You can’t build ten versions of the same house, live in them for ten years, and then pick the best one.

We’re sitting down with thermal modelling specialist Cameron Munro to talk about why “model early and model often” should be a non-negotiable part of pre-construction, whether you’re chasing Passive House or just trying to build a home that actually feels good to live in.

We explain what modelling is really for (direction, not perfection), how to run “what if” scenarios across glazing, insulation, shading, and floor build-ups, and why the best decisions come from cost-benefit thinking instead of intuition. We also get into the real-world gap between models and lived performance, the risk of not updating models as drawings change, and why overheating is the mistake that bites hardest when you skip the final iteration.

If you want fewer ugly conversations later, this is the episode.

00:00 Introduction

02:08 Modelling As A “What If” Tool

06:31 Where To Spend Your Effort (Heat Loss Breakdown)

09:04 Under-Slab vs Over-Slab: Thermal Bridges And Payback

13:34 Pro Clima Detail Library Shoutout

15:17 “You Don’t Need Triple Glazing In Melbourne” (Context Matters)

17:00 Overheating Risk And Why Passive House Classic Is Safer

18:07 Shading: External Beats Internal

24:24 When To Bring A Modeller In (Concept Stage)

33:25 Why You Must Update The Model As Drawings Change

35:37 Treat Modelling Like Engineering

37:30 Builder Liability And Using A Modeller To Reduce Guesswork

45:14 Keep It Simple: Standard Details And Practical Wins

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