Pro Clima Podcast

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.

Special Guest: Denise Martin.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon Cator sits down with Graham Finch, Principal Science Specialist at RDH Building Science, for an in-depth discussion on rain screen walls—their function, importance, and the key differences between open and closed rain screens. Graham shares his expert insights on how different cladding systems impact not only the performance of a building but also its longevity, highlighting critical considerations for architects, builders, and designers. Whether you're a construction professional or simply interested in the science behind moisture management in buildings, this episode is packed with valuable knowledge you won’t want to miss!

Special Guest: Graham Finch.

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.

Special Guest: Dan Saunders.

Join Simon Cator as he interviews Architect Bob Burnett to explore the transformative work behind the Christchurch Earthquake rebuild, the origins of the Superhome Movement, and how to select the perfect architect for your dream home.

In this insightful episode, Bob shares the guiding principles of the Superhome Movement, including airtight designs, low-carbon materials, and the importance of responsibly sourced resources. He reflects on how witnessing the Christchurch rebuild and the prevalence of substandard housing across New Zealand inspired his mission to design healthier, more sustainable homes.

Special Guest: Bob Burnett.

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.

Special Guest: Nick Gaites.

In 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.

Special Guest: Matthew Cutler-Welsh.

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.

Join Simon Cator as he sits down with Kara Rosemeier, director of the Passive House Academy in New Zealand, discussing Kara's early career in physiotherapy to then studying Architecture in Germany before moving to New Zealand in 2001.

Kara talks about her emphasis on building science and shares insights on ventilation in New Zealand homes, highlighting that air change rates don’t often correlate with Blower Door tests and that openable windows alone are insufficient for effective ventilation.

Throughout the podcast, she shares valuable insights into the contaminants in your home and the importance of having a continuous ventilation system when it comes to minimising the amount of contaminants in your house.

“So the main purpose of the system, obviously, is to keep you healthy, and you keep your house well ventilated. But as a side effect, you get huge energy savings, and you get huge gains in comfort.”

Special Guest: Kara Rosemeier.

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.

In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Barry shares with Simon his journey from studying engineering to transitioning into airtightness testing with ATTMA (Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association) where he has worked for 10 years.

Simon and Barry discuss the process of Blower Door testing and emphasise the importance of airtightness testing for energy efficiency, citing that homes with improved airtightness can achieve up to 35% energy savings for heating alone.

Barry talks about the future of airtightness testing, and how he predicts there to be a shift in the way we test for airtightness, instead he predicted we would be using ‘actual energy usage’ metrics rather than predictive models for evaluating building performance, leading to higher energy efficiency standards.

Throughout the podcast, he shares valuable insights into the importance of airtightness in buildings and the effects on energy efficiency in your home. He encourages others to consider the growing global importance of energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.

“You can make even a 20% reduction in the amount of energy you use. That adds up over 10 years.”

Special Guest: Barry Cope.