Home truths for sustainable living
A sweltering Melbourne apartment and many other real homes will open their doors as part of a national sustainability event.
Australian households will be opening their doors next weekend to put their climate-ready retrofitting and electrification projects on show.
The annual 'Sustainable House Day' invites homeowners and renters to share their stories, from architecturally designed new builds and renovated weatherboards to all-electric upgrades and climate-resilient rebuilds.
Renew, the not-for-profit behind the event, says it advocates to government and industry to help people live more sustainably in their homes and communities by providing practical guidance on solar power, energy efficiency, rainwater harvesting, and waste reduction.
"These honest conversations help households lower energy bills, improve comfort and make informed decisions about their homes."
"Sustainable House Day shows what's possible when people open their doors and share what they've learned," Renew CEO Helen Oakey said.
"These honest conversations help households lower energy bills, improve comfort and make informed decisions about their homes. It's practical climate action, grounded in everyday experience."
Alongside open homes, Renew said the Sustainable House Day on Sunday May 17 would include a national program of workshops, panel discussions and information sessions hosted by councils, community groups and local organisations.
Participants can create their own Sustainable House tour by visiting the open house section of the Renew website.
From hotbox to home
Among the homes being showcased by Renew is a third-floor Brunswick West apartment in Victoria, transformed from what its owner describes as a "deadly hotbox" into a comfortable, low-impact home.
The north-west-facing flat in a 1960s walk-up had no insulation to speak of, so the owner says he stripped the plaster ceiling and installed insulation batts, then lined the north and west-facing internal walls with rigid insulation panels.
Unable to afford double glazing, white block-out blinds and timber venetians were then fitted to each window to manage summer heat, with cork flooring chosen for its thermal and acoustic properties and renewable potential.
With limited electrical capacity, the owner says he selected a two-burner induction cooktop and sourced almost all of his furniture second-hand, while tools for the project were hired from the Brunswick Tool Library rather than purchased.
