Best Energyefficiency Podcasts (2025)

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HPH387: How do you make a Victorian terrace home more comfortable? – with Will South 47:57

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2h ago47:57

47:57

Will South from Etude takes us step-by-step through the retrofit of his Victorian terrace house in Brighton, which has improved the health, comfort and energy efficiency of the property. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH386: The potential of mycelium-based composites – with Joshua English 46:57

17d ago46:57

46:57

Joshua English, co-founder of Okom wrks labs shares his journey into the creation of a mycelium-based composite material, which has structural and load-bearing properties. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH385: A stunning contemporary home on a sloping site – with Kirsty Maguire 36:07

29d ago36:07

36:07

Architect Kirsty Maguire shares her experience of designing and building her own Passivhaus on a challenging sloping site in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH384: De-risking a Passivhaus project – with Sally Godber 57:20

1M ago57:20

57:20

Sally Godber, a Director at WARM consultancy explains why reducing the risks on her own Passivhaus project was so important, what that entailed and how it enabled her to deliver a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient home on budget. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH383: A beginner's guide to creating a comfortable home – with Andy Mitchell 46:17

2M ago46:17

46:17

Andy Mitchell, Managing Director of 21 Degrees, explains what factors influence human comfort and how we have tried to make our homes more comfortable through the years. Embracing building physics has been a turning point and while we have the knowledge and skills to create healthy and comfortable homes today, it's still not the default approach. S…

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HPH382: What is a Principal Designer? – with Ben Nother 51:01

2M ago51:01

51:01

Ben Nother, a Director at Hawkland Group, explains the two different roles of Principal Designer in meeting building regulations and addressing CDM health and safety. He also reflects on how this has been integrated into their processes. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH381: What is Passivhaus Premium? – with Phil Neve 54:26

3M ago54:26

54:26

Phil Neve explains what Passivhaus Premium is and why he chose to target the standard for his own self build in Somerset. He also talks through his biggest project challenge, which was obtaining planning permission to build in open countryside. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH380: What is Passivhaus Plus? – with Heather Johnson 34:43

3M ago34:43

34:43

Heather Johnson from AD Practice explains what Passivhaus Plus is, how it differs from Passivhaus Classic accreditation and what benefits achieving the standard will afford. She also reveals why most of her clients target 'Plus' and outlines the steps to achieve this on a project. Check out the show notes for more information.…

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HPH379: What is inclusive design? – with Stephanie Kyle 42:56

4M ago42:56

42:56

Stephanie Kyle from Floyd Slaski Architects explains how we can design for disability, gender, religion, and anything that’s considered a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. She also highlights the biggest challenge of inclusive design which is people’s differing needs, and suggests how we best go about designing spaces. Check out the …

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HPH378: Accessibility for all – with Guy Harris 33:59

4M ago33:59

33:59

Guy Harris from AccessiblePRS explains why accessible housing is important, what the key considerations are and how to deliver it well. He also shares his experience of designing his own house as a wheelchair user. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH377: Retrofitting a 1950s semi-detached ex-council house – with Toby Cambray 39:44

5M ago39:44

39:44

Toby Cambray talks about the experience of working on his own retrofit project, and the lessons learnt in the process. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH376: What is WUFI? – with Toby Cambray 38:55

5M ago38:55

38:55

Toby Cambray talks about the risks associated with moisture in buildings, and the modelling techniques – like WUFI® – that can be used to assess those risks. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH375: A day in the life of a builder – with Mike Whitfield 36:13

6M ago36:13

36:13

Mike Whitfield shares his experience of running a local construction company that specialises in Passivhaus. He explains how the business is structured, and what tasks are tackled on a daily and weekly basis. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH374: Building for People - with Mike Eliason 45:21

6M ago45:21

45:21

Mike Eliason talks about his book, Building for People, and the massive opportunity we have to create better places through being more intentional and thoughtful. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH373: Using a willow bed to treat sewage - with Laila Dudhill 31:05

7M ago31:05

31:05

Laila Dudhill explains some of the challenges she faced when planning her new build home at the bottom of a sloping field. Not only did she have to deal with drainage across the site, diverting the natural flow of water away from the house, but also come up with a foul drainage strategy that would off-set phosphate discharge into the local watercou…

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Season 3, Episode #6 - Inside the Boiler Room - Feb 2025 - Ray Wohlfarth 32:14

7M ago32:14

32:14

This episode of Inside Boiler Room features boiler historian, international author, columnist, and consultant Ray Wohlfarth. Ray has been working with boilers for more than 40 years, written 13 books on many aspects of working with boilers, and hosts a series called the Boiler Room Detective on his YouTube Channel. In this episode, Ray shares his p…

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HPH372: Introducing the circular economy to housing 44:45

7M ago44:45

44:45

Katherine Adams and Connie Spoor talk about the circular economy and construction, and practical strategies for making reuse a priority on housing projects and self-builds. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH371: What is wood fibre insulation? – with Chris Brookman 35:42

8M ago35:42

35:42

Chris Brookman from Back to Earth explains what wood fibre insulation is, how it could be used on a project and why careful specification is required. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH370: Where your money goes on a home retrofit project 1:00:49

8M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Florence Collier, founder of Humblebee, takes us step-by-step through the deep retrofit of her 1970s home. She explains the costs relating to each measure and the cumulative total as the project advances. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH369: Converting a barn to meet the Living Building Challenge – with Toby Diggens 46:56

8M ago46:56

46:56

Toby Diggens explains what it takes to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge, and working to the standard when renovating an existing building. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH368: Creating biodiverse natural landscapes – with Toby Diggens 47:23

9M ago47:23

47:23

Toby Diggens, founder and co-director of Digg and Co outlines how we can all contribute to creating ecologically diverse and resilient landscapes to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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Season 3, Episode #5 - Inside the Boiler Room - Dec 2024 - Impact of Boiler Fans - Tristen Gitzel, Northern Blower 30:20

9M ago30:20

30:20

Tristen Gitzel from Northern Blower joins Inside the Boiler Room for a insightful discussion on boiler fan technology and its impact on operations and efficiency.By ABMA

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HPH367: A furniture maker builds a timber eco home – with Lucinda Leech 32:49

9M ago32:49

32:49

Furniture maker Lucinda Leech shares her story of building a modest, but beautiful eco home. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH366: Could a home energy transformation pay for itself? 45:12

10M ago45:12

45:12

Howard Johns, founder of One Zero, outlines their home energy transformation service which includes topping up insulation and adding solar PV, battery storage and a heat pump. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH365: Becoming a housing activist – with Cypren Edmunds 37:58

10M ago37:58

37:58

Cypren Edmonds, a housing activist and advocate for bio-based building materials, describes the challenges he has faced living in social housing in London, and the health benefits and energy efficiency that can be achieved through building with straw. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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Season 3, Episode #4 - Inside the Boiler Room - November 2024 - National STEM/STEAM Day - Catie VanWormer, Cleaver-Brooks & Steven Taylor, WARE 33:18

11M ago33:18

33:18

National STEM/STEAM Day, a day dedicated to promoting and celebrating education and careers in science, technology, engineering, art & design, and mathematics, takes place on November 8th. In honor of national STEM/STEAM Day, ABMA is dedicating November's podcast episode on discussing the importance of STEAM in the boiler industry. ABMA's Vice Pres…

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HPH364: The power of community led housing – with Kareem Dayes from RUSS 1:02:52

11M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Kareem Dayes, co-founder of RUSS in Lewisham, explains why setting up a Community Land Trust was a route to deliver genuinely affordable housing and create a better neighbourhood. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH363: Is it worth getting an asbestos survey for an existing home? 48:37

11M ago48:37

48:37

Greg Byrne from RB Asbestos Consultants explains what asbestos is, why it was used so widely in construction, its potential impact on health, and how you go about identifying and removing asbestos products. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH362: An easier way to build a certified Passivhaus – with Clare and Ross Booth 34:21

12M ago34:21

34:21

Clare and Ross Booth from Coldwells Build share details of their prefabricated, turnkey Passivhaus designs that aim to simplify the delivery of high performance homes in Scotland. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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Season 3, Episode #3 - Inside the Boiler Room - September 2024 - Investing in Boiler Education - Jonathan Kapel, STEAMWORKS 27:33

12M ago27:33

27:33

Jonathan Kapel joins ABMA's Inside the Boiler Room for a captivating conversation about the importance of properly trained boiler operators to head off minor issues before they major ones and ensure a safe and efficient boiler room.By ABMA

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HPH361: What's the difference between a renovation and a retrofit? 44:22

12M ago44:22

44:22

Paul Testa from HEM Architects explains the difference between renovation and retrofit, using his own home as an example of a deep retrofit. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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Season 3, Episode #2 - Inside the Boiler Room - August 2024 - Hydrogen Firing in the Boiler Room - Bob Langstine, Zeeco 26:43

1y ago26:43

26:43

Bob Langstine from Zeeco joined Inside the Boiler Room to share insights on the evolution of hydrogen as an energy source in the boiler room. Scott and Bob discussed the current state of hydrogen, what makes it different than other sources, and the challenges to expanding opportunities. For more details about Zeeco, please visit Zeeco.com. ABMA's I…

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HPH360: Why MVHR maintenance and servicing is important – with Richard Hollas 35:50

1y ago35:50

35:50

Richard Hollas from 21 Degrees explains why regular MVHR maintenance and servicing is essential, what it entails, and we accompany him step-by-step as he services a unit. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH359: External shading solutions – with Paul Morris 34:56

1y ago34:56

34:56

Paul Morris from Solar-Shield explains how external shading can help control solar gains and reduce internal temperatures, keeping your home cool as temperatures rise. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH358: Getting the right mortgage for a house build project – with Tom McSherry 42:58

1y ago42:58

42:58

Tom McSherry from BuildStore explains the importance of cashflow when it comes to building a house and why a big part of selecting the right mortgage product is about planning your project around your budget and making sure you have accurate costings. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH357: Beginner's guide to eco renovation – with Judith Leary-Joyce 50:21

1y ago50:21

50:21

Judith Leary-Joyce shares her experience of retrofitting a Victorian end-terrace house to reduce energy consumption, make it more healthy and comfortable, and leave a sustainable legacy for future generations. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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Season 3, Episode #1 - Inside the Boiler Room - July 2024 - Retubing A Boiler with Valley Boiler & Mechanical 24:45

1y ago24:45

24:45

In this episode, Brandon Jarrell and Paul Cooper join Inside the Boiler Room to discuss their recent boiler retube project in Richmond, VA, why a retube might be a good solution and what can be done to avoid the downtime and cost of a large maintenance project. For more details on Valley Boiler, please visit them at www.valleyboiler.net. ABMA's Ins…

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HPH356: What is Passivhaus certification? – with Kym Mead 35:03

1y ago35:03

35:03

Kym Mead from Mead Consulting explains what Passivhaus certification is, how the process works and why there is a difference between certified Passivhaus buildings and those that just adopt a 'Passivhaus principles' approach. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH355: The Story of Upfront Carbon - with Lloyd Alter 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

Lloyd Alter explains the term upfront carbon, its relevance to us all as consumers, and why he felt compelled to write a book on the topic. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH354: How natureplus helps you identify sustainable building products - with Tilmann Kramolisch 34:41

1+ y ago34:41

34:41

Tilmann Kramolisch from natureplus explains why their eco label was established, how materials and products are assessed, and what it means to use a natureplus certified product on your project. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH353: 12 tips for a successful Passivhaus project 22:48

1+ y ago22:48

22:48

Speakers from the Passivhaus workshop event at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon each share a top tip. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH352: Encouraging and supporting home retrofit in your local area 42:28

1+ y ago42:28

42:28

Neighbours Wookey and Rob Leedham explain why they were motivated to retrofit their homes, how they built up knowledge and why engaging with others on a similar path has been extremely useful. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH351: Creating affordable, high quality, low carbon homes - with Linda Farrow 31:42

1+ y ago31:42

31:42

Linda Farrow from Agile Homes explains how their prefabricated panelised system can deliver high quality and truly affordable homes that are good for the planet. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH350: What is value engineering? 29:41

1+ y ago29:41

29:41

Ben Adam-Smith explains what value engineering is and how it can help us to do more with less. He reflects on a short video about Slate House in Herefordshire that includes some great examples of value engineering. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH349: Timber build approaches – with Meredith Bowles 50:33

1+ y ago50:33

50:33

Meredith Bowles from Mole Architects shares his experience working with timber as a construction material and explains the benefits and drawbacks of the different build approaches. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH348: Why do homes get mould? – with Alexx Stuart 42:54

1+ y ago42:54

42:54

Alexx Stuart from Low Tox Life shares her experiences of toxic mould exposure and offers some advice on how best to keep your home healthy and mould free. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH347: Common pitfalls to avoid when building a house – with Amelia Lee 57:17

1+ y ago57:17

57:17

Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares some common themes that tend to crop up on owner-builder projects (particularly with people who are doing this for the first time) and explains how they can be avoided by creating a clear foundation of your values and project intentions. Check out the show notes for more information.…

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HPH346: Passivhaus homes where cooling is a key consideration – with Andy Marlow 41:16

1+ y ago41:16

41:16

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.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH345: Why is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) such a useful tool? – with Sarah Lewis 43:41

1+ y ago43:41

43:41

Sarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is and how it is used during the design process. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith

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HPH344: Hazel Tree Passivhaus – with Janice Gardiner 30:13

1+ y ago30:13

30:13

Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and the client of last week’s interviewee Josh Wood at Green Trace Architect, is here to tell us what it is like to be the client on a Passivhaus project and share what she has learnt from the experience. Check out the show notes for more information.By Ben Adam-Smith