Sustainable Builders Yak

Sustainable Builders Alliance
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For Australian construction professionals building high-performing, sustainable homes and homeowners looking to create their own sustainable, high-performing home.

  1. Aug 10

    How Far Should You Push Performance? Rethinking High-Performance Building with Andy Marlow of Envirotecture

    Send us Fan Mail Andy Marlow's definition of efficiency in passive house and airtightness will annoy some people: it's doing the bare minimum required to clear the hurdle, which he says is much the same as being really bloody lazy. Andy is a director at Envirotecture, a long-time passive house advocate and former Australian Passive House Association board member — and he thinks the industry's obsession with beating its own numbers is costing builders money for no measurable gain. The core of the conversation is where the point of diminishing returns actually sits for high performance. Once a building is genuinely airtight, the model becomes predictable (you can't model a sieve) and that predictability is what lets you cut back everything else. Andy walks through the UK apartment work presented at the Passive House Conference where parts of the building are deliberately built worse than code because the form factor absorbs it, the concrete footings nobody needs to perfect, and the one thing you can never compromise on: condensation risk. Brian makes the same case from the other direction — that a decade of chasing certified air-tightness is what teaches you how much performance you can buy for far less. They get into the airtightness arms race between builders, the bloke who hit 0.06 and probably wasted his weekends doing it, achieving 2 ACH cheaply through the plasterboard line, and whether a tiered certification pathway would drag the volume market across the line. Andy also explains the relaunch of Passive House Design & Construct as pre-designed-only homes — the same logic applied to design fees. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS An educated way to cut corners.The airtightness arms race — 0.6 versus 0.5 versus the 0.06 warehouse, and where the ego takes over from the engineeringCondensation risk as the one thing you don't get to compromise, and Andy's caution on loosening airtightnessLow Energy Building as the sensible tier down, and why a 300mm-plus wall isn't always financially saneHealth, comfort and longevity as the real product — "no one cares about energy efficiency"Applying the same logic to design: the relaunch of Passive House Design & Construct as pre-designed homes you can't modifyLEARN MORE Envirotecture: https://www.envirotecture.com.au/ Passive House Design & Construct: https://passivhausdc.com.au/ Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au

  2. Jul 27

    Working 80-Hour Weeks & Losing $400K: Kyle Zanetto & Luke Davies on Running a Profitable Building Company

    Send us Fan Mail Kyle Zanetto lost close to $400,000 in a single year working eighty-hour weeks. Luke Davies sat $75,000 in overdraft with a maxed-out mortgage and had to sell his house. Both now run successful Tasmanian building companies — and together founded Future Builder to stop other builders repeating their mistakes. The core of the conversation is what sits between a good builder and a profitable building business: markup versus margin, estimating bottlenecks, recovering overheads, and how business structure determines the numbers. As Luke puts it, if someone tells you what your markup should be, they don't know your business. Kyle explains how a 30-point client questionnaire now filters roughly fifty leads down to two, and why that shift — not cost-cutting — is what protects quality. They also walk through Future Builder itself: the asset library, the courses, the Monday masterminds, and Alfie, the AI business companion Luke has been building for nine months that runs a 104-point health check across six business pillars and connects to Xero.  The conversation moves into lean methodology on site, burnout and why builders won't ask for help, suicide in the industry, and what each of them would change in the NCC if given one shot. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How a builders markup can make or break a business — and the difference between markup and net profitKyle's 30-point client entry questionnaire: open-book negotiated tenders, 30% cash, and turning down 48 of 50 leadsLuke's approach to saying yes to the right job even when the schedule is fullAlfie, the AI business companion: business life stages from start-up to prime, the 104-point health checkLean methodology on the building site — spaghetti maps, rework, and the triple hit to the bottom lineBurnout, self-awareness and hustle culture: the routines to business owners use to keep operating at high loadLEARN MORE Future Builder: https://www.futurebuilder.co/ Zanetto Builders: https://www.zanettobuilders.com.au/ Davies Construction: https://www.daviesconstruction.com.au/ Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au

  3. Jul 13

    Ep #66 Underinsured and Wide Open: The Insurances Builders Must Have with Daniel Webber

    Send us Fan Mail Most builders are more exposed than they realise, and usually find out at the worst possible moment.  In this episode, Daniel Webber of Webber Insurance, a broker who specialises in complex construction risk, walks through the cover a builder actually needs and what each policy really does. The core of the conversation is the essentials — home warranty, contract works material damage, and public liability — then the covers builders routinely underestimate: statutory liability, professional indemnity, cyber, and key-person. Daniel is direct about where the gaps sit and why assuming you're covered is an expensive habit. It also digs into the traps: worker-to-worker claims where an injured sub's insurer comes after the builder, insuring the existing structure on renovations, and how blown-out project values or timelines can quietly void a claim. The throughline is simple — more insurance isn't always the answer, but understanding your cover, running an annual health check, and getting your subcontractor contracts right are non-negotiable. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The three core policies every residential builder needs — and what each actually coversWhy home warranty protects the homeowner, not the builder, and how your limit is tied to your financesWorker-to-worker claims: how an injured subcontractor's insurer comes after the builderStatutory liability, and why public liability won't cover SafeWork fines or investigationsProfessional indemnity for builders — and the "design and construct" element people missInsuring the existing structure on renovations, and the home-insurance chat to have with clientsWhy fixing your subcontractor contracts is the single biggest risk lever a builder hasLEARN MORE Webber Insurance: https://www.webberinsurance.com.au Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Sustainable Builders Alliance

  4. Jun 29

    Ep #65 Solving Construction's Skills Shortage: Apprenticeships & Workforce Development with Ben Bardon

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ben Bardon, CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association (NAAA), shares his journey from working as a painter and decorator to becoming one of Australia's leading voices on apprenticeships, skills development, and workforce planning. The conversation explores the challenges facing the construction industry, including labour shortages, apprenticeship completion rates, skills pathways, and the growing demand for qualified tradespeople needed to meet Australia's housing and infrastructure targets.  The discussion dives into the realities of the apprenticeship system, examining how young people enter the trades, the role of schools and vocational education, and the barriers preventing more Australians from pursuing construction careers. Ben also unpacks the impact of migration, government incentives, workforce participation, and industry culture, while highlighting practical solutions to improve apprenticeship outcomes, attract more women into the trades, and build a stronger, more sustainable construction workforce for the future. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  Ben's journey from tradesperson and educator to CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association  The state of apprenticeships and workforce shortages in the Australian construction industry  Why apprenticeship commencements and completions are struggling to keep pace with demand  School pathways, vocational education, and helping young people discover careers in the trades  The role of migration, government incentives, and workforce planning in addressing skills shortages  Supporting apprentices through training, mentoring, and industry pathways  Increasing female participation and creating more inclusive construction workplaces  The future of Australia's construction workforce and the challenge of delivering enough skilled tradespeople LEARN MORE NAAA: https://www.naaa.com.au/about-us Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Sustainable Builders Alliance

  5. Jun 15

    Ep #64 Raising the Standard: Sustainable Design and the Future of Australian Housing with Candice Halliday

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Candice Halliday from CNA Design Studio shares her journey from founding a successful architecture practice to becoming a leading voice for emerging professionals within the Australian architecture industry. As the incoming president of Imagine at the Australian Institute of Architects, Candice discusses the importance of collaboration, sustainable design, and creating healthier, higher-performing buildings that meet the challenges of a changing climate.  The conversation explores the role of Passive House principles, building performance, retrofit design, and the future of sustainable construction in Australia. Candice shares insights from the Thrive Passive House Conference, discusses the need for better building quality and public education, and explains why architects, builders, policymakers, and industry organisations must work together to drive meaningful change. We also dive into adaptive reuse, reducing embodied carbon, improving building standards, and how emerging technologies and AI could help shape the future of architecture and construction. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  Candice's journey from sole practitioner to founder of a growing architecture practice  Lessons and insights from the Thrive Passive House Conference  Passive House principles and improving building performance in Australia  Building healthier, more energy-efficient homes through better design  Retrofit strategies, adaptive reuse, and reducing embodied carbon  The future of sustainable architecture and the role of the NCC  Why collaboration between architects, builders, and industry bodies matters  AI, innovation, and emerging opportunities for the next generation of architects LEARN MORE CNA Design Studio: https://www.cnadesignstudio.com/ Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Sustainable Builders Alliance

  6. Jun 1

    Ep #63 Bridging the Gap: Overcoming Australia's Home Performance Crisis with Ben Walsham

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ben Walsham from Arkata shares his journey from studying as an architect to becoming a certified energy assessor, and how witnessing underperforming, single-glazed luxury developments drove him to step away from traditional volume building to tackle Australia's home performance crisis. The conversation explores how a simple shift in mindset, moving away from added R-values and looking at total U-values instead, can completely reframe how architects and homeowners understand heat loss and window budgets. The conversation digs deep into the realities of modern construction, bridging the gap between design theory and actual on-site sequencing. Ben explains how Arkata utilises early-stage thermal modelling and a unique "value engineering for performance" dashboard to eliminate weeks of frustrating coordination, helping clients optimise their designs before town planning approval. We also dive into the future of the industry, unpacking the upcoming 2029 code changes, the rise of AI-powered compliance tools like NatHERS Hero, and why mandatory energy disclosure at the point of sale is the ultimate financial catalyst needed to transform Australia’s housing market. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Ben’s origin story: from volume builder graduate architect to sustainability consultant The reality gap: how architecture curriculum falls short on contract admin and buildability Reframing metrics: why added R-values mislead the industry and how U-values expose glass as the weakest link Value engineering for performance: using upfront dashboards to balance budgets and hit 8+ star ratings The 2029 code roadmap: AI-powered software, NatHERS Hero, and scaling efficiency to 200,000 homes a year As-built verification: the transition toward airtightness testing and closing the performance gap Mandatory energy disclosure: how banks, ESG ratings, and point-of-sale reporting will drive the retrofit economy Quick-fire round: passive house vs. solar design, SIPS alternative construction, and a surprising love for death metalLEARN MORE Arkata: https://arkata.com/  Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.auBROUGHT TO YOU BY The Sustainable Builders Yak Podcast

  7. May 25

    Bonus Episode: Scaling Your Building Business with Kyle & Luke from Future Builder

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kyle and Luke from Future Builder share how their platform is helping builders scale their businesses through structured systems, training, and community support. They dive into the fundamentals of running a profitable construction business—from accurate pricing and strong sales processes to effective project management. They also introduce Future Builder’s core tools, including Base Camp, The Vault, and Key to the Kingdom, designed to provide builders with practical resources and white-label assets. Kyle, a 32-year-old custom home builder from Tasmania, also shares his journey in the industry and the lessons he’s learned along the way. The conversation explores the future of construction, including the growing impact of AI and robotics in improving productivity and efficiency. Episode Highlights: Understanding pricing and profitability Improving project management systems Building an effective sales process Overview of Base Camp, The Vault, and Key to the Kingdom Role of AI and robotics in construction Insights from a custom home builder’s journeyGuest:  Kyle & Luke – Future Builder Company:  Future Builder Company URL:  https://www.futurebuilder.com.au/ Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA):  https://www.thesba.com.au

  8. May 18

    Ep #62 Closing the Loop: Solving Construction's Plastic Waste Problem with RecycleAll

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Damien Collins from RecycleAll and NeverStop Construction shares his journey from plumber to eco entrepreneur, and how building some of Melbourne's most celebrated sustainable projects — including the prototype for the Nightingale Housing model — led him to tackle construction's most overlooked problem: plastic waste. The conversation explores the circular economy opportunity hiding in plain sight on every building site, from cable spools and polystyrene packaging to PVC pipe offcuts. Damien explains how RecycleAll's app-based bin system makes on-site waste separation simple, contaminant-free, and commercially viable — and why it often costs builders less than traditional landfill skips. We dive into the 18 months of groundwork required to build relationships with processing partners, the landmark RMIT study on construction site packaging waste (a world first), and what Extended Producer Responsibility could mean for the industry. The episode also covers the devastating axing of Sustainability Victoria, the future of waste-to-energy, and why mandatory stewardship schemes are the missing piece in Australia's circular economy puzzle. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS RecycleAll's origin story — born from frustration on a city of Yarra job siteHow the bin system works and what it actually costs buildersProcessing partners, contamination-free supply chains, and the end marketThe RMIT global first study on construction site packaging wasteExtended Producer Responsibility and voluntary vs. mandatory stewardshipSustainability Victoria's axing and what it means for recycling infrastructureWaste-to-energy and the future of landfill in AustraliaAdvice for eco entrepreneurs: passion, immersion, and learning by doingLEARN MORE RecycleAll: https://www.recycleall.com.au  NeverStop Construction: https://www.neverstop.com.au/ Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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About

For Australian construction professionals building high-performing, sustainable homes and homeowners looking to create their own sustainable, high-performing home.

Information

  • Creator
    Sustainable Builders Alliance
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sustainable Builders Yak
  • Show Website
    Sustainable Builders Yak

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