About the show

Welcome to the pro clima Podcast, where we're dedicated to fostering better building practices in New Zealand.

Our mission is to
inspire and educate people to create healthy, durable and energy-efficient buildings
to live, learn, work and play in — now, and for generations to come.

Throughout this podcast series, we will talk to architects, builders and homeowners delving into various aspects of building design, construction techniques, and sustainable living. Here's what you can expect from our episodes:

Expert Interviews / Case Studies / Homeowner Perspectives / Emerging Trends and Technologies / Audience Engagement

By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we hope to empower our audience with the knowledge and inspiration needed to create buildings that not only meet our immediate needs but also contribute to a healthier, more resilient future for all. Join us on this journey towards better building practices in New Zealand.

Episodes

  • Episode 16: Manfred Kehrer

    6 December 2024  |  Season 1  |  34 mins 17 secs
    building performance, construction education, high-performance buildings, vapour permeability

    Simon Cator and Manfred Kehrer discuss the development of the WUFI® model, as well as the differences it has compared to the Glaser model.

  • Episode 15: Kara Rosemeier

    27 November 2024  |  Season 1  |  28 mins 27 secs
    building performance, construction education, continuous ventilation, high-performance buildings

    Kara Rosemeier and Simon Cator talk about ventilation in houses, building science and minimising contaminants in your home.

  • Episode 14: Hartwig Künzel

    5 November 2024  |  Season 1  |  35 mins 10 secs
    building performance, construction education, high-performance buildings, vapour permeability

    Hartwig Künzel and Simon Cator discuss vapour permeability in construction, and highlighting the creation and impact of the WUFI® model

  • Episode 13: Barry Cope

    16 October 2024  |  Season 1  |  34 mins 51 secs
    airtightness testing, construction education, energy-efficient homes, high-performance buildings

    Barry Cope and Simon Cator discuss Blower Door testing, the importance of airtightness in buildings and what it will look like in the future.

  • Episode 12: Vlada Acimovic

    4 October 2024  |  Season 1  |  27 mins 25 secs
    architecture, building, construction education, construction new zealand, energy-efficient building, high-performance building, passive house, passive house design

    Vlada Acimovic and Simon Cator are discussing Passive House design, its advantages, and misconceptions about its principles.

  • Episode 11: Murray Alcock

    24 September 2024  |  Season 1  |  32 mins 12 secs
    beyond building code, building innovation, construction, construction efficiency, effective building methods, property development, sustainable building, terrace housing

    In this insightful conversation, Murray highlights his commitment to developing homes that avoid long-term challenges for homeowners. He stresses the critical balance between factors such as material selection, mechanical ventilation, airtightness and others.

  • Episode 10: Steven Hughes

    5 September 2024  |  Season 1  |  36 mins 26 secs
    airtightness, health, passive design, passive house, super insulation, ventilation, window

    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Steve shares his experience transitioning from a poorly insulated, high-cost villa in Auckland to building an off-grid Passive House in Coromandel, detailing his sustainable design journey, the challenges of unconventional materials, and his insights on energy efficiency, ventilation, and the importance of improving New Zealand's housing standards.

  • Episode 9: Joe Lyth

    14 August 2024  |  Season 1  |  36 mins 1 sec
    architecture, building, consctruction, energy modelling, healthy building, healthy living, insulation, sustainable architecture, thermal performance, ventilation

    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Joe talks about building his own home to ensure a healthier living environment for his family. He emphasizes the importance of continuous insulation, quality windows, and proper ventilation despite budget constraints, and discusses the limitations of New Zealand's building code while advocating for energy modelling to ensure thermal performance and comfort.

  • Episode 8: Chris Penk

    19 July 2024  |  Season 1  |  43 mins 2 secs
    building code, construction quality, construction skills, construction training, granny flats, performance targets

    Simon Cator and Jon Davies in a conversation with the Building and Construction Minister, Hon Chris Penk, discussing his desire to build “Simply, Cheaply and Quickly”.

  • Episode 7: Jon Davies

    16 July 2024  |  Season 1  |  37 mins 51 secs
    airtightness, design, existing buildings, health, insulation, parka wrap, renovation, retrofitting

    Jon Davies and Simon Cator discuss a home renovation project using Parka Wrap to improve insulation and energy efficiency, emphasising the importance of continuous innovation in building practices for enhancing existing structures.

  • Episode 6: Sharon Robinson

    2 July 2024  |  Season 1  |  32 mins 9 secs
    airtightness, architect, architectural designer, build, building, energy efficiency, energy modelling, homeowners, insulation, new zealand, passive house, performance, space, thermal bridging, ventilation, windows

    Sharon advises homeowners to research Passive House principles, discuss energy efficiency early in the design process, and understand that high-performance homes offer better long-term savings and comfort, despite misconceptions about minimal building code standards.

  • Episode 5: John Straube

    18 June 2024  |  Season 1  |  43 mins 45 secs
    airtightness, building code, building design, building performance, building science, buildings, construction materials, energy efficiency, energy modeling, insulation, new zealand building, wall construction, weather resistive barrier, windows

    John Straube and Simon Cator discussed the importance of understanding building science to create sustainable and comfortable living spaces. Dr. Straube shared his journey from civil engineering to building science and his decades of experience as a building scientist and professor.

  • Episode 4: Kim Feldborg

    5 June 2024  |  Season 1  |  30 mins 12 secs
    airtightness, architecture, building education, construction, energy efficiency, heating, passiv haus, passive house, passive house design, sustainability, ventilation

    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Kim Feldborg shares his journey in designing and building his own Passive House due to the cold conditions of his previous brand-new rental property. He discusses the differences in home heating between Denmark and New Zealand, and highlights the energy efficiency and benefits of his current home.

  • Episode 3: Darryl Sang

    9 April 2024  |  Season 1  |  28 mins 7 secs
    architecture, building education, construction, energy efficiency, holistic projects, holisting construction, passiv haus, passive house, sustainability

    In this podcast episode, Darryl Sang talks about making homes in New Zealand more energy-efficient, sharing his work on projects like the Piha EnerPHit renovation and Legacy House. He says it's crucial to improve existing homes by setting up standard systems for upgrades, and he stresses the importance of tackling issues like condensation and airtightness in the building code while promoting better skills and using models to ensure homes are comfy and meet high standards.

  • Episode 2: Natasha Cockerell

    9 April 2024  |  Season 1  |  26 mins 22 secs
    architecture, building design, bulidng, construction, energy efficiency, energy modelling, sustainability

    In the second episode of the pro clima podcast, Natasha Cockerell joins us to discuss the current challenges the construction sector in New Zealand is facing. Natasha advocates for sustainable building practices and the urgency to use energy modelling to build better buildings.

  • Episode 1: Joe Lstiburek

    9 April 2024  |  Season 1  |  50 mins 51 secs
    airtightness, better building, building, construction education, moisture management, ventilation, wetahertightness

    In the first episode of the pro clima podcast, Joe Lstiburek discusses the importance of learning from past building mistakes, particularly regarding weather issues seen in the US and Canada in the past, urging the New Zealand construction industry to avoid repeating them. He also emphasizes the significance of balanced ventilation strategies and ongoing education to prevent future challenges.