PODCAST · arts
Home Style Green
by Matthew Cutler-Welsh
How do you make a healthy, comfortable home that's sustainable and cost effective? A ‘green’ home is the foundation of living a green lifestyle. Join me as I interview leading architects from around the world and discuss the how, why and who of eco homes and sustainable design. From simple energy saving tips to insulation upgrades, kitchen remodelling, solar power and insulating concrete slabs. #Feedback to [email protected]
Episodes
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Home Style Green 20th August 2026
We got the band back together! I caught up with Sharon Robinson and Glenn Harley to discuss some topical housing issues, including; - The legacy of Minister Chris Penk - "The right houses, in the right place", according to Minister Chris Bishop - H1 and timber fraction in walls Links: - Sharon's...
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Passive House is a Team Sport with Tom Webster and Joe Lyth
Passive House Institute New Zealand has just wrapped up its two-day conference in Auckland, with the theme of 'Passive House is a team sport'. Among the speakers was Tom Webster, registered Architect and host of Grand Designs New Zealand. I caught up with Tom and current PHINZ Chair Joe Lyth at…
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Build Aotearoa January 2026
Welcome to the first episode of Build Aotearoa for 2026. Coming up this year, the NZGBC will be celebrating 20 years of advocating for better buildings in New Zealand. The update of the update of H1 is bedding in, but many builders are turning their attention to roof condensation and overheating....
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THRIVE 25 Expo Part 2 - Supplier Spotlight
In this episode, I continue my coverage of the THRIVE 25 Conference with a series of interviews from the trade show floor. I spoke with leading suppliers whose products and innovations are helping shape the future of Passive House construction in Australasia. From high-performance windows to...
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THRIVE 25 Exhibitor Showcase - Part 1
I chatted with the wide range of exhibitors at the 2025 Australian Passivhaus Conference, THRIVE 25 in Melbourne. This year saw a growing contingent of panel suppliers along with a variety of window manufacturers, membrane suppliers and more. Special thanks to Environtecture and the Australian...
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H1 Again with Jason Quinn
The government is seeking consultation on insulation standards. Again. Jason Quinn has waded through the details and provided a handy summary. Check it out, and get your submission in by 28 February 2025.
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Build Aotearoa ERP 2 with Elrond Burrell
The government has released New Zealand's second emission reduction plan and it does mention building and construction. Elrond Burrell shared his thoughts. View the ERP 2 at https://environment.govt.nz/publications/second-emissions-reduction-plan-at-a-glance/ Follow Elrond on LinkedIn and read…
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Build Aotearoa MBIE Weather Files and Self Certification
I'm joined again by Sharon Robinson and Glenn Harley for a chat about the possibility of builder self-certification and MBIE's updated weather files.
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Wao Summit 2024 with Aaron Thule
Wao Summit 2024 is happening next week, 29th October - 2nd November. Speakers include John Bell, Monique Kelly, Dr. Jim Salinger, Alec Tang, Jane Lloyd, Dr. Greg Bodeker, Sam Gibson, Paul Spoonley and more! Tickets and information https://www.wao.co.nz/summit2024
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Build Aotearoa 21: PHINZ 2024
I caught up with Glenn Harley and Joseph Lyth to talk about the recent Passive House conference in Wellington, and other building issues in Aotearoa.
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Build Aotearoa 20: Resilienz with Linday Wood
https://www.resilienz.co.nz/
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Build Aotearoa 19: Constructive
Notes from RMBA's Constructive Industry Forum.
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Build Aotearoa 18: Better Building with Monique Kelly of Wao
Wao is a collective dedicated to a regenerative future. I caught up with co-founder Monique Kelly to discuss why she does what she does, and their upcoming Summit. For more information check out https://www.wao.co.nz/summit2024
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Build Aotearoa 17: Platinum Homes with Sam Watt
99 Waiwai Drive, Milldale north of Auckland looks like a regular new house in a regular new subdivision, but around 30 people visited the site mid-build to see why it's different. This showhome will be one of the Platinum Homes high-performance range. It's a SIP (structural insulation panel)...
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Build Aotearoa 16: Responsible Development with Kirsty Merriman
Kirsty Merriman is a property developer who is conscious about the type of homes she delivers. She's interested in sharing her knowledge about profitable and responsible project management. https://kirstymerriman.com/
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Build Aotearoa 15: Building Circularity
In this episode of Build Aotearoa, I explore the concept of building circularity and its impact on the construction industry. Learn about deconstruction vs. demolition and reflect on the reduce-reuse-recycle hierarchy. I also discuss the role of polystyrene pods and alternative fillers in…
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Build Aotearoa 13: Homestar vs Building Code
The New Zealand Building Code does not guarantee performance in all areas that many homeowners might expect. Fortunately, Homestar is available to close the performance gaps. Homestar Headline Benefits • Fresh air • Dry • Comfort • Carbon Homestar Design Checklist This is a summary of the basic...
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Build Aotearoa 12: Offsite NZ with Scott Fisher
Scott Fisher is the CEO of Offsite NZ. I caught up with him to discuss the history, current practice and future opportunities of offsite manufacturing in the building industry in Aotearoa. https://www.offsitenz.com/
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Build Aotearoa 11 Global Climate Progress
While researching a presentation to open the NZGBC 2024 Housing Summit, I looked into the climate initiatives of Europe and the US. In Europe, over €83b has been recently been committed by the European Parliament as part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The ultimate goal is that...
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Build Aotearoa 10: Warmer and Wetter
This week I attended a BRANZ seminar titled 'Building for our changing climate'. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland was the last stop on the BRANZ seminar tour of the country and it's encouraging to think that rooms of designers, builders, product suppliers, building officials and others, were interested...
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Build Aotearoa 9 with Steve Penny
Steve Penny is the founder and director at Honoris, a building services consultancy in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is also the host of his own podcast, A Penny for Your Thoughts.
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Build Aotearoa 8: Cool by Design with Siân Taylor
Many people might be surprised to know that the New Zealand Building Code does not require any consideration of overheating in homes. The energy efficiency requirements in our code are based only on the ability of buildings to keep warm without excessive heat loss. There is nothing to prevent…
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Build Aotearoa: Changing the Window Industry with Benjy Simmons
Stärke has been in the window industry in New Zealand since the 80s. They were at the forefront of supplying aluminium frames to the building industry but have recently made some big changes. With a focus on building performance, Benjy Simmons describes the new direction of Stärke as a...
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Build Aotearoa 6: Framology with Pete Hammond
More is not always better, especially regarding the amount of timber in the frame of a house. The more timber there is, the less space there is for insulation. The way this is measured is called timber fraction. Most homes in Aotearoa are designed using the assumption that timber will make up...
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Build Aotearoa: 5 Building Science with Denise Martin
Denise Martin has been involved with many of Aotearoa's Passive House projects. As one of the most experienced blower door testers in the country, she's been involved with verifying a range of residential and commercial buildings both in New Zealand and Australia. I caught up with Denise to chat...
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Build Aotearoa 4: Quality and Quantity
I found it confronting listening to Tova O'Brien's guest this past week as she described the experiences of staying in motel emergency accommodation with a young daughter. From my relative privilege (of choosing the right parents and having things turn out ok for me so far), I find it hard to...
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Build Aotearoa on Safe(ish) Ground
Last week, February 22nd rolled around. This was a significant date in the Cutler-Welsh household thirteen years ago when our house was located close to the Avon River in Christchurch. While it was a life-changing day for us, life has gone on. We ultimately lost our recently renovated home in...
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Build Aotearoa 2 Principles and Performance.MP3
There are fundamental gaps in what the New Zealand Building Code covers and how well it covers the aspects that are included. These reasons should be enough to justify using standards like Passive House or Homestar to go above and beyond the building code. In this series, I'll be looking at…
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Build Aotearoa
As I draft this episode, there's a chorus of cicadas outside my window. The sun is shining and there's a faint breath of a breeze. It seems calm where I live, here in a relatively leafy part of Tāmaki Makaurau. But all is not calm everywhere in Aotearoa today, Waitangi Day 2024.
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274: Doing Windows Well
There are not many new ideas in the building industry. The basic concepts have been around for a while. 'High-performance' products and design details that might be described as 'innovative' here in New Zealand are likely to be standard practice somewhere else. With building his experience in...
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273: Our Homes Are Getting Smart
Brad Wills is Director: Strategic Customers & Programs at Schneider Electric. Based in Tennessee, he has three decades of experience with the organisation. We discuss the diverse range of products and services now offered by Schneider as well as the exciting opportunities for smart metering,...
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272: A Passive House in Taupō
In 2007 when Kim Feldborg arrived in New Zealand he was surprised at how cold and inefficient the houses were, despite growing up in much colder European climates. Originally from Denmark, Kim has built houses in Greenland, Norway, Germany and England. He now enjoys life in a Certifed Passive…
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271: Super Reno
Growing up in a typical kiwi home, it wasn't until he had lived in the UK for a bit that Damien McGill realised we don't need to be suffering through winter in cold, damp houses. Damien is an engineer and knows how things should be put together so they don't fall apart. But he's interested in…
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270 Richard Houghton
Richard Houghton now lives in a very good, healthy home. But that wasn't always the case. Along with Simon Cator from Pro Clima NZ, we discuss Richard's journey in designing and building an energy-efficient SIP home just outside Auckland, New Zealand.
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269 The Style of Sustainability
Bert Sarkkinen has built a successful timber framing company around a solid philosophy grounded in the style and craftsmanship of a unique and timeless form of building. Bert appeared on the Home Style Green podcast back in episode 176. A couple of years on, Arrow Timber Framing has expanded into…
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268: Regenerative Housing
Zola Rose has a vision for regenerative housing as a solution for improving communities and sustainability. She brings diverse and international experience to Aotearoa New Zealand where she now calls Nelson her home. Real estate has long been used as an investment and a means of making a profit…
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267 Architecturally Designed Modular Homes Built in New Zealand
Mariano Croce is an Argentine entrepreneur who relocated into Queenstown with his young family just before the first COVID lockdown in 2020. He has a background in prefabrication, having co-founded a modular building company in Argentina when he was 24. More than 15 years on, Mariano has created...
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266: It's Time to Speckel!
Darren O'Dea is a self-confessed building physics nerd. Along with co-founder David Carroll, he has helped to create Speckel, a platform for designing low carbon, healthier, durable and energy-efficient buildings. Having proven popular with architects and consultants in Australia, Speckel is now...
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265: Smart Healthy Green
Sabine Schoenberg is co-founder of the Smart Healthy Green Living network, a collection of videos and streaming content on everything from tiny homes and carpentry to interior design and gardening. Through her network, Sabine is promoting the 'Do One Thing' campaign to help everyone take a step...
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264 How to Control Air
My third conversation with Simon Cator in our series on the control layers of a well-performing building envelope. In this episode, we cover the why and how of airtightness.
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263: The Many Benefits of Building with Hemp
Hemp is an extremely versatile material. It may have a complicated recent history due to medicinal and other uses, but the benefits of industrial hemp have been known for a long time. Jo Say, co-founder of the Hemp Building Association New Zealand explains why it's a great time to start...
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262: Weathertight vs Waterproof
Following my previous chat with Simon Cator we continue our discussion about how to construct a good building envelope. This week we're focussing on keeping the weather out. We cover the benefits of a monolithic membrane instead of a microporous one, the importance of being resistant to water…
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261 Casey Curtis
Casey Curtis shares tips on how and why to create airtight buildings, the benefits of mid-build open homes, and using collaborative design to create the right house on any given site.
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260 The Mold Medic
Michael Rubino is an educator, author and an expert in mould remediation of homes. In this interview he shares his journey and some tips on how we can make our homes a better, healthier place to live.
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259: Building Better Homes
Simon Cator is passionate about helping people to build better homes. Prior to becoming Regional Sales Manager for the Upper North Island at Pro Clima NZ, he worked for New Zealand's online architectural products library - EBOSS and also HRV before that. In this introductory episode, I spoke with...
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258 Matariki
Matariki is a festival that makes sense for New Zealand. It feels good to respect and learn from the wisdom of those who have inhabited this place for generations. It may have taken us 200 years, but we're creating our own vernacular; our own geographically appropriate culture of design.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
How do you make a healthy, comfortable home that's sustainable and cost effective? A ‘green’ home is the foundation of living a green lifestyle. Join me as I interview leading architects from around the world and discuss the how, why and who of eco homes and sustainable design. From simple energy saving tips to insulation upgrades, kitchen remodelling, solar power and insulating concrete slabs. #Feedback to [email protected]
HOSTED BY
Matthew Cutler-Welsh
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Home Style Green have?
Home Style Green currently has 274 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Home Style Green about?
How do you make a healthy, comfortable home that's sustainable and cost effective? A ‘green’ home is the foundation of living a green lifestyle. Join me as I interview leading architects from around the world and discuss the how, why and who of eco homes and sustainable design. From simple energy...
How often does Home Style Green release new episodes?
Home Style Green publishes regularly with 274 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Home Style Green?
You can listen to Home Style Green on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Home Style Green?
Home Style Green is created and hosted by Matthew Cutler-Welsh.
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