News
Sanctuary 55 out now: a deep dive into sustainable homes
Come with us on another deep dive into the built environment of the future in Sanctuary 55, as we showcase the astounding range of sustainable homes being created around Australia.
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Sanctuary: modern green homes is Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design.
Ideas & Advice
A knotty issue: Responsibly sourced timber
While timber is a renewable resource, its harvesting is often associated with deforestation practices that are harmful to the environment. We look at the current state of sustainable timber in Australia, and how to make sure the wood you use for your build is as responsible as possible.
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House profiles
A place of their own
For this family in coastal Victoria, a set of freely available sustainable home plans was the perfect solution to achieving a cost-effective and high-performing home.
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Outdoors
Nourished by nature: Garden design for mental health and wellbeing
There’s plenty of evidence that connection with nature is beneficial for both mind and body. We speak to the experts about designing gardens for improved mood and wellbeing, and what we can do at home to create green spaces that give back in a therapeutic way.
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House profiles
Project home powerhouse
This Melbourne couple worked with their volume builder to improve the sustainability of their standard project home, achieving an energy-efficient and spacious 7.5-Star family home.
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Building a 'suburban beach house'
Watch our webinar with building scientist Jenny Edwards of Light House Architecture and Science, whose Canberra house is featured in Sanctuary 50. We hear about how she and her partner achieved a high-performing family home on a budget, using standard materials, a modular design approach and careful attention to detail. Subscribe to Renew on YouTube to keep up with our future videos.
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News
Announcing Green Rebuild Toolkit
Renew is using its expertise on sustainable homes to empower fire-affected communities to rebuild and retrofit their homes in a climate resilient way.
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Climate Resilient Homes
An energy transition for social housing
Social housing must not be left behind in the transition to renewable energy. Read Renew's submission.
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Climate Resilient Homes
Community coalition backs 7-star homes with solar
A coalition of 23 not-for-profit community organisations has declared its support for 7-star rated homes with solar as a national minimum building standard.
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Ideas and advice
Outdoors
Nourished by nature: Garden design for mental health and wellbeing
There’s plenty of evidence that connection with nature is beneficial for both mind and body. We speak to the experts about designing gardens for improved mood and wellbeing, and what we can do at home to create green spaces that give back in a therapeutic way.
Read more
Ideas & Advice
Avoiding the winter cold: Housing retrofits as a health intervention
As well as reducing your energy bills and your carbon footprint, upgrading your home’s building envelope can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing. Health researcher Dr Toby Cumming explains.
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Ideas & Advice
A knotty issue: Responsibly sourced timber
While timber is a renewable resource, its harvesting is often associated with deforestation practices that are harmful to the environment. We look at the current state of sustainable timber in Australia, and how to make sure the wood you use for your build is as responsible as possible.
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Sustainable design events
Design workshop
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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Ideas & Advice
Design Workshop: Down by the river
Having lived in their beloved riverside suburb of Melbourne for ten years, Rowan Doyle and Fiona Cock are planning an updated, more flood-resilient home to accommodate changing family needs. They are interested in prefabrication and Passive House; Sven Maxa of Maxa Design is knowledgeable about both, and gives them some pointers.
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Design workshop
Design Workshop: New house from the old
On Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Lisa Hartmann and Kurt Weinert are planning to deconstruct their ageing, inefficient house and use the materials to build a sustainable new family home. Experienced in the use of recycled materials, Peter McArdle of ptma Architecture gives the couple some pointers.
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House profiles
Eco-effective collaboration
Determined to do something about climate change, this young Perth couple worked with architect Sid Thoo to build a passive solar, energy-efficient and affordable family home designed to minimise their carbon footprint.
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House profiles
Keeping the cottage
A renovation and small extension brings home the benefits of passive solar design for this Wollongong family.
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House profiles
A house made for life
The first strawbale house in its urban area, this flexibly designed and highly efficient Perth family home is adapting well as the needs of its occupants change.
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