web01.fireside.fm Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:28:19 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Pro Clima Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Energy Efficiency” https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/tags/energy%20efficiency Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:15:00 +1300 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. en-us episodic Podcast by Pro Clima New Zealand Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. no pro clima, pro, clima, proclima, pro clima podcast, proclima podcast, proclimapodcast Pro Clima NZ Ltd podcast@proclima.co.nz Episode 35: What happens when things go wrong? - Peter Raimondo https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/35-podcast-peter-raimondo cca1943c-012f-42c0-919f-61391cb9b662 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:15:00 +1300 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd Simon Cator speaks with Peter Raimondo about the importance of airtightness and ventilation as well as thermal performance and condensation. 46:17 no In this episode of the Pro Clima Podcast, Simon Cator talks with Auckland-based (but Toronto born and raised) building enclosure engineer Peter Raimondo about adapting building science principles from Canada to New Zealand. Raimondo discusses challenges in local construction practices, the importance of airtightness and ventilation, and how controlled airflow prevents condensation and energy loss. He also shares insights from blower door testing, international best practice, and his role as MC for the upcoming Building Science Summit, focused on industry collaboration and knowledge sharing. Special Guest: Peter Raimondo. construction, weathertightness, airtightness, energy efficiency, new zealand In this episode of the Pro Clima Podcast, Simon Cator talks with Auckland-based (but Toronto born and raised) building enclosure engineer Peter Raimondo about adapting building science principles from Canada to New Zealand. Raimondo discusses challenges in local construction practices, the importance of airtightness and ventilation, and how controlled airflow prevents condensation and energy loss. He also shares insights from blower door testing, international best practice, and his role as MC for the upcoming Building Science Summit, focused on industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Special Guest: Peter Raimondo.

]]> In this episode of the Pro Clima Podcast, Simon Cator talks with Auckland-based (but Toronto born and raised) building enclosure engineer Peter Raimondo about adapting building science principles from Canada to New Zealand. Raimondo discusses challenges in local construction practices, the importance of airtightness and ventilation, and how controlled airflow prevents condensation and energy loss. He also shares insights from blower door testing, international best practice, and his role as MC for the upcoming Building Science Summit, focused on industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Special Guest: Peter Raimondo.

]]> Episode 34: Eco-Friendly Construction - Simon Wansbrough https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/34-podcast-simon-wansbrough 581660c9-0903-4b77-8c31-021d0e8407c0 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +1300 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd Simon Cator speaks to Simon Wansbrough about being an eco-conscious builder and how there is a need for better education in the building industry. 23:08 no Simon Wandsborough joins the pro clima Podcast to discuss his journey from outdoor instructor to eco-conscious builder and the thinking behind his business, Third Little Pig. He shares how growing up in New Zealand and completing an adult apprenticeship shaped his focus on building better, more comfortable, and energy-efficient homes. The conversation explores high-performance building principles such as passive solar design, insulation, airtightness, and quality windows, alongside the need for better education and early collaboration between clients, architects, and builders. Simon also reflects on the limitations of New Zealand’s building code, common misconceptions around cost and airtightness, and what’s next for Third Little Pig. Special Guest: Simon Wansbrough. construction, weathertightness, airtightness, energy efficiency, new zealand Simon Wandsborough joins the pro clima Podcast to discuss his journey from outdoor instructor to eco-conscious builder and the thinking behind his business, Third Little Pig. He shares how growing up in New Zealand and completing an adult apprenticeship shaped his focus on building better, more comfortable, and energy-efficient homes.
The conversation explores high-performance building principles such as passive solar design, insulation, airtightness, and quality windows, alongside the need for better education and early collaboration between clients, architects, and builders. Simon also reflects on the limitations of New Zealand’s building code, common misconceptions around cost and airtightness, and what’s next for Third Little Pig.

Special Guest: Simon Wansbrough.

]]> Simon Wandsborough joins the pro clima Podcast to discuss his journey from outdoor instructor to eco-conscious builder and the thinking behind his business, Third Little Pig. He shares how growing up in New Zealand and completing an adult apprenticeship shaped his focus on building better, more comfortable, and energy-efficient homes.
The conversation explores high-performance building principles such as passive solar design, insulation, airtightness, and quality windows, alongside the need for better education and early collaboration between clients, architects, and builders. Simon also reflects on the limitations of New Zealand’s building code, common misconceptions around cost and airtightness, and what’s next for Third Little Pig.

Special Guest: Simon Wansbrough.

]]> Episode 32: Offsite Construction - Andre Heller https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/32-podcast-andre-heller 53c33192-fcb7-4994-9e99-81baedea8a00 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +1300 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd Simon Cator and Andre Heller talk about the benefits of off-site construction 40:34 no In this episode, industrial designer Andre Heller shares how his diverse background, from boat building to underground station construction, has shaped his fresh approach to prefabricated housing. Through his company, Flexi House, Andre is redefining offsite manufacturing by prioritising speed, efficiency, and consistent quality. Their lightweight timber frame system, complete with continuous insulation and air barriers, delivers a minimum 46% boost in thermal performance over standard New Zealand homes with the potential to reach Passive House levels, making high-performance building more attainable. Andre also dives into his vision for making offsite construction as simple and accessible as ordering from an IKEA catalogue—dramatically reducing waste while transforming the way we build. Special Guest: Andre Heller. construction, off-site construction, passive house, airtightness, weathertightness, energy efficiency, building performance In this episode, industrial designer Andre Heller shares how his diverse background, from boat building to underground station construction, has shaped his fresh approach to prefabricated housing. Through his company, Flexi House, Andre is redefining offsite manufacturing by prioritising speed, efficiency, and consistent quality. Their lightweight timber frame system, complete with continuous insulation and air barriers, delivers a minimum 46% boost in thermal performance over standard New Zealand homes with the potential to reach Passive House levels, making high-performance building more attainable. Andre also dives into his vision for making offsite construction as simple and accessible as ordering from an IKEA catalogue—dramatically reducing waste while transforming the way we build.

Special Guest: Andre Heller.

]]> In this episode, industrial designer Andre Heller shares how his diverse background, from boat building to underground station construction, has shaped his fresh approach to prefabricated housing. Through his company, Flexi House, Andre is redefining offsite manufacturing by prioritising speed, efficiency, and consistent quality. Their lightweight timber frame system, complete with continuous insulation and air barriers, delivers a minimum 46% boost in thermal performance over standard New Zealand homes with the potential to reach Passive House levels, making high-performance building more attainable. Andre also dives into his vision for making offsite construction as simple and accessible as ordering from an IKEA catalogue—dramatically reducing waste while transforming the way we build.

Special Guest: Andre Heller.

]]> Episode 6: Sharon Robinson https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/06-podcast-sharon-robinson c1e60a46-2677-4925-8a47-47e8ad5d518f Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +1200 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. 32:09 no "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. home, airtightness, modelling, energy efficiency, building, passive house, architect, insulation, performance, build, architectural designer, new zealand, windows, ventilation, thermal bridging, energy modelling "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.

Links:

  • Free Architectural Guide — This free guide outlines the Architectural Design Process. Also included is information on Passive House and Homestar which are avenues you may wish to consider for your journey.
  • Passive House Download — This complimentary guide published by the Passive House Institute of New Zealand breaks down what a Passive House is, and how they are different to live in.
]]> "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.

Links:

  • Free Architectural Guide — This free guide outlines the Architectural Design Process. Also included is information on Passive House and Homestar which are avenues you may wish to consider for your journey.
  • Passive House Download — This complimentary guide published by the Passive House Institute of New Zealand breaks down what a Passive House is, and how they are different to live in.
]]> Episode 5: John Straube https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/05-podcast-john-straube 0016f967-fc1b-443a-ba1d-09acfc13924c Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:45:00 +1200 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. 43:45 no 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. building, buildings, modeling, barrier, model, science, layers, new zealand, wall, physics, perfect, energy, performance, architectural design, weather resistive barrier, building code, construction materials, construction site, airtightness, insulation, windows 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.

Links:

  • RDH Building Science - Technical Library — Explore the RDH technical library for building enclosure articles, conference papers, presentations, research reports, quick guides and technical bulletins.
]]> 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.

Links:

  • RDH Building Science - Technical Library — Explore the RDH technical library for building enclosure articles, conference papers, presentations, research reports, quick guides and technical bulletins.
]]> Episode 4: Kim Feldborg https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/04-podcast-kim-feldborg 72e5607d-ec70-469e-8781-3ba81b659cf4 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +1200 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. 30:12 no "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. Passive House, energy efficiency, PH building, PH design, Heating, Ventilation, Passive House Design, Construction best practice, Airtightness, renovation, building code "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.

]]> "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.

]]> Episode 3: Darryl Sang https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/03-podcast-darryl-sang 2af5089e-008c-4410-bffb-f720e17843f0 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +1200 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. 28:07 no "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. Passive House Design, EnerPhit, energy modelling, better building practices, construction best practice, passive haus, passive design, energy efficiency, energy-efficient projects, airtightness, moisture control, building code, existing building stock, "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.

]]> "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.

]]> Episode 2: Natasha Cockerell https://proclimanz.fireside.fm/02-podcast-natasha-cokerell 21a6e818-9b72-4558-b0f3-daadb223d245 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:30:00 +1200 Pro Clima NZ Ltd full 1 Pro Clima NZ Ltd 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. 26:22 no “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. energy modelling, better building practices, sustainable building, sustainability, lower carbon emissions, energy-efficient buildings, building perofmrance, building design, construction, construction best practice “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.

]]> “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.

]]>