Ideas & Advice
Naturally lovely
Built with a focus on natural materials including hempcrete, this small home near Margaret River will provide a Perth couple with a comfortable, healthy, low-bills retirement.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
Ideas & Advice
Nurturing nature
There’s a lot you can do to promote biodiversity when you’re designing a new home or renovation, with clear benefits for you and your family as well as for the natural environment. Ecologist Sarah Bekessy and her colleagues explain what’s possible.
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House profiles
Into the woods
This treechange home in central Victoria didn’t start off as a Passive House project, but evolved into one through close collaboration between the owners, architect and builder.
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Ideas & Advice
Modern green homes: A short history of energy-efficient housing in Australia
As we celebrate 50 issues of Sanctuary, it’s timely to look back at how far the ‘modern green homes’ of our tagline have come in the magazine’s lifetime. CSIRO building researcher Anthony Wright looks at the development of energy efficiency regulations, how we’re building, and where to next for achieving a truly sustainable built environment.
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House profiles
Less, not excess
A small, smart Sydney renovation uses energy modelling to fine-tune the design and make the most of limited space.
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Scenes from Sustainable House Day 2019
Our Sustainable House Day event this on 15 September featured a record 252 homes open across Australia and nearly 50,000 visitors. Several homes from Sanctuary 48 were open, including Heathmont House, Chewton Hemp House, A39 House, and DecoHousing Denmark. Watch our video to see some scenes from the day.
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Research
Evaluating The Cape
Research by Renew alongside RMIT looked at the performance of highly efficient homes built in the eco-village at Cape Paterson, Vic pre- and post-occupancy. The research includes interviews with occupants as well as analysis of energy use and home temperatures.
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News
Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions for 2020
This year, why not make a resolution to alter your impact on the world and environment at large?
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Research
The Value of Higher Efficiency Homes
The rise of rooftop solar, high efficiency electric technology and low cost thermal efficiency can lead to substantial energy and financial savings for new homes.
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Submission
Consumers speak up on new building standards
Renew and our community partners have responded to options for efficiency improvements for new homes
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Ideas and advice
Ideas & Advice
Nurturing nature
There’s a lot you can do to promote biodiversity when you’re designing a new home or renovation, with clear benefits for you and your family as well as for the natural environment. Ecologist Sarah Bekessy and her colleagues explain what’s possible.
Read more
Ideas & Advice
Naturally lovely
Built with a focus on natural materials including hempcrete, this small home near Margaret River will provide a Perth couple with a comfortable, healthy, low-bills retirement.
Read more
Ideas & Advice
Modern green homes: A short history of energy-efficient housing in Australia
As we celebrate 50 issues of Sanctuary, it’s timely to look back at how far the ‘modern green homes’ of our tagline have come in the magazine’s lifetime. CSIRO building researcher Anthony Wright looks at the development of energy efficiency regulations, how we’re building, and where to next for achieving a truly sustainable built environment.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
Design workshop
Design Workshop: Garage to granny flat
Alicia Brown and Marc Horler are planning to retrofit the red brick garage in their backyard as a temporary living space for their family during house renovations, with an eye to creating a useful ‘granny flat’ for the future too. Building designer Elizabeth Wheeler of Future Focused advises them on a workable layout and what they can achieve with their budget while complying with local regulations.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: Connecting indoors and out
Libby Kartzoff and her husband Gary Fry are planning a renovation of their 1950s home on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
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Design workshop
Design workshop: Making space for family and friends
Anaise and Martin Cotrell are in the planning stages of extending their 1950s double brick home in Adelaide to provide more living space for their family of five. Paul Worroll of Reddog Architects offers an alternative, pavilion-based design.
Read moreMore house profiles
Ideas & Advice
Naturally lovely
Built with a focus on natural materials including hempcrete, this small home near Margaret River will provide a Perth couple with a comfortable, healthy, low-bills retirement.
Read more
House profiles
Into the woods
This treechange home in central Victoria didn’t start off as a Passive House project, but evolved into one through close collaboration between the owners, architect and builder.
Read more
House profiles
Less, not excess
A small, smart Sydney renovation uses energy modelling to fine-tune the design and make the most of limited space.
Read more