The Healthy Building Materials Mastermind is for you if you want to:
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Design or build homes that are better than Australian standards and that go a level beyond what is addressed by building science
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Reduce the risks to your business when NCC 2022 (condensation management) comes into effect.
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Understand what else needs to be considered, in addition to mould susceptibility and environmental impacts of materials, to ensure the products you specify don't pose other health risks for clients.
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Differentiate your business in a challenging market.
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Be a go-to person in your industry for healthy home builds.
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Be part of a phenomenal community committed to being the change they want to see in the building industry and supporting each other along the way.
"For a while I thought Passive House was the be-all and end-all, but there is another level and I genuinely believe that Passive House and the Building Biology principles will deliver the ultimate healthy home.
"If you're already in the sustainability or Passive House space, you're already invested in this path, why not start thinking beyond that... what I learned in the Mastermind has enabled me to go a level beyond Passive House."
- Evan Graham Master Builder
Material choices made with our environment in mind aren't always ideal choices for human health.
Building materials need to be considered in the context of a range of factors, in addition to how they will influence energy efficiency.
The entire life cycle of the material, from cradle to grave, needs to be taken into consideration, in addition to how a material might impact air quality, and the electro-climate of the home.
'Sustainable' does not necessarily mean 'healthy', we need to balance the need for both.
What would it feel like to build and design homes that that not only tick boxes in terms of aesthetics, but also give you confidence the materials you specify and source aren't going to cause ill-health to your clients?
Meet your healthy home guide...
Zara D'Cotta, Building Biology New Build Consultant, and founder of The Healthy Home, discovered her passion for environmental health after going through cancer.
Through her own experiences with environmental illness, including five years moving from one 'unhealthy' home to the next, and extensive research Zara realised that unhealthy homes are making us sick.
Knowing that most building industry professionals don't have the time or the desire to take on the research themselves, Zara created the Healthy Building Materials Mastermind to help overcome what she sees as one of the biggest barriers to widespread change.
Zara has delivered presentations for the Australian Institute of Architects, Building Designers Association of Australia, Surfers for Climate, and been featured in Domain.
Course outline
Each of the 70+ materials in the course is assessed against 9 health & environmental criteria and given a rating, with in-depth discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of each, considerations when using (to mitigate potential health risks) PLUS the perspectives of environmental health experts.
You'll need to allocate 1.5 - 2 hours each week for the pre-recorded content, and one hour for each fortnightly live call.
Week 1
- The five pillars of The Healthy Home
- What is building biology?
- Building biology principles that relate to healthy building materials
- Rating materials for their health and environmental impacts
- What is building science?
- Live group call
Week 2
- Framing: steel vs timber
- Foundations:
- stumps vs slab
- Subfloor: high mass & low mass materials
- Construction stage practices to reduce mould risk in framing and foundations.
- How to identify and address mould contaminated materials on building sites
Week 3
- Vapour permeability: regulatory changes
- Weatherproof barriers (roof and wall)
- Predicting how a wall system will perform in response to moisture
- Airtightness & vapour barriers
- Live group call
Week 4
- Insulation (roof & wall): traditionally used materials + healthier alternative
Week 5
- Window frames
- Glazing
- Curtains, shutters
- Roofing materials
- Downpipes
- Live group call
Week 6
- Wall materials (exterior): in depth look at 10 different materials
- Week 7
- Interior wall & ceiling linings:
- Wet area wall & ceiling lining
- Preventing condensation & mould (including which materials to avoid):
- Live group call
Week 8
- Low VOC paints & wood treatments
- Natural renders
- Flooring: in depth look toxic materials to avoid + healthier alternatives (8 materials covered)
Week 9
- Cabinetry
- Benchtops, doors, taps,
- Intro to what EMFs are and health impacts
- Live group call
Week 10
- Beyond material things: what strategies can you implement in the design and construction stage, to mitigate condensation and mould risk
- What factors other than building materials can influence the health of the built environment, and what else do you need to consider in order to deliver healthier home builds?
- Live wrap up call
Content is delivered weekly, and will be a combination of video, written, audio and live calls, which will be recorded if you miss it for any reason, but you are strongly encouraged to join live, so that you and fellow participants get the most from knowledge and insights that are shared on these calls.
Please note:
This information in this e-course is not intended as professional training nor does it replace professional advice when it comes to designing a healthy home, nor is it intended for the treatment or diagnosis of individual diseases or issues.
The generic information that we provide in the e-course materials is not a replacement for specialist advice tailored to your client's unique circumstances.
While working through the course material, it is very important that you conduct your own research, consult appropriately qualified professionals and make informed decisions about what is right for you and your client's particular circumstances.
All final decisions regarding a home renovation or build must be subject to approval by a licensed architect or building designer, and builder, who is familiar with statutory requirements to ensure compliance with the Building Code of Australia, National Construction Code and (State) Act standards.
Click here to read the terms and conditions before you enrol.
"My brain is completely changed from doing this course.
"The information in the Healthy Building Materials Mastermind fills a gap missing in the industry
"The content is well paced, engaging, important and so relevant to the priorities of clients and building industry professionals today.
"If this information were taught in universities we would be on our way to a healthier society and vastly improved building stock."
- Mercedes Mambort , Passive House architect, S.H.E.
Did you know...
- The Building Code of Australia sets out construction standards primarily in relation to safety, building performance, and energy efficiency, but it doesn't take into account the health or environmental impacts of thousands of building materials that have not been tested for their impact on human health.
- The highest ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, were found in a GREEN building, in a 2018 study by the CSIRO, which concluded "Greater attention to indoor VOC's in new construction, renovated spaces and green buildings is needed."
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40% of new builds in Australia were found to have condensation and mould (Australian Building Codes Board, 2015). Lack of awareness about how building materials contribute to condensation and mould in new builds, is contributing to this.
- Building material manufacturers make claims about their products being "mould-resistant" without evidence to back up their claims, and studies that suggest they are false.
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90% of patients in the children's oncology ward in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital in China in late 2019 were suffering from leukaemia or lymphoma blood cancers, more than 70% of whom came from homes that had recently been renovated. (South China Morning Post, 2019)
Toxic building materials can also contribute to: respiratory illnesses, insomnia, migraines, headaches, hormone imbalances, infertility, miscarriage, damage to DNA, birth defects, compromised immunity, inflammation, digestive dysfunction, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (mould illness), diabetes, neurological disorders, and so much more.
In 8 weeks, the learnings I've taken from this course have been invaluable, and it's been so uplifting being part of a group of like-minded people who are so willing to share their own, knowledge & experiences.
What I've come to really appreciate is the value in continually investing time in learning. As Maya Angelou so simply put it: when you know better, you do better." After becoming immersed in the course literature and teachings, I finally felt like there is a better way forward in interior design.
My experience in the Healthy Building Materials Mastermind led to the creation of Ganica Design.
Within weeks I was being approached to work on projects with clients who value health and being kinder to our environment.
It has truly been a highlight of 2021, and life changing for me. The connections I've made with so many like-minds has brought me so much hope and fulfilment."
- Rachel Fay, Ganica Design.
The Healthy Building Materials Mastermind is 80% funded in Tasmania. If you live in Tasmania and meet the eligibility criteria, you can claim 80% of the course cost back from Keystone Tasmania.
The Healthy Building Materials Mastermind has been created to empower you to guide clients towards healthier choices, and drive industry change, without having to take on hundreds of hours of research yourself.
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The course is delivered via pre-recorded audio and video recordings (1.5 - 2 hours per week)
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You'll get to hear an incredible depth of knowledge, perspectives and insights from industry experts.
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Fortnightly Q & A's and an exclusive Mastermind Slack Group, will give you the opportunity to connect with like-minded industry professionals, discuss learnings, share insights, and workshop solutions.
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There are short quizzes in each module to test your knowledge.
The knowledge you'll gain from this mastermind will fundamentally shift the way you approach building material choices, the value you're able to offer your clients, and enable you to play an instrumental role in driving the growing demand for healthier, locally produced materials.
Attract like-minded clients
Health conscious home-owners are desperate to find building designers, architects and builders that understand the health impacts of building materials and will support their efforts to create a home that's healthy.
Drive the movement for change
You have a pivotal role to play in reducing the demand for materials that are harmful to our health and killing our planet, and increasing demand for locally manufactured, healthier alternatives.
Peace of mind
Being informed will help you reduce the risks to your business when NCC 2022 (condensation management) comes into effect, and give you peace of mind that you're doing everything you can to ensure the materials you specify won't contribute to other potential health issues.
