Sustainable House Day 2020: The most inspiring homes to see this year

Every September, hordes of Australians flock to open houses across the country on Sustainable House Day to have a sticky-beak at how others are designing and executing sustainable living.

This Sunday, September 20, is the first time that the event, which has been running since 2001, will be operating virtually – and there are some major perks to this new format. 

Paul Bowers, chief executive of event organiser Renew, says a virtual event presents exciting new opportunities for those wanting to learn more about sustainable housing. 

“What’s amazing is that previously you would not be able to see houses over such a widely-distributed area in one day. It’s too far to drive,” he says.

“So being able to go into a house in WA, then look at a house in Tasmania, then look at a house in Brisbane – that’s an amazing thing that we’re able to offer this year.”

Bowers also says with people spending more time at home than usual, one of the focuses this year will be on demonstrating just how comfortable sustainable housing can be. 

There are 150 houses listed across urban, suburban and rural Australia and they range from incredible architect-designed homes to displays of everyday Australians using simple tips and tricks to transform their property into a more sustainable version of itself.  

Social distancing restrictions mean the Renew team has had to get extra creative with this year’s program, and the result is a series of free “Zoom room” sessions that run alongside the virtual house tours.

Attendees can explore a range of fascinating topics – from tiny houses and all-electric homes to building with hemp and creating edible gardens.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to hear from sustainable home owners, builders, designers, engineers and architects and ask them questions. 

“At Renew we recognise that there’s no point giving people knowledge if they’re not inspired, and there’s no point inspiring people if you don’t support them with the knowledge to do something with that inspiration,” says Bowers.

“So for me, the glorious thing about Sustainable House Day is first of all how we can inspire people with a vision of what they could create. And then the next thing is giving people tools, information, networks and communities that can help them realise that vision.”

One virtual room is dedicated to designing, the next to retrofitting, renovating and the building process, while the third is all about community living, gardens, water efficiency and other aspects that go beyond the physical structure of a house. 

In terms of standout properties, Bowers points to the 10-star passive house in Queensland’s Tamborine Mountain.

Not only does the property boast on-site water treatment and harness more energy than it consumes – making it carbon positive – but it was also built by a team with no background in the building industry, showing that anyone can learn the ins and outs of sustainable house design.  

“And then on a different scale, there’s an amazing house in [Melbourne’s] Brunswick – the Davison Collaborative,” says Bowers.

“This is a townhouse that is fossil fuel-free, it’s 100 per cent electric. And it’s a suburban block. It’s proving the case for how you can build sustainable homes inside suburbs.”

Bowers says that as a dog owner, another highlight for him is Noonameena, in Redesdale, Victoria.

Among other great features, the prefab straw-bale passive house features innovative, state-of-the-art doggy doors, demonstrating that there’s a creative solution to even the smallest of residential design problems. 

While Sustainable House Day itself is happening this Sunday, those who want to learn more can attend a series of online “Extension Sessions” that will take place in the days afterwards and more deeply explore topics such as how to live sustainably while renting, passive houses, electric vehicles and off-grid living. 

“What I’m really keen on is the idea that people can dip in … Log on, have a look, get inspired. And if that’s all you want to do, that’s fine,” says Bowers.

“If you want to dive deeper, there’s a lot more there. Often engaging in something as hard as building a sustainable house can feel … like it’s a really big step you have to take.

“But actually, just getting a feeling for it, beginning that conversation – that’s what this day can achieve for everyone … This is a really easy way of just putting a toe in the water.”