Sydney Build Panel: How Builders Can Cut Carbon: Timber, Heat Pumps & Low-Carbon Concrete

Recorded live at Sydney Build, Dean is joined by Sean Bull (Xlam), Zac Kerr (Stiebel Eltron) and Dylan Viviers (Holcim) to explore how construction can meaningfully reduce carbon emissions.

The panel unpacks the difference between embodied carbon and operational carbon, and where builders, designers and suppliers can take practical action today.

From mass timber and prefabrication to heat pumps, solar integration and low-carbon concrete, the discussion focuses on collaboration, education and systems thinking over single silver bullet style solutions.

In this episode:

What mass timber and CLT are and how they store carbonPrefabrication, speed of construction and housing supplyFire performance and structural considerations with CLTHeat pumps, electrification and reducing operational energy demandUsing solar and thermal storage to flatten peak energy loadsWhy building fabric and insulation should come firstHow low-carbon concrete reduces embodied emissionsMisconceptions around set time, cost and performanceEnvironmental Product Declarations and carbon transparencyManaging construction waste and closing material loopsThe role of policy, standards and education in industry change

Links and Resources:

Sydney Build 2026 (April 29-30): sydneybuildexpo.comHolcim EcoPact Low Carbon Concrete: holcim.com.au/ecopactXlam - Cross Laminated Timber: xlam.coSurfers for Climate: surfersforclimate.org.au/Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.auGreen Building Council of Australia: gbca.auGBCA Transform Event (Sydney March 17th 2026): gbca.au/courses-events/major-events/transform

Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @_thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au