Bumper month ahead of Sustainable House Day

PREPARATIONS are in full swing for this year’s Sustainable House Day with a rare 10-star home headlining the houses on offer for residents to visit.

Geelong Sustainability will run a series of events taking place throughout October in the leadup to Sustainable House Day on October 26, while eight green-efficient homes are on the docket for residents to visit.

As part of the program, residents can attend a seminar, industry breakfast and webinars, with the month showcasing how sustainable living can be achieved.

Geelong Sustainability chief executive officer Dan Cowdell said the month was a highlight on the calendar.

“This year we’re excited to be showcasing a brand new, 10-star energy rated home,” Mr Cowdell said.

“With only a small number of 10-star homes in Australia, this is a rare opportunity to see first-hand what goes into a build of this standard.

“As well as this special home, we have a great cross-section of homes on display including innovative Passivhaus designs, inspiring retrofits and renovations, all-electric, and a pre-retrofit home for those interested in understanding energy audits and sustainable home improvement options.”

The Sustainable House Day Seminar will be held on October 12 at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, where an online sustainable design assessment tool named MOTIIVES will be launched.

The industry breakfast will take place on October 17 at Deakin University’s Waterfront Campus, featuring keynote speaker and leading sustainable building expert Brendan Condon.

Before Sustainable House Day, energy efficiency expert Tim Forcey will host a webinar on October 22 to discuss practical strategies to reduce home energy consumption.

Sustainable House Day will run from 10am to 5pm.

“I’d encourage you to head to the website to read about the homes being showcased this year,” Mr Cowdell said.

“They are a good example of what can be accomplished. With experts on hand to show you around, you’re guaranteed to learn and be inspired.”

To register, head to geelongsustainability.org.au