Concrete and carbon get all the airtime, but over the next two weeks, we zoom in on the indoor environment.

In part one of this chat, Dean talks with building biologist Zara D'Cotta about the five pillars of a healthy home (air, light, water, low-EMF, low-tox), what NCC 2022 condensation changes really mean on site, and the simple design choices that stop you building a mould pit.

We'll be back with part two, next week.

We cover:

1. Zara’s backstory: cancer, mystery symptoms, and finding building biology
2. The 5 pillars of a healthy home
3. NCC 2022 condensation management: why “minimums” won’t save you
4. Off-gassing 101: that “new home smell” is chemistry, not luxury
5. Electrified homes: solar/batteries/induction—placement, distancing, and simple mitigations
6. Passive House overlaps: airtightness, thermal bridges, HRV/ERV and why details matter
7. Builder vs architect responsibilities: when to bring in a building biologist

Links and resources:

1. Follow Zara on instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhome
2. Check out The Healthy Home's website: thehealthyhome.com.au
3. National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 — Condensation Management Requirements
4. More about passive house construction: https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-house and https://www.passivhausassociation.com.au/
5. Australian Building Codes Board — Condensation in Buildings Handbook: https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/resource/handbook/condensation-buildings-handbook-0
6. Article about mould from the CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2020/august/dealing-with-mouldy-houses
7. And another from the CSIRO on indoor air quality: https://research.csiro.au/infratech/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2024/12/3006_IndoorAirQuality_WCAG.pdf
8. National Asthma Council — Mould and Your Health Factsheet: