News & events
Renew 146: Cooling guide, DIY special
Find all the info you need to stay cool in the cooling buyers guide in the latest issue of Renew magazine. Plus eight exciting DIY projects!
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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
Cooling buyers guide: Active cooling options
Our first-ever cooling buyers guide gives you all the info you need on effective shading, ventilation, fans and efficient air conditioning for both renters and homeowners; in this extract we bring you the lowdown on active cooling options.
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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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Windows
Doubling up: Secondary glazing case studies
We hear from a variety of householders about their window upgrades using secondary glazing and retrofitted films.
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Solar & batteries
Desert Rose
An Aussie net-zero energy house takes on the competition in Dubai, bringing home an impressive second place overall in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.
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gardening
Get water wise in your own backyard
Tips from WA garden designer Cherise Haslam on what to consider when designing a waterwise garden.
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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
Desert Rose
An Aussie net-zero energy house takes on the competition in Dubai, bringing home an impressive second place overall in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.
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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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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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