The Built Environment

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 revi...

Duration: 01:03:00

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...

Duration: 00:54:22

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...

Duration: 01:22:21

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 sustainabi...

Duration: 01:06:38

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 ma...

Duration: 00:56:55

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 industry...

Duration: 01:10:57

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 tech The road to net zero, and what builders, engineers and archit...

Duration: 01:07:02