Pro Clima Podcast

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, architect Sian Taylor shares her journey from growing up in Wales to designing and living in a Passive House in Queenstown. She reflects on the contrasts between UK and New Zealand building standards, highlighting the superior comfort and energy efficiency of Passive House design. Sian also critiques the current New Zealand building code, calling out its shortcomings and advocating for stronger regulations, especially the need for mandatory energy modelling to address issues like overheating. Special Guest: Sian Taylor.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon sits down with Jason Quinn, the Director of Sustainable Engineering, as they discuss overheating in homes and how to design to prevent it from happening. Jason explains the balance between reducing heat gain in the summer and losing some solar gain in the winter, and the importance of good glass specification. He also goes over the importance of understanding building performance through modelling and making design changes early in the process to avoid any problems in the future.Special Guest: Jason Quinn.

Join Simon Cator as he sits down with Denise Martin, Director at BEO, for an insightful discussion on building science and insulation practices in New Zealand. Denise explores the unique challenges of insulating concrete structures and explains the advantages of exterior insulation. She also highlights how proper insulation and airtightness can lead to significant energy savings, ultimately reducing your power bill. Throughout the conversation, Denise shares expert insights on the relationship between airtightness and energy performance, as well as the crucial role of ventilation and moisture management in creating a healthier home environment. Tune in for valuable knowledge on building smarter, more efficient homes.Special Guest: Denise Martin.

Join Simon Cator in conversation with Dan Saunders as they explore New Zealand’s H1 building code changes and discuss how we can promote higher standards. This engaging discussion dives into the challenges and opportunities of creating homes that are not only durable but also better suited for Kiwi lifestyles. Dan shares expert advice on selecting the right building materials, debunks common myths about constructing high-performance homes, and offers practical steps for achieving better results. Whether you’re a homeowner, builder, or simply interested in the future of housing in New Zealand, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. “I would change the building code so it's a more holistic thing, so people have no choice but to build better."Special Guest: Dan Saunders.

In this episode of the Pro Clima Podcast, host Simon Cator is joined by Nick Gaites from Reveal Building Consultants for an insightful discussion on one of New Zealand’s pressing housing challenges—overheating. Together, they explore how energy modelling, fixed shading, reduced glass areas, and improved insulation can transform building performance and elevate comfort levels. Nick also shares valuable strategies for retrofitting existing homes to enhance their performance. From starting with energy modelling to assess current conditions, to implementing practical solutions, this conversation provides a roadmap for creating healthier, more energy-efficient housing in New Zealand.Special Guest: Nick Gaites.

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.

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.