From homes to high rises, the Built Environment shapes everything around us. This podcast is about asking better questions about construction, design, sustainability, and how we live. Whether you're a builder, architect, homeowner, or just curious, this is a space for open, honest conversations about the future we're creating together.
Jason O’Hagan from Weathertex joins Dean to break down one of the more widely used alternative cladding products in Australia. This conversation looks at how Weathertex is made, where it fits in the shift toward lightweight construction, and why more builders are starting to question the materials they use for performance, and also the health and environmental impact. There’s also a broader discussion around prefabrication, carbon, and what actually changes in the industry when materials, methods, and expectations all start moving at once. In this episode: What Weathertex is made from and how it’s manufactured Why it’s considered a low-tox, low-carbon cladding option The shift from masonry to lightweight construction What builders are starting to care about (and why) Third-party certifications and how they cut through greenwashing Prefabrication and where cladding fits in that future Internal vs external applications and real-world durability The role of timber and biogenic carbon in construction Links and Resources: Weathertex: weathertex.com.au Weathertex video library: weathertex.com.au/resources/videos/ Global GreenTag: globalgreentag.com Forest & Wood Products Australia: fwpa.com.au PrefabAUS: prefabaus.org.au Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Recorded live at Sydney Build, Dean is joined by Sean Bull (Xlam), Zac Kerr (Stiebel Eltron) and Dylan Viviers (Holcim) to explore how construction can meaningfully reduce carbon emissions. The panel unpacks the difference between embodied carbon and operational carbon, and where builders, designers and suppliers can take practical action today. From mass timber and prefabrication to heat pumps, solar integration and low-carbon concrete, the discussion focuses on collaboration, education and systems thinking over single silver bullet style solutions. In this episode: What mass timber and CLT are and how they store carbon Prefabrication, speed of construction and housing supply Fire performance and structural considerations with CLT Heat pumps, electrification and reducing operational energy demand Using solar and thermal storage to flatten peak energy loads Why building fabric and insulation should come first How low-carbon concrete reduces embodied emissions Misconceptions around set time, cost and performance Environmental Product Declarations and carbon transparency Managing construction waste and closing material loops The role of policy, standards and education in industry change Links and Resources: Sydney Build 2026 (April 29-30): sydneybuildexpo.com Holcim EcoPact Low Carbon Concrete: holcim.com.au/ecopact Xlam - Cross Laminated Timber: xlam.co Surfers for Climate: surfersforclimate.org.au/ Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.au Green Building Council of Australia: gbca.au GBCA Transform Event (Sydney March 17th 2026): gbca.au/courses-events/major-events/transform Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
This is Part 2 of Dean’s conversation with Tom Stephenson from Stiebel Eltron. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there first. In this episode the conversation moves beyond heat pumps to the broader systems that make high-performance homes work — ventilation, airtightness, building fabric and energy management. Tom walks through the design of his own all-electric home, explaining how geothermal heating, ventilation with heat recovery, thermal storage and solar generation work together to reduce energy demand while improving comfort. The discussion also explores the practical realities of high-performance construction, including humidity management, cooling strategies and the role of smart controls in optimising energy use. In this episode: Designing a high-performance, all-electric home Geothermal heating, cooling and thermal storage Ventilation systems and indoor air quality The difference between HRV and ERV systems Why airtight homes require controlled ventilation Managing humidity and condensation risks The role of solar, batteries and energy management systems How building fabric impacts energy demand Common misconceptions about heat pumps The future of heat pump technology and refrigerants Tom also reflects on what he learned from building his own home, and why comfort, health and long-term performance often matter more than simple return-on-investment calculations. Links and Resources: Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.au Your Home guide to ventilation and airtightness: yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/ventilation-airtightness Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Dean sits down with Tom Stephenson from Stiebel Eltron to unpack heat pump technology and the role it plays in electrifying modern homes. Tom explains how heat pumps work, why they’re significantly more efficient than gas systems, and how pairing them with solar PV changes the way homes consume and store energy. They explore why improving building fabric should come before adding mechanical systems, and how architects, builders and developers are starting to rethink energy systems in residential construction. The conversation explores: How heat pumps work What Coefficient of Performance (COP) means Why heat pumps can produce 3–4x more heat energy than the electricity they use Air-to-air, air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps Why Australia’s plumbing systems have traditionally relied on gas The shift toward all-electric homes Solar PV, thermal storage and hot water as a “thermal battery” Why building fabric and insulation matter before mechanical systems Tom’s own all-electric home and how it performs in practice Links and Resources: Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.au Your Home - Guide to Environmentally Sustainable Homes : yourhome.gov.au Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Dean sits down with Daniel Gudsell from Abodo to unpack timber, forestry and embodied carbon, and how material choices shape the long term impact of what we build. Daniel shares the origin story of Abodo, from exporting timber into the Pacific Islands to developing thermally modified radiata pine as an alternative to old growth hardwoods. Daniel also breaks down how fast growing plantation timber can store carbon more rapidly than slow growing species, and why the discussion needs to move beyond single issue sustainability This episode is all about understanding forestry, carbon accounting, material performance and the trade offs involved in building at scale. The conversation explores: Why native hardwoods became the benchmark for durability and aesthetics The limits of old growth supply in a housing constrained world Thermal modification and how it changes timber performance Plantation forestry vs native forest harvesting FSC certification and set aside biodiversity land Carbon storage in timber and how it’s measured Why embodied carbon is an immediate impact The limits of “carbon negative” claims Passive House, materials selection and lifecycle thinking Why composite decking may not be the environmental solution many assume Links and Resources: Abodo: abodo.com.au Follow Abodo Wood on instagram: @abodowood Abodo's Environmental Product Declaration: abodo.co.nz/uploads/resource/Abodo-Wood-Environmental-Product-Declaration.pdf Watch Daniel's TedX Talk on The Future of Wood: tedxauckland.com/people/daniel-gudsell/ FSC - Forest Stewardship Council: fsc.org/en PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): pefc.org Green Building Council Australia: gbca.au Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Dean sits down with Sean Bull from Xlam to unpack cross laminated timber (CLT) — how it’s made, how it performs, and whether it can play a meaningful role in reducing embodied carbon across Australian construction. Sean shares his journey from structural engineering and post-tension concrete into the mass timber space, and explains how CLT panels are manufactured, pressed and machined in Australia using radiata pine sourced from PEFC-certified forests. The conversation explores: What CLT actually is and how it’s manufactured Fire resistance levels (FRLs) and performance pathways Acoustic considerations in multi-residential builds Embodied carbon vs biogenic carbon storage Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) Forestry certification and sustainable sourcing The impact of the Black Summer bushfires on timber supply Installation timeframes and on-site efficiencies Cost comparisons with concrete structures Reuse and circular economy potential Whether mass timber can realistically scale to meet housing demand Sean also discusses a recent Luigi Rosselli project in Sydney and what’s required to bring CLT into mainstream housing, from design decisions to stakeholder. Links & Resources: Xlam Australia: xlam.com.au Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) – Xlam: xlam.co/resources PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): pefc.org Responsible Wood (Australian PEFC member): responsiblewood.org.au Living Building Challenge: living-future.org/lbc Luigi Rosselli Architects: luigirosselli.com Mass Timber podcast: masstimberpodcast.com Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Dean sits down with former builder and Passive House tradesman now working with Pro Clima, Stewart Scholten from Scholton Group, to talk about membranes, moisture management, airtightness and the shift happening in Australian construction. Stu shares his journey from carpentry apprenticeship through high-end residential construction, working with Bellavarde, delivering the first certified Passive House in the Northern Rivers, and transitioning into building science and product education. This episode is about understanding how better detailing, better science and better collaboration can lead to longer lasting buildings. In this episode: Why WRBs and membranes have become critical under recent NCC updates The difference between cladding and the true waterproofing layer Risk reduction in modern building Passive House principles and what builders can learn from them Airtightness and why it matters What a WUFI analysis is and why it’s becoming essential The role of mechanical ventilation Natural materials vs synthetic materials in moisture management Education gaps in the building industry Why site management and collaboration matter more than ever Links & Resources: Check out the Scholten Group: https://scholtengroup.com.au/ Smart Plus Academy https://smartplusacademy.com Passive House Institute https://passiv.de Australian Passive House Association https://passivehouseaustralia.org Pro Clima – Building envelope systems https://proclima.com Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Passive House is one of the most misunderstood concepts in residential construction... often dismissed as “too expensive,” “too European,” or “not suited to Australian climates.” In this episode, Dean sits down with Daniel Kress, founder of Smart Plus Academy, to talk about what Passive House is, how it works, and why builders need to understand it. Drawing on decades of experience across Germany, Ireland, Canada and Australia, Daniel explains the building physics behind comfort, airtightness, moisture control and energy use, and why most Australian homes still get these fundamentals wrong. The conversation also explores cost myths, window performance, the limits of NatHERS, and how better design-build integration can dramatically reduce construction risk. It’s a practical, builder-level conversation about performance, process, and why understanding Passive House principles can make you a better builder. In this episode: Daniel’s journey from German carpentry and prefab construction to Passive House education Why Passive House works in all climates, including Australia The science of comfort: temperature, humidity, CO₂ and health outcomes Airtightness explained The difference between Passive House , Passive House principles , and greenwashing Why certification exists Common misconceptions around cost Real numbers: additional cost per m² and where it’s actually absorbed Windows, condensation and why double glazing alone isn’t enough UPVC vs aluminium vs timber Why NatHERS misses critical performance issues in real buildings How builders can take control earlier through site selection and design input Where AI is already reshaping design, costing and performance modelling Why Passive House forces better communication between designers and builders The long-term financial, health and comfort benefits of getting it right Links & Resources: Smart Plus Academy https://smartplusacademy.com Passive House Institute https://passiv.de Australian Passive House Association https://passivehouseaustralia.org Pro Clima – Building envelope systems https://proclima.com NatHERS energy rating scheme h ttps://www.nathers.gov.au/ Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
In Part Two of this massive conversation, Dean Bowen returns to unpack the most confusing, frustrating and misunderstood part of the building industry: Home Warranty Insurance in New South Wales.. why it exists, how it works, and why the system is failing both builders and homeowners. They get brutally honest about the bureaucratic mismanagement behind the scheme, the insolvency crisis driving record claims, the unrealistic $340,000 cap, and the growing gap between what homeowners think they’re protected against and what the insurance actually covers. If you’re a builder trying to navigate eligibility, caps, financial reviews, and increasing premiums, or a homeowner wondering why your warranty certificate costs so much but covers so little, this episode is essential listening. In this episode: Why the NSW Home Warranty Scheme is “a complete shitshow” What Home Warranty really covers and the four triggers required for a claim Why insolvency is driving the majority of claims (and why that’s getting worse) The absurdity of the $340k cap in a world of $2–10 million builds How the scheme punishes good builders but still fails homeowners Should NSW adopt the Victorian or Queensland approach?\ The massive issue with combining residential and commercial work under one ABN Resources and Links: Find out more about DLB Insurance & Risk Solutions here: dlbinsurancerisk.com.au Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Insurance is one of the biggest blind spots in the construction industry and often the most expensive. In this episode, Dean sits down with Dean Bowen, founder of DLB Insurance & Risk Solutions, to unpack what builders actually need to know about contract works, liability, claims, premiums, and the risks most policies never explain. From why premiums have skyrocketed, to the truth about subbie injuries, internal labour-hire structures, and the massive gaps caused by facility broking, this conversation is a rare behind-the-scenes look at how insurance really works in construction.. Whether you’re a new builder or running a multi-million-dollar company, the insights here will help you understand your exposure, strengthen your risk strategy, and ask the right questions before you sign your next policy. In this conversation they cover: Why most builders become ‘just another number’ under facility-brokered policies The real factors driving up insurance costs (materials, labour, weather events, subbie injuries) The biggest underwriting red flags and how long they follow you How insurers assess risk, premiums and loss ratios behind the scenes Why internal labour-hire entities are causing a wave of new disputes How builders should structure policies as they grow Emerging risks: cyber fraud, PI exposure, management liability and more The gap no one talks about: existing structure insurance in renovations (and the huge disputes it’s now causing) This is Part 1 with Dean Bowen. Part 2 will tackle the monster topic of Home Warranty Insurance in NSW, a complete minefield for new and growing builders. Resources and Links: Find out more about DLB Insurance & Risk Solutions here: dlbinsurancerisk.com.au Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Electrification seems to be the most practical, cost-effective pathway for Australian homes to cut emissions and save money. In this episode, Dean sits down with author, engineer and electrification advocate Saul Griffith to break down the real opportunities in front of us, and what we know is already working. They dig into the practical realities behind the headlines: Why rooftop solar is now so cheap in Australia and what that unlocks The five big household decisions that determine nearly all your emissions “Machine turnover”: how simply replacing things as they fail gets us most of the way to net zero How families with big energy loads can make electrification work (and sometimes make it fun) The policy failures that slow progress and the places Australia is already leading Why anxiety and guilt don’t drive climate action, but clarity and timing do LINKS & RESOURCES: Check out all things Saul at: https://www.saulgriffith.com/ Grab a copy of 'Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future': https://www.amazon.com/dp/0262545047/ Follow Saul on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.electrify/ Support Rewiring Australia: https://rewiringaustralia.org/ Read 'The Electrification Tipping Point' by Rewiring Australia here: https://storage.googleapis.com/rewiring-aus-pdfs/The%20Electrification%20Tipping%20Point%20-%20Rewiring%20Australia%20-%20March%202025.pdf Hosted by Dean Ipaviz , builder & director at Verdecon , creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
We’re back with Zara D'cotta from The Healthy Home to continue our chat about designing and building healthier homes. This time, the conversation takes an unexpected turn, when Zara raises some concerns about low-carbon concrete. As a builder who’s used Holcim’s EcoPact mixes on site, he digs deeper to separate myth from material fact. After Zara’s segment, you’ll hear directly from Holcim in response to the claims, bringing real world data and onsite context to the discussion. In this episode: Picking up from Part 1: where health and sustainability intersect (and sometimes collide) Zara’s perspective on off-gassing, chemical content and embodied energy Dean’s practical take: what actually happens on site with low-carbon mixes Holcim’s response — performance, composition and environmental credentials Why facts matter when we talk about “healthy” and “sustainable” materials How builders can evaluate products without falling for fear or greenwash Links and resources: Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhome Check out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.au Product overview for Holcim’s low-carbon concrete range (including EcoPact, EcoPact Max, and EcoPact Zero): https://www.holcim.com.au/ecopact Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all Holcim products: https://www.holcim.com.au/sds Third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from Holcim Australia: https://www.holcim.com.au/epd What is an EPD? Learn more here: https://epd-australasia.com/what-is-an-epd/ Holcim Sustainability and Net Zero Strategy: https://www.holcim.com/sustainability More about Green Star Building can be found here: https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/rating-system/buildings/ Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Concrete and carbon get all the airtime, but over the next two weeks, we zoom in on the indoor environment. In part one of this chat, Dean talks with building biologist Zara D'Cotta about the five pillars of a healthy home (air, light, water, low-EMF, low-tox), what NCC 2022 condensation changes really mean on site, and the simple design choices that stop you building a mould pit. We'll be back with part two, next week. We cover: Zara’s backstory: cancer, mystery symptoms, and finding building biology The 5 pillars of a healthy home NCC 2022 condensation management: why “minimums” won’t save you Off-gassing 101: that “new home smell” is chemistry, not luxury Electrified homes: solar/batteries/induction—placement, distancing, and simple mitigations Passive House overlaps: airtightness, thermal bridges, HRV/ERV and why details matter Builder vs architect responsibilities: when to bring in a building biologist Links and resources: Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhome Check out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.au National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 — Condensation Management Requirements More about passive house construction: https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-house and https://www.passivhausassociation.com.au/ Australian Building Codes Board — Condensation in Buildings Handbook: https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/resource/handbook/condensation-buildings-handbook-0 Article about mould from the CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2020/august/dealing-with-mouldy-houses And another from the CSIRO on indoor air quality: https://research.csiro.au/infratech/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2024/12/3006_IndoorAirQuality_WCAG.pdf National Asthma Council — Mould and Your Health Factsheet: https://files.nationalasthma.org.au/resources/Mould-Trigger-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
From coal loaders to clean energy, Finn Peacock’s journey mirrors Australia’s shift toward renewables. In this episode, Dean sits down with the founder of SolarQuotes.com to unpack what’s really happening in the solar and battery space, and what builders, architects and homeowners need to know right now. They cover: Finn’s path from electrical engineer to solar expert The truth about system quality, pricing and installer standards How to futureproof new builds with solar ready design Common traps to avoid when choosing solar and batteries The rise of electrification and what it means for the building industry Real talk on solar payback, grid realities, and designing homes that work with energy, not against it. Links & references: SolarQuotes.com.au — Finn Peacock’s company. SolarQuotes Blog — practical insights and explainers for installers and homeowners. Clean Energy Council – Approved Solar Retailers & Installers — useful link for listeners wanting to check credentials. ARENA – Australian Renewable Energy Agency — for context on current solar and battery initiatives in Australia. CSIRO Energy Research — where Finn previously worked before founding SolarQuotes. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
Concrete might be the backbone of our built environment, but it’s also one of the world’s biggest emitters. In this episode, Dean sits down with Dylan Viviers from Holcim to unpack how low carbon concrete is reshaping the construction industry from the ground up. They dig into: What low-carbon concrete actually is (and how it performs on site) Busting the myths: strength, setting time, and cost Holcim’s EcoPact range and how it achieves real carbon reductions Using recycled aggregate, admixtures, and new tech The road to net zero, and what builders, engineers and architects can do now If you’re in the trade and ready to build better, this one’s for you. Links and references: Holcim EcoPact (Australia) — overview of Holcim’s low-carbon concrete range. Holcim Sustainability & Net Zero Strategy — outlines their four decarbonisation pillars mentioned in the episode. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) explained – EPD Australasia — for context on how embodied carbon is measured. GBCA Green Star Ratings — referenced in the conversation about climate-active certification and sustainability targets. Climate Active – Carbon Neutral Certification (Australia) — explains the certification Dean and Holcim both underwent. ESR Australia — Industrial property developer leading sustainability initiatives in tenders. Alero Group — Commercial and industrial developer referenced for their sustainability approach. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @ _thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
