FAQs

Sustainable House Day is an annual national event presented by Renew that invites people to step inside real homes across Australia and learn directly from the people who live in them.

On the day, homeowners open their doors to share practical, lived experience about building, renovating, and retrofitting homes to be more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready. From apartments and suburban retrofits to off-grid builds and regional homes, Sustainable House Day is about real people sharing what works.

With a community of more than 52,000 people, Sustainable House Day is a trusted source of peer-to-peer learning and practical inspiration.

Australian households produce a significant share of our national emissions, but they also represent one of the biggest opportunities for change. The good news is that the solutions already exist. Smarter design, electrification and efficiency upgrades are proven, available and delivering real benefits right now.

Sustainable House Day taps into the neighbourhood effect. People are far more likely to act when they see trusted neighbours doing something successfully. By opening the doors to real homes, the event makes climate action visible, local and relatable. Visitors hear directly from homeowners and renters about what they did, what it cost, what worked and what they would do differently.

This peer-to-peer sharing cuts through confusion and overwhelm, replacing abstract ideas with lived experience. People leave knowing how to lower bills, improve comfort and health, and prepare their homes for heat, fire and flood.

At its heart, Sustainable House Day converts storytelling into behaviour change.

Renew Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables, and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities. Established in 1980, Renew provides expert, independent advice on sustainable solutions for the home to households, government, and industry.

Since its beginnings, Renew has been at the forefront of Australia’s sustainability movement — empowering people to create affordable, resilient, and sustainable homes and communities. Through trusted information, practical advice, and community engagement, we help Australians reduce their bills, lower their carbon footprint, and build homes equipped for a changing climate.

Each year, Renew engages with more than 150,000 people across Australia and beyond. We have helped thousands of households save money and reduce their environmental impact with guidance on energy efficiency, solar power, rainwater harvesting, materials reuse, and waste reduction. Our community includes members active in local branches nationwide; readers of our market-leading magazines Renew and Sanctuary; participants in events such as Sustainable House Day; users of our online tools and advice services; and our many research and advocacy partners.

Renew also advocates in government and industry arenas for policies that promote renewable energy, reduce emissions, and ensure homes are healthier, more affordable, and climate-resilient — while protecting consumer rights in a rapidly changing energy market.

When you join Renew, you become part of a national network of changemakers. You’ll gain access to tools, resources, and inspiration — including Renew and Sanctuary magazines — filled with practical solutions and real stories of sustainable living.

Renew has been the sole organiser of Sustainable House Day since 2017.

The next Sustainable House Day will take place on Sunday 17 May 2026.

That’s wonderful to hear. Opening your home is one of the most powerful ways to help others see what’s possible.

The first step is simply to register your interest. You can do that here. When you fill out the application form (applications are open now!!), you’ll be invited to create a short profile about your home and your sustainability journey. This can be a house or an apartment, and you can be a homeowner or a renter. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” home. What matters is sharing what you’ve tried, what worked, and what you’d do differently.

You can choose to open your home in person on Sunday 17 May 2026, or take part online only with photos and a short description. The Sustainable House Day team will guide you through each step and provide support along the way.

Your experience could be exactly what someone else needs to take their next step.

Tickets go on sale in March 2026. One ticket gives you access to multiple open homes, online house profiles and digital content.

Sustainable House Day is a hybrid event.

You can:

• Visit homes in person on the day (ticketed)
• Explore detailed online house profiles and videos (free)
• Take part in webinars and follow-up learning after the event (ticketed)

This approach allows people across Australia to take part, whether they attend in person or online.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Visit open homes or local events near you and see sustainable living in action.

• Share house profiles, videos or events with friends, family or colleagues who might be curious too.

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for inspiring homes, short videos, competitions and a growing community of people who care about comfortable, affordable, climate-ready homes.

• Invite someone along — a friend, family member or neighbour who’s been thinking about making changes at home.

• Support the program with a donation to Renew and help us grow Sustainable House Day year after year.

• Stay in the loop by joining our newsletter for updates, early access and behind-the-scenes news.

Community partners are at the heart of Sustainable House Day. Local groups, not-for-profits, sustainability networks, schools, and aligned organisations can get involved by hosting events, tours or conversations that help people explore practical ways to make homes more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready. Community Partner events might include eco-village tours, retrofit workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, or local meetups that reflect the needs and character of your community. If you have an idea or would like to explore how to be involved, get in touch with the Sustainable House Day team via this form we’d love to hear from you and help bring it to life.

Councils play a vital role in bringing Sustainable House Day to life in their communities. There are lots of ways to take part — from becoming a Council Partner and helping promote local open homes and events, to hosting workshops, community tours or information sessions that amplify practical sustainability solutions. If your council is interested in learning more about partnership opportunities, support available, or how to activate Sustainable House Day locally, please get in touch with us via this form. We’re always happy to talk through ideas and help tailor involvement to suit your c

Community partners are at the heart of Sustainable House Day. Local groups, not-for-profits, sustainability networks, schools, neighbourhood houses and aligned organisations can get involved by hosting events, tours or conversations that help people explore practical ways to make homes more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready. Community Partner events might include eco-village tours, retrofit workshops, panel discussions, film screenings or local meetups that reflect the needs and character of your community. If you have an idea or would like to explore how to be involved, get in touch with the Sustainable House Day team at shd@renew.org.au — we’d love to hear from you and help bring it to life.

ommunity’s goals.

With a community of over 52,000 people, this major annual event is a trusted source of expert advice about building, retrofitting or renovating sustainably.

This once grassroots initiative now engages thousands of people, hundreds of communities and a number of prominent expert speakers nationwide to explore energy-efficient, environmentally friendly homes, fostering knowledge-sharing and inspiring action.

We are currently looking for additional partners for our 2026 event. Please get in touch to find out more or check out our Sponsors page here.

We love working with people who have expertise to share. If you’re an architect, designer or sustainability professional and you’d like to be involved in Sustainable House Day, we’d love to hear from you.

Please email shd@renew.org.au with a short note about your area of expertise and include “Expert” in the subject line. A member of our team will be in touch.