Afleveringen
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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 theyâre protected against and what the insurance actually covers.
If youâre 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 âa complete shitshowâWhat Home Warranty really covers and the four triggers required for a claimWhy insolvency is driving the majority of claims (and why thatâs getting worse)The absurdity of the $340k cap in a world of $2â10 million buildsHow the scheme punishes good builders but still fails homeownersShould NSW adopt the Victorian or Queensland approach?\The massive issue with combining residential and commercial work under one ABNResources and Links:
Find out more about DLB Insurance & Risk Solutions here: dlbinsurancerisk.com.auHosted 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
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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 youâre 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 âjust another numberâ under facility-brokered policiesThe real factors driving up insurance costs (materials, labour, weather events, subbie injuries)The biggest underwriting red flags and how long they follow youHow insurers assess risk, premiums and loss ratios behind the scenesWhy internal labour-hire entities are causing a wave of new disputesHow builders should structure policies as they growEmerging risks: cyber fraud, PI exposure, management liability and moreThe gap no one talks about: existing structure insurance in renovations (and the huge disputes itâs 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.auHosted 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
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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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 emissionsâMachine turnoverâ: 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 donât 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
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Weâre 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 whoâs used Holcimâs EcoPact mixes on site, he digs deeper to separate myth from material fact.
After Zaraâs segment, youâll 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)Zaraâs perspective on off-gassing, chemical content and embodied energyDeanâs practical take: what actually happens on site with low-carbon mixesHolcimâs response â performance, composition and environmental credentialsWhy facts matter when we talk about âhealthyâ and âsustainableâ materialsHow builders can evaluate products without falling for fear or greenwashLinks and resources:
Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhomeCheck out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.auProduct overview for Holcimâs 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
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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:
Zaraâs backstory: cancer, mystery symptoms, and finding building biologyThe 5 pillars of a healthy homeNCC 2022 condensation management: why âminimumsâ wonât save youOff-gassing 101: that ânew home smellâ is chemistry, not luxuryElectrified homes: solar/batteries/inductionâplacement, 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 â 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 â 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-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.pdfNational Asthma Council â 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
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From coal loaders to clean energy, Finn Peacockâs journey mirrors Australiaâs shift toward renewables. In this episode, Dean sits down with the founder of SolarQuotes.com to unpack whatâs really happening in the solar and battery space, and what builders, architects and homeowners need to know right now.
They cover:
Finnâs 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 â Finn Peacockâs company.SolarQuotes Blog â practical insights and explainers for installers and homeowners.Clean Energy Council â Approved Solar Retailers & Installers â useful link for listeners wanting to check credentials.ARENA â Australian Renewable Energy Agency â for context on current solar and battery initiatives in Australia.CSIRO Energy Research â where Finn previously worked before founding SolarQuotes.Follow Dean Ipaviz and @_thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
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Concrete might be the backbone of our built environment, but itâs also one of the worldâs 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 costHolcimâs EcoPact range and how it achieves real carbon reductionsUsing recycled aggregate, admixtures, and new tech The road to net zero, and what builders, engineers and architects can do nowIf youâre in the trade and ready to build better, this oneâs for you.
Links and references:
Holcim EcoPact (Australia) â overview of Holcimâs low-carbon concrete range.Holcim Sustainability & Net Zero Strategy â outlines their four decarbonisation pillars mentioned in the episode.Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) explained â EPD Australasia â for context on how embodied carbon is measured.GBCA Green Star Ratings â referenced in the conversation about climate-active certification and sustainability targets.Climate Active â Carbon Neutral Certification (Australia) â explains the certification Dean and Holcim both underwent.ESR Australia â Industrial property developer leading sustainability initiatives in tenders.Alero Group â Commercial and industrial developer referenced for their sustainability approach.Follow Dean Ipaviz and @_thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au
