Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Do you want to make low tox choices for your interior finishes and fixtures when renovating or building your family home? Melissa Wittig from Healthy Interiors is a ‘health-focused’ Interior Designer. In this episode, she shares some fantastic knowledge and insight into what you need to know about low tox choices for your home. SHOW NOTES: Melissa has over 15 years industry experience, and her work not only focuses on Interior Design, but also in helping homeowners understand how to make low tox choices that create healthy interiors. And she’ll explain more about what this means in this interview. Melissa’s work and knowledge has been published in various publications including, Sanctuary and House & Garden Magazines. She is also the author of several award recognised design resources including a book called The Smart Living Handbook, which she co-authored with Danielle King - and we’ll be talking more about that book in this episode. So, in this episode, Melissa and I talk about: What does ‘low tox’ mean when it comes to building or renovating your home? Why does this information matter when you’re choosing materials and finishes for your interiors? How do you know a material or product is ‘low tox’? What types of questions should you ask to determine how low tox a finish or product is? Where are the main areas to focus in creating a low tox interior for your home? Melissa shares some fantastic and actionable advice, and also some useful resources and tips, when it comes to creating your low tox home. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to know whether solar power is worthwhile for your new home or renovation? This is part 2 of an interview with Lucy Best. Listen to last week’s episode for Part 1. SHOW NOTES: In the last episode, Lucy and I began our conversation about solar energy and solar systems for your home. Lucy Best is the Community Engagement Lead for the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd, and they run a programme called Positive Charge. Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd (MEFL) is an independent not-for-profit organisation. They are dedicated to tackling climate change and committed to accelerating the energy transition by empowering communities to take action. They work hard to ensure communities play a meaningful part in this transition and that no one gets left behind. The MEFL are a trusted educator, partner, advisor and service provider. They see their job is to build partnerships that demonstrate what’s possible; to give the right advice; and make sure people have access to the information and technology they need to take action. Their customers include councils, business, schools, community groups and members of the community. In this episode … Part 2 … Lucy continues to share some fantastic knowledge and information and answer some of the most common questions I receive from the UA Community when it comes to solar systems and choosing them for a renovation or new build. Some of the topics Lucy and I discuss about choosing solar power for your home: We talk about what you need to know about where you’ll put the panels on your roof. This is a big question I get … when your roof faces the ‘wrong’ direction, or perhaps doesn’t have a steep pitch, or not a lot of space, many can think that means solar isn’t possible. So, Lucy shares how panels need to be positioned in terms of orientation, and pitch, to be as efficient as possible. And what workarounds are available to you to create a solution for your place, and what to consider when designing from scratch to make your roof work for solar. We also talk about requirements for your roof structure, whether using tile or metal. And we look at what to do if your budget is tight and you can only afford a small system, how to find a reputable installer and the questions to ask them. We talk about new technologies with solar tiles that you use instead of roofing material … and Lucy shares some fantastic resources to help with learning more about solar, and getting support and advice in your decisions. Dive into the episode now. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the big conversation topics that comes up when talking about how to create a sustainable home is solar energy … and whether it’s worthwhile to install a solar system on your home. And so that’s what this episode - and the next - is all about. What you need to know about solar energy, and how to know a solar system will be worthwhile for your renovation or building project. SHOW NOTES: In this episode, I have the great pleasure of talking with Lucy Best, who is the Community Engagement Lead for the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd, or MEFL. Lucy started with MEFL as a Community Outreach Worker on the Moreland Solar City Project. As part of this role Lucy worked directly with the community in engagement, education and strategy. Lucy manages community engagement and communications for MEFL including the Positive Charge and Our Energy Future programs, which provide advice on renewable energy and energy efficiency products to community members and councils. I found Positive Charge when I was looking for a way I could get some independent and impartial advice on solar power and what you need to know. Positive Charge is a programme of the Moreland Energy Foundation, a not-for-profit, independent organisation committed to tackling climate change. Positive Charge offers advice, regardless of whether or not people request a quote, so you can talk through your ideas and plans whatever stage you are at. Unlike other brokers we only work with suppliers after conducting a thorough procurement process, so you can be confident that we are offering high quality products and services at a good price, through company you can trust. Better still – Positive Charge will be on hand to support you along the way if needed. Lucy regularly delivers workshops and information sessions to range of communities including SMEs, schools, CALD groups, general interest and environmental groups and council staff. She also plans and coordinates all outreach and promotional activity. Lucy is one clever bunny when it comes to helping us be more informed about solar energy .. what we need to know, the questions we need to ask. And she taught me a thing or two about motivation for putting solar on you roof too, and how to think about it generally. Because this was such a meaty interview full of so much great advice and knowledge, I’m releasing it as two parts. So, in Part 1 (this episode), Lucy and I talk about: The components of a solar energy system … what they are, how they work, to physically get power from the sun to the electrical needs of your home How to work out how big a system you’ll need The difference between panels - Lucy actually shares some key tips to assess their power and potential, and what to know about your roof space and power use overall to inform what you choose We talk about the inverter - and from our own personal research for our place, the advice has been that it’s the part of the system where quality really makes a difference - and so Lucy had some great advice about this And we talk about batteries - and when going off grid is worthwhile, and surprises you may not be aware of when it comes to choosing a battery system, and that you may not be as ‘off-grid’ as you think The conversation is packed full of great information, and you might be surprised at how accessible solar is - this is no longer out-there or super expensive technology. It’s more affordable than you think. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many homeowners know they want a lot of glass in their homes to enhance that indoor / outdoor connection, bring light and breezes into their home, and help it feel spacious. But do you know you could be making your home completely unsustainable in the process? That’s what this episode will help you avoid. SHOW NOTES: In this episode, I’m interviewing Tracey Gramlick. Tracey is Executive Director and CEO of the Australian Window Association (or AWA). Tracey Gramlick has a background in engineering, a Masters of Business Administration in Technology Management and over 30 years of expertise in various fenestration products and façade design, technical, production, education, materials and marketing roles prior to her current position as Executive Director and CEO of the Australian Window Association. And what’s the AWA? Well, Tracey will tell us more about that - and please make sure you head to the show notes or blog for this episode as the resources we share there will be hugely useful if you’re renovating or building your home. And for the USA listeners, Tracey talks about the National Fenestration Rating Council - which is your equivalent resource when it comes to glass window and door selection. So listen into the interview for some fantastic tips, and then you can check out your relevant resources using the links in the show notes. Tracey shares some incredible tips, insider knowledge and mistakes to avoid when it comes to choosing glass windows and doors for your home. In knowing how to achieve energy efficiency, find a reputable window manufacturer, and really compare your choices so you know you’re making the right selection for your needs. And, she’s got some specific tips when it comes to selecting glass types and frame types, and also shares her expert opinion on whether double glazing is worth it. These are some of the things Tracey and I discuss: What is the Australian Window Association (AWA) - how long has it been around for, who does it represent, what is its role, how can it help homeowners? What do homeowners need to consider when it comes to selecting windows, and their energy efficiency? (frame type, glass type, climate, window size, manufacturer, mistakes they make in selections) The AWA has several online resources that can help homeowners when choosing windows - a series of pdf guides, plus some online search and rating systems. How can homeowners use these to help with making confident selections? Is double glazing worth it? How does a homeowner work this out and balance budget with energy efficiency? Frame types - aluminium vs timber vs steel vs uPVC vs Fibreglass … what is the best to use - overseas you see uPVC and fibreglass being used more regularly for example, but aluminium and timber seem most prominent here? When you take your time to research your selections carefully, get informed and work with reputable suppliers, the glass windows and doors in your home will not only help let in light and create a lovely feeling of spaciousness and indoor / outdoor connections, they’ll also enhance the performance and comfort of your home - AND how much energy and money it saves you over the long term. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST, CLICK HERE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Narelle McDonald, a Certified Building Biologist and Feng Shui Consultant, dives into the transformative world of Building Biology. She explains how our indoor environments impact health, linking modern construction practices to rising health issues. Narelle shares actionable tips for creating healthier homes, from mindful material choices to addressing indoor pollutants. Listeners will also learn about the importance of combining science and Feng Shui for holistic living. Plus, valuable resources for informed decisions on building products are highlighted.

When you design your home to suit its climate, you can dramatically impact its long term energy costs. Not only this - achieving a specific level of energy efficiency is actually legislated in a lot of locations, and is required in order to achieve your necessary approvals. So, I’m bringing on an Energy Efficiency Consultant to share some fantastic information with us on this topic. SHOW NOTES: Tori Walker is the Principal Energy Rater at BERA, a company which seeks to “Provide Excellence in Building Energy Ratings and Advice”. She has been involved in the design and renovation of homes for over a decade, and has worked with Building Designers, Architects, Builders and Energy Assessors both privately and professionally during this time. BERA has completed the necessary qualifications and registrations to rate homes in all States of Australia. It’s worth understanding that the systems and requirements can vary across locations, and you need to work with someone certified for your region. For the overseas listeners, I still recommend you stay tuned in, as I think that Tori’s insight and suggestions on what makes an energy efficient home will be helpful for your location. Some of the topics we discuss are: What an energy efficient home is. Why is it important to know about the climate of where you’re building or renovating. The National Construction Code requires Australian homes to achieve a 6 star energy rating … what does that actually mean? What’s is the NatHERS assessment tool used to determine the star rating, and how does it get used. How hard is it to exceed the standard requirement of 6 stars, and how much is this impacted by where you are located? What big mistakes Tori sees homeowners make, and also her big tips to get a great outcome for your energy efficient home and its assessment. This actual step of assessing your energy efficiency can be something you are quite distanced from as a homeowner. It may be that it doesn’t occur until you’re lodging your Building Approval with your Building Certifier, and they simply include it as part of their process. You see it on their fee proposal as a fee, and you receive an invoice for it - but you don’t really understand what happens, and what it can mean for your project, your budget, and the long term feel and performance of your home. It is great, if an energy efficient home is your goal, to work with a designer and / or builder who is experienced at doing this, and to also work with an experienced energy efficiency consultant who can help you measure your home’s performance well, and make useful suggestions to improve it. Tori has provided some great tips in this interview. Her business, BERA, services all of Australia. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s dive into some super simple, impactful wins you can put into action in your project to create your Sustainable Home. These are the types of tips that, if you know them upfront, you can create a design that incorporates them and have it not cost anymore. Now, I have a few tips of my own, and I actually found a great list as well put together by the Department of Public Housing Queensland, called “Ten Tips for Smart and Sustainable Housing” which provides a great framework. So, this episode will be a combination of this information. And in future episodes, we’ll dive into some of these areas in much more detail as well. These 12 tips can be a great guide for where to start when considering how to design a sustainable home. They are: Know how the sun moves and design your home to respond to it. Keep it cool in Summer with shading, and warm in Winter by letting the sun’s warmth inside. Lower your home’s energy use overall through the selections you make and how you design your home to maintain its comfortable indoor temperature. Conserve water in how you select your tapware and appliances, in where you source your water from, and what you do with your wastewater Heat and Cool naturally through how you manage the warmth of the sun, and maximising natural ventilation in your home Heat your water efficiently, in what hot water system and power supply you choose and in how you arrange your wet areas that need the hot water Consider aging in place, the ages of all people in your place and how you design a home to support you at all ages and points in your lifestyle, so your home works over the long term Choose finishes for your flooring that are safe, enhance accessibility and design your home to minimise trip hazards, slips and falls. Address the street and make it clear, safe and secure how visitors are to enter your home so your home’s design enhances its own security, and the security of the street Design for natural surveillance, both over the street and public areas, and into play and garden spaces around your home. This will improve your comfort in the home, its functionality, and its safety and security overall. Reduce your home’s need for maintenance by choosing durable and long-lasting materials and products. This will create a relaxing home that stands the test of time and is manageable financially over the long term. Make selections for your interiors that consider the indoor air quality, and assess your product and material choices for their low tox nature. And also look at how natural ventilation can improve the quality of your indoor air environment given how much time we spend indoors. Design indoor / outdoor connections that promote your connection to natural light and the natural environment, and where your climate supports it, create covered outdoor areas you can use to enhance your lifestyle in your home. These spaces will also cool your home by shading it as well. When you start here, the choice of creating a sustainable home can usually be done on any budget, because it’s prioritised and embedded into the design process upfront. A lot of these tips involve having knowledge and resources to make alternative selections that are more environmentally friendly, more efficient, or healthier for you - and I’ve found that in most cases, they come at no extra cost. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does designing a sustainable home really matter? Can we make that much of a difference with one home renovation or new build? The title of this episode is: terminology, the sustainability minefield, and why should we care? SHOW NOTES: Seriously, when it comes to building or renovating a sustainable home, it gets a whole new level of terminology. I sometimes feel that all this terminology does more to confuse us than help us. As soon as we feel we’ve got a handle on one part of the conversation, someone comes along with another criteria or term for sustainable design, and it unravels our understanding and confidence. I actually think confusion is one of the biggest barriers in homeowners creating sustainable homes, and it’s one of the reasons I’m calling this Season “A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home”. I will be aiming to keep the information we share simple to understand, and simple to execute as well. This is about giving you the ability to choose in a more informed way - and put into action what you learn. Many homeowners tell me … when it all gets to that hard, overwhelming, and frustrating point … does it REALLY matter? They ask if it’s worth all the effort it seems to be taking. And I can really understand that it’s hard sometimes Not every designer is passionate about creating sustainable homes that make the most of your site and its environment. And so, if you as the homeowner, feel you’re having to convince your designer - who’s supposed to be the expert - as to why this is so essential to you, that can get exhausting. One of the recent Australian members of my “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home” course hit this issue with her home. She was planning an extension to her existing home, which sat on a corner. One street was on the western side or the home, and the other was on the northern side of the home. So, the orientation of the house was less-than-idea, as she was extending new living spaces to the southern side of the home - opening out to a south-facing garden. On the eastern side was another tall home, overshadowing theirs.   She’d been listening to Undercover Architect for a while, and then had participated in the “How to Get it Right” course - where, amongst other things, I talk a lot about orientation, and designing for the movement of the sun. She knew the design her designers had done wasn’t working to access northern light into the home that well … and she literally felt worn because she said she’d pushed and tried so hard to achieve it in the design, but didn’t think it was going to happen. In fact, when she asked her architect how she was going to keep her south-facing home warm in Winter (because it didn’t seem to be capturing a lot of northern light), his response was “a Heater”. And so now she was feeling defeated, and also nervous about committing to the design because of what she’d learnt. Not all designers are trained in the importance of designing for orientation, or targetting a sustainable home design. There are designers who’ll simply arrange rooms based on their connection with each other, and the outdoors, and how they fit on the site overall and meet local planning and building codes. So, when you do become educated as a homeowner about how important this is, then it’s really key to find a like-minded designer you won’t have to battle … or failing that … have more information to battle them with so they can realise how important it is. So, I thought it would be best to kick off this season in a way that helps you understand why this information matters: Why it even matters to try and create a sustainably designed home in whatever way you’re capable of. Every little step towards positive change counts, and that our homes have a huge capacity to create positive change for us and the environment overall - and it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing conversation. Remember, incremental change is a great way to achieve huge momentum and shifts overall. So, here are some statistics and facts to illustrate the impact of our homes … on us and the environment … both as we occupy them, and during the construction of them as well. Sometimes these types of statistics sound overwhelming, and far too complex to make any inroads on – especially if it’s just you, and your family and your home. It can feel like a drop in the ocean. As with any journey however, the first step you take can have a radical impact on where you end up. This is the same for home building and renovating too. The thing that is most exciting when it comes to building and renovating is that when you make the first step in your journey in an informed and strategic way, it doesn’t cost you anymore. It actually can save you money overall – both in the creation and the long term use of your home. And what’s even more exciting is that the things that make your home less toxic, and less taxing on the environment, are the very things that also make it a great design overall. Tune into the episode to learn more. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re kicking off a brand new season. We’re up to Season 8 and this season is called “A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home”. In it, we’ll be diving into what a sustainable home is how you can achieve sustainability on any budget know-how you need to navigate the minefield of sustainability, and what to consider and target when you’re renovating or building if a sustainable home is something you’re seeking to create. SHOW NOTES: Sustainability and Sustainable design is a BIG topic. It’s a complex topic too … all the definitions, considerations, building science, technology and details … not to mention the greenwashing you need to avoid as well. And so, I’m calling this season “A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home”. And that’s what I’m aiming to do - keep things simple. This is not only for the greenies and environmentalists in the Undercover Architect audience - this is great knowledge for everyone to access. Because what you’ll find is that we can save the planet whilst also saving ourselves money, and creating a feel-good home. So whatever of those is your motivation … money, feeling, or planet … learning about sustainability is key in making that happen. So, first things first - how do we define what a Sustainable Home is? Let’s keep it simple. For me, a sustainable home is one that: Is designed to support and improve the lifestyle of those that occupy it, in how the home functions and feels Helps maintain and improve its occupants physical well-being and health Minimises or eliminates its impact on the planet, in its use of resources and production of waste And lastly, this can even extend to giving back … in that triple pronged approach … improving the lives in and beyond the home, saving and even making money, and giving back to the environment overall. Let me tell you some of the topics we’ll be discussing this season … I’ve actually decided to break this season into 2 parts because it is such a big topic, because that will give us the chance to dive into many of the areas I’ve received requests for. So, in Part 1 of Season 8, we’ll be diving into: Why this information matters - and how we can underestimate the potential of building and renovating in a sustainable way, even with the smallest changes I’m going to give you some super simple and impactful ways you can make a difference in any project We’ll be talking to experts about energy rating systems, double glazing, thermal mass, solar power, building biology and other key areas that are hot topics in sustainable design We’ll be looking at how to make material choices for sustainability and low tox environments, the criteria you can use, the kinds of questions to ask and what to focus on when making your selections AND I’ll also be bringing some project examples to you, and speaking to their owners, and the professional teams that created them - to get some unique and personal insight into specific challenges and considerations when designing, building and renovating in this way Sound good? Awesome … so stay tuned for this season … I’m really excited to be travelling on this journey with you, and know we’ll all be learning loads of useful tips, strategies and knowledge in A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to learn about underfloor heating? This is a topic of much interest in the UA Community. Previously seen as a luxury item only used in high end homes, in recent years it’s become much more prevalent.   There’s still lots of confusion and misconceptions about how it works, where it can be installed and how to get the most from it – whether you’re building or renovating.   SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE:  In this episode, I’m bringing in an expert … Luke Chant, from Hotwire, who has 15 years industry experience, to help shed some light on how to get it right when it comes to underfloor heating. Luke and I met through a business networking group we’re part of. This is not sponsored content … it’s simply from talking with Luke, and seeing the reputation Hotwire has in the industry, and how many other brands trust them, that made me want to bring him to the UA Community – because I knew how helpful his knowledge would be for your projects.  As I said, Luke has 15 years industry experience in this area. His company, Hotwire, supplies the various components and gear to installers for underfloor heating, plus a range of other items you may want to check out. Hotwire is based in Melbourne, and they have installers throughout Australia that specify and use their products.  Hotwire has been featured on, The Block, House Rules, Reno Rumble and The Home Team. Hotwire is also the recommended floor heating (and/or) heated towel rail supplier for some of the biggest tile and electrical suppliers in the industry.   I asked Luke some of the most common questions I receive about underfloor heating … the different types, what type of floors you can put it under, how much it costs to install and run, retrofitting it to an existing home, and how to find a trustworthy supplier. He gives us loads of info on all of these questions – plus lots more.   So, let’s dive straight in!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.