MASTERCLASS: Getting to Net Zero

John Palmer is Research and Policy Director at the Passivhaus Trust, where he recently authored Passivhaus: the route to Zero Carbon?, exploring how to ensure zero carbon targets result in zero emission buildings. John is a certified Passivhaus consultant, SAP Assessor, systems engineer and experienced project manager.  In practice he works with a team of engineers using fabric-first building physics principles to design and build living spaces that are comfortable, healthy, energy efficient and easy to maintain. Prior to entering the construction sector, John spent 16 years as an engineering officer in the Royal Navy, which included three years at the Ministry of Defence. 

Kirsten Henson is Director of KLH Sustainability, a sustainable construction consultancy. A a guest lecturer in Engineering at several universities, Kirsten also provides specialist sustainability input to the International Olympic Committee as well as Independent Design Review Panels including HS2 and Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. Kirsten’s research-based approach, supported by practical knowledge and an extensive network of professionals, often opens new avenues of thought. She recently completed research on the sustainable use of aggregates which has informed the new BREEAM 2018 Wst 02 criteria, considering aspects such as regional availability, social impacts of transportation and carbon footprint.

Tim Martel is a freelance Chartered Architectural Technologist, Passivhaus Designer and Retrofit Coordinator with a background in calculations through commercial R&D. He is currently a tutor for the AECB for the Economics and Building Physics/Case studies modules. Tim has been a Passivhaus Designer for 6 years, working on new houses and the Passivhaus Garway community centre. He is an expert of PHPP and the advanced variants feature and has written the PHribbon tool to make it faster. He has worked extensively with the AECB using the Omnisense monitoring system which is unique in being able to measure moisture content inside walls as well as temperature and humidity. He used this to prepare large amounts of data for the Case Studies and Economics modules of the Carbonlite Retrofit course.