News & events
Renew 145 out now – check out our new look!
Find all the info you need on optimising your water tank, waterwise gardening, stormwater reuse plus read more about a beautiful wetland. Get your copy now - free shipping in October.
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Renew magazine is the nation's premier magazine devoted to practical, cost-effective technologies for environmentally sustainable homes and lifestyles.
Buyers guides
Rainwater tank buyers guide
All the info you need on rainwater tank materials, siting, sizing, filters and pumps to make sure your rainwater is clean and useful.
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Smart homes
Houses that think: Are smart homes really a smart idea?
Smart home technology is touted as the way of the future, helping to make life easier while reducing energy use. But is that really the case?
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Community
Students get behind an infrared camera
These high school students learnt how to test for air leakage and become proficient DIY-installers—leading to great results for the homes involved, and benefits for the whole community.
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Heating
Heating case study: converting gas to heat pump hydronic
This 1908 weatherboard Edwardian in Melbourne has been renovated, extended and insulated — and is making the switch to all-electric, powered by solar PV and 100% GreenPower.
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Efficient homes
Glazed and enthused: window replacement case study
Replacing the entire window with a new double-glazed one as part of a renovation was the answer to greater energy efficiency and thermal performance for homeowner Anna Cumming.
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Scenes from Sustainable House Day
How do you build or renovate a home for comfort and low bills? A record 33,000 people had such questions on their minds when they visited 226 exceptional sustainable homes open across Australia on Sustainable House Day 2018, held on Sunday, 16 September. Watch our video to see what these attendees in Western Australia got out of the day.
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Solar & batteries
Energy storage update
Domestic energy storage systems are becoming more popular as their prices come down and electricity prices go up. Lance Turner updates what’s happening in the market and what to look for.
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Solar & batteries
Can I upgrade my solar?
If your solar system fails or you want a larger system, how easy is it to get an upgrade? Well, that depends! Robyn Deed talks to solar installers to get some guidance.
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Community
Totally Renewable Yackandandah
Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) is at the forefront of regional towns making the shift to renewable energy, as Matthew Charles-Jones described at a recent Renew branch meeting in Melbourne.
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Research
All-electric solar homes save thousands over gas: report
New homes that are all-electric and have solar power will save their owners thousands of dollars according to a new report by Renew.
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News
Vic solar and solar hot water/heat pump rebates
The Victorian government has introduced a new rebate for residential solar power systems (up to $2225) and for solar hot water systems including heat pumps (up to $1000).
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Advocacy
ACCC misunderstands solar tariffs
The ACCC’s most recent report into the energy sector has misunderstood the history and current economics of solar feed-in tariffs around the Australia, according to Renew.
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Research
100 percent renewable energy by 2030
Australia can have an electricity grid entirely run by renewable energy by 2030, according to a new research paper by Renew.
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Renew basics and buyers guides
Solar & batteries
Know your renewables: off-grid basics
With reducing grid reliability and steadily increasing electricity prices there’s been renewed interest in giving energy companies the flick. Lance Turner takes a look at the how and why of going off-grid.
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Building materials
Strength, stability and performance: The right floor for your build
When building, you may put a lot of thought into the floor coverings, but what about the sub-floor structure? Both are important to ensure a sustainable result. Lance Turner surveys the options.
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Buyers guides
No longer cooking with gas: Induction cooktop mini guide
Induction cooktops can make converts, with power and performance as good as or better than gas. We look at the features to consider when buying one.
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Buyers guides
Hot water savings: Efficient hot water buyers guide
If your old hot water system has seen better days, maybe it’s time for an efficient replacement. We show you how solar and heat pump hot water systems work, what’s available and how to choose one to best suit your needs.
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