Sustainable Holmes
By: Robyn Johnson
Language: en-au
Categories: Education, Leisure, Home, Garden, Society
Whether you're planning a renovation or building new home in Greater Sydney, the Southern Highlands, or the Illawarra-Shoalhaven areas, this podcast is your guide to clarifying your sustainable home goals, to connecting with the right professionals, understanding what makes homes perform better, and using materials wisely.
Episodes
Small Footprint, Big Impact: Building Climate-Resilient Homes with Ben Wollen
Dec 15, 2025Episode Summary
What if the key to truly sustainable housing isn't building bigger, but building smarter? In this conversation, architect Ben Wollen reveals why small, well-designed homes with multiple generations in mind are the future of sustainable building—and why your most valuable design investment isn't solar panels, but thoughtful orientation and a tight building envelope.
Ben brings a rare dual perspective to architecture, combining environmental science with architectural design. This unique background shapes his approach to creating homes that don't just minimise environmental impact, but actively withstand the intensifying effects of climate ch...
Duration: 01:07:37Beyond Fast-Food Housing: Building Better with Adam Souter
Nov 24, 2025In this episode, Robyn sits down with Adam Souter from Souter Built, a builder who's raising the standard for sustainable construction. Adam's journey from working on luxury Sydney homes to building passive house-standard projects reveals what's possible when quality and sustainability become non-negotiable.
Adam shares his frustration with Australia's "she'll be right" building culture and explains why fast-food housing—those grand five-bedroom homes with whisper-thin windows—won't stand the test of time. His approach is different: invest in what you can't easily change later. Thick insulation, proper weather-resistant wrapping, thermally-broken double-glazed windows, and ventilated cavities that keep stru...
Duration: 00:56:45The Hidden Energy Drain in Your Home: Why Your Next Renovation Needs a Data-Driven Plan
Nov 03, 2025Episode Summary
Are you planning a renovation but worried about making expensive mistakes? In this eye-opening episode, Robyn sits down with Michael Tibbs, a Mechanical Engineer and Home Energy Advisor from NEST EMPOWERED who's at the forefront of Australia's newest tool for assessing existing homes.
Discover why your gut instincts about energy efficiency might be costing you thousands. Michael reveals insights from his work rating homes across NSW, including:
Why that expensive solar system might leave you freezing coldThe hidden appliance that's likely your biggest energy drain (hint: it's not heating)How... Duration: 00:52:53Sustainable Homes without the Overwhelm
Nov 03, 2025Penny Keogh, Eaves Content Agency and Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design
In this launch episode, host Robyn Johnson speaks with friend Penny Keogh about Penny's work in Co-Directing the Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design (IFAD) into it's third year of hosting some of the most exceptional professionals in Illawarra region to discuss their projects, and to share their passions. Run annually in October, the 2025 theme is connecting our homes to the outdoors.
Eaves Content Agency
Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design
Robyn's Journey and Expertise
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