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.

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.

Links:

• Homestar Design Guide — A practical design guide to lower carbon healthier homes
• Lower Saddle Passive House — The journey to creating a Passive House in New Zealand on a budget

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.

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.

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.