Zero Ambitions Podcast

Today, we have a new show on the feed. Long-time friend and contributor to the Zero Ambitions Universe, Lloyd Alter is taking the reins to look back at some of the fine work that Jeff has commissioned over the years, with a mind to making it more accessible to a wider audience.So, in parallel with the main show, Lloyd will be curating a tour through some of the best of Passive House Plus, interviewing the work's authors, and looking at the subject matter from a transatlantic perspective.This week we are joined by journalist Kate de Selincourt to talk about her 'Cold Truths' two-part feature, published back in January of this year. It might seem out of place to be discussing it in July, but these issues shouldn't just be seasonal because if we're only talking about them in winter it's already too late to act.Cold Truths: Part 1Cold Truths: Part 2Kate's linksKate's own website Kate on Twitter Her appearance on our 'overheating' episode last summer Kate’s research on the PHT website: the Passivhaus Trust Costs & Benefits research report  Download the Benefits summary guide (part two) hereDownload the Health & Wellbeing PDF from here (it's referenced in the further reading section) Lloyd's other linksSafety checks run down and boom time for criminals: this is why the UK is becoming the ‘dustbin of Europe’ - Lloyd shared this article with us shortly after the conversation, which neatly sums up much of our conversationA paywall-free link to the FT article Lloyd mentions 'The battle over M&S Oxford Street and construction’s carbon footprint'**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)Check Lloyd's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Air quality matters, that's the subject for this week in our conversation with Simon Jones and it's all about ventilation. In this instance, Air Quality Matters is Simon's new consultancy offering outcome-focused ventilation strategy. Simon is a professional with nearly 20 years of experience within the housing, construction, and building services sector. He's an Associate Member of both The Institute of Environmental Science and the Institute of Air Quality Management, and; he's acted as an expert advisor to Government during the pandemic. And, there's more, so check his website and LinkedIn.Our chat covered ventilation for the home and the workplace, and for health. The broad growing demands around regulation, precipitated by the prevalence of mold and damp, and the work-from-home time bomb, around employer responsibilities.Notes from the episodeSimon on LinkedInAir Quality Matters, Simon's consultancy websiteHealth and Safety Authority's Code of Practice for Indoor Air QualityBESA focus areas for indoor air quality**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify 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 are spreading the word about the Buildings Action Coalition (BAC), a coalition of professionals from all areas of the built environment, from all over the planet, brought together to support a UN-backed global target for 'near-zero emissions and resilient buildings to become the new normal by 2030'.Mindful of this 2030 decline, the BAC is bringing professionals together to "turbocharge our progress and work together to make this a decade of delivery".Jeff was able to arrange for us to be joined by Scott Foster (former Director of Sustainable Energy for the UN Economic commission for Europe, and former guest of the podcast, alongside Barbara-Ann Murphy, CEO of The Enniscorthy Forum (the BAC's parent group) and a Local Councillor.This really should be of interest to most of our listeners and something we believe that you'll all benefit from.Notes from the episodeThe Buildings Action Coalition web pageThe Enniscorthy ForumThe BAC webinars so far (scroll down halfway the page to find them)The Buildings Breakthrough Target**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify 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 joined by Gillian Campbell, the Communications and Public Affairs Lead at Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, a professional with a wealth of experience in the housing sector.Gillian has been involved in some really interesting work around influencing government policy around their retrofit strategy. In particular, their research has revealed insights that are relevant to anyone in the retrofit sector: from the need for good messaging, to the importance of timing in using it, and the fundamental need for frameworks that support and enable consumers to act. Whether the audience is a homeowner or asset manage, in Scotland or North America, the lessons are largely relevant to all. Notes from the episodeThe Existing Homes Alliance ScotlandBuilding blocks for successful customer journeys to net zero homes – EHA Policy PaperOwning the Future: a framework of regulations for decarbonising owner-occupied homes in Scotland – Report for the EHA by Dr Catrin Maby and Louise SunderlandAffordable Warmth – Next steps for clean heat in Scotland – Report by WWF ScotlandThe Novoville platform we mentioned**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify 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 met Peter Warm and Sally Godber, a father and daughter team well known in low energy building for their work at their Warm consultancy. Although Peter may now be retured they've both been instrumental in Warm, consultancy in volved in testing and certification of buildings, as well as training for professionals. We hadn't intended to focus on passive house, again, thinking that we could dig into their experience as certifiers for low-energy buildings. Our idea was to ask about the basics of how to approach building better, interrogating the things that they commonly see going wrong, and offer some top tips for what to avoid.They've been heavily involved in the delivery of flagship developments like Goldsmith Street, as well as being notable for their long-running practice. However it took a while for us to get to that because of some remarkable news about their Coaction non-profit.Unexpectedly we were waylaid by some exciting developments in the work that their new training non-profit has been making, setting out to revolutionise training within the built environment by offering a basic grounding in PH (building physics) first to architectural students with plans to make this available to all professions within the built environment.We did cover the top tips but only late on: the tl:dr is to get an experienced energy, retrofit, or passive house consultant involved at the earliest opportunity to help steer you right; it is an investment, not a cost.Notes from the episodeThe Warm Consultancy's website is hereCoaction's website for training is here too The webinar Sally mentions is available to members of the Passive House Institute (PHI) and accessible here; we believe that it is the Quality assurance concepts for fast deep renovation approaches but I don't have a login so I can't checkThey also recommended checking last year's Efficiency Now campaign from the PHI as a place you can find some information in lieu of a loginA Passive House Institute 'step-by-step article': Overall retrofit plan for step-by-step retrofits to EnerPHit Standard, by Jan Steiger and Eva Vahalova Here’s some more info on the stepwise approach that is mentioned frequently too**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify 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 Beth Williams joined us to talk about structural engineering and sustainability. She's an associate at Build Collective, (one of Jeff's favourites), and a professional who is long-steeped in green building practice. While there were some rash accusations of 'nepo baby' status, it seems that economic casualty seems fairer. Trained as an architect Beth went where the work was after the global economic crisis in 2008 and found her true calling in structural engineering. As the only Passive House-qualified structural engineer in the UK, she is well-versed in trying unconventional approaches to structural design, planning for the future, and considering best use of resources.Notes from the episodeThe Build Collective websiteHere’s the link for the ACAN talk and a link to the ACAN event page IStructE Climate Emergency infoAn IStructE retrofit eventICE Decarbonisation infoICE Knowledge Networks (some of which are geared towards climate emergency issues)**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify 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 have a transatlantic expert's perspective on the state of sustainable building in Ireland and the UK. Friend of the show, Lloyd’s Alter joined us after a research trip and drinking holiday to the UK.We thought it would be interesting to ask him to tell us about what learned on his travels and he offered us hiss thoughts on wood, the inspiring projects he visited, the people he met, cycling in Dublin, ventilation, air quality, transport, and all sorts.Notes from the episodeThat Extinction Beckons art exhibition at the Hayward GalleryThe Retrofit23 exhibition at the Building Centre Architype's case study of the Hereford Archive and RecordsCentreWhy Do we Make Everything So Complicated, a piece by Lloyd about that 'Radical Simplicity' Nick Grant article he references; I couldn't find the actual article but I'll update the notes with the link if Lloyd sends it onSeeing the Wood for the Trees, by Lenny Antonelli and Andy Simmons, from the pages of Passive House PlusThe Deluded World of Window Replacement, from Lloyd's Substack, Upfront Carbon**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

With the world waking up to the need to rapidly decarbonise buildings, quick-fire, quality education and training tailored to the industry's needs is essential. But doesn't training in how to fly drones for budding building pathologists sound too much like fun?This week we spoke to Lis O'Brien and Benny McDonagh of TUS about an exciting new platform, DASBE (the Digital Academy for the Sustainable Built Environment), which offers an excellent range of eye-opening courses designed to help Irish designers and tradespeople play their part in the war on carbon. For UK and international listeners, this episode is a fascinating insight into the development of new, more nimble educational and training approaches that may bridge the gap between trades and design professionals in the advancement of sustainable building and retrofit know-how.Notes from the episodeDASBE (the Digital Academy for the Sustainable Built Environment)Build Up Skills App The BIMzeED portal - anyone can register with this link in order to access the 12 modules**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

People off the telly don't tend to know the first thing about sustainability, let alone possess a properly anoraky understanding of the subject, but Charlie Luxton is different.Jeff and Alex spoke to Charlie about his approach to sustainability, how to communicate about the benefits of sustainability, asking more questions to our clients, and about the state of architectural education, among other things.For those who, like Jeff, have been living under a rock these past 20 years, Charlie Luxton has presented numerous shows across British TV, including Building the Dream, Homes by the Sea and Impossible Builds (More 4), World's Wierdest Homes, SuperCommuters, Best Laid Plans (Channel 4), Modern British Architects (Channel 5), Britain’s Hidden Heritage (BBC 1), Restored to Glory and Rebuilding The Past (BBC 2), Homes and Property (ITV) and The Great Treehouse Challenge (Sky Living). Charlie and his wife Kate Luxton also run an architectural practice, Charlie Luxton Design, whose work seems to be annoyingly well conceived.Kudos to Grace Fraser from heat recovery ventilation supplier Airflow for connecting Jeff and Charlie.Notes from the episodeSalk Insitute: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/louis-kahn-salk-instituteDitchley park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditchley_ParkThe Camden project Jeff mentions:  https://passivehouseplus.ie/news/design-approaches/study-extreme-overheating-not-reflected-in-building-simulationsCharlie's house - https://charlieluxtondesign.com/charlie-builds-house/Charlie Luxton Design's office, Black Barn Studios: https://charlieluxtondesign.com/buildings/black-barn-studios/ Airthings - Internal air quality monitoring: https://www.airthings.com/en-gb/Skipton Building society's carbon profiling of its building portfolio: https://www.skipton.co.uk/about-us/our-environmentCharlie's Cornish holiday home:  https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/self-build/charlie-luxton/Helen Macarthur Foundation: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/RHS Malvern garden built from waste materials: https://charlieluxtondesign.com/rhs-malvern/**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)Email Alex and Dan about user research, websites, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User ExperienceJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify  **END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION** 

This week, Jeff, Alex and Dan are joined by Dr. Peter Rickaby, a man who should need little introduction to those who know the sector well, and to the listeners of our podcast, he's been on twice before.To those less familiar with him, he's an expert in the sector, who's devoted a career to improving energy efficiency in the built environment in the UK with a particular interest in retrofit.This week, rather than talk about a particular piece of work or technology, we wanted to talk about a slightly more esoteric subject: who can you trust? In other words, how difficult is to know what to do about anything. It's something we talk about amongst ourselves a lot, and presumably you our listeners find yourselves talking about much the same. The challenge here can probably be best summed up by the endless heat pump debate, in which we're asked to often hold two contradictory and correct positions at the same time: every home can be heated by a heat pump vs. not every home is suitable for a heat pump. We thought Peter would be a great person to talk about it because of the length and breadth of his experience, and he's a great speaker.We took in the housing market, heat pumps, hydrogen, retrofit, snake oil and more. In spite of our conversational meandering and rambling, we did actually manage to come up with, albeit a very short list, of people that we do think you can actually trust. Anyway, we hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.**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 Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**