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

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 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

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