Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Hello! This is Episode 438. This is Way #38 of the ‘44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home’ series, and we’re continuing through Section Eight: Sustainability During Construction.
Way #38 is: Manage Waste During Construction.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/438]
Last episode, Way #37, we talked about demolition waste: what happens to the materials that come out of a building when it’s being knocked down or partially demolished.
In this episode, I’ll talk more about the waste that gets generated during the construction of your new build or renovation itself.
Many builders are successfully recycling and repurposing construction waste
through specific waste management systems on site. Even on the most
compact of sites, builders are using different bins and workplace systems to
separate waste, enable recycling and minimise what ends up in land fill.
Equally, clients, designers and builders are deliberately sourcing products that
have less packaging, or working closely with suppliers to avoid plastic and
polystyrene and assessing their supplier preferences based on those companies that assist with reducing site waste overall.
As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/438.
Now, let's dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/438
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 437. This is Way #37 of the ‘44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home’ series, and we’re continuing through Section Eight: Sustainability During Construction.
Way #37 is: Reduce Demolition Waste.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/437
If you’re doing a knock-down rebuild, or demolishing part of an existing home to renovate, there’s an enormous amount of material that comes out of that building.
There is no such thing as ‘away’ when we think about the waste that generates. It all has to go somewhere, and it often goes into a hole in the ground. Over 40% of Australia’s waste is from the construction industry, or around 27 million tonnes per year. Around 20,000 residential demolitions are approved each year, with over 95% of those being individual homes.
There are recovery programs and ways that the amount of waste being sent to land fill is considerably reduced, but it takes intention and planning to ensure opportunities can be maximised.
So, we’ll be talking more about that in this episode.
As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/437.
Now, let's dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/437
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 436. This is Way #36 of the ‘44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home’ series, and we’re continuing through Section Eight: Sustainability During Construction.
Last episode, we talked about the blower door test: a way to measure how airtight your home is. This episode is about a closely related tool that shows where the thermal weaknesses in your building envelope are, and provides the opportunity to fix them before your home’s construction is completed.
Way #36 is: Include a Thermal Imaging Inspection.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/436]
This, with your blower door test, are the two essential tests I feel every new build and renovation project should have during construction to set up a home’s energy efficiency and performance and catch any issues before the project is complete and the builder leaves the site.
In the same way that a blower door test catches any air leakage issues during construction, thermal imaging helps locate hidden problems that may not be apparent through visual inspection alone, enabling early detection and corrective action.
As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/436.
Now, let's dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/436
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 435. This is Way #35 of the ‘44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home’ series.
In this episode, we’re kicking off Section Eight: Sustainability During Construction.
And so, we’re going to start this section of the ‘44 Ways’ series by discussing something I wish would become standard for every single new build and potentially every renovation as well.
Way #35 is: Get a Blower Door Test.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/435]
Because, if you’re planning to create a sustainable home, your goals can come completely undone during construction.
This is largely because there is no ‘as built’ verification process inherently included in how we deliver construction of residential homes. Yes, in some locations, there are some checks along the way, but the conventional construction process doesn’t have a legislated way of proving to you that you’ve got the home you designed and specified.
However, a certified Passive House does have as-built verification requirements, and so, there are certain tests that can be adopted from the passive house methodology into traditional construction practices.
These tests can provide useful information during construction, whilst improvements and changes can still be made, to ensure you’re getting what you’re paying for in your designed and modelled energy performance. And as a result, they can uplevel typical construction to optimise what’s possible for your home.
As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/435.
Now, let's dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/435
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 434. This is Way #34 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Seven: A Sustainable Site: Landscape Design.
Way #34 is: Soft Cover vs Hard Cover.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/434]
As we build with greater density in our suburbs and urban locations, we increase the amount of hard cover, or hard surfaces. Concrete, paving, and other hard cover surfaces prevent water during rain periods and general overland flow from being able to enter locally back into ground water, restoring the water table.
Instead, water runs over these surfaces, and into stormwater systems, potentially overloading them (especially during heavy rain periods) and taking potential pollutants as well as soil and silt with it from these surfaces.
These hard surfaces also absorb heat, and contribute to higher temperatures in higher density areas through something known as the urban heat island effect.
By contrast, creating soft cover on your site with grass, landscaping, open paving selections and other landscape devices, can improve water management and quality, and also improve temperature management on a site. This can be significantly beneficial for your home, and the larger built environment.
As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/434.
Now, let's dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/434
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.