The Building Sciology Poddie

Building Science for Aussie Builders with Dr Joe Listiburek and Dr John Straube - 9th November 7.30am AEDT - REGISTER HERE!!

The idea that a house needs to breathe is one of the most stubborn and destructive myths on site today. Host Jess Kismet sits down with Dr. Allison Bailes III (Founder of Energy Vanguard) to dissect the building physics behind airtightness, moisture control, and real indoor air quality. Whether you are detailing high-performance wall assemblies, managing moisture risk, or navigating Australian standards, this conversation provides straightforward, practical answers for the job site and drawing board.
Key Discussion Points:
The Breathing Myth: Why uncontrolled air leaks simply pull in dirty air from roof cavities, crawl spaces, and garages.

Control Layers: Why you must manage water, air, heat, and vapour sequentially to stop structural rot.

Vapour Barriers: How proper vapour control placement depends entirely on whether you are in a heating, cooling, or mixed climate zone.

7 Steps to IAQ: Why source control - stopping bad stuff from entering the house in the first place - is your primary line of defence.

Connect with the Guest:
Connect with Dr. Allison Bailes III on LinkedIn

Visit the Energy Vanguard Website

Find the full show notes on the website
Thank you to our sponsors Enduro Builders and Climasure
Join the mailing list here!

In this eye-opening episode, host Jess Kismet speaks with Plum Stone, founder of the Safer Air Project, who brings a health policy and lived-experience lens to indoor air quality. Plum redefines clean air as a fundamental accessibility and equity issue, exposing the severe health impacts that poor indoor environments have on vulnerable populations in schools and workplaces. From classroom CO2 spikes to national performance standards, this discussion highlights why we must stop treating clean air as an afterthought and start engineering safer shared spaces for everyone.

Find the show notes on the⁠ ⁠website.⁠⁠

Thank you to our sponsors⁠ ⁠Enduro Builders⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Climasure⁠⁠
Join the mailing list⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠!

Fresh off the AIRAH Indoor Air Quality Conference in Cairns, host Jess Kismet sits down with building science expert Sean Maxwell to unpack essential insights on ventilation, enclosure physics, and moisture control. Together, they discuss wisdom from industry legend Joe Lstiburek, why immediate regulatory action on continuous apartment ventilation beats waiting for perfection, and the necessity of external continuous insulation to protect building envelopes. The conversation challenges traditional HVAC design habits by demonstrating why outdoor air isn't always clean air and advocating for mechanical systems engineered around dew point targets rather than temperature alone.

Find the show notes on the ⁠website.⁠

Thank you to our sponsors ⁠Enduro Builders⁠ and ⁠Climasure⁠
Join the mailing list ⁠here⁠!

Mechanical engineer Sonia Holzheimer joins host Jess Kismet to explore why designing HVAC systems for tropical climates like Far North Queensland requires a completely different playbook than standard southern building codes. Sonia breaks down the crucial differences between air conditioning and true dehumidification, revealing how modern inverter technology and energy-efficiency measures can inadvertently lead to severe indoor moisture traps and mould.
From advocating for indoor dew point regulation over dry bulb temperature to inspiring the next generation through her project Cool Engineers, this episode offers a vital deep dive into the realities of tropical building science.

What We Cover in This Episode
Tropical vs. Southern Building Codes: Why extreme moisture loads in regions like Far North Queensland break standard Australian design rules.

Air Conditioners vs. Dehumidifiers: How energy-efficient inverter split systems fail to manage humidity, and why dedicated dehumidification is necessary.

Dew Point vs. Relative Humidity: Why relative humidity is a misleading metric for indoor air quality, and why regulating dew point prevents mould growth.

Envelope and HVAC Integration: How early collaboration between designers and mechanical engineers secures vapor barrier placement, roof space sealing, and positive building pressurization.

Elevating the Engineering Profession: Sonia Holzheimer’s Cool Engineers initiative to demystify engineering, inspire local talent, and drive higher building performance standards.

Find the show notes on the⁠⁠ ⁠website.⁠⁠⁠
Thank you to our sponsors⁠⁠ ⁠Enduro Builders⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ ⁠Climasure⁠⁠⁠
Join the mailing list⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠!

In this episode of the Building Sciology Poddie, host Jess Kismet sits down with Alex Kessler, translational scientist and founder of The Healthy Home Guide. After developing severe Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) from toxic mould exposure in his own home, Alex turned his scientific background toward environmental consulting to help others navigate complex chronic illnesses, allergies, and indoor air pollution.
Alex breaks down common misconceptions around standard HEPA filtration, explains why high clean air delivery rates (CADR) matter more than standard efficiency percentages, and introduces the benefits of MERV-13 filtration. The conversation covers how to accurately monitor indoor air quality, affordable DIY fresh-air ventilation options for renters, and proper small particle cleaning techniques that avoid triggering toxic mould defenses.
What we cover in this episode:
Prioritize CADR over HEPA ratings: High-airflow MERV-13 filters drop room particle levels faster, quieter, and with less energy than restrictive H13 HEPA units.

Track particle counts, not mass: Standard PM2.5 mass monitors miss lightweight mould fragments and toxins - use a particle counter for an accurate picture of indoor air.

Dilute indoor air with fresh air: Purifiers trap particles, but continuous fresh air dilutes toxins. Renters can build a simple DIY window-mounted ERV to bring in filtered, tempered air.

Remove mould, don't try to kill it: Bleach, vinegar, and essential oils stress mold, causing it to release defensive mycotoxins. Physically lift particles using plain soap, water, and microfiber.

Air quality is one piece of the puzzle: Full recovery requires pairing clean air with nervous system regulation, circadian alignment, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and zero alcohol.

Find the show notes on the⁠ ⁠website.⁠⁠
Thank you to our sponsors⁠ ⁠Enduro Builders⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Climasure⁠⁠
Join the mailing list⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠!