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PODCAST

THE CONSCIOUS BUILDER SHOW 

#222 - 3D printing in Canadian Construction - Interview With Ian Athur of nidus3D

3/23/2023

 
Listen to #222 - Ian Arthur
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Ian Arthur is the President and CEO of nidus3D, Canada’s experts in 3D construction printing. He has partnered with COBOD who is the world’s leading manufacturer of 3D Construction Printers. Previously, Ian was a Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Kingston & the Islands. Ian also sits on the board of directors for Switch Kingston, a not-for-profit association that promotes networking in green and climate related sectors.
This episode is all 3D printing, the current pros and cons of 3D printing, how it’s evolving, how it will help housing affordability in the future, how it works and what you can do to get involved if you’re interested. 


3:15 Inspiration 
7:37 Challenges 
9:55 5,000 sq. ft. Printed Warehouse 
15:00 Wood vs 3d 
19:50 Foundation Provess 
21:20 Danish partnership concrete 3d printing 


For more from Ian and nidus3D
-https://www.linkedin.com/company/nidus3d
-@nidus3D on twitter and instagram.



#221 - Prefab Passive Houses with Craig Toohey

3/17/2023

 
Listen to #221 -
​Craig Toohey
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Craig Toohey directs Business Development at Collective Carpentry, a custom home wood product-based prefabrication company in Invermere, British Columbia focusing on super-insulated assemblies, low carbon materials, and off-site Passive House construction.
Craig has been certified by both the Passive House Institute and PHIUS, and currently works remotely from Europe where he is closely connected to the European industry for prefabricated Passive House construction.

Craig has worked with Passive House practitioners across North America, using his background in sustainable business strategy and technical product sales to simplify, communicate, and put into action the solutions that developers, architects, and builders need to meet their business challenges, regulatory requirements, and their own ambitions for providing effective radical building efficiency and carbon mitigation solutions.
This episode is all about prefab construction. We chat about when it’s best to use Prefab, how Collective Carpentry is achieving Passive House Certification, how the industry is going to benefit from technology and so much more. 
​
3:33 What got you into Pre Fab?
9:05 Getting to Scale 
20:02 Wall section details 
26:09 Biggest challenge in the industry 

For more from Craig:  https://www.instagram.com/collective_carpentry/?hl=en
Website: https://collectivecarpentry.com/





#220 - Keys to Straw Bale Home Construction - Part Two with Sigi Koko

3/10/2023

 
Listen to #220 -
​Sigi Koko
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This is part two of chatting with Sigi Koko, principal designer at Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help people achieve their dreams of living in natural, healthy homes. (Part one is episode #201)

In this episode, we touch on things like what the key to straw bale construction is, why she never uses a vapour barrier, what a waddle and dobb wall is, why ducts are unhealthy and so much more. 

Sigi translates each client’s vision into a unique building design that reflects their personality and lifestyle, while responding to the surrounding landscape and climate. Her uniquely collaborative design process provides a high level of information and support, encouraging her clients to engage fully throughout design and construction.
She also teaches natural building workshops that empower her clients to contribute meaningfully during the construction of their own home. 
​
2:57 What is the structure?
9:42  Foundation to wall transition 
13:55 Tips for straw bale 
17:00 Vapour Barrier 
26:35 Roof ceiling connection 
30:45 Electrical 
42:45 HVAC 
For more from Sigi
https://www.facebook.com/buildnaturally
https://www.instagram.com/buildnaturally/
https://www.youtube.com/user/sigikoko
https://twitter.com/buildnaturally

#219 - A House Needs To Breathe...Or Does It? - HVAC Systems WIth Allison A Bailes

3/3/2023

 
Listen to #219 -
​Allison Bailes
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​Allison Bailes is the Chief Troublemaker at Energy Vanguard, a building science firm located in Decatur, Georgia. The company’s focus is on residential HVAC design, consulting, and training. Dr. Bailes has a PhD in physics from the University of Florida and has been involved with the field of building science since 2001, when he built a high-performance home out of structural insulated panels. He is the author of a popular building science book titled A House Needs to Breathe…Or Does It? He also is well known for writing the Energy Vanguard Blog and a weekly newsletter.
This episode is all about HVAC. We chat about what systems seem to be popular and why, the best place to filter the air for your central forced air system and the biggest mistake people make when designing a home from the perspective of an HVAC designer.


2:26 Intro
3:15 Catalyst into building science 
6:01 Lessons learned from building house 
7:00 Heat Load Calculation 
10:00 Current challenges 
14:26 SIPS - why 
16:35 A House needs to breath or does it?
 26:40 Electrification
29:00 High Humidity


 For More From Allison
https://www.energyvanguard.com/book-house-needs-breathe-or-does-it
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonabailes/
https://twitter.com/EnergyVanguard



#218 - Progress and Passive House - Interview with Andreas Benzing

2/24/2023

 
Listen to #218 -
​Andreas Benzing
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Andreas M. Benzing is a practicing architect, teacher, and social entrepreneur. He is a distinguished faculty member and Part-Time Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design, teaching Environmental Design and Design Studio to the next generation of architects. He is also a co-founder of New York Passive House where he serves as President and Executive Director.
Andreas developed his tireless work ethic at the famous Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, where he received his Master of Architecture degree in 1998. He was awarded the European Erasmus Scholarship and established his career at Oswald Mathias Ungers, and Hans Kollhoff in Berlin, Germany, learning the craft of the architectural profession. He then founded his company in 2006. Now he is licensed to practice Architecture in New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Germany, and became a Certified Passive House Designer in 2009.
In this episode we discuss why LEED certified buildings do not necessarily equal a better buildings, whether or not Passive House is picking up traction and recommendations for people interested in designing Passive Houses.

2:30 How did he get into Architecture
5:30 LEED 
8:50 why build better
10:10 Current challenges
14:35 Passive house value in New York 
23:56 products recommended  

For more from Andreas check out: 
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7000466831228424192/
Andreasbenzing.com

#217 - Success and Influence as a General Contractor - Interview with Brad Leavitt

2/17/2023

 
Listen to #217 -
​Brad Leavitt
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Brad Leavitt is President and Founder of “A Finer Touch Construction” - a Scottsdale based luxury residential and commercial builder. AFT Construction, as known throughout the industry, is an award-winning construction firm and has been nationally published in magazines such as: Fine Home Building, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Professional Builder. Brad was awarded as an “Icon” in the AZ building industry by Sources for Design in October, 2019. He was also recognized as a 2022 Phoenix Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Phoenix’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives.

His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building science and construction. 
In this episode we discuss what Brad did to build his company from scratch to do doing large multi-million dollar projects, how to manage the fluctuating prices, and what and how you should be charging for your services.
​
3:36 Starting in the Business 
6:10 What does it take to become a contractor 
10:03 Breaking into the high end luxury market
13:59 Business challenges today
19:30 Net Zero High Performance
20:47 Cost Plus
31:36 Current developments and changes in the industry


For more from Brad and AFT:
social media: @aft_construction 
  • AFT Construction Podcast
  • www.aftconstruction.com


For more details on Solar Panels: theconsciousbuilder.com/solar


#216 - Creativity and Collaboration in Business - Interview with Nick Schiffer

2/10/2023

 
Listen to #216 -
​Nick Schiffer
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Nick Schiffer founded NS Builders and has turned it into one of Boston's most sought-after builders; uncompromising on quality & craftsmanship to always provide a better product. His philosophy is to showcase his building and business practices across social media to share knowledge with the building industry, and provide transparency for potential and current clients.
We chat about how creativity is a must for a business to excel, how technology is shifting craftsmanship and how collaboration over competition will improve your business.


1:50 Introduction
10:30 $70,000 mistake
27:27 Thought leadership
35:50 creativity in the workforce
47:50 Technology in the industry


For more from Nick and NS Builders: 
https://www.instagram.com/nsbuilders/
https://www.youtube.com/c/NSBuildersLLC
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nsbuilders/
https://www.instagram.com/nickschiffer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickschiffer/

#215 - People First Strategy - Interview With Jonathan Cinelli

2/3/2023

 
Listen to #215 -
​Jonathan Cinelli
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*CONTENT WARNING: Explicit Language
​Jonathan Cinelli is a Project Management Professional and an Associate Certified Coach with decades of industry knowledge in the construction field. He utilizes s a very specialized, forward-thinking approach to business, designed for sustainability, with emphasis on continued growth and adaptability. Today, Jonathan helps construction professionals create sustainable business growth by building teams who buy in and execute at 100%. He coaches leaders to create cultures where people truly have each other’s backs.


For more from Jonathan: 
www.jonathacinelli.com
IG: @jonathanacinelli
Linked in: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cinelli-pmp-acc-103b841ba/


1:50 Intro
6:18 People first
11:30 Tough conversations 
19:30 Inspiring creativity in the workplace
23:50 Technology in construction  



#214 - Designing for Wellness with Priscille Joseph

1/26/2023

 
Listen to #214 -
​Priscille Joseph
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Priscille Joseph is the principal designer and founder of LPD Studio, an interior design studio located in Canada’s capital, with a focus in biophilic design and wellness. She’s a wife, mom, entrepreneur, plant parent, tea lover and podcast host of the Designing Wellness Podcast. Priscille has been working in the field for almost ten years with experience in residential and corporate design.
In this episode we discuss topics such as how to connect nature with your design, what the WELL Building Standard is and whether or not spaces should be separated for their different functions. 
2:06 Intro into design
9:00 Biophilic Design 
18:00 WELL Certification 
23:29 Design preferences residential
25:15 quote how we sit in a chair 
32:50 AI Technology in Design 
38:44 Closing words and advice 

For more from Priscille:
instagram: @designingwellnesspodcast
www.lpdstudio.ca/podcast

#213 - Mold and Indoor Air Quality with Tim Swakhammer

1/20/2023

 
Listen to #213
Tim Swakhammer
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Tim Swakhammer from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, is the owner of Mold Medics, a company providing services in mold removal, air duct cleaning, mold and radon testing and mitigation. 

We discuss common mold and indoor air quality issues in the home, including radon testing and mitigation and what contractors can do to improve indoor air quality during new construction and renovations. 


For more from Tim and Mold Medics: 
https://www.moldmedics.com/mold-education/
​
https://youtube.com/@moldmedics 
 
http://moldmedicsfranchising.com/


​2:30 Introduction
5:00 Indoor Air Quality 
7:10 Types of Mold 
13:20 No ventilation/ac high humidity solutions
16:00 Mold Testing 
19:00 Symptoms from mold 
20:45 Radon
31:24 Prep for renovations




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  • Services
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    • Company
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  • Resource Centre
    • Podcast
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    • Plans - Passive Design Solutions
    • Solar Panels
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    • Green Building Standards
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    • The Conscious Builder Academy
    • Free Estimating Spreadsheet
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