Doors open for Sustainable House Day

This 8.8 Star rated St Leondards home offers a glimpse of how effienct new builds can be. Photos: SUPPLIED

TIPS on a reducing energy bills and creating a more ecologically sound home will feature prominently at an upcoming Sustainable House Day events in October.

Geelong Sustainability, in partnership with the Geelong council, is hosting the two-day event that offers inspirational ideas and advice from homeowners and industry experts through a series of seminars and open houses.

On Saturday, October 15 Gordon Tafe, Geelong, will host ticketed lectures on buying, building and renovating sustainably; retrofitting tips and tricks for energy efficiency; and becoming an all-electric home by getting off gas.

This Manifold Heights home is part of the open day and shows how a home destroyed by fire can be rebuilt sustainably.

People will have chance on Sunday for a sneak peak behind the doors of some the region’s most sustainably innovative homes in Geelong, the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Bannockburn.

Nine homes have been selected for their design techniques, with features like thermal mass, insulation, new building practices, rooftop solar and battery storage, sustainable products and draught-proofing techniques on display.

A 1960’s Highton house offers an example of how an old home can be retrofitted to an all-electric home and garden and new St Leondards home with an 8.8 Star passive solar design shows how efficient modern homes can be.

A tiny house and permaculture garden in Jan Juc has also been selected, in keeping with this another of this year’s themes which is living with less.

A view from the garden of the St Leondards home.

“We really wanted to highlight living smaller and how you can utilise space to create a beautiful sustainable smaller home, providing an alternative option to ‘bigger is better'”, Geelong Sustainability Executive Officer Dan Cowdell said.

As many household’s experience bill shock due to spiking gas prices, Mr Cowdell said methods of transitioning to an all-electric home are in the minds of many.

“The information, tools and tips we are sharing will support homeowners to feel confident to transition their homes off gas.

“This is important for the wider transition away from gas to reduce our emissions and move towards a zero emissions future.”

For more information about the houses or to book seminar tickets visit, www.geelongsustainability.org.au/shd2022