The Built Environment

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 carbonPrefabrication, speed of construction and housing supplyFire performance and structural considerations with CLTHeat pumps, electrification and reducing operational energy demandUsing solar and thermal storage to flatten peak energy loadsWhy building fabric and insulation should come firstHow low-carbon concrete reduces embodied emissionsMisconceptions around set time, cost and performanceEnvironmental Product Declarations and carbon transparencyManaging construction waste and closing material loopsThe role of policy, standards and education in industry change

Links and Resources:

Sydney Build 2026 (April 29-30): sydneybuildexpo.comHolcim EcoPact Low Carbon Concrete: holcim.com.au/ecopactXlam - Cross Laminated Timber: xlam.coSurfers for Climate: surfersforclimate.org.au/Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.auGreen Building Council of Australia: gbca.auGBCA 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 homeGeothermal heating, cooling and thermal storageVentilation systems and indoor air qualityThe difference between HRV and ERV systemsWhy airtight homes require controlled ventilationManaging humidity and condensation risksThe role of solar, batteries and energy management systemsHow building fabric impacts energy demandCommon misconceptions about heat pumpsThe 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.auYour 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 workWhat Coefficient of Performance (COP) meansWhy heat pumps can produce 3–4x more heat energy than the electricity they useAir-to-air, air-to-water and ground-source heat pumpsWhy Australia’s plumbing systems have traditionally relied on gasThe shift toward all-electric homesSolar PV, thermal storage and hot water as a “thermal battery”Why building fabric and insulation matter before mechanical systemsTom’s own all-electric home and how it performs in practice

Links and Resources:

Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.auYour 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 aestheticsThe limits of old growth supply in a housing constrained worldThermal modification and how it changes timber performancePlantation forestry vs native forest harvestingFSC certification and set aside biodiversity landCarbon storage in timber and how it’s measuredWhy embodied carbon is an immediate impactThe limits of “carbon negative” claimsPassive House, materials selection and lifecycle thinkingWhy composite decking may not be the environmental solution many assume

Links and Resources:

Abodo: abodo.com.auFollow Abodo Wood on instagram: @abodowoodAbodo's Environmental Product Declaration: abodo.co.nz/uploads/resource/Abodo-Wood-Environmental-Product-Declaration.pdfWatch Daniel's TedX Talk on The Future of Wood: tedxauckland.com/people/daniel-gudsell/FSC - Forest Stewardship Council: fsc.org/enPEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): pefc.orgGreen 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 manufacturedFire resistance levels (FRLs) and performance pathwaysAcoustic considerations in multi-residential buildsEmbodied carbon vs biogenic carbon storageEnvironmental Product Declarations (EPDs)Forestry certification and sustainable sourcingThe impact of the Black Summer bushfires on timber supplyInstallation timeframes and on-site efficienciesCost comparisons with concrete structuresReuse and circular economy potentialWhether 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.auEnvironmental Product Declarations (EPDs) – Xlam: xlam.co/resourcesPEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): pefc.orgResponsible Wood (Australian PEFC member): responsiblewood.org.auLiving Building Challenge: living-future.org/lbcLuigi Rosselli Architects: luigirosselli.comMass 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 updatesThe difference between cladding and the true waterproofing layerRisk reduction in modern buildingPassive House principles and what builders can learn from themAirtightness and why it mattersWhat a WUFI analysis is and why it’s becoming essentialThe role of mechanical ventilationNatural materials vs synthetic materials in moisture managementEducation gaps in the building industryWhy site management and collaboration matter more than ever

Links & Resources:

Check out the Scholten Group: https://scholtengroup.com.au/Smart Plus Academy https://smartplusacademy.comPassive House Institute https://passiv.deAustralian Passive House Association https://passivehouseaustralia.orgPro 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 educationWhy Passive House works in all climates, including AustraliaThe science of comfort: temperature, humidity, CO₂ and health outcomesAirtightness explainedThe difference between Passive House, Passive House principles, and greenwashingWhy certification existsCommon misconceptions around costReal numbers: additional cost per m² and where it’s actually absorbedWindows, condensation and why double glazing alone isn’t enoughUPVC vs aluminium vs timberWhy NatHERS misses critical performance issues in real buildingsHow builders can take control earlier through site selection and design inputWhere AI is already reshaping design, costing and performance modellingWhy Passive House forces better communication between designers and buildersThe long-term financial, health and comfort benefits of getting it right

Links & Resources:

Smart Plus Academy https://smartplusacademy.comPassive House Institute https://passiv.deAustralian Passive House Association https://passivehouseaustralia.orgPro Clima – Building envelope systems https://proclima.comNatHERS energy rating scheme https://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:

Resources and Links:

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:

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:

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:

LINKS & RESOURCES:

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 energyDean’s practical take: what actually happens on site with low-carbon mixesHolcim’s response — performance, composition and environmental credentialsWhy facts matter when we talk about “healthy” and “sustainable” materialsHow builders can evaluate products without falling for fear or greenwash

Links and resources:

Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhomeCheck out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.auProduct overview for Holcim’s low-carbon concrete range (including EcoPact, EcoPact Max, and EcoPact Zero): https://www.holcim.com.au/ecopactSafety Data Sheets (SDS) for all Holcim products: https://www.holcim.com.au/sdsThird-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from Holcim Australia: https://www.holcim.com.au/epdWhat is an EPD? Learn more here: https://epd-australasia.com/what-is-an-epd/Holcim Sustainability and Net Zero Strategy: https://www.holcim.com/sustainabilityMore 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 biologyThe 5 pillars of a healthy homeNCC 2022 condensation management: why “minimums” won’t save youOff-gassing 101: that “new home smell” is chemistry, not luxuryElectrified homes: solar/batteries/induction—placement, distancing, and simple mitigationsPassive House overlaps: airtightness, thermal bridges, HRV/ERV and why details matterBuilder vs architect responsibilities: when to bring in a building biologist

Links and resources:

Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhomeCheck out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.auNational Construction Code (NCC) 2022 — Condensation Management RequirementsMore 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-0Article about mould from the CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2020/august/dealing-with-mouldy-housesAnd another from the CSIRO on indoor air quality: https://research.csiro.au/infratech/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2024/12/3006_IndoorAirQuality_WCAG.pdfNational 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 expertThe truth about system quality, pricing and installer standardsHow to futureproof new builds with solar ready designCommon traps to avoid when choosing solar and batteriesThe rise of electrification and what it means for the building industryReal 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 costHolcim’s EcoPact range and how it achieves real carbon reductionsUsing recycled aggregate, admixtures, and new techThe 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