Episodes

  • Episode 29: Casper Valentin

    Episode 29: Casper Valentin
    Sep 2 2025
    In this episode, Casper Valintin shares his journey from a childhood split between Brunei and Scotland to careers in horticulture and IT — and ultimately, to a deep passion for high-performance building. After constructing his first ICF block home in Hamilton, New Zealand, Casper became a strong advocate for Passive House principles. He talks through the features of his own home, including 400mm of roof insulation, continuous slab insulation, and a Zehnder ground-source ventilation system. With sensors tracking performance, he’s fine-tuned the house to maintain a consistent 20°C indoors — proving how smart design, insulation, and ventilation can deliver lasting comfort and efficiency. Special Guest: Casper Valentin.
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    31 mins
  • Episode 28: Allison Bailes

    Episode 28: Allison Bailes
    Aug 5 2025
    In this episode, building scientist Dr. Allison Bailes shares his journey from physics academia to the world of building science. He discusses the importance of airtightness in homes, explaining how it directly impacts indoor air quality, comfort, energy efficiency, and moisture control. Bailes challenges the myth that houses need to “breathe,” advocating instead for air-tight construction combined with well-designed ventilation systems. Special Guest: Allison Bailles .
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    42 mins
  • Episode 27: Arena Williams

    Episode 27: Arena Williams
    Jul 1 2025
    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator and Jon Davies sit down with Arena Williams, MP for Manurewa, for a conversation on housing, policy, and the future of building in Aotearoa. They discuss the overseas building products register, unconsented granny flats, and Arena’s vision for her time in parliament. She also highlights the urgent need to modernise New Zealand’s building code—calling out issues like moisture management and fire safety—and the vital role cross-party collaboration and industry input must play in shaping future reforms. Special Guest: Arena Williams.
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    36 mins
  • Episode 26: Sian Taylor

    Episode 26: Sian Taylor
    Jun 3 2025
    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.
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    27 mins
  • Episode 25: Mark Anderson

    Episode 25: Mark Anderson
    May 13 2025
    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator sits down with Mark Anderson of MA Building, a Wanaka-based builder, as he shares how an apprenticeship alongside his father led to his journey into building high-performance homes, focusing on health and comfort. He reflects on his commitment to energy efficiency and how it drives his focus on Passive house standards and smarter building methods. He discusses his role in community initiatives like the Better Building Working Group, his plans for a low-energy home, and the small design decisions that make a big impact on comfort, cost, and sustainability. Special Guest: Mark Anderson.
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    40 mins
  • Episode 24: Jason Quinn

    Episode 24: Jason Quinn
    Apr 22 2025
    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.
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    41 mins
  • Episode 23: Bronwyn Barry

    Episode 23: Bronwyn Barry
    Apr 1 2025
    In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon Cator sits down with Bronwyn Barry, Principal at PassiveHouseBB, for an insightful conversation about Passive House design. Bronwyn talks about a pre-fabricated panel solution that is really cost-effective while still having a really high insulation value. She also shares her perspective on an often-overlooked advantage of Passive House design, superior acoustic comfort. Special Guest: Bronwyn Barry.
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    36 mins
  • Episode 22: Denise Martin

    Episode 22: Denise Martin
    Mar 11 2025
    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.
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    41 mins