Category: Podcasts
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Prefab Houses with Pamela Bell
Prefab houses have so much to offer. So why are we not doing more of it here in New Zealand, right now? This week, I spoke with CEO of PrefabNZ, Pamela Bell to discuss this very issue. The Name Prefab For many New Zealanders, the reason why there’s resistance to prefab is in the name. More…
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Attic Island Provides Roof Storage Space
How do you store stuff in your roof space without it affecting your insulation? Attic Island is a simple solution that provides a sturdy platform for roof storage and access above your insulation. Picture this; you or your clients have just paid to have a good amount of insulation installed in the ceiling, but then…
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Is Passivhaus Relevant in New Zealand?
Is it ‘Passive House’ or ‘Passivhaus’? That was one question I put to expat Kiwi, architect and Passive House expert, Elrond Burrell. But the main question should be, is Passivhaus even relevant in New Zealand? Elrond Burrell was back visiting New Zealand recently and took the opportunity to conduct a couple of seminars on…
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House Planning Help
I first came across Ben’s show when I was browsing for quality podcasts about sustainability and buildings. I’ve been surprised with the relative few results from variations of this search in iTunes and was grateful to stumble across House Planning Help. In particular I first found Ben’s slightly different episode all about content marketing in…
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Chip In for Pollinate Energy
A couple of weeks ago, I shared my interview with Monique Alfris from Pollinate Energy. This inspiring organisation has teamed up with another inspiring organisation, Chip In, to start a campaign where you can contribute as little as $5 to help their cause. That’s about the price of an incandescent light bulb! So go on,…
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Is Christchurch in the process of making a big mistake?
Is Christchurch in the process of making a big mistake? Surely not intentionally. But the front page of the Press last Friday did look a lot like urban sprawl. Is there another way to describe 40,000 homes being built outside the current city boundary? This is the vision of the Land Use Recovery Plan. Affectionately known…
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Being a Green Architect
What does it mean to be a ‘green architect’? Sian Taylor trained to be an architect in Cardiff, Wales. When she arrived here in New Zealand, like many others who have experienced homes in colder climates, Sian was pretty appalled at the state of New Zealand houses. Since then Sian has gained experience working in…
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Rebuild and Renovate Christchurch
Amanda Magnus is the Exhibition Director for Exhibitions & Events New Zealand, and is responsible for organising the inaugural Rebuild and Renovate Christchurch Home Show. http://www.canterburyhomeshow.co.nz/index.htm The show, which is on from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th March at CBS Canterbury Arena, is a response to huge demand in Christchurch for information about building a…
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How to Insulate a Concrete Floor Slab
UPDATE: Check out this article for a list of slab edge insulation solutions, and episode 125 for my interview with Henry Edney of MAXRaft. The first thing to consider when looking into different types of concrete floors is why it’s so important to insulate the floor slab. To do this, we need to consider where…
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Passive Solar House in Riverhead
Ingo Ratsdorf is a registered architect now with Fat Parrot Architecture based in Auckland. He has also designed and built a passive solar house in Riverhead, Auckland. I caught up with Ingo this week and he shared his story. Having grown up and been trained in Germany, Ingo is very aware of how poorly most New…