The Built Environment

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 unlocksThe 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 zeroHow 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 leadingWhy anxiety and guilt don’t drive climate action, but clarity and timing doLINKS & 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.pdfHosted 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

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 biologistLinks 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.pdfFollow 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 nowIf 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