Visit your eco dream home on Sustainable House Day

‘Sustainable House Day’ is a fantastic opportunity for the public around Australia to visit a home in their locality that has been designed and built primarily to lesson our impact on the environment. Around 170 houses will be open, giving people the chance to see how owners have incorporated designs to capture renewable energies from sun and water, recycling and installation systems and how energy efficiency can be applied. For the first time this year, ‘Sustainable House Day’ on Sunday, September 13, will be free.

Held first in 2001 it is an initiative of Sustainable House Day started in 2001 as an initiative of the Australian and NZ Solar Energy Society (ANZSES). No need to book, people can just show up between 10am and 4pm. An extensive list of open house locations right round Australia can be found at the website (www.sustainablehouseday.com). Architects and builders will also be there to provide information and exchange ideas on practical methods to save on energy bills like using thermal mass, glazing and window treatments, water storages, solar and ventilation.

Also funded by the Australian Government, competitions and parties will be held on the day in different locations. It is estimated that ten percent of greenhouse gas emissions comes from households. By visiting a sustainable house we can not only learn about saving our pennies, but also how we as a community can use, manage and conserve energy and water now and into the future.