House Planning Help Podcast

Andy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what is needed beyond shading to keep the homes comfortable when the outdoor temperatures soar. Check out the show notes for more information.

Sarah Lewis, Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust, explains the importance of the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) in architectural design. She discusses common mistakes, challenges, and benefits of using PHPP, as well as the role of clients in energy balance and summer comfort considerations.

Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and Passivhaus project client, discusses her award-winning project, Hazel Tree Passive House. She talks about finding the site, choosing an architect with ecological credentials, using clay plaster as a finish, DIY kitchen installation, challenges faced, DIY plant room design, electricity consumption, sustainable changes, visiting the show notes, and the membership community announcement.

Architect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home have pushed him to come up with creative solutions. By undergoing most of the work themselves, Josh and his partner Amy have been able to transform their snug, back garden plot, into a comfortable and energy-efficient home. Josh explains how thinking outside of the box may be an excellent option if you are looking to get on to the property ladder with a smaller budget. Check out the show notes for more information.  

Architect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in terrible condition or need radical alterations to make them habitable we should be looking to reuse, recycle and reclaim as many materials as possible. Kirsty shows us that with intentional and sustainable design, you can create a new structure with a wealth of history. Check out the show notes for more information.

Jae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible to create a high performance home with low embodied carbon that doesn't cost the earth if we understand the process, where the impacts lie and where optimisation can make a huge difference. Check out the show notes for more information.

Andrew Jones, VAT expert for self build and conversions, explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build or conversion project. Topics covered include qualification criteria, reclaiming process, DIY vs seeking help, understanding VAT on new builds vs renovations, and recent changes to the VAT reclamation process.

Mark Brinkley, author of the Housebuilder's Bible, discusses the purpose and content of the book. He explores building a dream house including gas boiler vs heat pump, layout design, and managing overheating. Researching for ideas is explored along with the challenges of finding reliable information. The increasing costs of building, tips for keeping costs down, and advancements in building comfortable houses like the passive house movement are discussed.

Luke Smith from Build Test Solutions talks about making building performance measurement more commonplace, and how you can't manage what you don't measure. Check out the show notes for more information.

Dr. Derek Taylor discusses the progress in wind and solar power over the last 50 years. He explores the historical use and advancements in solar power, including the development of solar photovoltaics. The podcast also covers the history and challenges of wind power, and reflects on the growth and potential of these renewable energy sources.