Sustainable House Day is an event from Renew that provides the opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most inspiring homes, and learn from the people who designed them, built them, and live in them.

Following a day of open-home tours around the country on Sunday 4 May 2025, a month of webinars offer a deep dive into a range of sustainability topics. Australia's best architects, designers, tradespeople and experts will offer guidance, and homeowners will offer first hand experience. If you're considering a sustainable build or renovation, this series is for you, with lots of time for Q&A.

Tickets

To view the recording of this webinar, please purchase a ticket. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to watch the recording.

Renew is a small not for profit organisation that needs to raise money from ticket sales to cover the costs of hosting this event.

You can book this webinar independently, or grab a Webinar Series Pass to attend all 8 webinars at a discounted price. Members of Renew receive a further discount on Webinar Series passes. Feel free to grab a membership or subscription to Renew or Sanctuary magazine before you book to access the discount code!

Some local councils have partnered with Sustainable House Day and are offering a 50% discount on the Webinar Series Pass to their residents only. Participating councils include; Bass Coast Shire, City of Boroondara, City of Kingston, Manningham City, Merri-bek City, Mitchell Shire, Mornington Peninsula Council, City of Newcastle, City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington, Willoughby City Council, and City of Yarra.

Webinar 6: Can Volume Builds Be Sustainable Too? How to Make Your New Volume Build Home More Energy-Efficient and Eco-Friendly

Description

Learn how to find a volume builder with a focus on sustainability and incorporate energy-efficient design choices, like solar passive strategies and thermal efficiency, to make your new home more eco-friendly. What are the questions you should be asking? And how do you get the most sustainable build using a volume builder?

Featuring

Simon O'Brien, Senior Sustainability Manager
Simon has over ten years experience in Sustainability outcomes, strategy and leadership for some of Australia’s leading property companies, including Mirvac and Fraser’s Property Australia. Most recently, Simon was Senior Manager, Climate and Nature, where he led the development of Mirvac’s Net Positive Carbon (Scope 1-3) by 2030 plan. He also headed up sustainability for Mirvac’s residential business unit, focusing on electrifying the portfolio, delivering customer-focused sustainability outcomes and maximising social and community investment. Simon has a passion for residential sustainability and is currently working as a freelance consultant.

Roberto Petruzzi, HIP V. HYPE

Roberto is the Technical Director at HIP V. HYPE. With a background in energy efficiency modelling and building science, Roberto is passionate about delivering high-performance buildings, with a particular focus on building envelopes. For Roberto, a successful building must be designed and constructed to effectively control water, air, heat, light and noise transfer between the outdoor environment and the indoor spaces of a building, while maximising occupants’ comfort and health. Over the past 14+ years in the industry, Roberto has worked for building services engineering firms, specialist Environmentally Sustainable Design consultancies and local government authorities advising on and delivering projects across the private, government, health care and education sectors. He takes a holistic approach to project delivery, working collaboratively with the design team to ensure sustainability initiatives are accurately designed and documented. Roberto is also active within academia, lecturing on complex building energy modelling and assisting with research activities on a casual basis.

Tracey Cools, Efficient Living
Tracey Cools is the founding director of Efficient Living, one of Australia’s most experienced sustainable building consultancies. For over 20 years, she has helped builders and architects create homes that are more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready. She believes good design and smart building choices can deliver high performance without high costs. A big part of her work is with volume builders—collaborating with design teams to ensure home designs are fit for purpose and that clients are guided to match the right design to the right block of land. Tracey brings deep expertise in NatHERS energy ratings and building optimisation, and she’s passionate about building specification that supports resilience—both in everyday living and during extreme weather events. Her goal is to make sustainable, resilient living simple and achievable for all Australians.

Hosted by

Andy Marlow, Envirotecture

Andy Marlow is an architect and passivhaus designer at Envirotecture and Passivhaus Design & Construct. Andy believes all people should live, work and play in buildings that make them happy and healthy. His focus is ensuring people with reasonable budgets get into the best homes possible through a focus on health, comfort and efficiency in all its meanings.

Terms and Conditions

By purchasing a ticket, visitors agree to comply with the event terms and conditions to ensure a safe, respectful, and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Our Sponsors

Sustainable House Day wouldn't be possible without our amazing sponsors, we are so grateful for their support. You can learn about our sponsors here.

Photo by iStock-497183744 Credit: ymgerman