Renovating Resources

  • Current Energy Rebates

    Check out our state-wide table with links to the current national and state energy rebates available to help you make changes to the energy efficiency of your home.

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  • Designing for re-use – PET Lamps by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón.

    Many plastic bottles are quickly consumed and thrown away; yet when viewed from a design perspective, Alvaro Catalán de Ocón discovered that PET bottles had the potential to be transformed into a functional product.

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  • The Breuer House – a place to ‘be’

    Memory is the essence of the Breuer House – gathering, sharing and making memories. This family home design looks out to a tree canopy and incorporates ideas of modernism, the bushscape and affordability.

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  • BDAV People’s Choice Award

    Each year, more and more beautiful, efficient and smart homes are being built to promote a healthy, comfortable and affordable lifestyle. Here are are some standouts to inspire you!

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  • Comparing Home Energy Rating Assessments

    Currently, there are many different home energy rating assessments available for the property owner to measure a properties potential energy and/or and water efficiency. Our comparative table helps you make sense of all the home energy rating tools (software) available; what they assess, what they cost and the rating they provide.

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  • Quick Tips: Choosing LED Lights

    Great news! Lighting that is high quality, energy efficient and affordable is obtainable. Here are six tips for choosing the LED lighting that gives you the best illumination and value for money from Brightgreen.

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  • Quick Tips: Talking to An Architect

    A good design requires a good architect and a client who is engaged in the project. Architect Caroline Pidcock shares tips on getting the most from your first meeting with your architect or designer.

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  • Renovating ‘Right’ from the Start

    Passive building design is an aspect of good building design. There are seven key elements which can be used to design homes that are naturally heated and cooled and therefore require minimal mechanical heating or cooling.

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  • Beautifully Crafted Cabins

    These Natural Cabins are a testament to Noek Witzand’s three passions: the power of design, the beauty of the natural world and how both enhance ones well-being.

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  • The ‘Connected’ Home

    Architect Ben Callery demonstrates how much joy can be found when one designs to connect people together within a building and its garden, using carefully chosen, life enhancing materials.

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  • Trends Impacting Sustainable Housing

    The concept of sustainability is here to stay and its effects will be far reaching. For residential property owners this represents an opportunity to profit from long-term trends and develop skills that enhance both liveability and investment characteristics.

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  • What Matters to You? – Liveability Poll

    Research from Bond University is designed to measure and quantify the impact of the running costs on home buying and investment decisions. Does it matter to you? Have your say.

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  • The Renovators Guide to the 17 Things™

    Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when you want to create a home that will deliver health, efficiency, comfort and connection to your local community. So we’ve put it all together for you. It’s called The 17 Things™.

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  • What is the Living Building Challenge?

    Caroline Pidcock provides an overview of this design challenge; an inspiring opportunity to create buildings that function elegantly and efficiently, now and as the future unfolds.

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  • Prefab Homes in Action

    Built on an ultra-steep site on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, the prefab TEKTUM SPACE2.0 is a compact family home. See it “come to life” with a time lapse video of the 5-day construction.

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  • Healthy Water Temperature

    Hot water is used to clean our dishes, the laundry and our bodies so meeting the minimum water temperature is essential for the health of everyone in your home.

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  • Finding Your Way Through Terminology

    A glossary to guide you through the terminology associated with building or renovating a sustainable home. Let us know through our Ask The Expert section if we’ve missed anything and we’ll add it.

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  • Solar PV for Homeowners – The Guide

    The Clean Energy Council’s Guide to Solar PV is a free, easy-to-use guide, which takes you through a simple seven-step process to help you select the ideal solar system for your needs.

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  • Caroline Pidcock’s Renovation Journey

    Sustainable architect Caroline Pidcock shares her own renovation challenges with a historic terrace home in Millers Point.

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  • Habitech’s Hampton Extension

    Good prefab design can provide high-quality buildings, to budget and on time so a prefab solution for their renovation was just the ticket for this Melbourne family.

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  • Finding Where the Breezes Blow

    Capturing natural breezes will make your home more desirable and cost efficient. The Bureau of Meteorology displays the occurrence of winds at a location, showing their strength, direction and frequency using wind roses.

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  • The Power of a Pelmet

    Pelmets hide the top of curtain fixtures. We know they seem at odds with current interior curtain designs but pelmets could be the answer to reducing your winter energy bills!

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  • Creating a Coastal Hideaway

    This wonderful holiday house was designed for a semi-retired couple but can accommodate their extended family when visiting. Compactness has been achieved by carefully designing space with multiple uses and clever storage solutions.

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  • Renovating a 1970s Classic

    This family found a classic “Sydney School” designed house with a great north orientation, beautiful bush setting and good bones then set about improving their little piece of paradise.

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  • Quick Tips: Water Efficient Showerheads

    If you’ve decided you don’t like water efficient showerhead because of the showering experience they provide, it might be a good time to revisit the new models on the market.

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  • Petersham Terrace Transformation

    Meet architect Caroline Pidcock and her design for an old terrace renovation in Petersham. The extension is filled with light and comfortable spaces for the family.

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  • The Complete Manual for Sustainable Renovations

    Your Home is a great reference book – it’s Australia’s definitive guide to environmentally sustainable homes and all issues concerning a home renovation, especially the climate zone you live in.

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  • Ask for a Master Builders Green Living

    Looking to renovate or build using the most environmentally sustainable practices? A Master Builders Green Living Builder is for you; they’re up to date with the latest technology and practices in sustainable building.

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  • A Rotating Writing Studio

    Underneath George Bernard Shaw’s little writing studio was a manually operated rotating floor base. Check out the plans to see how easy it was to make.

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  • Eco-Certification Series: Global Green Tag

    Knowing the physical characteristics of a product is essential but it’s only part of the picture. Investigating the broader use for a product is essential when it comes to getting the best health and environmental outcomes.

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