Board Member. At P&G, he developed P&G’s third-party governance processes for P&G’s Global Business Services and was appointed to the CIO IT Distinguished Expert Circle based on this expertise. Larry managed P&G’s Workplace Governance Programs for 20 years, overseeing general office and R&D facilities and

supporting real estate. Larry most recently worked on the development, transition and management of a global, outcome-based contract supporting P&G employee care, employee IT and site network & voice services. He retired from P&G in 2023 and is currently an Executive Advisor with SynFiny Advisors in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Harvey Bell

A. Harvey Bell, IV was appointed Professor of Engineering Practice and Co-Director of the

Multidisciplinary Design Program on September 1, 2010 after a 39 year career in the automotive industry with General Motors.  During his career with General Motors some of his significant positions were: Chief Engineering, 2.5 Liter Engine, Vehicle Chief Engineer, 4th Generation Camaro and Firebird, Executive Director, Vehicle Performance and Executive Director, Advanced Vehicle Development Center for North America.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and undertook graduated studies at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Debbie Coleman

Debbie Coleman has been a GreenHome Institute member since 2018 and is a current member of the Board of Directors. As a licensed architect for over 30 years, she has designed hundreds of low-energy passive solar homes for clients across the United States and Canada in many climate

zones. She authored The Sun-Inspired House: home designs warmed and brightened by the sun which is available in the ever-expanding eBook with over 150 house designs from Sun Plans. She believes that every home should as a minimum have a third-party Home Energy Rater working with the builder and homeowner to assure that the home is constructed to the level of energy efficiency chosen by the client whether it be to the entry level of Energy Star or all the way to net zero energy.

She is excited to be on the GHI Technical Advisory Committee to help assure that GHI programs reach the maximum number of homeowners who desire to save energy while living in comfortable, healthy, and resilient homes.  She sees building connections between homeowners, certified green professionals, energy raters, builders, and designers/architect as a key and one in which GHI is poised to facilitate.  The GreenStar program by GHI is an entry level certification program with fewer barriers, but with most of the same benefits as the more complex green and energy certification programs. This should allow more homes to become certified and appropriatly appraised during the financing and sales phases for their low-energy and green features. As these homes are listed on the Green Building Registry, which may be integrated into MLS systems throughout the country, this is an additional financial benefit to the long-term energy savings and health benefits of living in a comfortable, resilient home. Homeowners can then go on to choose even greater energy independence by becoming Zero Energy Ready or Zero Energy Capable.

Matt Ahearn

Matt Ahearn is the Technical Lead of Sustainable Services at Bright Power. Leveraging his deep

technical expertise in energy efficiency, Matt works to incorporate both high-performance and sustainable construction concepts to promote healthy living along with both energy and carbon reduction via the built environment.

Matt’s six-year tenure at Bright Power, and his previous experience as a Technical Field Representative have equipped him with extensive knowledge in the energy conservation and sustainability services industry. Matt also holds a HERS Rater Certification alongside BPI Certifications in Envelope and Heating. In addition to his leadership on Bright Power’s Sustainability Services team, Matt is excited to join the Technical Advisory Board at the GreenHome Institute, where crafting green building certification programs and policy are driving the industry forward to achieve healthier, more efficient buildings.

Rick Hall

Rick has been in the HVAC industry in every capacity from installer, technician, service manager and owner.  He started in the trade in 1984 and currently holds a Kentucky state HVAC masters license.  He was an HVAC instructor at Jefferson Community and Technical from 2002-2012.  He began training others in Building Science-related areas privately in 2012 and still trains across the United States with HVAC contractors in size from 10 trucks to 300 trucks.  He is the principal for BSPT, LLC, a company that is currently a BPI test center, a NATE Training/Testing Organization, ESCO Institute Testing Organization and formally a RESNET Training Provider, Rating Provider and QA Designee.  He currently holds certifications from Building Performance Institute, North American Technician Excellence, ESCO Institute and Association of Energy Engineers.  He was on the BPI 1200 Standards Committee.