2025 SHD Webinar: Make the Switch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Electrifying Your Home

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

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 2: Make the Switch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Electrifying Your Home

Description

Want to get started on removing gas from your home? This webinar will take you through the steps, highlight some of the challenges, and debunk some of the common myths so that your journey to an all-electric home is smooth!

Featuring

Ben Russell, Founder & Managing Director, Goodbye Gas

Ben Russell is a leader in home electrification and high-end electrical contracting, combining his passion for design, architecture, and sustainability with hands-on expertise. Originally aspiring to be an architect, he discovered his love for the practical side of building and began his electrical apprenticeship in 2004, following in the footsteps of his father. For the past 14 years, Ben has successfully led BREC, a renowned electrical contracting company that collaborates with Melbourne’s top architects and builders on high-end projects. A strong leader with a keen attention to detail, he has built a reputation for precision craftsmanship while excelling at brand-building and customer relationships. Driven by a vision for a cleaner future, Ben founded Goodbye Gas to make the energy transition seamless for homeowners. Goodbye Gas offers a customer-first service that handles every step of electrification, replacing outdated gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives. With over 350 homes electrified and expansion plans underway, Ben is at the forefront of reshaping how homes are powered.

Helen Oakey, CEO, Renew

Helen Oakey is the CEO at Renew and has worked in sustainability, climate advocacy and community engagement for over two decades. As a Greens climate policy advisor in the ACT Parliament, Helen saw the Territory set its 100% renewable energy target and 40% by 2020 emission reduction targets. As Executive Director of the ACT 's peak environment organisation instigated community engagement projects to help Canberra households to get off gas and led an advocacy campaign for the ACT to go gas free, which the ACT Government committed to in 2022. Helen has fully electrified two of her own homes since 2016 - a 3BR cottage in the ACT and a 2BR townhouse in Eltham.

Tim Forcey

Tim Forcey is a home comfort and energy adviser, researcher and author. His expertise is widely sought and accessed by individuals, community groups, businesses, government bodies, members of Parliament and media. Tim founded and contributes to the thriving My Efficient Electric Home online community. He grew up on a dairy farm before pursuing a career as a chemical engineer working around the globe in fossil fuels, but left that industry after realising the climate crisis couldn't wait for him to effect change from within. Following roles with government, the University of Melbourne, and not-for-profit organisations, Tim now thoroughly enjoys helping people make important changes in their own homes.

Hosted by
Kirsten Duncan, Renew

Kirsten Duncan is a science communication designer who holds a Master of Climate Change degree from the ANU. As the Climate and Sustainability Campaigner at the Conservation Council ACT Region, she managed the Make the Switch and Make the Move projects, and the CBR360 Circular Economy Symposium. She is currently managing community stakeholders for Renew’s Sustainable House Day.

Important Information

• Please note that this session will be recorded and sent out to registered participants. 
• Each webinar will take place on Zoom. If you need to download Zoom, you can do so here.
• You will receive the link to attend the sessions the day before each event.
• Renew is a small not for profit organisation that needs to raise money from ticket sales to cover the costs of hosting this event.

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 All-Electric Arthur, a SHD2025 featured house.