Pro Clima Podcast

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator sits down with Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green at the Green Building Council. They discuss the role Home Style Green plays in educating and assisting New Zealanders in designing and building more sustainably, along with addressing carbon targets and reporting requirements. Throughout the podcast, Matthew shares insights about the assumptions surrounding new builds meeting healthy living standards and explains the differences between the three methods for calculating energy or insulation values for homes: the modeling method, the schedule method, and the calculation method. He also examines the efficiency of the Building Code and highlights the significant progress still needed in this area. Special Guest: Matthew Cutler-Welsh.

Join Simon Cator and Manfred Kehrer as they discuss Manfred's upbringing in Bavaria, his interest in building science and, how he ended up working at the Fraunhofer Institute. They discuss the early development of WUFI® software and how he helped in the early stages of the development process, working alongside Hartwig Künzel. He touches on the differences between WUFI® modelling and the Glaser method, and how the Glaser method can often lead to overestimation of moisture issues. “What people don't know is how many times we discovered measurement errors because we figured out that. I mean, at some point we've seen that the measurement and the simulation doesn't work out well.” Special Guest: Manfred Kehrer.

Join Simon Cator as he sits down with Kara Rosemeier, director of the Passive House Academy in New Zealand, discussing Kara's early career in physiotherapy to then studying Architecture in Germany before moving to New Zealand in 2001. Kara talks about her emphasis on building science and shares insights on ventilation in New Zealand homes, highlighting that air change rates don’t often correlate with Blower Door tests and that openable windows alone are insufficient for effective ventilation. Throughout the podcast, she shares valuable insights into the contaminants in your home and the importance of having a continuous ventilation system when it comes to minimising the amount of contaminants in your house. “So the main purpose of the system, obviously, is to keep you healthy, and you keep your house well ventilated. But as a side effect, you get huge energy savings, and you get huge gains in comfort.” Special Guest: Kara Rosemeier.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon sits down with Hartwig Künzel, who shares his journey with Fraunhofer—from accompanying his father at the test fields as a child, through his studies in chemical engineering, to his pivotal role today at the Institute. Hartwig dives into the critical role of understanding vapour permeability in construction, highlighting the creation and impact of the WUFI® model. He explains both the significance and complexities of working with WUFI®, along with the challenges that can arise in its calculation. Reflecting on earlier methods of hygrothermal modelling, Hartwig discusses their limitations. Now at the forefront of construction modelling, Hartwig leads efforts in developing and refining tools to measure risks like mould and rot, and is currently advancing in post-processing models to drive even greater accuracy in building science. “Vapour permeability is probably the most important parameter when it comes to hygrothermal simulations. The good thing about that is that is mostly pretty well known.” Special Guest: Hartwig Künzel.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Barry shares with Simon his journey from studying engineering to transitioning into airtightness testing with ATTMA (Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association) where he has worked for 10 years. Simon and Barry discuss the process of Blower Door testing and emphasise the importance of airtightness testing for energy efficiency, citing that homes with improved airtightness can achieve up to 35% energy savings for heating alone. Barry talks about the future of airtightness testing, and how he predicts there to be a shift in the way we test for airtightness, instead he predicted we would be using ‘actual energy usage’ metrics rather than predictive models for evaluating building performance, leading to higher energy efficiency standards. Throughout the podcast, he shares valuable insights into the importance of airtightness in buildings and the effects on energy efficiency in your home. He encourages others to consider the growing global importance of energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. “You can make even a 20% reduction in the amount of energy you use. That adds up over 10 years.” Special Guest: Barry Cope.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon and Vlada delve into Vlada’s career as a European-trained architect and Certified Passive House Designer. Vlada, now based in Auckland, is passionate about promoting Passive House design in New Zealand. Vlada has completed multiple certified Passive House projects, as well as many other high-performance building projects throughout NZ. During the discussion, he shares some of the main challenges he faces, particularly misconceptions around the cost of Passive House design. He highlights the need to educate clients and consultants on the numerous benefits of Passive House design, while addressing common misconceptions, such as the belief that Passive Houses are prohibitively expensive or that windows can't be opened. Simon and Vlada also touch on the future of Smart Home Technology integration with Passive House design. Vlada sees great potential in using smart controls—like external shutters and roll blinds—to manage solar gains and air temperature, improving both performance and comfort in Passive Houses. Throughout the podcast, Vlada emphasizes the critical balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application in house design, stressing the importance of education and raising industry standards in construction. “It's easy to explain why Passive House is champion, because we know that it's arguably the highest possible standard in energy efficiency.” Special Guest: Vlada Acimovic.

_Now is the time to press play on my next property development! _ This podcast conversation between Simon Cator and Murray Alcock explores Murray’s career in property development and construction, his experience with building techniques, and his current efforts to improve housing design and energy efficiency in New Zealand. Murray is committed to building homes that do not introduce long-term problems to the buyers, emphasizing the importance of keeping the right balance between individual elements such as for example mechanical ventilation & airtightness, choice of materials, maintaining cost efficiency while meeting higher environmental and livability standards. He aims to improve construction efficiency by standardizing designs, reducing custom elements, and using offsite manufacturing techniques. The focus is on scalable terrace housing projects designed for long-term investors, with an emphasis on reducing waste and streamlining the construction process. "If we continue just building to code, we're actually building problems into houses for people for the future." , says Murray when talking about what triggered his interest and what is his main driver when it comes to sustainable building. Special Guest: Murray Alcock.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Steve shares his journey from living in a renovated 1860s villa in Ponsonby, Auckland, to building an off-grid Passive House in Coromandel. He recounts how the villa’s renovation revealed issues with heat retention, leading to high energy costs and discomfort. This experience, along with a desire to live more sustainably, inspired his family's move to Coromandel, where they began with minimal infrastructure, even living in a tent while constructing their new home. Steve discusses with Simon the process of building the new passive home, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency through careful design and the challenges of using unconventional building materials. He explains the significance of proper ventilation, airtightness, and thermal performance for a comfortable home environment and provides insights on energy modelling, cost considerations, and meeting Passive House standards. Steve also addresses the broader context of New Zealand’s housing, stressing the need for improved thermal performance and energy efficiency. Throughout the podcast, he shares valuable lessons from his hands-on experiences and encourages others to consider sustainable building practices, whether in new constructions, smaller dwellings, or retrofitting projects. Special Guest: Steven Hughes.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Joe shares his personal journey in architecture, from his childhood in a 1890s farmhouse to pursuing a career in architecture and later moving to New Zealand for a better work-life balance. Facing unhealthy rental conditions in New Zealand, Joe and his wife decided to build their own house to ensure a healthier living environment for their family. They prioritized continuous insulation, high-quality windows, and proper ventilation while balancing budget constraints. Despite challenges, including high construction costs and bank valuation issues, Joe creatively managed to design and construct a functional, affordable, and healthy home by making various compromises. Joe and Simon discuss building code compliance and energy modelling in New Zealand. Joe highlights the limitations of the building code in ensuring thermal performance and comfort, and argues that energy modelling is the only reliable way to assess a building's performance, as it considers all building elements and the specific site and climate. Energy modelling helps ensure building performance outcomes are met, saving money and reducing carbon. Tune in for more. Special Guest: Joe Lyth.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator and Jon Davies speak to Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. The discussion revolves around the Minister’s desire to build “Simply, Cheaply and Quickly” - the recent controversial media furore regarding the government's signal to roll back the H1 insulation standards and other building and construction-related issues. The discussion also touches on easing the regulations for granny flats, developing well-qualified construction workers and revising regulations to maintain building standards. Special Guests: Chris Penk and Jon Davies.

"I hope we'll see a change in the outcome for renovation work which has energy modelling and predicted energy demand for that building - for any building - in play during the design process; and then just put some minimums around that." In this podcast, Jon discusses his transition from teaching to the building industry where tangible results were more easily visible. He talks about a home renovation project, emphasizing the importance of creating a comfortable living environment by addressing common issues like drafts and poor insulation. Jon describes his Masters thesis - the use of Parka Wrap - retrofitting insulation onto existing walls - designed to improve airtightness and contribute to a more controlled indoor environment and energy efficiency in buildings. Jon advocates for continuous improvement and innovation in building practices. By staying updated with the latest technologies and methods, builders can enhance the quality and efficiency of their constructions. This is particularly important for the retrofit challenge, aimed at improving the performance of existing buildings to enhance the health of their occupants. Special Guest: Jon Davies.

"Ask yourself, what is your house going to be worth in 2030. A certified Passive House is on the operating levels, energy-wise, of where we're going in 2030. So do you consider your house an investment? I think we put more consideration into the performance of the cars that we buy than we put into the houses that we are creating, and our homes are the largest financial investment that we make in our lives." In this podcast, Sharon advises homeowners to research the Passive House principles via the Passive House Institute of New Zealand (PHINZ) website, focusing on insulation, airtightness, quality windows, ventilation, and thermal bridging. She emphasizes the importance of discussing energy efficiency and comfort with building professionals early in the design process. Building high-performance homes from the start is more efficient than upgrading conventional homes later, and smaller, better-performing homes can also be more efficient. Sharon and Simon also discuss misconceptions about building codes often leading to minimal standards being mistaken for optimal performance; energy modelling and data-driven design are essential for achieving true efficiency and comfort, with professional designers offering long-term savings despite higher initial costs. Special Guest: Sharon Robinson.

Dr. Straube explains the importance of the critical elements of the building structure, balancing insulation values with good airtightness levels and high-performance windows: "It's a rule of physics that you need to be able to match those three components of typical houses to get the value out of each one of those components." In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, John Straube emphasizes the importance of balancing components such as insulation, airtightness, windows and ventilation in building design to achieve optimal energy efficiency and indoor air quality. He explains that airtightness is often misunderstood but is crucial for maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Dr. Straube also discusses the principles of rainscreen design, considering the cladding, drainage, and water-resistant barriers, all tailored to local climates and building codes. Special Guest: John Straube.

"We moved into a brand new house in Taupo, it was double-glazed and looked good, but it was blimmin' cold. I couldn’t understand why people would put up with it. Because of this environment, we decided we wanted to live in a more comfortable house." In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator interviews Kim Feldborg, a builder from Denmark who moved to New Zealand in 2007. Shocked by the cold temperatures in his rental home, Kim decided to design and build a Passive House, which he and his family have been living in for over ten years now. Kim explains the differences in home heating between Denmark and NZ, noting that Danish homes typically have central heating systems, whereas Kiwi homes often lack adequate heating. He shares his journey in designing his own Passive House, including sourcing materials and ensuring airtightness. Kim highlights the energy efficiency of the house, which maintains a constant temperature with minimal heating costs. He also addresses common misconceptions about airtight homes, emphasizes the benefits of ventilation systems and discusses the new H1 compliance. Special Guest: Kim Feldborg.

"Modelling approach is the most accurate way of looking at a building. The overall performance really needs to be modelled." In this episode of pro clima podcast, Darryl shares insights from his experience with energy-efficient building projects, including the Piha EnerPHit renovation and the Legacy House. He talks about the importance of improving the performance of existing homes in New Zealand, proposing standardized systems to facilitate retrofitting. Darryl highlights the challenges of addressing issues like condensation moisture management and airtightness in the Building Code. He emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to building design, advocating for increased industry skills and the adoption of modelling approaches to ensure overall performance of buildings meets high standard and comfort. Special Guest: Darryl Sang.

“We accept a lot just because we don’t know any different.” In the second episode of pro clima podcast, Natasha explains how seeing her relatives work in construction sparked her interest in architecture, which she sees as a combination of art and science. From her experiences with leaky buildings to addressing challenges in the industry, we discuss the current state of the New Zealand construction sector, focusing on economic difficulties and the urgent need to address carbon emissions. Looking ahead, she advocates for a shift towards sustainable, energy-efficient building practices, emphasizing holistic approaches to building performance and the importance of homeowner awareness in selecting architects. Natasha champions prioritizing simplicity, efficiency, and comfort in building design, highlighting the potential of energy modelling to deliver better outcomes while saving costs. Special Guest: Natasha Cockerell.

"It's not a rocket science, it's a building science!" In the first episode of the pro clima podcast, we're talking to Joe Lstiburek, the Godfather of Building Science. He delves into his journey from designer to advocate for improved building practices, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes, like weathertightness issues seen in the US or Canada. He reckons the New Zealand construction industry should learn from these mistakes, not keep repeating them. Joe also discusses ventilation concerns and the role of dehumidifiers, suggesting a balanced approach to efficiency. Additionally, he talks about upcoming advancements in design and materials. He stresses the need for education to prevent similar problems from arising in the future. Special Guest: Joe Lstiburek.