Building Sustainability Podcast
The majority of homes currently being built are bad for the earth, the occupants and the builder’s health.
Every fortnight, join Jeffrey Hart as he talks to designers, builders, makers, dreamers and doers. Exploring the wide world of sustainability in the built environment by talking to wonderful people who are doing excellent things.
Whether you want to learn more about natural materials, are navigating your own self build, or just want to know that better alternatives are out there, this is the podcast for you.
New to the podcast? Start here:
How to design the natural home of your dreams - Sigi Koko - BS070
Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams …
How Buildings can Save the World - Chris Magwood - BS044
Chris Magwood not only has a huge wealth of experience building straw bale homes, but has the building science Masters degree to …
Solving damp problems with lime - Ben Kerslake - BS042
This week I am joined by Ben Kerslake from Carrington Lime . As well as a general geek out about lime, we mostly talk about how t…
Sand Stories - The sustainability of sand - Kiran Pereira - BS035
Kiran Pereira is the author of the forthcoming book Sand Stories: Surprising truths about the global sand crisis and the quest fo…
Mud, the ultimate building material - Becky Little - BS018
This week we have a conversation with mud mason, Becky Little from Rebearth . "Rebearth is a Scottish company founded by mud maso…
Prefabricated straw panels & magic mud - Bee Rowan - BS007
Natural builder, Bee Rowan talks to us about Ecococoon straw bale panels. These prefabricated panels are load bearing and highly …
Recent Episodes
Developing your craft - John Mullaney - BS089
Nov. 21, 2022
In this episode, I'm joined by green woodworker John Mullaney. John has carved out the reputation as the shrink pot guy but has many strings to his bow. We discuss his origins & craft in this joyous conversation that will in…
Charcoal & Biochar - Duncan Goulder & Sam Ansell - BS088
Nov. 7, 2022
The 3rd and final coppice focussed episode is with Duncan and Sam from The Coppice Co-op. We are predominantly talking about Charcoal in this episode, its history, its uses and the ways to make it. This episode is part of a …
Spelk Basketry - Lorna Singleton - BS087
Nov. 7, 2022
Lorna Singleton is a coppice worker, basket maker and green woodworker. Specialising in Spelk Basketry - About Lorna - "I am one of the UK’s last remaining ‘swillers’, a specialist in weaving baskets using coppiced oak. From…
Coppicing with BHMAT - Kath Morgan & Mike Carswell - BS086
Nov. 7, 2022
In this episode we hear from Kath Morgan who is the coordinator and administrator for the Bill Hogarth Memorial Apprenticeship Trust and Mike Carswell, a coppice worker and former BHMAT apprentice. At the end of August 2022 …
Understanding Air Tightness Testing - Gervase Mangwana (3/3) - BS085
Aug. 8, 2022
The concluding part to my conversation with Gervase Mangwana - This episode we talk through air tightness testing and what the results mean. Should we be using permeability, or air changes per hour? Some of this conversatio…
How deep to Retrofit & Ventilating Right - Gervase Mangwana (2/3) - BS084
Aug. 4, 2022
Part two of my conversation with Gervase Mangwana - This episode follows on from BS083 and we talk carbon payback, and cost payback of an EnerPHit retrofit. Is going all the way to EnerPHit always the right thing to do? Then…
Retrofitting to EnerPHit standard - Gervase Mangwana (1/3) - BS083
Aug. 1, 2022
This is the first of 3 episodes with Gervase Wangwana - a Retrofit specialist, Airtightness tester and reformed DJ. Part 2 will look more into ventilation and part 3 is all about air tightness. Become a Patreon supporter in…
Material Carbon Emissions & The BEAM Estimator - Chris Magwood - BS082
July 21, 2022
Chris Magwood is once again our guest on the podcast. Today we are discussing calculating materials carbon emissions, which might also be called up front carbon or embodied carbon. Chris and his team at buildersforclimateact…
An architect's guide to achieving a work/life balance - Clare Nash - BS080
June 17, 2022
Today I'm joined by Clare Nash who describes herself as an "Architect creating dream eco-homes, barn conversions plus environmental and community focused housing schemes" Today we are talking about how to find a work/life ba…
Contemporary Vernacular Design - Clare Nash - BS081
June 16, 2022
The second Episode with Architect Clare Nash this time discussing the findings from her book Contemporary Vernacular Design How British Housing Can Rediscover Its Soul The book presents 25 inspirational housing schemes provi…
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About the Host
Jeffrey Hart
Producer / Host
As well as producer and host of Building Sustainability Podcast - I am a builder, focussed on building highly efficient homes from natural materials. I blend the tried and tested methods of heritage vernacular building with modern building and material science to create buildings that are healthy to the builder, occupant and the environment.
He/Him/HIs