Program: Community Events 2021 Archive

Book one to one appointments with experts in solar, energy efficiency, energy efficient design, water, draught proofing and many more themes.

An event from Clean Energy Nillumbik, VIC

• Online

• Registrations essential

This talk by Griff Morris will go through the basics of site selection, orientation and building to your budget. Topics covered include:
• What exactly is orientation and how does this impact my home?
• Neighbours, what impact do they have on the efficiency of my home.
• How does building a passive solar home impact your budget.
• The three budgets you should know before building.

An event from Solar Dwellings and the Renew Perth Branch, WA 

• In person: Home Base, Subiaco, Western Australia

• Book early as space is limited at the venue.

• Tickets are $10 per person or $15 for two tickets. All profits go to The Hunger Project which will go towards projects like the Akode Epicentre in Ghana.

The Link at Ginninderry is a multi-purpose community and information centre adjacent to the Strathnairn Arts Association. The building materials and methodology used showcases Ginninderry’s commitment to sustainability.

Presented by Ginninderry’s Sustainability Manager, Jessica Stewart, this virtual tour will explore the building materials and methodologies used.

An event from Ginninderry

• Online, over Zoom

Building a sustainable home is one thing, but helping to explain it is another.

What should home builders be asking of their architects, builders, and tradespeople?

How can architects, builders, and tradies help their customers evaluate the different options available to them on a basis other than price?

An event from iO Energy/Hubble

• In person: Stone & Chalk Adelaide. North Terrace

• Early bird tickets available for a significant discount

Birds are all around us — noisy and colourful, or tiny and cryptic, their fascinating antics can amuse us and awaken wonder and a deep sense of connection. Many gardens only attract large and boisterous birds, but with some easy changes, yours could become a haven for the smaller ones as well. Find out about some of the stunning birds in the Randwick Council area, which species need help, and how we can provide for them in our own gardens. Randwick has pockets rich in bird species, so there’s a fabulous opportunity to reconnect them, enabling birds to return to areas where they once thrived. Will your garden become one that makes a difference? By highlighting some of our beautiful local plants and other habitat features you could add, with links for ongoing learning, you will have lots of resources to begin.

An event from Randwick City Council.

• Online

• Event is held on zoom and details will be sent to you 30mins before the event

• This event is part of Randwick Council’s Eco Living Festival 2021

This webinar will give you all the information you need to set up and maintain your own rainwater tank. Our consultant will provide you with expert advice on selecting the right tank for your household needs, first flush diverters, water quality guidelines and any other tank-related queries.

An event from Willoughby Council, NSW.

• Online, over Zoom. You will receive a link to access the session the week before the webinar.

• This webinar is being run by Willoughby Council and is open to anyone residing in Australia, and is presented by John Caley, Director of Engineering at Sydney consultancy firm Ecological Design.

Join this free online webinar to learn how to establish shade trees and plants to cool your home as the climate warms. Facilitated by Macquarie University’s Which Plant Where team, you will discover the benefits of urban vegetation for cooling your home, learn which species will survive and thrive in the Eastern Suburbs as the climate warms, find out where to place plants to maximise shading during Summer and solar warmth during Winter, and more.

An event from Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils.

• Online.

This talk by Griff Morris will go through the basics of passive solar design principles, covering topics like:

• What exactly is north facing? Don’t all blocks face north?
• What is the difference between Passive Solar Design & Passiv Haus?
• De-mystifying energy star ratings,
• Thermal mass, what is it and how it is used.
• Naturally cooling your home – Breeze paths/airflow.

An event from Solar Dwellings and the Renew Perth Branch, WA

• In person: Home Base, Subiaco, Western Australia

• Book early as space is limited at the venue.

• Tickets are $10 per person or $15 for two tickets. All profits go to The Hunger Project which will go towards projects like the Akode Epicentre in Ghana.

Join our free workshop session to discuss important aspects of installing a solar power system. Learn how a solar system can help reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions. In this workshop you will:

• Learn how solar power and battery storage works
• Find out how to buy a quality solar system for your home or business
• Understand how government rebates work
• Have a chance to ask your questions

An event from Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils.

• Online

• A Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants

• This free information session is brought to you by Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils. The session is being facilitated by the Australian Energy Foundation.

Ask your questions about getting off gas and switching to an all-electric home powered by 100% renewable energy, and learn practical tips for going all-electric at home. The energy experts at Renew will debunk common myths and misconceptions about getting off gas, a fossil fuel. Switching your home to all-electric heating, hot water, and cooking reduces your carbon emissions and can save you money on energy bills.

An event from City of Yarra.

• Online

• A webinar link will be sent on registration

• This free information session is brought to you by the City of Yarra.

​An intro to creative housing solutions to help ease the social, environmental + housing crises we have found ourselves in. Have you ever considered buying a house or land with others? Or are you curious about building an additional dwelling in your backyard to offer additional long-term housing? ​Land sharing is already happening in our own communities in various creative forms, with many examples of this around the world. Come + listen to our expert panellists discuss how to get started.

An event from Designful, TAS

• In person: Battery Point Community Hall, Tasmania

• Bookings essential

This panel discussion features Talina Edwards, APHA Board Director & Architect and some very special guests (to be confirmed). Talina will be interviewing a panel of homeowners who will share their insights on what life is like living in a Certified Passivhaus.

An event from Australian Passive House Association

• Online, over Zoom. A link will be sent via email once registrations close.

On 16 October, join 4 online specialist showcase seminars: 1) Our innovative Climate Safe Rooms project, 2) The Samaritan House social housing development, 3) Case studies: Going off Gas panel with homeowners and tradies, and 4) Building Materials: The Big Decisions with an expert panel who’ll discuss contemporary building products and technologies and answer your questions. On 17 October, join 4 virtual house tour seminars with videos and panel discussions with the homeowners and technical experts and loads of Q&A. Feature homes include three 8+ star new builds and a retrofitted suburban home and a permaculture garden.

An event from Geelong Sustainability

• This event takes place over 2 days

• Online, over Zoom. A link will be sent via email once registrations close.

Breathe Neigbourhood display home will be open for viewing and small group tours, along with a series of presentations and panel discussions.

An event from Breathe Tumby

• In person: Saxon Street, Tumby Bay, SA

• This event is free

Come and wander around Christie Walk, QR codes around the development will allow you to experience virtual house tours and access short videos on the sustainable features of the development.

An event from Urban Ecology Australia

• In person: 105 Sturt St, Adelaide

• This event is free, no bookings required

This event will include talks from Sustainable House Day homeowners, sustainability experts and offers you the chance to speak to SHD homeowners on a one to one basis throughout the day.

View the full program of the day here.

An event from Solar Dwellings and the Renew Perth Branch, WA

• In person: Home Base, Subiaco WA

• Book early as space is limited at the venue.

• Tickets are $20 per person or $30 for two tickets. All profits go to The Hunger Project.

• Water, tea and coffee will be supplied. Please feel free to bring lunch with you, Home Base do have a cafe and Growers Lane is within walking distance.

Renew’s Toowoomba Members’ Branch will be hosting tours of three Toowoomba region sustainable houses on Sustainable House Day, 17 October.  Visitors will have a chance to talk to the homeowners about their experience of having a sustainable house built and what it is like to live in a thermally conformable energy efficient home.  Designers and builders will be present to answer questions too.

• In person, multiple houses

Find out the latest information about electric vehicles and charging stations from Randwick City Council. Are you considering an electric vehicle (EV) as your next car? Have you seen more electric vehicles and charging stations on your local streets? Join this webinar to hear what you need to know if you are considering an EV, including: How much do EVs cost and which models are available? How does charging work, how long does it take and what is their range? Are EVs cheaper to run and service? Do EVs produce less greenhouse gas emissions? What is happening in Australia’s electric vehicle market and what’s next? What should be considered when purchasing an EV? Are EVs available as hire cars?

An event from Randwick City Council.

• Online

• Event is held on Zoom, details will be sent to you 30mins before the event

• This event is part of Randwick Council’s Eco Living Online workshop series

The event this year will include some really interesting houses to explore and a variety from Passiv Haus to retrofitted weatherboards. We will also showcase new architect builds and extensions to older houses, plus a sustainable gardening session.

Our panel discussion will be back again, allowing you the opportunity to ask questions of the homeowners/gardeners/ architects and builders.

The event will also include online visits to homes that you normally wouldn’t be able to tour. As always we have new, recycled, straw bale and gardens, as eating out of your own garden is very sustainable as we all found during the global pandemic.

An event from Bendigo Sustainability Group.

• Online

• Event is held on Zoom, details will be sent to you

Visit local Nillumbik homes to hear the first hand experience of homeowners who are benefitting from making their homes more sustainable. 12 houses from four suburbs will open their doors to showcase what can be achieved with design or retrofit. Bookings are essential and all visitors will receive a free coffee voucher to make the most of their day out in Nillumbik.

Note: This event has been rescheduled to May 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria.

An event from Clean Energy Nillumbik, VIC

• In person: Nillumbik, VIC

• Houses in the trail include Our Comfy Home, Eltham Treehouse, Carbonlite Home, Henry House, Maureen and Trevor’s House, The Hill House.

• Visitors must register to receive the open house addresses.