Shows
Passive House Podcast232: Making Passive Possible with Joseph LythIn this episode of the Passive House Podcast Matthew Cutler-Welsh sits down with Joseph Lyth an Associate Registered Architect, Certified Passive House Designer based in New Zealand. Joesph walks Matthew through his decision to build a passive house to create a healthier environment for his family. Believing that healthier, lower energy and affordable buildings are possible for everyone in New Zealand, at standard budgets. Lower Saddle Passive House Tāhekeroa: https://nzgbc.org.nz/case-studies/lower-saddle-passive-house-t%C4%81hekeroa2025-04-0152 min
Pro Clima PodcastEpisode 17: Matthew Cutler-WelshIn this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator sits down with Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green at the Green Building Council. They discuss the role Home Style Green plays in educating and assisting New Zealanders in designing and building more sustainably, along with addressing carbon targets and reporting requirements.
Throughout the podcast, Matthew shares insights about the assumptions surrounding new builds meeting healthy living standards and explains the differences between the three methods for calculating energy or insulation values for homes: the modeling method, the schedule method, and the calculation method. He also examines the...2024-12-1725 min
Passive House Podcast190: Australian Leaders at THRIVE 2024In this episode, Matthew Cutler Welsh dives into the highlights of the 2024 Thrive Passivhaus Conference, in Melbourne Australia. Matthew chats with:Joe Karten of BuiltEmilia Lacovino of Detailed GreenKristie Wulf of the Australian Hemp Building DirectoryTalina Edwards of EnvirotectureHamish White of Sanctum HomesAndy Marlow of the Australian Passivhaus AssociationHighlights include the first certified Hempcrete Passive House in the Southern Hemisphere, the role of health in sustainable building, and the challenges and successes of incorporating Passive House principles in diverse climates and regions. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable construction and how...2024-06-1150 min
Passive House Podcast176: Behind the Scenes, Making Reimagine Buildings '24Passive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews the team at PHA making Reimagine Buildings ’24 happen. Matthew talks with Michael Ingui, founder of PHA and Zack Semke, director of PHA about how the conference came to be and why it’s unlike any other. Along with conversations from Kim Davis, Cara Engh, Mary James, Ilka Cassidy, and Jay Fox.Join us for RB24, the global online conference that provides the information, connections, and inspiration you need to make buildings that can change the world. Over the course of 24 hours, we'll circumnavigate the globe, unveiling a new, inno...2024-02-0637 min
Passive House Podcast164: Passive House the Australian Way with Hamish WhitePassive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Hamish White, a Passive House Builder hailing from Melbourne, Australia. As the director of Sanctum Homes, a company dedicated to fostering positive change through the built environment, Hamish shares into the foundational principles and core values that drive Sanctum Homes. Their discussion examines the profound significance, forward trajectory, and the scientific underpinnings of Passive House construction in his work.Sanctum Homes: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/Talina Edwards and Andy Marlowe episode: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast/passive-house-podcast-ep-146-talina-edwards-andy-marlow-envirotecture Talina’s and An...2023-11-0647 min
Passive House PodcastJessica Allen – ClimasurePassive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Jessica Allen, Technical Manager at Climasure in South Australia, about her transition from "worrying about how buildings look" to "caring about how they work". She shares her journey from energy modeling, to focusing on airtightness, to learning about and harnessing Passive House design. She and Matthew also discuss recent progress in Australia's building code and her hopes for future progress there. Links to events: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-february-13th-2022 Passive House Podcast episode featuring Petra Wöerner, designer of the new Passive House hospital in Frankfurt, Germany: ht...2023-02-1357 min
Passive House PodcastLauren Thomsen – Lauren Thomsen DesignPassive House Podcast co-host Zack Semke interviews Lauren Thomsen, architect and principal at Lauren Thomsen Design. The two discuss Lauren's attraction to architecture at a young age, her fine arts training in Paris, and her journey to Passive House as an architect, including the Northern Liberties Passive House in Philadelphia. Link to the Grand Designs New Zealand episode that co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh shares in the intro: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/grand-designs/130537676/grand-designs-nz-aucklanders-swap-city-rental-for-good-life-passive-house Link to video of the Northern Liberties Passive House presentation at the Passive House Accelerator LIVE! Project Showcase: https://pass...2022-11-281h 08
Passive House PodcastGlenn Murdoch – Theca ArchitecturePassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Glenn Murdoch, Design Director at Theca Architecture in Christchurch, New Zealand. They discuss Glenn's early adoption of Passive House design, his role in the early days of Passive House Institute New Zealand, and his practice of using PHPP and Passive House design in all of his work, whether PH-certified buildings or not-certified. Links to the articles referenced by Matthew and cohost Zack Semke in the news segment of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/sustainable-hotels-setting-a-new-standard-for-the-industry https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/blenheim-estate-homes-plans-britains-biggest-rural-passivhaus-community/ Info about upcoming ev...2022-09-2651 min
Passive House PodcastScott Kennedy – Cornerstone ArchitecturePassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Scott Kennedy, Partner at Cornerstone Architecture in Vancouver, British Columbia. Trained as an engineer and an architect, Scott is a leading exponent of multifamily Passive House design, trailblazing the approach in Vancouver and championing the adoption of Passive House across Canada. He's also a longtime member of the Board of Directors of Passive House Canada. In the interview, Scott speaks about his discovery of Passive House, the parallel evolution of his practice and building energy policy in Vancouver, the projects and the design puzzles that excite him the most these days, and...2022-09-1958 min
Passive House PodcastJon Iliffe – eHausCohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Jon Iliffe, a Director and co-founder of eHaus, the nationwide building company in New Zealand focussing on delivering Certified Passive Houses and high-performance homes. Jon discusses some of his previous experiences, including working for Rolls Royce in the UK and the exciting times ahead as demand grows for healthier, more efficient and lower carbon buildings in New Zealand. Matthew and Cohost Zack Semke discuss Passive House news item at the top of the show, including: HalifACT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfv_xnMM-AQ https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/en...2022-09-1252 min
Passive House PodcastTerry Bryers – Certified Passive House BuilderTerry Bryers is an Auckland-based Certified Passive House Builder. Having worked on one of the first and most incredible EnerPHit projects in New Zealand, he has started his own building company to focus on Passive House and high-performance homes. Matthew Cutler-Welsh caught up with Terry recently and discussed his discovery of Passive House. Stuff Magazine feature on EnerPHit project by Terry: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/127462495/no-expense-spared-on-nzs-first-passivhaus-enerphit-rebuild-now-selling Case study: https://sustainableengineering.co.nz/casestudy/piha-enerphit/ Matthew and cohost Zack Semke discussed Passive House-related news items at the top of the epi...2022-09-0552 min
Passive House PodcastKaren Manson – Meta ArchitectsCohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Karen Manson, Director of Meta Architects, a design-led practice in Christchurch specializing in high-performance building. Karen returned to New Zealand after gaining experience in a variety of projects in the UK. She completed Passive House training and established Meta Architects in 2015 and has recently been working alongside Pete Bielski of Ethos Homes (episode 13) to create Bushland Park, an inspiring community of passive house homes in an idyllic setting below the Port Hills of Canterbury. Matthew mentioned the Skagen project in Coquitlam: https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/rare-52-unit-passive-house-project-coming-to-coquitlam-promises-80-energy-savings-5718925 Cohost Z...2022-08-2952 min
Passive House PodcastMichael Ingui — Baxt Ingui ArchitectsTo mark the Passive House Podcast's 100th episode, cohosts Matthew Cutler-Welsh, Mary James, and Zack Semke interview Passive House Accelerator's founder, Michael Ingui. Michael shares why he founded the Accelerator, the precursor networks that inspired the effort, and how the Accelerator has grown. At the end of the episode, Zack shares info about the on-demand "Passive House Summer School" being offered by Building Energy Exchange. Take any on-demand course free until August 31st with the coupon code "PH SUMMER". View courses here: https://be-exchange.org/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To l...2022-08-1545 min
Passive House PodcastMichelle Apigian – ICON ArchitectureIn the latest installment from his recent visit to Massachusetts, cohost Zack Semke visits the Cambridge Finch Passive House affordable project to interview Michelle Apigian, Associate Principal at ICON Architecture, a leader in the boom of Passive House development underway in Massachusetts today. Michelle guides a tour of the building as she discusses her Passive House work at ICON.Zack and cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to those can be found here:https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-july-18-2022 Read/view Michelle's "Passive House Divas"...2022-07-1853 min
Passive House PodcastJulia Klump – POAHAs part of his recent visit to Massachusetts, cohost Zack Semke visits the Salem Heights Passive House retrofit project to interview Julie Klump, Vice President for Design and Building Performance at POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing). The two discuss the details of the Salem Heights project, as well as Julie's extensive portfolio of Passive House work. Zack and cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to those can be found here:https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-july-11-2022Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! T...2022-07-1138 min
Passive House PodcastBrad Mahoney – MP BostonIn this Fourth of July episode, cohost Zack Semke interviews Brad Mahoney, Director of Sustainable Development at MP Boston, about his firm's revolutionary development work in the heart of Boston. The two recorded the interview on the 19th floor of the iconic Winthrop Center, a 691-foot tall, 1.8 million square foot high-rise project that will house the world's largest Passive House (PHI) commercial office space once it's completed in early 2023. Brad shares technical details about the project, the performance and health benefits that it will confer to tenants, and why Passive House makes sense for this $1.3 billion development. ...2022-07-0442 min
Passive House PodcastAJ Patton – 548 CapitalPassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews AJ Patton, Managing Partner & CEO of 548 Capital and 2019 recipient of the Energy News 40 Under 40 Award for his impact on America’s transition to a clean economy. They discuss AJ's mission at 548 Capital, his work on two of Chicago's most significant Passive House developments (3831 W Chicago Avenue and Galleria 89), and his green building development plans for the future. A special "thank you" to Steven Winter Associates for being Passive House Accelerator's Sponsor of the Week this week! Steven Winter Associates provides research, consulting, and advisory services to improve commercial, residential, and mul...2022-06-1956 min
Passive House PodcastPriscila Besen – Auckland University of TechnologyPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Dr. Priscila Besen, lecturer at the Huri Te Ao School of Future Environments at Aukland University of Technology. The two dive into the findings and insights from Besen's research into the technical feasibility and best approaches to deep energy retrofits of historically significant buildings, viewed with an EnerPHit lens. A special "thank you" to Emu for being Passive House Accelerator's Sponsor of the Week this week! Emu helps construction industry professionals navigate the journey from research to reality by providing a supportive community with access to training, services, and standardized s...2022-06-0653 min
Passive House PodcastJamie Harte – PUBLICPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Jamie Harte, architect and Certified Passive House Designer at PUBLIC in Vancouver, BC about his Passive House journey, his work on the UBC Skeena Student Residence, and his current project, Vienna House. View Jamie's Passive House Accelerator LIVE! a presentation about the Skeena Student Residence here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/videos/ubc-skeena-student-residence Read the Accelerator's article about the Skeena project here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/skeena-residence-a-community-asset Matthew and cohost Zack Semke discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to those can be fo...2022-05-301h 02
Passive House PodcastRyan Cassidy – RiseBoro Community PartnershipPassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Ryan Cassidy, Director of Sustainability & Construction for RiseBoro Community Partnership. Ryan discusses supervising the construction of the first multi-family affordable Passive House buildings in NYC, his current work renovating existing buildings to the Passive House standard, and his insights around mainstreaming Passive House as standard practice.Zack and cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to those can be found here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-may-16-2022 Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about P...2022-05-161h 01
Passive House PodcastEvan Anderson – Zola Windows (Special PH Component Episode)In this special Passive House Component Episode, Passive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Evan Anderson, general manager of Zola Windows, a longtime supporter of North America's Passive House movement and the first Founding Sponsor of Passive House Accelerator. Evan shares his path to Passive House and the world of high performance windows, talks about how Zola Windows are being applied in the field, including in a recent project in Antarctica, and gives a preview of Zola's brand new steel frame line. Zack and cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss the May 16, 2022 Passive House Component Spotlight event f...2022-05-1245 min
Passive House PodcastMarine Sanchez – RDH Building SciencePassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Marine Sanchez, Senior Passive House Consultant at RDH Building Science. A chartered, bilingual building science engineer, Passive House designer, and certifier, Marine leads RDH's Passive House services on the east coast of the US and Canada. Marine and Zack discuss the state of Passive House in Toronto and Ontario, the impact of the Toronto Green Standard and carbon tax policy on developer decision-making about incorporating Passive House in their projects, and more. Zack and cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to t...2022-05-0959 min
Passive House PodcastSteve Hughes – Build Good ArchitecturePassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler Welsh interviews Steve Hughes of Build Good Architecture in New Zealand. Steve and his family moved from Ponsonby to Pumpkin Hill on the Coromandel Peninsula in 2021 to live their dream life: to build a beautiful, off-grid, passive home and live off the land by growing a lush permaculture garden. Hear about Steve's pathway to Passive House practice and about the design and construction of his remarkable home. Mathew and cohost Zack Semke discuss upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode. Links to those can be found here: https://p...2022-05-021h 00
Passive House PodcastRoberto Pecora – ZEBxPassive House Podcast co-host Zack Semke interviews Roberto Pecora, Director of ZEBx, the Zero Emissions Building Exchange based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Zack and Roberto discuss the role that Passive House is playing in policymaking and market transformation in the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, and beyond. Zack and co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss upcoming Passive House events near the end of the episode, link to which can be found here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-april-18-2022Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and...2022-04-181h 14
Passive House PodcastAdam Souter – Souter BuiltPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Adam Souter, Director of Souter Built in Sydney, Australia about his approach to high performance building design and his remarkable Pepper Tree Passive House project. View an article of the project here: https://www.realestateview.com.au/news/nsw/unanderra-builder-unveils-region-s-first-passive-house/ At the end of the episode, Matthew and cohost Zack Semke discuss upcoming events, links to which can be found here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-weekly-april-11-2022 Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of...2022-04-0858 min
Passive House PodcastBen Caine – LeanhausPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Ben Caine, an Architect and Passive House Designer based in Perth, Western Australia. As Matthew discovered in this interview, Ben has a passion and knack for making good design look simple. After an early career working in the film industry, Ben decided that he really wanted to do something that would make a difference to people’s lives. So in his mid-twenties, he went back to college to become an architect. He has made the most of this opportunity, taking out design awards and being involved with the local branch of...2022-04-0459 min
Passive House PodcastNakita Reed – Quinn Evans ArchitectsPassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Nakita Reed, CPHC, Associate at Quinn Evans Architects, Co-Chair of the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration, and host of the Tangible Remnants podcast that explores the interconnectedness of architecture, sustainability, historic preservation, race, and gender. Nakita is the recipient of the 2018 AIA|DC Emerging Architect Award and the 2022 AIA Young Architects Award. In this episode, Nakita shares about her work bringing the fullness of American history, including the African American experience, into historic preservation work, the building performance lessons of historic architecture that are sometimes forgotten, how Passive House and preservation are and...2022-03-2849 min
Passive House PodcastToby Tilsley – Craft HomesToby Tilsley is a builder, Certified Passive House Tradesperson, and Homestar® Practitioner and Assessor with 20 years of project management experience and over 15 years of practical knowledge gained in the Auckland building market. He is the founder and director of Craft Homes, a company specializing in healthy, energy-efficient, and sustainable residential building. In this interview, Toby shares with Passive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh why he started building in the first place, how the IDEAL House inspired his interest in Passive House and why he likes training young, relatively inexperienced builders to join his team. Be sure to check out t...2022-03-141h 09
Passive House PodcastPablo Sepulveda – AureconCohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Victoria, Australia-based architect Pablo Sepulveda, of the engineering and design firm Aurecon. The two discuss Pablo's affinity for engineering due to the design power it confers, as well as his work on the pioneering Ngā Kāinga Anamata project in Auckland, New Zealand. Ngā Kāinga Anamata is a pilot social housing project whose five buildings (30 units total) explore various approaches to reducing both operational and embodied carbon, including Passive House. See this flythrough video of the project's design and program: https://youtu.be/FDt_89d02cY After the interview, Matthew and c...2022-03-071h 00
Passive House PodcastAlex Slater – Shared Space ArchitectureCohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Melbourne-based Alex Slater, architect at Shared Space Architecture, Passive House Designer, and NatHERS Assessor. Alex shares how he's combined building science and art in his professional work modeling and designing high-performance buildings; how his initial interest in the energy modeling engine behind Australia's NatHERS rating system led naturally to an interest in the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and Passive House more generally; and how building physics plays a central role in his practice, whether Passive House or not. After the interview, Matthew and cohost Zack Semke discuss upcoming events, links to which...2022-02-2856 min
Passive House PodcastClara Ha – ChoShields StudioGuest cohosts Ilka Cassidy and Mary James interview Clara Ha, an educator and a licensed architect working in New York City. She is an Associate at ChoShields Studio, a Passive House Certified architecture studio, where she oversees small to medium scale projects designed for a sustainable environment. She has taught architecture at the New York Institute of Technology since 2011 before joining Pratt in 2019 and has held an architectural workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark. After the interview, the cohosts Matthew Cutler-Welsh and Zack Semke discuss upcoming events, links to which can be found here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-february-212022-02-211h 00
Passive House PodcastGiorgia Tzar – International Passive House AssociationCohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Giorgia Tzar, a familiar guest on the Passive House Podcast. Now based in Stuttgart, Germany Giorgia runs the International Passive House Association at the Passive House Institute. Throughout the last couple of years, we've all had to work a bit differently, but the work has continued. Interest in Passive House is growing strongly around the world, not just with designers and building owners. Governments and policymakers are paying attention. In this catch-up, Giorgia shares some of her recent and ongoing work helping to shape energy and climate policy at the United Nations Climate Ch...2022-02-0750 min
Passive House PodcastAmy Tankard – Passive House Institute New ZealandPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Amy Tankard, the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Te Tōpūtanga o te Whare Korou ki Aotearoa - Passive House Institute NZ. Coming from a background of management and HR, the appointment of Amy by the board of PHINZ marked a concerted effort to consolidate the growth of Passive House in Aotearoa New Zealand. Like many affiliate organizations around the world, PHINZ began as a small group of passionate volunteers and has evolved into an important entity leading Passive House education and advocacy. As CEO, Amy plays a crucial role in ma...2022-01-2457 min
Passive House PodcastKevin Brennan – Brennan Brennan Insulation and AirtightnessPassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Kevin Brennan, co-owner at Brennan Brennan Insulation and Airtightness, firefighter with the New York City Fire Department, and cohost of Passive House Accelerator's popular Construction Tech program. Kevin shares how he got involved in both high performance construction and firefighting, insights gleaned from his years participating in the home energy performance boom, his introduction to Passive House by Tomás O'Leary, and how it all led to his current role as a leading Passive House tradesperson and educator in New York. At the end of the episode, cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh a...2022-01-1157 min
Passive House PodcastChris Nunn – David Baker ArchitectsMatthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Chris Nunn, a sustainability advocate working to bring Passive House to mainstream attention. At the time of our interview, Chris was just completing a successful four-year term as Chair of the Australian Passive House Association. As well as overseeing significant growth in the uptake of Passive House in Australia during that time, Chris' experience of Passive House culminated in the completion of his own home project in 2021. The suburban Sydney Passive House Premium family home was the main focus of our chat. This project is yet another demonstration of how applicable Passive House is t...2021-12-281h 09
Passive House PodcastSkylar Swinford – Energy Systems ConsultantsSkylar Swinford, principal of Energy Systems Consultants and longtime member of the Phius Technical Committee, is a widely recognized North American Passive House consultant and thought leader based in Boise, Idaho. Podcast cohost Zack Semke, who worked with Skylar at Hammer & Hand when that Pacific NW builder was playing a pioneering role in Passive House, spoke with Skylar about his unique pathway to Passive House, his experience building and consulting on his own recently-completed Passive House home in Boise, and the how Passive House fits with the exciting new "electrify everything" movement that is gaining traction in the US.2021-12-131h 17
Passive House PodcastBohemia Hookham – DesignInc MelbourneBohemia Hookham is a registered architect and Certified Passive House Designer based in Melbourne, Australia and is playing a key role in the creation of one of Australia’s latest groundbreaking Passive House projects. Just North of the city of Melbourne the Glenroy Community Hub will be the first Passive House of its type in the country. Matthew Cutler-Welsh caught up with Bohemia to talk about how the inception of this project and some of the design challenges of adhering to the Passive House standard in such a versatile public building. Once completed, the community hub promises to be an...2021-12-0650 min
Passive House PodcastJoseph Lyth – Respond ArchitectsPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Joseph Lyth, CPHC and architect at Respond Architects in Auckland, about life in his own Passive House with his wife and three kids. This episode of the Passive House Podcast is a follow-up to Matthew's interview of Joseph about a year ago on Matthew's Homestyle Green Podcast, when construction of the house was underway. Listen to that interview (Episode #253) here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5H1OAyb3RDSO1gtlCh2Hxg And see photos of Lower Saddle Passive House here: https://respondarchitects.co.nz/our_work/lower-saddle-passive-house For links to the e...2021-11-2952 min
Passive House PodcastJohn Tallis + Julia Thomas – Our FabHausPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews architects John Tallis and Julia Thomas, founders of Our FabHaus, the Australia-based Passive House prefab company. https://ourfabhaus.com/ The three discuss John and Julia's design and manufacturing model, their motivations for bringing prefab to Passive House (and vice versa), their first built projects, and their plans for the future. For links to the events discussed after the interview, visit: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-november-15Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, vi...2021-11-151h 12
Passive House PodcastLuke Kellett – Kellett Design GroupPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Luke Kellett, Director of Kellett Design Group based in Western Australia, about his Passive House practice, and the challenges and opportunities for Passive House adoption in the WA market.For links to the events that Matthew and cohost Zack Semke discuss after the interview, visit: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-november-1Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE...2021-11-0154 min
Passive House PodcastDr. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz – IPCCPassive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Dr. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair of WGIII of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for her return visit to the Podcast. (Listen to Ürge-Vorsatz's first interview in Episode 12 of the Passive House Podcast: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast/passive-house-podcast-ep-12-dr-diana-uerge-vorsatz.)Matthew and Ürge-Vorsatz discuss the significant cultural impact of the recent reports released by IPCC as well as the upcoming report of WGIII (Working Group III). Ürge-Vorsatz shares her perspectives about the urgent nature of the climate crisis, the important window of opportunity that we have to address it right now...2021-10-2556 min
Passive House PodcastIlana Judah – ACORN Resilience & SustainabilityPassive House Podcast guest co-hosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy interview Ilana Judah, founder and principal of Vancouver, BC-based ACORN Resilience & Sustainability. For links to the upcoming events that Mary and Ilka discuss with co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh, visit: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-october-18Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.2021-10-1855 min
Passive House PodcastKatrin Klingenberg – PhiusPassive House Podcast co-host Zack Semke interviews Katrin Klingenberg, co-founder and Executive Director of Phius. Katrin and Zack discuss this week's upcoming PhiusCon conference in Tarrytown, New York, the rebrand that Phius recently unveiled, the new slate of passive building certifications that Phius offers, the ways that Phius is engaging with questions of operational carbon emissions, embodied carbon, and electrification, and the challenges and opportunities for scaling up deep energy retrofits and new passive buildings over the next decade. Check out these links from Phius' Klingenblog for more detail on the topics that Katrin and Zack talked...2021-10-1158 min
Passive House PodcastShannon Pendleton – Sanderson Sustainable DesignPassive House Podcast co-host Zack Semke interviews Shannon Pendleton, principal of Sanderson Sustainable Design and co-host of Passive House Accelerator Construction Tech. Shannon shares about her practice and how the Passive House approach has shaped it, the recent history of green building community building in Philadelphia, and the potential for an open-source approach to sharing building models (aka "digital twins") to help accelerate the transition to Passive House and high performance building. For links to the events that Zack and co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh discuss at the end of the episode, visit: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-october-42021-10-0459 min
Passive House PodcastJason Quinn – Sustainable Engineering Ltd.Passive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Jason Quinn, founding director of Sustainable Engineering Ltd. Jason spent a decade as a rocket scientist at NASA before he and his family relocated to New Zealand in 2009. He soon became one of New Zealand’s first certified Passive House designers and in 2016 traveled to Germany for further training and exams to become the country’s first Passive House certifier. Jason is an internationally-known thought leader, communicator, and practitioner whose work focuses on the intersection of physics and building design. Matthew and Jason's conversation ranges from the compendium of building details that Jaso...2021-09-2750 min
Passive House PodcastMaria Callau – SUR ArchitecturePassive House Podcast co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Maria Callau, Director of SUR Architecture in Dunedin, New Zealand. The conversation delves into Callau's research into fuel poverty in New Zealand, the Passive House High Street Co-housing Development that she and her family are residents of, and her architectural practice at SUR. For links to the events that Matthew and co-host Zack Semke discuss at the end of the episode, visit: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-september-20Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our...2021-09-2057 min
Passive House PodcastMark Siddall – LEAPPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Mark Siddall, architect, founder, and director of low energy architecture at LEAP (http://leap4.it/). He’s passionate about enabling people to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives by helping them create a comfortable lifestyle in beautiful, quality assured, ultra low energy homes, workplaces and communities.Prof. Wolfgang Feist says of Mark, “... he is one of the pioneers to introduce Passivhaus to the UK. His experience and ongoing research into building performance makes him one of the UK’s most skilled and knowledgeable Passivhaus Architects. ...I have no doubt that M...2021-09-1347 min
Passive House PodcastEncore: Gaby Brainard & Nina SharifiIn this Encore Episode of the Passive House Podcast (originally aired as Episode 29 on International Women's Day, March 7, 2021), guest co-hosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy interview two exciting guests who are collaborating on a retrofit guide for common building typologies found in cold climates. Nina Sharifi is an assistant professor at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture and the Director of the Applied Sciences and Technology Research and Architecture Lab. Gabrielle Brainard is an architect, facade specialist, and educator. She consults on Passive House projects, conducts academic research, and teaches architecture and building science at Pratt Institute an...2021-08-3050 min
Passive House PodcastEncore: Katherine Faulkner, WestFaulknerIn this Encore Episode of the Passive House Podcast (originally aired as Episode 37 on May 3, 2021), guest co-hosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy interview Katie Faulkner, founder of WestFaulkner, an office with a mission for sustainable design. She is also a director at PT-Tech, a division of Placetailor in Boston whose initial focus is on the design and prefabrication of retrofit panels for triple-decker homes.Katie has been working as an architect for more than 20 years and was named to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2020. Her work is motivated by an interest in sustainable...2021-08-231h 00
Passive House PodcastEncore: Daniel Kress, Smart Plus AcademyIn this Encore Episode of the Passive House Podcast (originally aired as Episode 20 on January 4, 2021), cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Daniel Kress. Daniel is a prolific Passive House educator, having trained over half of Australia’s certified Passive House professionals. Matthew and Daniel discuss his work at Smart Plus Academy, the educational consultancy that Daniel founded and directs, as well as his work promulgating Passive House in Australia and beyond. At the end of the episode, Mathew and Co-host Zack Semke discuss major Passive House conferences and events coming up in Fall 2021: 25th International Passive House Conference (Pass...2021-08-1651 min
Passive House PodcastEncore: Robyn Wark, BC HydroIn this Encore Episode of the Passive House Podcast (originally aired as Episode 36 on April 26, 2021). cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Robyn Wark, Manager of Advanced Demand Side Management at BC Hydro about the groundbreaking Energy Step Code in British Columbia. Robyn is a sustainability strategist, partnership builder, and coach on low carbon communities. Her sustainability work has won awards from Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Institute of Planners, and the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC). In 2013 she was awarded the PIBC Individual Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation. The...2021-08-0942 min
Passive House PodcastMark Wille – Tstud & PHAccelerator Construction TechPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Mark Wille, Carpenter and Storyteller at Tstud and cohost of Passive House Accelerator's Construction Tech program every Tuesday. Mark shares his childhood growing up a stone's throw from the lumberyard his dad managed, his early adoption of green building principles and materials, and the opportunities for scaling up Passive House construction.Near the end of the episode, Matthew and cohost Zack Semke refer to upcoming events and programming. Find links to those here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-july-26.Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To...2021-07-2657 min
Passive House PodcastNorm Horn – EnvinityPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Norm Horn, CPHC, CPHT and Design+Build Project Manager at Envinity in State College, Pennsylvania. They discuss Norm's path from landscape architecture student to builder to reluctant energy efficient building practitioner to full bore Passive House tradesperson and consultant. They also dive into Norm's current project, an EnerPHit Passive House retrofit of a 12,000 square foot, 3-storey masonry building in State College. Near the end of the episode, Matthew and cohost Zack Semke refer to upcoming events and programming. Find links to those here: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/passive-house-week-in-preview-july-19...2021-07-1944 min
Passive House PodcastChris Ballard — Passive House CanadaPassive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Chris Ballard, CEO of Passive House Canada. Chris took the helm of PHC in 2019 and he brings a timely skillset to the role: deep knowledge of and experience with the levers of policy and government action. He has a strong history of climate-related work, most recently as Ontario’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. He also served as the Minister of Housing, the Minister responsible for Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and the Executive Director of the 60,000 member Consumers’ Association of Canada (Ontario), among many other leadership roles during his career. Chris...2021-07-121h 06
Passive House PodcastShaun St-Amour – 475 High Performance Building SupplyCo-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Shaun St-Amour, education and outreach expert at 475 High Performance Building Supply, Passive House evangelist, and a frequent fixture at Passive House Accelerator as Q&A Concierge at the Global Passive House Happy Hour and Co-host of Construction Tech Tuesday. Matthew and Shaun discuss Shaun's family legacy in construction, his background in prefab, his journey to Passive House, his work establishing the Ice Box Challenge in Vancouver and its subsequent tour across North America, and much more. Watch this video of Shaun St-Amour and the Ice Box Challenge team in Seattle, WA for the 2017 i...2021-06-281h 04
Passive House PodcastKylie Mills – BluKube ArchitectureIn this episode of the Passive House Podcast, co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews architect Kyle Mills, Director of BluKube Architecture in Sydney, Australia, and pioneer of both Passive House practice and education Down Under. Their conversation touches on Kylie's early builder apprenticeship with her father and the insights that has brought to her work with tradespeople onsite, her experience watching the trades in Australia ramp up on Passive House practice enough to start enabling deeper Passive House retrofits, and her thoughts about the future of Passive House in Australia.Near the end of the episode, Matthew and cohost...2021-06-2144 min
Passive House PodcastBrian Guinan — ISMART Building GroupPassive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Brian Guinan, Certified Passive House Consultant, Certified Passive House Tradesperson, and Owner/Director of ISMART Building Group in Perth, Australia. The two discuss Brian’s apprenticeship as a builder in his native Ireland, his time in construction in New York City, and his journey to Passive House construction in Western Australia. Brian shares his insights around transforming industry practice, and the importance of focusing on improvements to existing technologies and construction approaches in order to achieve the most rapid change. He shares lots more about his work to build awareness about Passive Ho...2021-06-0756 min
Passive House PodcastPetra Wörner – wörner traxler richterGuest co-hosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy talk with architect Petra Wörner, managing partner of wörner traxler richter, about heading up the design of the world’s first hospital targeting the international Passive House standard. Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst, currently under construction in Frankfurt, Germany, will open its doors next year. The 839,585sf facility recently passed the all-important airtightness test with an impressive result of 0.13 ACH50, bringing the hospital a giant step closer to certification.Mary, Ilka, Matthew Cutler-Welsh, and Zack Semke refer to upcoming Passive House events at the end of the episode, which can be...2021-05-2451 min
Passive House PodcastBomee Jung – Topsight AdvisorsIn this episode, Passive House Podcast cohost Zack Semke interviews Bomee Jung, recently of NYCHA (NY City Housing Authority) and now principal of Topsight Advisors. Bomee discusses her involvement in early efforts to address climate action and buildings, the role that affordable housing providers are playing to reset our collective understanding of what “housing quality” should mean (ie. Passive House), and the ways that Passive House practitioners and organizations can help advance racial equity both in the AEC industry and in the built environment. Don’t miss Bomee’s contributions to our Passive House Policy Summit and her recent intervie...2021-05-1750 min
Passive House PodcastJohn Palmer – Passivhaus TrustSixteen years in the UK Royal Navy not only gave John Palmer a sounds background in engineering, he also gained leadership and management experience within a large and structured institution. When he made the decision to leave his Commander role, he retrained and applied his technical and management skills to building and then energy efficiency. It was only a matter of time that he came across and then fully embraced the building science of Passive House. In 2018 he left his role as Managing Director of Enhabit to become the Research and Policy Director for Passivhaus Trust. During this interview...2021-05-1055 min
Passive House PodcastKatherine Faulkner — WestFaulknerOn Episode 37 of the Passive House Podcast, guest co-hosts Mary James and Ilka Cassidy interview Katie Faulkner, founder of WestFaulkner, an office with a mission for sustainable design. She is also a director at PT-Tech, a division of Placetailor in Boston whose initial focus is on the design and prefabrication of retrofit panels for triple decker homes.Katie has been working as an architect for more than 20 years and was named to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2020. Her work is motivated by an interest in sustainable, modular construction, centered on the intention to...2021-05-031h 03
Passive House PodcastRobyn Wark — BC HydroOn Episode 36 of the Passive House Podcast. cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Robyn Wark, Manager of Advanced Demand Side Management at BC Hydro about the groundbreaking Energy Step Code in British Columbia. Robyn is a sustainability strategist, partnership builder, and coach on low carbon communities. Her sustainability work has won awards from Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Institute of Planners, and the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC). In 2013 she was awarded the PIBC Individual Award for Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation. The BC Step Code provides a roadmap of 5 ste...2021-04-2656 min
Passive House PodcastTom Eisele — NYPH Policy AdvisorIn Episode 35 of the Passive House Podcast, cohost Zack Semke interviews architect Tom Eisele, recently of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Resiliency, and current policy advisor with New York Passive House. Zack and Tom discuss the momentous New York City Local Law 97 which caps greenhouse gas emissions for all buildings in New York that are 25,000 or larger—over 50,000 buildings. The caps step down to 80% reduction in GHGs by 2050, with hefty fines to be levied on building owners for buildings that do not comply. Local Law 97, assuming it persists, will compel all significant buil...2021-04-191h 03
Passive House PodcastBeverly Craig – Massachusetts Clean Energy CenterIn Episode 34 of the Passive House Podcast, cohost Zack Semke interviews Passive House policy leader and accelerator Beverly Craig, Senior Project Manager of Low and Moderate Income Programs at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC). Zack and Beverly discuss the pivotal role that policy progress can play in spurring widespread adoption of Passive House design and construction. Beverly shares her firsthand experience instigating rapid Passive House uptake in her state, spurred along by programs like Mass CEC’s Passive House Design Challenge, Mass CEC’s Triple Decker Challenge, Mass Save’s Passive House incentives, and Massachusetts’ recently-passed climate law, and more...2021-04-1257 min
Passive House PodcastKate Nason – Atelier TenKate Nason is a certified passive house designer in Melbourne, Australia. She works for the international environmental design consultancy, Atelier Ten. She's also a director of partnerships and major events on the board of the Australian Passive House Association and a part-time tutor at the University of Melbourne.Having had various architectural roles since graduating from her master's degree, Kate has collected a range of experiences, including working on some of Australia's earliest Passive House projects. Passive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh caught up with Kate to talk about her journey into architecture, how she discovered Passive...2021-03-2947 min
Passive House PodcastClare Parry – HIP V. HYPEMost Australians who know a bit about Passive House will know a bit about Clare Parry. If they haven’t met her personally, they will have been impacted by her leadership. In this interview, Clare shares with Passive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh how she had to travel to New Zealand to attend Passive House training because there wasn’t any available in Australia when she first became interested. And there wasn’t any Australia-based Passive House training until Clare herself set it up. She went on to become the founding Chair of the now well-established Australian Passive House Associ...2021-03-2245 min
Passive House PodcastLaura Nettleton – Thoughtful BalanceLaura Nettleton is the founder of Thoughtful Balance, an architectural and consulting firm based in Pittsburgh devoted to cutting-edge sustainable and high-performance design solutions. The firm has pioneered some of the most significant Passive House retrofit projects in the United States. Laura is dedicated to the idea that architecture should be simple, affordable, and available to everyone. She is actively involved in green initiatives in Pittsburgh, and in spreading the word about Passive House. She founded the PHWPA (Passive House of Western Pennsylvania) and was its first president. In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Nettleton...2021-03-1555 min
Passive House PodcastTalina Edwards – Talina Edwards ArchitectureTalina Edwards is a leader in regenerative architecture and Passive House design in Australia. She’s a leader of Australian Architects Declare as well as a board member of Australian Passive House Association. In 2013 she established her architectural studio, Talina Edwards Architecture, which has gone on to win numerous sustainable design awards, most recently for the striking Owl Woods Passive House project. In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Talina joins cohost Matthew-Cutler Welsh to discuss her journey as an architect and Passive House pioneer. This conversation takes us through Talina’s education at Melbourne University, her e...2021-03-011h 01
Passive House PodcastBen Adam-Smith – House Planning HelpPassive House podcaster extraordinaire and personality Ben Adam-Smith of House Planning Help joins Passive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh for an entertaining conversation about how Ben came to his focus on Passive House, his burgeoning communications treasure trove at House Planning Help's "The Hub", his observations about Passive House adoption in the UK, and the secrets behind his Passive House communications superpowers. Ben started his career in radio and TV production, including a stint as a radio presenter. But when he embarked on a journey to create an "eco" home for his family, he recognized the need f...2021-02-2250 min
Passive House PodcastPrudence Ferreira – BR+A Consulting EngineersYou may know Prudence Ferreira through her role as cohost of Passive House Accelerator’s Global Passive House Happy Hour. Or perhaps you’ve been her student, learning the ins and outs of Passive House design and building science in one of Prudence’s many teaching engagements. She’s one of North America’s top Passive House innovators and a global leader in high-performance building practice. Now based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she’s Senior Associate with the Carbon Neutral Group at BR+A Consulting Engineers.In this episode, Passive House Podcast cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Prudence about her pathway...2021-02-151h 05
Passive House PodcastSian Taylor – Team Green ArchitectsSian Taylor was one of the first certified Passive House designers in New Zealand and has played a pivotal role in Passive House adoption there. She first trained as an architect in the United Kingdom, at the University of Wales in Cardiff. She currently lives in Otago, where she started her practice, Team Green Architects. Her architectural practice has helped show a pathway for fusing high-performance building with design excellence and has helped raise the profile of Passive House design and construction in New Zealand.In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Sian joins cohost Matthew...2021-02-081h 08
Passive House PodcastAnton Dobrevski – Passive House SchoolAnton Dobrevski was born and raised in Bulgaria, where he says that houses are generally not built well or well insulated. Nevertheless, Anton was introduced to Passive House at an early age by his father, a pioneering Passive House builder in Bulgaria. Upon graduating from high school, Anton moved to the Netherlands to study architecture at Delft University of Technology. During one of his first assignments as a student, his class was advised to follow the Passive House standard. While eager to do so, he found that was hard to find practical information and resources about how to practically...2021-02-0142 min
Passive House PodcastBrett Seriani – Seriani DesignsWhile Brett Seriani began his career in Canada, he is now a Passive House pioneer in Australia. Before becoming a Certified Passive House Designer, Brett trained and qualified as both a structural engineer and an architect. With this powerhouse of experience and knowledge, he is well placed to offer a range of technical design services through his company, Seriani Designs.In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Brett joins cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh to discuss his relatively recent discovery of Passive House and his current graduate work examining the interplay between the operational carbon emissions savings of...2021-01-1844 min
Passive House PodcastDaniel Kress – Smart Plus AcademyDaniel Kress is a prolific Passive House educator, having trained over half of Australia’s certified Passive House professionals. In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, our first of 2021, Daniel joins cohost Matthew Cutler-Welsh to discuss his work at Smart Plus Academy, the educational consultancy that Daniel founded and directs, as well as his work promulgating Passive House in Australia and beyond. The conversation takes us from his days as a carpenter in Germany, to his graduate work in Canada, to his career in Australia: first as a builder, then as a Certified Passive House Consultant, and...2021-01-0459 min
Passive House PodcastLuc Plowman - Detail Green in AustraliaIn 2014, Luc Plowman’s consulting practice had just 2 Passive House projects on the books. Now, just over 6 years later, he has 40 underway. He’s witnessed Australia’s Passive House growth firsthand. Luc is the founder and director of Detail Green in Beechworth, Australia, and one of a small cadre of Passive House certifiers in the country. Before his work at Detail Green, Luc worked as a senior sustainability engineer and project engineer. In this episode of Passive House Podcast, co-host Matthew Cutler-Welsh talks with Luc about his perspectives on the Australia Passive House scene, the power of experien...2020-12-2145 min
Passive House PodcastCillian Collins - Perkins+Will Architects in VancouverIn the run-up to this week’s Passive House Canada Summit (Dec 8-10), Passive House Podcast co-host Zack Semke interviews Vancouver-based Cillian Collins about his path to Passive House, the groundbreaking Passive House projects Cillian has in the works, and the Passive House educational programming on tap at the Summit. (Registration for the Summit is open until 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern today, Monday, December 7.)Cillian is a Senior Architect with Perkins&Will Architects and a Certified Passive House Designer with over 10 years of experience across a range of project types, including Passive House projects in Canada and Ir...2020-12-0751 min
Passive House PodcastAndy Marlow - Passivhaus Design & ConstructIn this week's episode of the Passive House Podcast, host Matthew Cutler Welsh interviews Andy Marlow. Andy is passionate about design, sustainability and affordability. He trained as an architect at the University of New South Wales in Australia and throughout his professional career, he’s been working to incorporate ideas about sustainability into his work. As a Director at Envirotecture, Andy has been influential in providing design and consulting services for people who want buildings that work well, feel good, and are culturally appropriate. At the beginning of 2020, some of the team at Envirotecture created Passivhaus Design & Con...2020-11-301h 03
Passive House PodcastPeter Bielski, Ethos Homes in Canterbury, New ZealandIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Peter Bielski, owner of Ethos Homes in New Zealand, about his experience building single family Passive House projects in a construction industry landscape of bare minimum building energy code requirements. Peter cut his teeth in construction in Germany, where he built homes with a major prefabricated homes operation that delivered over 900 homes per year. When he returned to New Zealand, Peter initially experimented with prefab in New Zealand, always guided by Passive House principles. Hear his story about his journey back to custom stick-built construction, and his full commitment...2020-11-1645 min
Passive House PodcastKen Levenson, North American Passive House Network (NAPHN)In this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Ken Levenson, Co-Founder of 475 High Performance Building Supply and Executive Director of the North American Passive House Network (NAPHN). The conversation explores Ken’s early architecture practice in New York in the 80s and 90s, his climate awakening after watching “An Inconvenient Truth,” and his later discovery of Passive House in 2009. This discovery fueled Ken’s drive to co-found 475 with Floris Keverling Buisman and later NAPHN with a group of other North American advocates. Describing Passive House as “an approach to building and architecture that's actually proportionate with the cr...2020-11-0258 min
Passive House PodcastHarley Weston, Solaire Properties in BrisbaneIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Harley Weston of Solaire Properties. Harley spent twelve years drilling and exploring for minerals beneath the earth, mostly around the North Eastern part of Australia. When he wasn’t operating a drill himself, he was managing people who did. Mineral exploration is big business in Australia. It’s made a lot of people very wealthy, but doesn’t exactly conjure up images of sustainability, healthy and well being or even energy efficiency. Harley has also spent time flying around in a helicopter. After gaining his license, he establi...2020-10-1950 min
Passive House PodcastBronwyn Barry, North American Passive House NetworkIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Bronwyn Barry, board chair of North American Passive House Network (NAPHN) and the “International Keynote” speaker for the upcoming South Pacific Passive House Conference. Bronwyn recounts how she first discovered Passive House, her stint (post-Great Recession) selling European high performance windows to architects by educating them first about Passive House design, and her leadership in the North Passive House movement, including tireless policy advocacy work.Matthew and co-host Zack Semke discussed upcoming events and trainings:This Wednesday (Oct 14), Amy Egerter and Martha Campbell from the Rocky Moun...2020-10-1257 min
Passive House PodcastGiorgia Tzar, International Passive House AssociationIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Giorgia Tzar from the International Passive House Association (iPHA). Giorgia and Matthew catch up on the world-class content at the (ongoing) 24th International Passive House Conference and virtual “matchmaking” networking opportunities. Giorgia reflects on recent conferences in China and Germany, and talks about the ups and downs of going virtual. Hear about iPHA’s “global and local” approach to information and knowledge sharing, as well as the virtual Open Days Passive House project tours coming up in November.Matthew and co-host Zack Semke discussed upcoming events and trainings...2020-10-0544 min
Passive House PodcastSimone Schenkel, Grün Eco in AustraliaIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Simone Schenkel, director and Certified Passive House Designer at Grün Eco Design in Victoria, Australia. Schenkel is the Victorian Chapter lead of Australia Passive House Association and an advocate for moving the building industry toward energy efficient, high performance buildings. Matthew and Simone touch on the importance of production builders in this transformation and the role of regulation to help spread high performance building to all segments of the housing market. podcast@passivehouseaccelerator.comMatthew and co-host Zack Semke discussed upcoming events and trainings, wh...2020-09-2847 min
Passive House PodcastAndrew Peel, Peel Passive House Consulting in TorontoPassive House Podcast's Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Andrew Peel, Passive House innovator, educator, certifier, consultant, and owner of Peel Passive House Consulting in Toronto. Check out:Video of Andrew's Global Passive House Happy Hour presentation about his work on the world's first Passive House certified car dealership. Our Q&A interview with Andrew in February 2020.Matthew and co-host Zack Semke discussed a bunch of upcoming events and trainings, which can be found in the Accelerator's "Passive House Week In Preview" for September 21, 2020. Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn mo...2020-09-2149 min
Passive House PodcastGraeme Verhulst and a Passive House HQ for BC Tech FirmIn this episode, Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews Graeme Verhulst, principal of Waymark Architecture. Graeme was one of the earliest adopters of Passive House design in Canada. In his conversation with Matthew, Graeme shares the story of striking out on his own, early in his architectural career, to build a Passive House practice when larger firms were still slow to embrace it. He also discusses the recent Passive House headquarters that Waymark designed for the technology firm Charter Telecom, in Victoria, British Columbia. That striking project won the 2020 Canadian Green Building Commercial/Industrial (Small) award. ...2020-09-0748 min
Passive House PodcastJohn Beurle and his PHI Low Energy Building made of pre-fab straw bale panels.Passive House Podcast host Matthew Cutler-Welsh interviews John Beurle, board member of Australian Passive House Association and principal of Passive House Services, about his unique PHI Low Energy Building home made of a straw panel system. Also, view John's video tour of his home at https://youtu.be/WAQ0uyakJH8.In the interview, John mentions Stuart Lee of Craftsmen Quality Builders and Andreas Luzzi of Laros Technologies as among the key players in the project. The pre-fab straw bale panels, or SITUPS (super insulated tilt-up panel system), come from Huff 'n' Puff Strawbale Constructions.After...2020-08-3144 min