Zero Ambitions Podcast

Returning champion, Dave Pearson of Star Refrigeration joins us to talk about the viability of heat networks. There loads we can learn from Dave's experience, so keep a notepad handy.Rather than talk in the abstract, we discussed the conditions that make them viable, why anyone should consider one, and how we can make them happen.Notes from the showDave Pearson on LinkedInThe Star Refrigeration websiteAn example of Dave's blunt and incisive candour on LinkedInThe 'Fairopoly' website and animationShould I Bake and the Baking Forcast Twitter feed (I won't call it X, it's like when Peter Mandleson rebranded the Post Office as Consignia, remember that?)  The new Passive House Plus, featuring the River Clyde Homes project in which Dave and Star are involved**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.agencyFollow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn pageSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCEmail Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION** 

Lauding an alternative viewpoint to always aiming for the loftiest standards, in this PH+ Revisited Lloyd is championing Toby Cambray's Insulate Britain-inspired article, from February 2022: Let's get decarbonisation done. It's an article about taking a differently-considered approach to domestic decarbonisation strategy and one that Lloyd has referenced frequently because of its refreshingly pragmatic look at prioritising our action. Should we favour deep, whole-house retrofits as per traditional Passivhaus dogma, or should we push for the installation of heat pumps and do just enough retrofit to make it all work?You can read what Lloyd has written about 'heatpumpification' in response to Toby's article on Treehugger but this feels like sufficient summary for here:"He breaks my spellchecker by verbing heat pumps, writing that while you could just install heat pumps, "this does not however mean that it’s a good idea to put a heat pump in a building with poor fabric efficiency. Although there are cases where other constraints mean we have little choice, ultimately we need to both (mostly) Insulate Britain and (mostly) Heatpumpify Britain." Heatpumpify and heatpumpification have been added to my dictionary".Retrofit is a part of the climate discourse that can often feel dominated by a puritan attitude towards fabric-first approaches and the heresy that Toby presents feels like a  practical philosophy that balances high-performance building with an awareness of embodied carbon.We also make sure that Richard Lowes gets his credit for authoring this new verb: to "heatpumpify" a home or building.And, when we get around to learning iMovie, there might be a little bit of video on our Zero Ambitions LinkedIn page, so give us a follow there if you can.Notes from the showLet's get decarbonisation done, from Passive House Plus (February 2022)Toby Cambray on LinkedInGreengauge Building Energy ConsultantsLloyd's Treehugger piece in response to Toby's article**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.agencyFollow us on the Zero Ambitions LinkedIn pageSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCEmail Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**

Joined by returning champion, Rufus Grantham, we're talking about using community and place-based approaches to catalysing large-scale retrofit. To this end he's set up a new consultancy Living Places and he'll tell you all about it this week.We're not pretending it's actually easy, but if you create the opportunity the finance will follow, and setting up the opportunity is a lot harder than finding money that wants to be put to 'work'.We cover everything we can in the time we have: net zero neighbourhoods, innovative finance in lieu of debt, social benefit opportunities, supply chains, and touch on the limited (or limiting) role of green mortgages.We're really looking forward to seeing what happens with this one.Notes from the episodeRufus on LinkedInThe official website for Living Places**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**

Welcome home Duncan Smith! And, we're pleased to introduce Richard Orr, Head of Asset and Regeneration at River Clyde Homes.We've been alluding to the things that Duncan is up in his new role as Head of Energy & Sustainability, so we were delighted when he said he'd come back to tell us all about his new life in Greenock.The work they're doing should be as significant for private developers as it is for the social housing sector. It's a big strategic project, providing better homes for their tenants, and better living for a whole community on the River Clyde. They're being very ambitious and they're well aware that they won't meet all of their lofty aspirations, but what they're achieving already feels pretty significant. Approaching asset development and renewal with a long-term vision that is addressing: fuel poverty, demand reduction, localised energy generation and distribution, community wealth building, and even a carbon offsetting scheme that could really make a difference. Notes from the episodeRiver Clyde HomesThe Passive House Plus article about this inspiring project'Back to the Future': the Green Building, built in 1994 in Dublin's Temple Bar Vertical farming on Brass Eye IndiNature - Natural fibre construction insulation The Politics of Change and a Real Green New Deal (part 1), with Robin McAlpine of Common WealThe Politics of Change and a Real Green New Deal (part 2), with Robin McAlpine of Common Weal**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**

Kit Knowles is a sustainability consultant whose pioneering practice, Ecospheric, is forging its own path, concerned with making the greatest impact, getting things done, and big backer of research so they can learn how to do better.This week’s episode can be summarised as being about “the inherent conservation of energy principles associated with a building” i.e. design before fabric, and doing the work on paper before you get close to construction. Hence, ‘fabric second, not fabric first’.His firm, Ecospheric, is an award-winning consultancy that supports planners, architects, and developers in designing and delivering pioneering eco developments that save carbon and drive technological change. There’s every chance that you’ll have encountered his work before, particularly the renowned Zetland Passive House in Manchester.We touch on a bit of everything but there’s loads more to see to check the Ecospheric website.Notes from the episodeEcospheric's websiteZetland Road in Passive House Plus: The deepest greenest retrofit ever?Ecospheric on Twitter (or X as it's known now, apparently)**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**

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**