2025 SHD Webinar: Designing Better Homes: Innovations in Sustainable Architecture - Recording

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 8: Designing Better Homes: Innovations in Sustainable Architecture

Description

Discover cutting-edge strategies for designing sustainable, high-performance homes. This webinar will cover the fundamentals of passive solar design, helping you create energy-efficient spaces that maximize comfort and reduce environmental impact. We'll also dive into the latest commercially available sustainable materials—made from recycled and bio-based resources—that are reshaping urban construction.

Featuring

Tracy Graham, Connected Design
With over a decade of experience as a BDAA accredited building designer, Tracy Graham directs Connected Design with a clear vision: to create spaces that are both beautiful and sustainable. Her design philosophy, rooted in the concept of "less is more," prioritises budget efficiency, aesthetic harmony, and minimal environmental impact.
Tracy's expertise lies in integrating passive design principles and selecting materials that enhance both functionality and ecological responsibility.

Lucy Williams, Architect

Lucy Williams Architect is a small architecture studio based in Eltham, Victoria/Wurundjeri Country. We specialise in creating bespoke solutions to our clients’ briefs and see every project as an opportunity to explore how good design can improve the built environment for both people and the planet. We predominantly work on small scale new homes and alterations and additions and like to engage thoroughly with our clients to ensure our work is responsive to the constraints and opportunities of their brief, site, and budget. We get excited about working in semi-rural areas on leafy sites with a high bushfire threat, an area we are carving out a niche in. Our processes are rigorous and detailed to ensure everyone we collaborate with on the project, especially our clients and builders have a positive experience. Our practice is registered with the Architect’s Registration Board in Victoria, and we are members of ArchiTeam Cooperative and Renew.

Talina Edwards, Envirotecture
Talina Edwards is a Director of Envirotecture, and also Director of Passivhaus Design-Construct. She cares deeply about creating healthy, beautiful, functional, comfortable and sustainable architecture which combines building-science and biophilic-design. Talina brings over 25 years experience to her architectural practice and has completed Passivhaus Designer certification and studied with the Living Futures Institute. Talina has gained recognition as an industry leader, celebrated for her sustainable architecture and her tireless work to build a better future. She advocated for more sustainable design as former co-ordinator of Australian Architects Declare, committee member of ArchiTeam Advocacy committee and served as an executive board member at the Australian Passivhaus Association.

Hosted by

Anna Cumming, Renew

Anna Cumming is a writer, editor and communications professional with a longstanding interest in the built environment, in particular the design of sustainable, energy efficient and comfortable homes that tread lightly on the earth. She has held a variety of communications roles at national not-for-profit Renew since 2010, and in 2019 took over as Managing Editor of 'Sanctuary: modern green homes' - Australia's premier magazine dedicated to sustainable house design. She loves being part of the mission to inspire and educate people about the design strategies, materials and systems available to achieve truly sustainable, delightful homes.

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.

Pictured here is Middleton Beach House, a SHD2025 house. Photo by Rogier Voorhoeve.