Special Guest: Kim Aitkin.

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, 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.