Ventilation Explained: Heat Recovery Systems & Airtight Homes

This is Part 2 of Dean’s conversation with Tom Stephenson from Stiebel Eltron. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there first.In this episode the conversation moves beyond heat pumps to the broader systems that make high-performance homes work — ventilation, airtightness, building fabric and energy management.Tom walks through the design of his own all-electric home, explaining how geothermal heating, ventilation with heat recovery, thermal storage and solar generation work together to reduce energy demand while improving comfort.The discussion also explores the practical realities of high-performance construction, including humidity management, cooling strategies and the role of smart controls in optimising energy use.In this episode:Designing a high-performance, all-electric homeGeothermal heating, cooling and thermal storageVentilation systems and indoor air qualityThe difference between HRV and ERV systemsWhy airtight homes require controlled ventilationManaging humidity and condensation risksThe role of solar, batteries and energy management systemsHow building fabric impacts energy demandCommon misconceptions about heat pumpsThe future of heat pump technology and refrigerantsTom also reflects on what he learned from building his own home, and why comfort, health and long-term performance often matter more than simple return-on-investment calculations.Links and Resources:Stiebel Eltron Australia: stiebel-eltron.com.auYour Home guide to ventilation and airtightness: yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/ventilation-airtightnessHosted 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