Think your old home can’t achieve today’s high-performance standards? Think again.

We're here to challenge conventions by retrofitting a typical Burbank home from the '90s into a certified Passive House. No extra frills, no new builds—just clever planning and innovative techniques.

Join us as we take you on a journey that proves you don’t need to start from scratch to achieve groundbreaking energy efficiency!

It's been a while since it was just the two of us on the podcast. We’ve had some pretty amazing guests lately, but today we’re diving back into our duo dynamic. And what better way to do that than by sharing our projects with you?

It’s easy to show off the polished, Instagram-ready end product but often things behind the scenes are far from perfect. We believe in transparency, which is why we’re starting a four-part series focusing on Matt’s work retrofitting an old volume-built house into a certified passive house.

If you’ve been listening for a while you probably know what a Passive House is, but in case you don’t, they’re buildings designed to require minimal energy for their heating and cooling. Typically, this means excellent insulation, air-tight construction, and windows that prevent heat loss.

Retrofitting a building to meet Passive House standards comes with unique challenges that you don’t face building from scratch. The building is already there so you can’t change the orientation of the house or the positions of windows easily. Despite the extra challenges, projects like this are incredibly achievable. We know that a lot our listeners probably own older homes, and we hope this series can inspire you to make them more energy-efficient and comfortable.

From the very beginning, this project was fraught with unknowns. We needed to replace the house’s existing, ageing systems, including the electrical wiring and plumbing. Finding where all the mains were connected became a hunt of its own.

We had to make significant decisions about how to insulate the house from the inside without touching the brick cladding. We knew the original windows wouldn’t cut it for a Passive House, so we decided to replace them with high-performance triple-glazed windows.

Through it all, our guiding principle was clear: water kills buildings. We needed to ensure the house was water and air-tight, even more so than focusing solely on Passive House standards. Collaborating with our project partners and trades was incredibly helpful here. For instance, Cameron from Hit V Hype helped us model the project thoroughly, to ensure we didn't overlook anything.

Even though the project isn’t fully completed, early indications of its success are evident. The house, once unoccupied and deteriorating, now boasts consistent indoor temperatures and markedly improved air quality. Tradespeople working on-site have noted the enhanced comfort levels, even before the final touches are in place.

The projected energy savings are also significant. We’ve managed to reduce the expected annual heating costs from about $8,802 to roughly $1,600 – a testament to the enormous efficiency gains achieved through this retrofit.

Stay tuned for the next parts, where we dive into the nitty-gritty of the construction phase!

Cheers,

Matt & Hamish

LINKS:

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website:

Did you know Australia boasts the larges average home size anywhere in the world?

The market is full of oversized, inefficient homes that aren’t sustainable or necessary and we’re sick of it.

That’s why we sat down with Imogen from IP Architecture, who’s challenging the ‘bigger is better’ mindset and setting new standards for sustainable living.

Imogen’s journey in architecture began with the mud brick house her parents built. "My parents built their own house when I was a baby, and it was a mud brick house with recycled materials. That was really influential on me," she recalled. This early exposure to sustainable building materials and passive solar design principles stayed with her as she pursued her architecture degree and later her career.

Today, Imogen's designs continue to reflect her commitment to sustainability. She strongly believes in the principles of passive solar design, which involves working with the natural environment to heat and cool homes efficiently. "For me, the principles of passive solar design are just basic architecture," she explained. "It shouldn't be something that’s celebrated; it should be the norm."

I’m sure you know how passionate we are about the Passive House movement, and Imogen shares this enthusiasm. Passive houses take passive solar design a step further, using advanced building physics to create airtight homes that maintain a comfortable indoor climate year-round. Though it might mean more initial embodied carbon due to extra insulation and mechanical systems, the long-term operational energy savings are undeniable.

Our conversation then turned to a pressing issue in the Australian building industry—our penchant for oversized homes. It seems like every year they get bigger and bigger, with another guest room, or media room, or kids room. Imogen has successfully made it her mission to show clients that a well-designed, compact home can meet all their needs without the excess. "One of my favourite things about being an architect is making people's briefs work in the most compact building envelope," she explained.

She’s developed a process that involves deeply understanding her clients’ lifestyles and future needs. Asking detailed questions helps her clients re-evaluate their actual needs versus their initial desires, leading to more efficient, sustainable design solutions.

However, it’s not only client expectations that complicate matters. Real estate market norms and outdated policies are significant barriers. Imogen shared how challenging it can be to convince clients to build for themselves and not for resale value. "People need to realise that a well-designed, comfortable, and sustainable house will be invaluable to someone else too," she stated.

Changing the building industry to favour sustainability requires both bottom-up and top-down efforts. As designers and builders, we can lead by example, showcasing projects that highlight the beauty and practicality of sustainable architecture. Meanwhile, we must advocate for policy reform that allows for modern, eco-friendly innovations even within heritage contexts.

Imogen is proof that real change is possible, it just requires dedication, creativity, and a willingness to ask the hard questions. So, take this as a challenge, get out there, and push for more sustainable, innovative, and thoughtful solutions in our industry.

Together, we can make sustainable and efficient design the standard, not the exception.

LINKS:

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://imogenpullar.com/

Instagram: @ip_architecture

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Have you ever felt like you're burning the candle at both ends and you aren’t sure how long you can keep it up? Trust us, you're not alone.

It’s easy to push ourselves too far with work and neglect our mental health. It might not seem like a huge deal in the moment but it’s a quick path to burnout.

We recently sat down with, we sat down with Kyle Zanetto, a Tasmanian building business owner, who has experienced it all—burnout, breakdowns, and the balance it takes to keep it all together. This story is raw, real, and packed with insights you'll want to carry with you.

Kyle kicked off by sharing a bit about his professional journey. At just 31, he's already led Zanetto Builders through seven successful years, becoming a well-respected name in Tasmania’s custom home space. But as glamorous as that sounds, the path to getting there was paved with more than just hard work and skill—it was strewn with personal sacrifices and intense mental health struggles.

His lowest point came in 2020, when the juggle of a growing business and competitive bodybuilding pushed him to severe burnout. "I was building my house, doing a bodybuilding competition, and running the business. I was on steroids, getting five hours of sleep a night, and my personal life was falling apart," Kyle shared. "It all came to a head when I made the huge mistake of cheating on my partner, and that’s when my life spiraled out of control." Things got so bad Kyle contemplated ending his life, but thankfully two close friends reached out to him with support and helped turn things around.

It wasn’t an overnight change though. After his breakdown, Kyle spent weeks rebuilding his life, seeking therapy, and learning to prioritise his mental health. This journey led him to develop a new vision for his business. Now, he focuses on creating a company so robust that it can accommodate the dreams and aspirations of all his employees, making sure they have a stable and supportive environment.

Practical Takeaways

1. Routine and Structure: Kyle emphasised the importance of a structured routine. From blocking out time for specific tasks to maintaining a work-life balance, these steps were crucial in helping him manage his responsibilities more effectively.

2. Know Your Worth: One of Kyle's strategies was to evaluate whether he was spending his time on tasks that matched his value to the business. If a task could be handled by someone else for a lower cost, he delegated it, allowing him to focus on high-value activities.

3. Support Systems Matter: Kyle’s story is a testament to the power of reaching out and surrounding yourself with people who care. His friends didn't just offer emotional support; they helped him navigate through some of the darkest periods of his life.

We hope Kyle’s story resonates with you as much as it did with us. Burnout is a serious issue, and it’s crucial to recognise the signs early and take steps to address it. Remember, there are always people who care about you, even when you think there aren’t.

Let’s keep this conversation going. Share your experiences, reach out to someone who might be struggling, and never underestimate the power of a supportive community. Here's to rebuilding stronger, together

LINKS:

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://www.zanettobuilders.com.au/

Instagram: @ZanettoBuilders

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with...