Talk: Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge

Canberra is progressing to net-zero by 2045 but you may be wondering what this means for the design of local housing, or you might simply like to explore how to reduce the carbon footprint of your home?

Come along to a public panel discussion, and Q&A, where architects, builders and home owners discuss designing, delivering and living in low to net-zero carbon housing in Canberra. See the exhibition and hear how overall we’ve saved carbon equaling near-100,000 trees.

Hosted by Lish Fejer, the panel will share practical tips to reduce the carbon footprint of your home; from solar passive and energy efficient design, to the use of recycled materials and renewables, through to clever space-saving ideas. Expect a lively panel discussion on local housing from renovations to new houses to Passivhaus, including how they did it; what was easy; what was hard and what it cost!

Lish has worked in the field of science communication as a presenter, speaker, writer and exhibition developer for several decades; working as co-host of ABC TV's eco-home-reno show Carbon Cops and with ABC Radio Canberra. You can also google ‘Green it Yourself’ for many practical tips from Lish on how to improve the sustainability of your home.

Joining Lish on the panel, architect and certified Passivhaus designer, Michael Tolhurst won the Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge inaugural first prize for Narrabundahaus which he designed to meet the Passivhaus standard. After researching the Passivhaus standard he was convinced that this approach provided significant health and comfort benefits.

Jenny Edwards (Director of Light House Architecture and Science) and her team won the Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge inaugural first prize for their renovation project Petit and Sevitt Net-zero Make-over. With over 170 architectural projects, and hundreds of retrofits, Jenny will discuss the growing demand for smaller, smarter, sustainable, housing that helps flatten the carbon curve!

Richard Ings lives in one such house and will discuss some of the everyday experiences of living in a renovated net-zero ‘ex-govie’. This smaller, well-insulated and well-sealed house, with solar panels and a battery, has not only reduced its carbon footprint but has also reduced annual heating, cooling and energy bills.

Joining the other panel lists, Michael Hopkins is the current CEO of Master Builders Association (ACT). With more than 25 years in the property and construction industries, working in government, consulting, property development, and advocacy, he has a passion for creating change and improved outcomes and will share examples of low carbon manufacturing and construction.