Goolwa House by StudioRogier, SHD2023

Sustainable House Day is an event from Renew that provides the opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most inspiring homes, and learn from the people who designed them, built them, and live in them.

Sustainable House Day is an event from Renew that provides the opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most inspiring homes, and learn from the people who designed them, built them, and live in them.

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On April 21st 2024 over 100 homes opened their doors across the country, sharing their experience of building and living in sustainable homes. 

Balmoral, owner built, SHD2023
On April 21st 2024 over 100 homes opened their doors across the country, sharing their experience of building and living in sustainable homes. 
Kingfisher House by ptma Architecture, SHD2023
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Sustainable House Day 2024 may have passed, but you can still view detailed profiles of the featured homes, watch tour videos, and ask questions of the homeowners.

Explore Featured Homes →

Sustainable House Day 2024 may have passed, but you can still view detailed profiles of the featured homes, watch tour videos, and ask questions of the homeowners.

Explore Featured Homes →

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Dig deeper with our series of online Extension Sessions

Following a day of open-home tours around the country on 21st April 2024, a month of online Extension Sessions offer a deep dive into a range of sustainability topics. Australia’s best architects, designers, tradespeople and experts will offer guidance, and homeowners will offer first hand experience. If you’re considering a sustainable build or renovation, this series is for you, with lots of time for Q&A.

You can book for sessions individually, or grab an Extension Session Pass that gives you access to all sessions at a discounted price. Members of Renew receive a further discount on Extension Session passes. Feel free to take out a membership or subscription to Renew or Sanctuary magazine before you book to access the discount!

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Dig deeper with our series of online Extension Sessions

Following a day of open-home tours around the country on 21st April 2024, a month of online Extension Sessions offer a deep dive into a range of sustainability topics. Australia’s best architects, designers, tradespeople and experts will offer guidance, and homeowners will offer first hand experience. If you’re considering a sustainable build or renovation, this series is for you, with lots of time for Q&A.

You can book for sessions individually, or grab an Extension Session Pass that gives you access to all sessions at a discounted price. Members of Renew receive a further discount on Extension Session passes. Feel free to take out a membership or subscription to Renew or Sanctuary magazine before you book to access the discount!

From dream to drawing board: Permits, planning and finding your team

Tue 30th Apr 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

The first session in our program is all about taking that first leap towards your sustainable build or renovation. The panel will discuss how to get ideas out of your head and into a plan of action: tackling how to navigate planning requirements, identify opportunities and constraints, and find the right team to bring your vision to life.

Acing the basics: Orientation, Insulation and air flow

Thu 2nd May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

This session covers all the basics that are essential to understand in order to achieve a sustainable build or renovation that is warm in winter, cool in summer, and cheap to run. Our expert panel will discuss what a difference orientation can make, as well as correct air flow and insulation.

Foundations to finishes: Choosing the appropriate building materials

Tue 7th May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

Choosing the right sustainable building materials for your project can be a daunting task. In this session we will talk through the pros and cons of various natural building materials like rammed earth, strawbale and recycled timber, as well as exploring innovative new materials and the ideal environments for their use.

Getting glazing right: All about windows

Thu 9th May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

One of our most popular sessions returns! We’ll dive into detail covering everything you need to know about windows, which is often one of the most expensive items of a build or renovation, and one of the most critical things to get right. You’ll learn key considerations to make when selecting the right windows, to optimise the liveability of your home as well as maximising thermal comfort.

Technology for the transition:  Solar, home batteries, and EVs

Tue 14th May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

In this session we’re digging into a favourite topic at Renew: sustainable tech. Our expert panel will cover everything that you need to know when considering rooftop solar, home battery storage, and electric vehicles. You’ll learn what setup would suit your home and lifestyle, and key considerations to make the return-on-investment stack up.

Doing it differently: Owner building, co-housing and DIY

Thu 16th May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

There are many different paths to your dream sustainable home. As property prices rise and cost of living pressure intensifies, our expert panel will discuss avenues that you may not have considered, like sharing land or owner building. You’ll learn about being resourceful with what you have, and thinking outside the square.

Out of the box: prefab and modular house design

Tue 21st May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

This session will explore new developments in prefab and modular design. Our panel of experts will explore if this approach is still an affordable option, and discuss the other benefits such as fast installation timelines and the sustainability merits of offsite construction.

‘Enoughness’: Building small and clever

Thu 23rd May 2024, 6:30 pm AEST

Taking its name from a term coined by one of our panellists, Jane Hilliard of Designful, this session will explore the ethos of ‘enoughness’: building within your means, managing your footprint, and making smart design choices that result in beautiful sustainable homes within a budget. You’ll gain experienced insight into small and clever builds, as well as hearing pitfalls to avoid.

More ways to get involved

Sustainable House Day is built in collaboration with our community, enabling the opportunity for the peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Along with opening your home, there are other ways to get involved in the event. We work with groups and organisations around the country to run Community Partner Events, and we partner with Councils nationwide to make the event as impactful as possible.

 

Plan a Community Partner Event →
Become a Council Partner →
Sponsor Sustainable House Day →

We are so grateful for the support of Sustainable House Day sponsors.

Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors

Learn More about our Sustainable House Day sponsors

Achieve your sustainable dream home with a licensed architect →

Sustainable House Day sponsor, the NSW Architects Registration Board, explains working with an architect on your house build

Suburban Land Agency showcases innovative and sustainable living →

The ACT Government’s Suburban Land Agency (SLA) has a dedicated built form program that is testing and showcasing innovative forms of housing and sustainable housing opportunities.

Sustainable home design evolution →

Sustainable House Day sponsor Envirotecture discusses 25 years of evolution in sustainable design.

How these families went electric at home →

We spoke to Sustainable House Day sponsor Bank Australia about how some of their Clean Energy Home Loan customers are getting off gas and being rewarded for making their homes more sustainable and climate-friendly.

Designing Tomorrow: A Deep Dive into Sustainable Housing in the Witchcliffe Ecovillage →

There are few informational events more aligned to the values of the Witchcliffe Ecovillage (WEV) than Sustainable House Day by Renew. Considered one of the world’s most sustainable residential communities, the Witchcliffe Ecovillage sets a high bar, not only when it comes to the sustainability of the homes, but holistically across all social, environmental, and economic measures.

Sustainable House Day is coordinated by Renew.

Renew is a membership non-profit that has been working to transform Australian homes for climate and energy resilience since 1980. Renew’s early membership newsletters have evolved into Renew and Sanctuary magazines, both great resources for living and building sustainably.

Subscribe today →

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Sustainable House Day is coordinated by Renew, a membership non profit that has been working to transform Australian homes for climate and energy resilience since 1980. Renew’s early membership newsletters have evolved into Renew and Sanctuary magazines, both great resources for living and building sustainably.

Subscribe today →