Sustainable Builders Yak

Builders Declare

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

  1. HACE 15 H

    Ep #49 Ventilation, Air Quality & Energy Efficiency in High-Performance Homes – With Joel Seagren

    Send us a text In Episode 49 of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Joel Seagren, National Mechanical Ventilation Engineer at Fantech, to unpack the critical (and often overlooked) role of ventilation in high-performance homes. With a background in mechanical engineering, renewable energy, and a Master’s in building sustainability, Joel brings decades of experience to this conversation — from consulting on daylight modeling in the early 2000s to becoming a NatHERS assessor and championing heat recovery ventilation (HRV) in Australian homes. This episode covers: The science of air tightness, energy efficiency, and healthy indoor airWhy 6 air changes per hour is a benchmark for installing HRVsThe difference between NatHERS and Passive House modelingThe limitations of relying on window ventilation in Australia’s energy codeThe evolving National Construction Code (NCC) requirements around mechanical ventilationThe need for a standardized testing method in high-performance constructionNew Zealand modeling data showing the energy-saving benefits of HRVsWhether you're a builder, architect, or energy consultant, this is a must-listen if you're working on airtight, efficient, and healthy homes in the Australian climate. 🧭 Episode Highlights: Joel’s engineering background and sustainability journeyThe evolution of ventilation standards in AustraliaHRVs, airtightness, and indoor air quality explainedComparing NatHERS vs Passive House modeling systemsIndustry push for testing standards and updated building codesMoisture control, filtration, and the future of ventilation🎙️ Brought to you by: Hygge WindowsWebber InsuranceTimberlink

    1 h y 8 min
  2. 20 OCT

    Ep #48 How Builders Can Better Qualify Clients and Win Back Time

    Send us a text How many hours have you wasted quoting jobs that never go ahead? In this episode of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Richard Armstrong, a former Melbourne renovation builder who turned over a decade of hard-earned experience — and frustration — into innovation. After 15 years working on extensions and renovations across inner-city Melbourne, Richard saw firsthand how vague budgets, mismatched expectations, and time-wasting quotes were burning out good builders. So, he built a solution: Procalc — a powerful feasibility tool that helps builders qualify clients early, set realistic budgets, and stop wasting time on projects that were never going to stack up. Procalc now draws on data from over 35,000 real builder projects, delivering 93% cost accuracy even without plans. It’s changing the way builders have that all-important first conversation with clients — bringing more clarity, confidence, and credibility to the table. Whether you’re a builder, designer, or consultant, this episode is packed with real-world insight on how to work smarter, quote less, and win more of the right kind of jobs. 📌 This episode covers: The real cost of vague briefs and unqualified leadsHow Procalc helps builders quote less and win moreUsing data (not guesswork) to manage client expectationsWhy feasibility studies should happen before designBuilding trust with clients, architects, and designersA new approach to sustainable, profitable building🧭 Episode Highlights: Richard’s journey from builder to software creatorThe lessons (and pain) that inspired ProcalcThe surprising accuracy of 35,000+ real project data pointsQualifying clients without needing full plansUsing Procalc’s carbon calculator to guide sustainable choicesBuilder burnout, value management, and better conversationsQuick-fire fun: Geelong Cats, R&B playlists & Anzac biscuits Brought to you by: McCormacks AustraliaJP Sustainable HomesValley Windows

    1 h y 1 min

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

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