More than 240 homes nationwide will take part this weekend in Sustainable House Day, Australia's largest community showcase of climate-smart living

Renew

Media Release - For Immediate Release

More than 240 homes nationwide will take part this weekend in Sustainable House Day, Australia’s largest community showcase of climate-smart living

Australians look to cut bills and build climate resilience as Sustainable House Day opens nationwide, reflecting growing pressure from energy costs and climate-related weather impacts

12 May 2026 - More than 240 homes across Australia will take part this weekend (Sunday 17 May) in Sustainable House Day 2026, with more than 150 opening in person and over 90 featured online, in the country’s largest community-led event showcasing practical solutions to make homes more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready.

From retrofitted older homes to off-grid builds and all-electric upgrades, households across every state are inviting visitors inside to see how they are cutting energy bills, improving comfort, and adapting their homes for extreme weather.

The event, hosted by not-for-profit organisation Renew, Sustainable House Day, is built around homeowners and renters, from major cities to local towns, sharing real-life experience, showing what changes they’ve made, what they cost, and how they perform day-to-day.

“What we’re seeing through Sustainable House Day is a real shift in how Australians think about their homes, as places to live, but also as places where they want to feel secure and resilient,” said Helen Oakey, CEO of Renew. “When homes are better insulated, more efficient and supported by solar and electrification, they become safer and more reliable during heatwaves, storms and power outages. That combination of comfort, cost savings and resilience is what’s driving change.”

Across Australia, households are already saving an estimated $3 billion a year through energy-efficient upgrades, including rooftop solar, insulation, electrification and better home design. Average savings are around $1,500 per household annually, according to industry and government estimates.

Sustainable House Day reflects growing interest in practical ways to reduce household costs while improving resilience.

“People are dealing with more frequent extreme heat, storms and rising energy prices, and they’re looking for solutions that actually work in their homes,” Oakey added. “Sustainable House Day gives them the chance to see those solutions in real homes, and hear directly from the people who’ve made changes.”

“People across the country are focusing on upgrades that deliver both comfort and efficiency. We’re seeing more people install solar, add batteries, improve insulation and switch to electric appliances,” she said. “It’s about making homes more comfortable, more reliable and cheaper to run, as well as cutting emissions.”

Oakey said the event’s strength is its peer-to-peer format.

“It’s neighbours talking to neighbours. Someone opens their home and explains what they did, what worked, and what they’d do differently. That kind of honesty is what helps people understand what’s possible.”

Homes featured this year include retrofits of older housing, energy-efficient new builds, and regional properties designed for heat, flood and power outage resilience. This year will showcase Australians who have retrofitted, renovated, rebuilt or electrified their homes, perhaps even switching to an EV, to share, inspire and showcase practical solutions for effective climate living.

Most Australian homes were built before any modern energy efficiency standards, making retrofitting a key opportunity to reduce energy use and improve liveability.

Jane Kern, Head of Impact Management at Bank Australia, added: “We’re proud to be supporting Sustainable House Day in showcasing practical solutions for Australians to save on energy bills, as well as reduce household emissions. We’re committed to providing tools and information for our customers to support making the switch. We believe the peer-to-peer format of Sustainable House Day is a unique and effective way for people to gain a deeper understanding of what solutions might work for their own homes, supporting people and communities in the energy transition and working towards a clean energy future for all.”

Why It Matters

Australians spend almost 90% of their time indoors, most of it at home. Residential buildings account for around 24% of national electricity use and more than 10% of Australia’s total carbon emissions.

At the same time, households are driving one of the world’s fastest clean energy transitions. More than 4.2 million rooftop solar systems are now installed nationwide, with close to 40% of homes generating their own power. Rooftop solar alone now supplies more than one-tenth of Australia’s electricity, easing pressure on energy bills and the grid. The rise of home battery storage is amplifying that shift, with over 450,000 home batteries installed nationwide as homeowners seek energy independence and bill savings.

But solar and batteries are just the beginning. Sustainable House Day showcases the next steps Australians are taking, from insulation and passive design to electrification, and flood and fire-ready rebuilds.

In 2025, more than 230 homes participated nationally, with more than 150 opening in person. Around 70% of visitors reported that they were planning to make changes to their own homes within six months.

Tickets cost a flat $15 and allow access to multiple homes across the day. Workshops, expert panels, and local tours will run alongside open homes, creating spaces for communities to share ideas and explore practical solutions together.

Full details are available at www.sustainablehouseday.com

Sustainable House Day 2026 is proudly supported by Bank Australia, and features homes taking practical steps to improve energy efficiency, comfort and climate resilience.

-ENDS-

CASE STUDIES

We have a number of case studies from across the country available for media opportunities. Please get in touch with any enquiries.

Case studies available include:

Boodjidup Brook Barnhouse, WA: 9.2-star NatHERS rating, rooftop solar, battery, and water-efficient gardens
Passive House on Canal, VIC: 9.6 kW solar, Tesla battery, heat-pump everything, resulting in near-$0 power bills
Teal House, Green Head, WA: survived a four-day blackout entirely on solar and battery
Cygnet, Tasmania - Cygnet Earthship:A bold, experimental new-build Earthship designed for extreme sustainability. The home integrates passive solar orientation, high thermal mass, rainwater harvesting, and off-grid energy systems. Built largely from recycled and natural materials, it demonstrates radical low-energy design principles while maintaining comfortable year-round indoor temperatures.
Mylor, Adelaide Hills - Mylor Bush Retreat: An award-winning retrofit of a mudbrick and recycled-timber home, originally built in 1986. The extension added two bedrooms and upgraded the original home with solar panels, underfloor heating, double glazing, improved insulation, and airtight construction, delivering a comfortable, energy-efficient, and sustainable home while preserving character and using reclaimed materials.
North Melbourne - Compact Nightingale Apartment: A small, sustainable apartment designed with a strong green outlook. Features include rooftop gardens, energy-efficient design, cross-ventilation, and all-electric systems. The compact unit demonstrates how sustainable, comfortable urban living can be achieved even in limited spaces while connecting residents to green spaces and community-focused amenities.

METHODOLOGY

$3 billion in household savings and growing
Climate-smart upgrades, from solar panels and home batteries to insulation, heat pumps, passive design, and electrification, are already saving Australians an estimated $3 billion per year in energy costs.

Current rooftop solar uptake: 4.2 million households (Clean Energy Council, 2025)
Average household savings: approximately $1,500/year on electricity (energy.gov.au)
Total national savings: 4.2 million × $1,500 ≈ $3.15 billion/year
Potential savings if more homes adopt solar and efficiency measures: $9-$10 billion/year (UNSW Solar Report, 2024)
Additional savings via electrification & insulation: some households could save $2,000-$6,000/year depending on upgrades (ACOSS, 2024)
Potential savings from home EV charging: households that charge an electric vehicle at home using rooftop solar could save an additional $500-$1,000 per year on fuel and electricity costs, depending on driving patterns and system size (Clean Energy Council, 2025; Energy.gov.au).

Please note: actual household savings vary depending on system size, usage patterns, and local conditions. A conservative estimate has been applied to reflect real-world variation across households. This includes factors such as system size, location, energy usage, feed-in tariffs, and whether households are home during the day to use solar generation.

About us:

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY

Sustainable House Day is hosted by Renew, a national, non-profit membership organisation working to transform Australian homes for climate and energy resilience.

A national movement with deep local roots
What started as Solar House Day in the nineties, Sustainable House Day has grown from a handful of open homes to a nationally coordinated event featuring over 230 listed homes in 2025 - with more than 150 opening in person. The event is supported by local councils and grassroots community groups, all working together to build a healthier housing future. The day is a powerful way to make change, neighbour to neighbour.

SUPPORTED BY
SHD would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and council partners. Full list available at: sustainablehouseday.com

ABOUT BANK AUSTRALIA

Bank Australia Ltd believes banking can be a force for good and together we can have a positive impact on our customers, communities and the planet. Following its merger with Qudos Mutual Ltd on 1 July 2025, Bank Australia Ltd continues to operate the Bank Australia and Qudos Bank retail brands. We are 100% customer-owned and aim to build on our position as Australia’s leading purpose-driven bank. We exist to inspire and empower our customers to use their money to create a world where people and the planet thrive. We support almost 320,000 customers and we’re custodians of more than $20 billion in assets.

Clean Energy Home Loan:

Bank Australia’s Clean Energy Home Loan offers a reduced rate to reward eligible customers who buy or build new all-electric, highly energy-efficient homes
Find out more about the Clean Energy Home Loan

Eco Pause:

Bank Australia’s Eco Pause feature allows eligible home loan customers to temporarily pause or reduce repayments to invest in sustainable upgrades such as solar, batteries or water tanks.
Find out more about Eco Pause

Contact details:

Rachel Harrison | [email protected]