News
Sanctuary 67 out now: Small projects special
Sanctuary 67 is our small projects special: celebrating smaller footprint new builds, clever urban infill, modest-scope renovations and more.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
House profiles
Doubling up
The why, how and where of building a secondary dwelling.
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House profiles
Red brick reno
After years of gradual upgrades, this leaky brick cottage in Central Victoria is now an exemplar of comfortable, efficient, low-bills living.
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House profiles
Small luxuries
This minimalist apartment renovation near Brisbane’s waterfront provides the efficiency of small-space living with some classy touches.
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House profiles
Ahead of the field
An adventure-loving couple have converted an old horse stable in Fremantle into a charming, compact and high-performing home.
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House profiles
Family focus
Perth architect Matt Delroy-Carr’s family home is a prototype for the sort of compact, efficient, affordable houses he’d like to offer his clients.
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House profiles
Leadership material
One young couple’s family home on a new subdivision near Tamworth is turning heads for all the right reasons.
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Advocacy
Historic 7-Star homes win will slash energy bills and emissions
After years of campaigning, Renew is celebrating a win with news of the decision that all new Australian homes will need to meet 7-Star energy standards.
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Advocacy
New research shows Australians want more efficient housing
A majority of Australians say the homes they live in are not performing well when it comes to energy efficiency, with most households favouring significant improvements to the nation’s housing stock as energy prices continue to rise.
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Research
Limiting energy bills by getting off gas
Electricity and gas tariffs are rising. New research from Renew shows that homes depending on gas for heating, cooking and hot water are set to be hit the hardest.
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Advocacy
Australia needs a National Energy Performance Strategy
Renew strongly backs the development of a National Energy Performance Strategy. Read our submission.
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Ideas and advice
Ideas & Advice
In praise of Accoya
Native hardwoods are beautiful, strong and durable, but we need to wean ourselves off destructive forestry practices. Building designer and recreational woodworker Dick Clarke takes one hardwood alternative for a test run.
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Ideas & Advice
Energy efficiency front and centre: A renovation case study
Rather than starting again, this Melbourne couple opted for a comprehensive renovation of their well laid out but inefficient home, achieving huge energy savings and much improved comfort.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
Design workshop
Design workshop revisited: Small space success
With some small but important changes to the internal layout based on our expert’s advice, this expanding young Canberra family is getting more out of their diminutive apartment.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: Making a small space work harder
Young professional couple Jess and David love their diminutive Canberra apartment and the productive courtyard garden they have established, and would like to make changes to maximise natural light, make the most of the available space, and accommodate a future family. Small space expert Kate Shepherd of Rob Henry Architects is on hand to help.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: A higher-performing volume build
Kirsten and James are keen to make the project home they’re planning in Camberwell, Victoria, as energy-efficient and comfortable as possible, and have budgeted for some upgrades. Architect Penny Guild and ESD consultant Erika Bartak give the couple some advice on achievable tweaks to improve their home’s performance.
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House profiles
Airy flair
A minimalist renovation to their 1970s Queenslander unlocked natural ventilation, energy efficiency and more useable space for this Cairns family.
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House profiles
Pretty in pink
This subtropical home challenges the status quo – and not just with its colour scheme.
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House profiles
Mini homestead
A small off-grid home in rural Victoria, built to a simple floor plan.
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