Zero Ambitions Podcast

We'd arranged to have a post-Christmas catch-up about a few things and Alex suggested people might be interested in hearing about the genesis of Passive House Plus and its progenitor, Construct Ireland magazine, and the changes we've seen throughout the green building industry across those 20 years. First off, we had a post-Christmas catch-up to find out about Jeff's family's developing taste for seagull and our various breaks. If you want to skip that chatter entirely feel free to jump forward 12 minutes or so, that's when we start the proper conversation, however, Jeff did manage to quickly turn things around to SAP calculations about five minutes in.And, at the end, we managed to squeeze in a bit of chat about how differently retrofit appears to be approached in France, with specific reference to the advice offered in the French version of Which? magazine.Some references from the showHeat pump installer gets suspended for fraud Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)The Construct Ireland archive on Passive House Plus**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Join ACANJoin the AECB Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

On the night before, the night before, Christmas, we spent the morning with Ross Cremin a QS with a lot of experience in passive house building [I know what I wrote – Dan]. Broadly, we talked about what it's like to live in a Passivhaus building, eating seagulls in celebration of Christ, heating homes, and all the other usual things. It's worth highlighting that Jeff suggested we speak with Ross apropos of an anecdote he drew from in the Passive House Plus feature on Ross's house and in Jeff's 'Virtuous Luxury' TedX Talk about the value of the Passivhaus building standard.Some references from the showPassive House Plus feature on Ross's houseJeff's 'Virtuous Luxury' TedX TalkRoss's blog about his homeThe Medeira Oaks passive house scheme that Jeff mentions The Irish Times Catherine Cleary article about appraising her own heat recovery system**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Join ACANJoin the AECB Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

We spent a little time with Stewart Little, a former architect who's been working to support energy efficiency and retrofit in the built environment for more than 20 years. With IRT Surveys he has led a business that uses thermal imaging to highlight energy saving issues in the built environment and an online platform that uses property data that shows its users how to save energy and access funding. Stewart was excellent value, with plenty to offer from years of experience and his  Rockstar-related origin story, but we were really keen to speak with Stewart because his story highlights just how much things have changed for the green building sector, and how much opportunity is being recognised.Some references from the showIRT SurveysHeero appMears Group**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Join ACANJoin the AECB Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

This week we're with Ryan Philp from heat pump manufacturer Daikin who caught our attention thanks to his article titled Heat Pumps Are Not The Answer.In truth, he is a firm believer in heat pumps, just not heat pumps as a 'magic bullet'. So, we talked about that a lot, as well as efficiencies, embodied carbon, and heat networks. You also get to hear four white men talk about diversity issues.Some references from the showRyan's article, Heat Pumps Are Not The AnswerThe Heat Pump Association of IrelandFuture Homes Hub, for whom he is a technical advisorStemazing, an inspiring scheme that Ryan mentions at the end for achievements in diversity and representation**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Join ACANJoin the AECB Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

We were delighted to be able to have an early-doors chat with Architectural Manager and incoming RIBA president Muyiwa Oki. As one might expect, it was very architecture heavy: we talked about the impact of architecture on all of the things we usually talk about, as well as the impact he is going to have on architecture. He's a fella with a lot of great ideas, so we're really looking forward to seeing how this plays out.(Also, new theme just dropped. We've moved on from the stock music to something a bit more real.)Some references from the showThat Irish Times article about the appalling award winnerThat RIBA exhibition Long Life, Low Energy: Designing for a circular economy**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Join ACANJoin the AECB Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Back in the summer Glasgow-based architect Chris Stewart became the new President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), so a chat with him was right up our street. He has long been a strong advocate for the incorporation of sustainability into architectural practice and education, so when Sara found herself on a tour of Shetland in his company she seized an opportunity to book him for the show. As an individual with a strong track record in ecological design for the built environment, we were delighted to hear about his plans for his premiership and were particularly enthused by his eagerness and willingness to instigate some very necessary change.Some references from the showRoyal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandChrist StewartCollective Architecture (Glasgow)**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Contact Zero Ambitions Partners to talk about any professional help you might need (zap@eiux.agency)Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

In our last episode from BE-ST Fest 2022 Alex and Eddie McAvinchey (Scottish National Investment Bank) explore the funding stages available to companies, from concept to commercial scale, as well as the role of the Scottish National Investment Bank in supporting innovative supply chain companies, housing projects, heat networks, and more.ICYMI - BE-ST Fest 2022 was a day of inspiring speakers, expos, demos, workshops, and other activities, aimed at promoting and advancing our journey to a zero-carbon built environment.Some references from the showEddie McAvincheySunampIndiNaturePFP Capital BE-ST Fest 2022**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

In episode four of our mini-series, the ZAP team and Christina Gaiger discuss the need for a shift in perception within the industry of the domestic market and how it must become more accessible in order to achieve net zero.ICYMI - BE-ST Fest 2022 was a day of inspiring speakers, expos, demos, workshops, and other activities, aimed at promoting and advancing our journey to a zero-carbon built environment.Some references from the showChristina GaigerBE-ST Fest 2022Useable buildings.org**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Episode three of our mini-series from BE-ST Fest 2022, where we spoke with Jennifer Phin, MD of energy-efficiency contractor A.C. Whyte & Co.  Following her appearance on the BE connected panel discussion, she shared more of her experiences of her leading a retrofit business in a rapidly changing environment.ICYMI - BE-ST Fest 2022 was a day of inspiring speakers, expos, demos, workshops, and other activities, aimed at promoting and advancing our journey to a zero-carbon built environment.Some references from the showJennifer PhinA.C. Whyte & Co **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

In ep two of our mini-series from BE-ST Fest 2022, fresh from the BE Inspired panel, we spoke with Ele George from Elevate, Catherine Cosgrove chair of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA), Quam Temidayo from Microsoft, and Jeff Colley. Representing different facets of the industry, we explored some less commonly discussed retrofit topics (for this podcast at least), such as the need for more re-use in retrofit, how looking at the health of occupants is a way you get motivate change, and how digital technology can be harnessed to link social and commercial value in order to move the sustainability agenda at pace and scale.  ICYMI - BE-ST Fest 2022 was a day of inspiring speakers, expos, demos, workshops, and other activities, aimed at promoting and advancing our journey to a zero-carbon built environment.Some references from the showSEDAMicrosoft  iOpt **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**