Renovation Collaborative

Building less is without doubt the most cost effective and environmental solution.

If you have an old home with good bones, a few strategic and creative moves may be all you need to create something very special.

In today's episode, we continue exploring the importance of reusing existing buildings and look at ways to renovate and add value and joy with minimal work. We'll investigate the renovation of a mid-century modern home located in Stafford Heights in subtropical Brisbane.

Architect Paul Butterworth, director of Paul Butterworth Architect, shares the inside story on his Stafford Heights Modern project.

Today we'll learn about the opportunities and challenges of reusing existing homes and materials. And we have a very interesting conversation about the financial challenges architects and builders face when working on low budget renovations and some real solutions to create better outcomes for everyone.

Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. It's important for architects to educate their clients about the world of opportunity that design and particularly sustainable design offers. And if you're a client of an architect, it will require trust, sometimes bravery and working collaboratively to achieve a unique and environmental home.

2. If an existing house has character and good bones, think very carefully before demolishing it. Older homes contribute to the character we value in our streets and enhance property value, pride and delight in our suburbs. This character is rarely matched in new low budget homes.

3. It's easier to salvage and recycle items from demolition if you are living on site. Builders work within tight time frames and usually don't have the resources or time to stockpile materials and determine how to pass them on to a new owner.

4. An ordinary mid-century home may be cost effectively renovated into something very special through enhancing its existing motifs and design elements. Look for inspiration in the surrounding older homes.

Paul shared some very wise advice about architectural practice.

5. Architects must be transparent about their commitment to projects and build trust with clients by itemising non-chargeable time and tasks. Clearly itemise work done for free in invoices to ensure that your clients are aware of it. Encourage your builders to also follow this process because it helps to validate trust and the importance of give-and-take on a project.

6. Validate your construction team on site to build trust. Appreciate the skills they bring and ask their opinion. Creating a happy project site will help the project run smoothly and improve the outcome because happy people communicate better and are more invested.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[00:00] Introduction

[01:23] Tell us about your practice and how you got into sustainable design?

[04:59] What's special about this project in terms of sustainability?

[07:29] What was the project brief?

[09:19] Tell us about the climate responsive design?

[11:08] Tell us about the site?

[11:41] Tell us about the design – interior and exterior - and your mid century styling?

[15:31] What mid-century features did you retain?

17:59] What is the story of the mural?

[19:34] Did you have much trouble finding a small project builder?

[22:49] Why are small renovation projects difficult financially for architects?

[29:52] Communicating uncharged time is critical for trust and to avoid resentment.

[33:46] Validating your construction team makes everyone happy and the project run smoothly

[36:43] Did any other interesting things happen during construction?

[38:52] What are the key learnings about renovating these older character houses?

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we move on to our next sustainable design theme - Renewable Materials.

We'll investigate Huff’n’Puff strawbale Sit Up wall panels and their use in the construction of a new Passive House on an off-grid site in the cool temperate Victorian Highlands.

I talk to architect Talina Edwards, a director at Envirotecture, who'll give us the inside story on her Huff n Puff house.

RESOURCE LINKS

PAUL BUTTERWORTH ARCHITECT WEBSITE

Project Page (images) https://www.pbarchitect.com.au/stafford-heights-modern

Paul Butterworth Architect – Youtube - Renovate or Rebuild TV Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFCD1i4C_NI

OTHER INFO

Rose Seidler House, Sydney https://mhnsw.au/visit-us/rose-seidler-house/

5 STAR REVIEW

If you are finding my podcasts helpful, please leave me a 5 star review on your preferred listening app to help others find the show.

THIS LINK MAKES IT EASY

https://ratethispodcast.com/renovationcollaborative

Open the link on the device where you listen. Choose your preferred listening app and follow the easy instructions.

Thankyou!

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Actively looking for ways to reuse what is already in place is central to environmental decision making.

In today's episode, we move on to our next sustainable design theme, Renovation and Reuse.

We'll investigate the renovation of a 1940s timber cottage located in Bundjalung Country in the beachside town of Fingal Head in subtropical northern New South Wales. Architect Rob Norman, director of Symbiosphere Architects, shares the inside story on his Bambury Bungalow project.

Today we'll learn about

• creative and cost effective solutions for retaining and reusing old buildings and materials,
• the unique character and joy that can be affordably created through reusing old buildings, and
• loads of other insights and practical information from Rob's years of experience.

Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. Old buildings and materials have a unique character that is very difficult to obtain from anything affordable and new. They make a home so much more interesting, inspirational and joyful to live in, adding to quality of life, market appeal, and ultimately property value.

2. In recent years, interest and awareness of sustainable design have grown in the market, but unfortunately, knowledge has not. Social media, architectural journals and architect websites promote environmental design with glossy, finished project photos, but with limited information about what's going on in the background. These glamorous images support the assumption that environmental buildings are expensive and all about appearance.

In reality, a house that performs well from a sustainability point of view is not necessarily expensive or glamorous. Unfortunately, many genuinely sustainable houses do not photograph well, so they do not get the interest that they should.

The next points are about ideas for reusing materials out of your existing building. Rob had heaps of ideas, but these particular ones come up most frequently on a lot of old houses.

3. Old window glass and old windows can be retained and made safer by applying security film. Old window glass is thinner and more fragile than modern glass and breaks into sharp, jagged shards when shattered, posing a serious safety risk. The application of security film enhances the window's resistance to breakage and holds the shattered glass together.

4. Old timber T&G floorboards on their last legs can be retained with a thorough cleaning. This approach is beneficial in cases where sanding would expose the tongues, causing the floor to break apart. Rob had to hunt around to find a floor finisher with the right equipment. It requires a machine with something equivalent to a brush rather than a sander.

For those who don't know, sanding a top nailed floor, which is how all old timber floors are fixed, requires nails to be punched down by hand, which is slow and costly. As an alternative to replacing the floor, your builder might also suggest laying another flooring material on the top. So if you find yourself in this situation, investigate the thorough floor cleaning option first.

And finally, the lessons learned from this project.

5. if you're an owner who is building or renovating, you will ultimately control the sustainability of your project. Your architect and builder can propose ideas, but you make the final choices. Rob's clients were great environmental collaborators and constantly pushed to go further.

6. The primary problem with using materials from demolition is the commonly held belief that buildings must look perfect and new. For recycled materials to be properly embraced by the industry. The owner, architect and builder must question and agree on the final appearance before the work is done. Reducing the amount of reworking saves money, making construction more affordable and ultimately resulting in the use of recycled materials becoming more commonplace.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[01:14] How did you get started in sustainable design?

[07:42] Is client interest in sustainable design increasing?

[09:00] What was the design brief for this project?

[15:33] What environmental choices did you make for the exterior materials?

[20:23] What did you do with windows and doors?

[23:17] What environmental choices did you make for interior materials?

[27:10] What choices did you make in the kitchen?

[35:32] What choices did you make in the bathroom?

[39:25] When did you get the builder involved?

[43:46] Your clients didn't want full perfection – tell us about that?

[47:49] What other environmental initiatives did you incorporate?

[48:45] What were your key learnings from this project?

[49:46] What are the challenges of using materials from demolition?

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we continue exploring creative ideas for renovation and reuse.

We'll investigate the renovation of a mid-century modern 1960s timber home on a suburban site in Stafford in subtropical Brisbane. I talk to architect Paul Butterworth, director of Paul Butterworth Architects, who'll give us the inside story on his Stafford Heights Modern project.

This season covers a wide array of environmental ideas, and I welcome your feedback on topics you'd like to see explored in more detail over the future seasons.

RESOURCE LINKS 

SYMBIOSPHERE ARCHITECTS WEBSITE

Project Page (images) https://www.symbiosphere.com.au/works/bambery-bungalow-symbiosphere-architects

OTHER INFO

External timber finishes

Hardwood decking finish - Fiddes Universal Decking Oil or Cutek CD50

(Penetrating oils are far preferable to water based surface sealers because they are much more effective and easy to apply and maintain.)

Interior products

Flat Fibreglass sheet – Ampelite  https://www.ampelite.com.au/

Internal timber finishes

Plywood walls, ceilings and cabinetry finish: Rubio Monocoat

Plywood floors: Fiddes Hardwax Oil

Note: Rob now prefers Osmo Polyx-Oil for finishing all internal timber

Kitchen

Zinc kitchen bench - Profold https://www.profold.com.au/

Bathroom

Sussex Taps https://sussextaps.com.au/

Australian Basalt stone benchtop

5 STAR REVIEW

If you are finding my podcasts helpful, please leave me a 5 star review on your preferred listening app to help others find the show.

THIS LINK MAKES IT EASY

https://ratethispodcast.com/renovationcollaborative

Open the link on the device where you listen. Choose your preferred listening app and follow the easy instructions.

Thankyou for listening!

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

To be sustainable, buildings must be adaptable and flexible.

They must meet the current occupants’ needs efficiently and enable rearrangement or repurposing to accommodate future needs with minimal work and material waste.

In today's episode we continue our exploration of the sustainable design fundamentals. We investigate the design of a new house on a standard 600m2 suburban site in Yuggera Country, Samford in subtropical Brisbane. This house contains three different parts; a four bedroom home, a self-contained office and a self-contained secondary dwelling.

Architect Chris Bligh, a director at Bligh Graham Architects, shares the inside story on his Live Work Share project

Today we'll learn:

• ideas for creating a flexible floor plan that can accommodate multiple functions and adapt to changing needs,
• design strategies to optimise cross ventilation and passive cooling, and
• the process for using recycled hardwood from demolition yards.

And loads of other insights and practical information from Chris’, years of experience.

Australian Architects can earn formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. The design brief for the average Australian home is not what it used to be, and it keeps changing.

More people are working from home, children are staying at home longer or they leave only to return with their partners and young children.

There is a serious shortage of smaller affordable housing suitable for couples, young families or single parent families. For anyone looking for a source of income, incorporating secondary accommodation into your house plans can often provide much needed housing options for others and offer additional flexibility for the future.

2. Reducing your building footprint to maximise green space is critical and provides multiple benefits, such as improved access to passive ventilation, areas for productive food gardening and support for nature and natural processes.

3. Ideas to maximise cooling through passive ventilation included providing openings to at least two, if not three sides of every room. Chris used internal courtyards to achieve this. And security solutions that allow the house to remain open and ventilated while locked up.

4. Ideas to control access to sun in winter and shade in summer included retractable awnings over courtyards, using windows with solid infill instead of glass to provide shade and privacy while allowing ventilation, and adding retractable outdoor curtains to block hot low angle afternoon sun.

5. Create a floor plan that will enable air conditioning of selected rooms with optimal energy efficiency. Only air condition reasonably sized rooms. Avoid air conditioning really large open plan areas with voids. Ensure the rooms designated for air conditioning are well insulated and can be effectively sealed to prevent constant energy draw, and install ceiling fans in all rooms.

And finally,

6. Chris sourced all his hardwood, including structural members from demolition yards. Chris had the engineering drawings so he knew the sizes that he needed and his engineer performed stress testing of the timber on site to ensure compliance. While using demolition yard timber offers significant environmental benefits, it requires considerable effort. The timber must be sourced, often requiring searching across multiple demolition yards, transported to site and stored on site, often well before construction begins. Once on site, the timber needs sanding to remove splinters.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[01:26] Tell us about your practice and how you got into sustainable design?

[02:35] In your experience, is the interest in sustainable design increasing?

[03:51] What is the project design brief?

[06:14] How do the three parts of the building work on the site?

[07:09] How do the three parts adapt to other uses?

[08:43] How is the self-contained accommodation used?

[11:06] Tell us about the climate responsive design strategies you used?

[15:38] Do you have any heating or cooling?

[19:03] Tell us about using recycled hardwood from demolition yards?

[21:29] What environmental materials are used for the exterior?

[25:17] What is the green balustrade made of?

[26:31] What did you do for doors and windows?

[27:06] What exterior finishes did you use?

[27:30] What are the challenges of using demolition timber?

[29:10] What interior materials and finishes did you use?

[30:57] What did you do in the kitchen?

[32:27] What did you do in the bathrooms?

[35:59] When did you engage the builder?

[37:01] What advice would you give to anyone considering a sustainable home design?

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we move on to our next sustainable design theme, Renovation and Reuse.

Actively looking for ways to reuse what is already in place is central to environmental decision making. We'll investigate the renovation of a 1940s timber cottage on a suburban site located in the beachside town of Fingal Head in subtropical northern New South Wales.

I talk to architect Rob Norman, director of Symbiosphere Architects, who'll give us the inside story on his Bambury bungalow project.

RESOURCE LINKS

BLIGH GRAHAM ARCHITECTS WEBSITE

Project Page (images) https://blighgraham.com.au/project/live-work-share-house/

Media Page (floor plans, materials, consultants, builder) https://architectureau.com/articles/a-mini-metropolis-live-work-share-house/

OTHER INFO

Orange aluminium shutter windows

Window Manufacturer – G James Glass and Aluminium https://gjames.com/

Orange coloured solid window infill – Alucobond https://alucobond.com.sg/products/alucobond-plus/

Exterior Cladding

Ecoply https://chhply.com.au/ranges/ecoply/products/

Green Balustrades – Flat Fibreglass sheet https://www.ampelite.com.au/

External timber finishes

Cutek Penetrating Oil https://www.cutek.com.au/

Resene finishes - paint and stains https://www.resene.com.au/

Kitchen Cabinets

Ikea kitchen carcass (Always select the highest quality options with the longest warranty) https://www.ikea.com/au/en/cat/kitchen-cabinets-700292/

Blum cabinet runners (used in some Ikea cabinetry) https://www.blum.com/au/en/

Internal plywood and other timber finish

Whittle Waxes Evolution Hardwax Oil - https://www.whittlewaxes.com.au/collections/hardwax-oils

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Sustainable design begins with the fundamentals. This means carefully considered floor plans that utilise space efficiently and are responsive to your climate and the surrounding site.

In today's episode, we'll explore the design of a new house on a small site located in Palm Cove in tropical North Queensland. Architects Belinda Allwood and Allison Stout from People Oriented Design share the inside story of their Big Small House project.

Today you'll learn,

• ideas to help you create a comfortable and happy home that is space efficient and affordable,
• design strategies to optimize cross ventilation, and
• creative ways to provide joy through design while working with a modest budget.

 Plus loads of other insights and practical information on materials and products from Belinda and Allison's years of experience.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. Houses in hot tropical climates can be comfortable most of the year with access to good natural ventilation and shading. However, they will need a small air-conditioned retreat space designed for optimal energy efficiency for those very hot days every summer.

2. Belinda's design ideas to maximize ventilation and airflow include:

Thermal venting by allowing a large volume of cool air to enter at the lower level and as it heats, rise and exit through the upper level.

• Providing narrow floor plans with windows on opposite sides of the house to promote breeze flow straight through because breezes move best in straight lines through the house,
• Providing awnings and eaves over windows and doors so they can remain open during rain.
• Maximising door opening size in this case with sliding stacker doors,
• Using louvres and casement windows to provide 100% opening. These windows can be angled to channel breeze through the house and also remain open during rain. However, it is important to note if you're designing a room to be opened for maximum ventilation, and also closed for air conditioning with optimal energy efficiency, choose more airtight window openings and this includes casement windows, bifold doors, swing doors. Avoid louvers, sliders and double hung windows because they do not seal shut as effectively.

3. A common design requirement in cyclonic regions is the psychological need to feel safe. Timber and steel framing is very strong in cyclonic wind speeds when built to the correct engineering standards. However, masonry, and that means concrete block and brick walls make people feel safer from wind borne flying debris. Therefore, Belinda always incorporates a small cyclonic retreat space built with heavy masonry walls.

4. Ideas to create a small but efficient building floor plan and leave more site area for garden and outdoor space include:

• Thinking carefully about your design brief and the least you need to be comfortable and happy in your home.
• Look for opportunities to have multi-purpose rooms.
• Minimise hallways,
• Maximise openings around the living area to enable connection to the surrounding garden and a feeling of generosity.
• Consider a double height volume through the main living area to create a feeling of openness and generosity to offset modest ceiling heights through the rest of the house, and
• use two levels rather than one big sprawling level on ground.

5. Hot tropical climates cause materials to break down quickly if they're not durable. The humidity, high rainfall and living close to large trees is an ideal environment for mould and algae growth and deterioration of materials. Belinda chooses durable, affordable materials such as fibre cement (FC) and concrete block.

And finally,

6. Do not compromise on joy and delight in your house design. It does not have to cost more. Home design is so much more than arranging the number and size of rooms. It should focus on optimising quality of life through good natural lighting, connection to nature and the sky, and flexible spaces enabling occupants needs to change over time

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[01:17] How did you get started in sustainable design?

[04:45] Tell us about your practice, People Oriented Design?

[10:25] What was the design brief for this project?

[11:58] Can you tell us about the tropical North Queensland climate?  

[15:10] How did you maximize natural ventilation to avoid the need for air-conditioning?

[21:06] Are there any key design decisions when designing for cyclones?

[22:41] Tell us your strategy for space efficient design and minimal footprint?

[25:00] Can you tell us the environmental reasoning behind your exterior materials?

[28:19] Can you tell us the environmental reasoning behind your interior materials?

[30:13] What advice would you give to other architects or homeowners wanting to build a sustainable, affordable, affordable home in the tropics?

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we continue exploring the fundamentals of sustainable design. We focus on floor plan design that accommodates multiple functions and can adapt to changing needs over time. Plus more ideas to improve climate responsive design.

We'll be looking at the design of a new house on a suburban lot in Samford in subtropical Brisbane. This house accommodates three different functions - a four bed family home, a self-contained office and a self-contained secondary dwelling.

I talk to environmental architect Chris Bligh, a director at Bligh Graham Architects, who'll give us the inside story on his Live Work Share House project.

RESOURCE LINKS

PEOPLE ORIENTED DESIGN WEBSITE

Project Page (images) www.peopleorienteddesign.com.au/projects-research/architecture/palm-cove-residence

Media Page (floor plans, materials, consultants and builder) https://architectureau.com/articles/big-small-house/

OTHER INFO

Bower Studio – University of Melbourne

The multi-award winning Bower Studio links indigenous community groups with postgraduate architecture students and staff from the University of Melbourne.

https://bowerstudio.msd.unimelb.edu.au/

Eddie Oribin – Cairns Architect who practiced from the 1950-1970s and used experimental and innovative forms, materials and techniques.

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Reducing carbon emissions, both embodied and operational, is now a design priority. But carbon cannot be considered in isolation.

Today we continue with the latest science and investigate the importance of holistic decision making and regenerative design. We'll explore the renovation and extension of a 150-year-old timber cottage on a small inner city suburban site in Turrbal Country, subtropical Brisbane.

Architect Andrew Noonan, director of Andrew Noonan Architect, shares the inside story on renovating his own home. Andrew conducted extensive research on his design, material and product choices to ensure they achieved optimal regenerative outcomes and he shares his very interesting findings.

Today we'll learn about:

• the importance of regenerative design and circular economy thinking,
• specifying timber from environmental sources,
• the long term problems with using dark colours in hot climates,
• why plasterboard wall linings are actually a very environmental solution, and

loads of other insights and practical information from Andrew's extensive research and years of experience.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. Reducing carbon emissions through design is critical, but we must think holistically and find regenerative design solutions that do not focus on carbon at the expense of everything else. Regenerative design aims to integrate the building into a broader system, emphasising ways to give back and create a positive impact rather than merely reducing negative impacts.

As an example, Andrew could have achieved 10 star NatHERS but chose not to because achieving it would have required upgrading from single to double glazing. This change would have significantly increased his embodied carbon due to the added glass. NatHERS modelling proved that his house design would be comfortable in a subtropical climate without mechanical heating and cooling, and so double glazed windows were not essential.

2. Relying on rooftop solar power to offset large household energy consumption is not a balanced regenerative approach. It's crucial to prioritise reduction over production. Always explore ways to reduce energy demand first.

3. Getting the fundamentals of climate responsive design right is a vital starting point for all designs and will significantly enhance energy efficiency.

4. Choosing light coloured exterior paint in hot climates can minimise heat gain and prolong the life of exterior materials. Timber is particularly vulnerable to damage when painted dark colours because the paint essentially seals it in plastic. Dark painted walls and windows absorb large amounts of heat when exposed to the sun, causing the timber inside to steam and break down over a reasonably short time frame. Be aware that most timber window manufacturers in Brisbane and presumably in other hot climates have disclaimers about dark paints on their products which can void warranties.

5. Always investigate the origin of your timber. If you're choosing new timber, ideally find timber grown locally in Australia or New Zealand. Only choose timber with valid third party forestry certification, FSC or PEFC, to uphold environmental protection and human rights.

In recent years, many states in Australia have significantly reduced hardwood logging from native forests, making local hardwood more difficult and expensive to obtain. Be aware that affordable hardwood species commonly used for clear finished doors and windows in Australia, like New Guinea rosewood, lack third party chain of custody certification.

And finally,

6. Andrew discovered that plasterboard is a very environmental product from a circularity perspective. Initially he believed plywood would be a better option for internal linings, but he found that it contained a highly carbon intensive glue. Additionally, there is no pathway for plywood products to have a second life. Their only circular outcome is energy recovery, meaning incineration. In contrast, plasterboard has a significantly lower whole of life impact than plywood. The gypsum used in plasterboard is easily recycled to create new plasterboard from old materials.

It's important to note that the material choices made on this project are not universally applicable to all projects. Each project has unique requirements and solutions should be explored on a case by case basis.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[01:42] Can you tell us about your practice and how you got started in sustainable design?

[02:59] What is Regenerative Design?

[04:17] What is the Living Building Challenge?

[10:12] What was the project design brief??

[12:23] What were the key environmental initiatives for this project?

[15:51] Why is chome finishing bad?

[16:44] Why did you use a timber framed floor as opposed to a concrete slab?

[21:58] Can you explain Circularity on your project?

[25:56] How does you design respond to the subtropical Brisbane climate?

[29:30] Can you explain how to optimise breeze flow through a house?

[30:18] Can you tell us about your NatHERS rating and why you chose single glazed windows?

[32:33] Can an energy efficient house still use gas for cooking?

[34:19] What sustainable materials did you choose for the building exterior?

[37:32] What are the problems with using dark external colours in hot climates?

[40:13] How to choose environmental timber for doors and windows

[42:08] What is timber third party chain of custody certification (FSC and PEFC)?

[49:53] Why did you choose plasterboard for your building interior?

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we move on to the sustainable design fundamentals - carefully considered floor plans that utilise space efficiently and are responsive to the climate and surrounding site.

We'll investigate the design of a new house on a small suburban site located in Palm Cove in tropical North Queensland. I talk to environmental architects Belinda Allwood and Allison Stout from People Oriented Design who give us the inside story on their Big Small House project.

This season covers a wide array of environmental ideas. I welcome your feedback on topics you'd like to see explored in more depth over the future seasons.

RESOURCE LINKS

ANDREW NOONAN ARCHITECT WEBSITE

Website Project page - 39s House www.anarchi.com.au/projects/39shouse

OTHER INFORMATION

Living Building Challenge - https://living-future.org.au/living-building-challenge/

Third party Timber Chain of Custody Certification (FSC & PEFC) - Australia & New Zealand - https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/australias-forests/certification

Responsible Wood (PEFC) - https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/what-we-do/why-we-exist/

External cladding - https://weathertex.com.au/

Construction Waste recycling – PlanetArk – Business Recycling - https://businessrecycling.com.au/

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Every renovation and new build project is an opportunity to create positive environmental change. But where should we concentrate our efforts to achieve the greatest impact?

In today's episode, Dr. Paul Matthew, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Queensland School of Architecture, Design and Planning, will share his research on building for a changing climate to help guide us forward.

Today we'll learn about:

• The latest climate change science and what we need to focus on in design.
• The regulatory changes in the pipeline for existing and proposed houses to help tackle climate change,
• The key steps to achieve net zero carbon, and
• Loads of other valuable insights, and practical information from Paul's years of research.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours by listening to these podcasts and completing an online quiz.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. The CSIRO have modelled the potential future impacts of climate change over course of the century in all the Australian climate zones. The link to this CSIRO document is in the show notes.

As the climate warms, design to optimise cooling through cross ventilation in summer will be critical for the whole of Australian. However it’s essential that rooms to be mechanically heated or cooled can be efficiently insulated and sealed to minimise energy consumption.

2. The Australian Government is planning two significant building regulatory changes to tackle climate change.

• The first proposed change affects new building work – Embodied carbon calculations are required as part of the Australian National Construction Code approval process. This change was enacted in 2025 in NSW for commercial buildings only. However, the goal at this early stage is to establish a standardized method for measuring embodied carbon.
• The second proposed change is for existing houses - An operational energy assessment will be required at the point of sale or lease using the NatHERS tool. This change is yet to be enacted, but it's worth noting that a very similar scheme has been in place in the ACT for over 25 years.

3. To achieve net zero carbon there are three steps:

The primary objective is to reduce operational carbon. To create highly energy efficient homes through strategies such as:

• climate responsive design
• systems like Passive House
• adding rooftop PV panels, and
• purchasing renewable energy via the grid

The secondary objective is to reduce embodied carbon by:

• maintaining and reusing existing buildings, rather than demolishing and rebuilding, and
• choosing lower embodied energy materials.

And then finally, once we've reduced operational and embodied carbon as much as possible,

• looking at carbon offsets to balance out the remaining embodied and operational carbon. But be very careful where your offsets come from because they are not all legitimate.

4. To effectively sequester carbon in a timber building, the building must stay in place for up to a thousand years. If all or part of the building is demolished before that time, and the timber breaks down in a landfill, the carbon will be released back into the atmosphere.

5. A lifecycle assessment is a method of evaluating the environmental impacts of a building from the creation of its components, construction, operation and refurbishment to its ultimate deconstruction and disposal. It looks at a comprehensive range of environmental impacts. Lifecycle assessments are currently predominantly used for large-scale commercial projects but are equally valuable for houses.

6. Circular economy thinking is based on the concept of the closed-loop system. It involves designing to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by keeping materials in use for as long as possible.

There is a hierarchy of 10 broad R strategies. The objective is to stay up as high as possible. So rethinking and reducing is better than reusing or repairing, and reusing and repairing is better than recycling or recovering.

NOTE: These are the opinions of Dr Paul Matthew and he is not speaking on behalf of The University of Queensland

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[00:01:11] How did your passion for sustainable architecture begin?

[00:03:42] Please clarify the meaning of the term sustainable architecture?

[00:09:11] What are the current global predictions for climate change from the IPCC?

[00:10:47] What are the climate change scenarios forecast for Australia?

[00:13:23] How do the CSIRO climate change scenarios align with the Paris Agreement and Australia's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050?

[00:16:08] Can you tell us what NatHERS is and how it works?

[00:22:48] There are two building regulatory changes in the pipeline for Australia to tackle climate change - the first one is for existing houses and operational energy assessments at the point of sale or lease. Can you tell us about that?

[00:25:07] The second regulatory change in the pipeline is about calculating embodied carbon. Can you tell us about that?

[00:26:20] Can you explain net zero whole of life carbon?

[00:28:51] What should we focus on in design to work towards net zero whole of life carbon?

[00:36:43] Where's everything moving to with electric energy supply and use?

[00:40:00] Does choosing timber construction for carbon sequestration make a difference?

[00:46:17] What is a life cycle assessment?

[00:54:47] Are lifecycle assessments applicable for use on houses?

[00:57:08] What does Circularity mean?

[01:02:32] Key Points Summary

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week, we continue exploring the latest science and delve further into the importance of regenerative design and circular economy thinking.

We’ll investigate the renovation and extension of a 150 year old timber cottage on a small suburban inner-city site in subtropical Brisbane.

I talk to architect, Andrew Noonan, director of Andrew Noonan Architect who will share the inside story on renovating his own home. Andrew extensively researched his design, product and material choices to ensure they optimised regenerative outcomes and he shares his very interesting findings.

RESOURCE LINKS

Environmental Performance in Construction database, University of Melbourne

The EPiC Database is a comprehensive and consistent open-access Life Cycle Inventory of environmental flow coefficients for construction materials, containing over 1 000 embodied emissions, energy and water coefficients.

CSIRO – Australian Climate Change Projections - https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/climate-change-information

Paris Agreement - https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

Climate change graphics and information

https://globalcarbonatlas.org/budgets/carbon-budget/

https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/summary-for-policymakers/

Australian National Construction Code

NatHERS https://www.nathers.gov.au/

Basix https://pp.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/development-and-assessment/basix

 Think Step ANZ Report - ThinkStep ANZ – Embodied Carbon and embodied energy in Australia’s buildings

 Articles about the problems with Carbon Offset Schemes

Financial Review Article (02.06.2025) Bad carbon credits are undermining climate progress

The Australia Institute (23.01.2024) Here are 23 times carbon offsets were found to be dodgy

The Australian Institute (23.02.2023) The problems with carbon credits and offsets explained

The Sydney Morning Herald (12.02.2025) Australians are being misled by ‘dodgy’ offsets, say Fortescue

The Guardian (19.01.2023) Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Are you renovating or building and striving to make more sustainable and affordable decisions?

 Whether you're an architect, designer or homeowner, juggling the current challenges of rising construction costs and the need to rethink design to be resilient and sustainable is very difficult …to say the least!

 So, I created this podcast season to find answers that we all need and help inspire change.

Over 15 episodes, leading architects from across Australia and New Zealand will share their insights on the latest environmental design and construction, products and materials.

 In this first episode, we'll cover:

• the upcoming episode topics,
• the three critical takeaway messages from the entire season, and
• for anyone new to sustainability, an introduction to the basics.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

SEASON 3 PROGRAMME

THE LATEST SCIENCE

E02 Design for a changing climate

Dr Paul Matthew – University of Queensland, School of Architecture, Design & Planning

E03 Regenerative Design and Circularity

Andrew Noonan –Andrew Noonan Architect - Project Case Study: 39s House Renovation, Turrbal Country / Brisbane, QLD

THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS

E04 Sustainable Design Fundamentals - Space Efficient

Belinda Allwood and Allison Stout – People Oriented Design - Project Case Study: Big Small House, Yirriganydji Country / Palm Cove, North QLD

E05 Sustainable Design Fundamentals - Adaptable

Chris Bligh – Bligh Graham Architects - Project Case Study: Live Work Share House, Yuggera Counry / Samford, QLD

RENOVATION AND REUSE

E06 Renovation - Material reuse

Rob Norman - Symbiosphere Architects- Project Case Study: Bambury Bungalow, Bundjalung Country / Fingal Head, NSW

E07 Renovation - Minimal Work

Paul Butterworth - Paul Butterworth Architects - Project Case Study: Stafford Heights Modern, Turrbal Country / Brisbane, QLD

RENEWABLE MATERIALS

E08 Strawbale Panels & Biophilic Design

Talina Edwards – Envirotecture - Project Case Study: Huff’n’Puff Haus, Taungurong Country / Strathbogie Ranges, VIC

E09 Hempcrete

Emily Knight - Emily Knight Design - Project Case Study: AL House, Dharug Country / Ashbury, Sydney, NSW

 E10 Durra Panel & Affordable floor plans

Matt Delroy-Carr - MDC Architects - Project Case Study: Scarborough Sustainable House, Wajuk Country / Perth, WA

EARTH BUILDING

E11 Rammed Earth

Steffen Welsch - Steffen Welsch Architects - Project Case Study: Butterfly, Yorta Yorta Country / Rutherglen, VIC

PREFABRICATION

E12 CLT Prefabrication

Jae Warrander - Makers - Project Case Study: Akaroa Bach, Aotearoa / New Zealand

 E13 SIPS Prefabrication

Murray Robertson – Robertson Architects - Project Case Study: Bell House, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand

HEALTHY BUILDINGS 

E14 Healthy Buildings

Michael Leung – Balanced Earth Architects - Project Case Study: Sky Farm, Bundjalung Country / Mullumbimby, NSW

WATER & ECOSYSTEMS 

E15 Water & Ecosystems

Tim Bennetton – Tim Bennetton Architects - Project Case Study: Yeronga House, Turrbal Country / Yeronga, Brisbane, QLD

SEASON KEY POINTS SUMMARY

The three key messages I want you to take away from this season are:

1.      Less is more. Less is More encompasses ideas such as:

• building only the necessary floor area,
• reducing our building footprint to allow more space for natural processes,
• reusing our existing buildings and sending less waste to landfill,
• choosing materials with lower negative impact - local, renewable, high quality and durable,

And most importantly, Less Is More is all about making choices that lead to cost savings, both upfront and over the long term.

2. The importance of creating joy through design. Homes and buildings designed to inspire happiness are more likely to be cherished and maintained over the long term with minimal demolition or alteration.

As you'll discover in the upcoming episodes, creating joy is often easier and more affordable when reusing older buildings and materials, thanks to their inherent history and connection to place.

And finally,

3. The pivotal role that the owner - the person who pays for the building - plays in sustainable design. Every decision ultimately comes down to cost. The building must fit within the owner's budget, so the owner ultimately has the final say.

If you're an owner who wants to do more for the environment, I am so glad you're here.

This season will provide you with valuable knowledge and ideas that you can share with your design and construction team.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction

[01:16] Summary of what's coming up this season

[03:05] The key messages from the entire Season 3

[07:48] Introduction to the Principles of Sustainable Design

[12:31] Introduction to Climate Responsive Design

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week we start with the latest climate change science.

I talk to Dr Paul Mathew, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Queensland, School of Architecture, Design and Planning.

We'll cover what we need to focus on in design to have the greatest positive impact, the key steps to achieve net zero carbon, the building regulatory changes in the pipeline for proposed and existing houses to help tackle climate change, and loads of other valuable insights and practical information.

Join me for season three and let's change business as usual for the better.

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Renovation Collaborative has evolved since I launched at the beginning of 2024. If you've listened to my original introduction podcast from back then, you might have noticed that a few things have changed. In this podcast, I explain what's been going on behind the scenes and what's now on offer for the community and architects in 2025.

Today I'll be interviewed by my most dedicated listener, my mother, Beverley.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcripts edited into clear Q&A and other useful resources.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

00:38 How have your objectives changed since you started Renovation Collaborative in 2024?

01:54 What’s on offer at Renovation Collaborative in 2025?

04:35 Are the Online Courses still useful for the community?

05:30 When did you realise the podcasts would be helpful for architects?

06:26 How are your podcasts different to other design podcasts?

09:08 Tell us about the CPD for architects.

10:08 What podcast topics are you planning for 2025?

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

Here we are at the end of Season 2 and if you'd like to know more about Passive House, today you'll learn some ideas that will get you started:

• If you just want to dip your toe in, and experience the air quality, temperature and quietness, you'll find out about Passive House holiday accommodation you can visit in Australia and New Zealand, or
• If you want to get down to business, you'll find out about the indepth information, courses and support available.

I'm joined by two guests who will show you the way forward.

The Australian Passivhaus Association CEO, Alexia Lidas, and the Managing editor of Sanctuary magazine at Renew, Anna Cumming.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

I'll start with the information about the Australian Passive House Association.

The association have been advocating for the adoption of the Passive House standard in Australia since 2013. One of the primary barriers to Passive House worldwide is the lack of education. So the association provide everything you need to know in a range of learning formats. Following is a quick snapshot of what they offer and you can find further info on their website.

They offer free information including:

• A searchable project database, consultant database and general info blog on their website.
• Free information sessions in your office to introduce the Passive House basics and benefits.
• Free one-on-one support for large organisations and government through their Passive House Incubator and this service is designed to help integrate Passive House into building procurement policies, and
• Free open days to visit Passive House buildings all around Australia.

Their paid information options include:

• Association membership, providing access to online forums where you can ask for support and advice, plus local chapter meetings in each state to discuss local issues.
• Online courses including the Certified Passive House Designer course and the Certified Passive House Tradesperson course.
• Plus they offer a hands on construction training course in all states and that's open to anybody, and
• Their annual conference.

The next key points relate to Sanctuary Magazine at Renew:

Renew has been advocating, researching and providing independent practical advice to Australians wanting to live more sustainably for over 40 years. Sanctuary Modern Green Homes is Australia's only dedicated sustainable house design magazine and it profiles the best in environmentally aware architecture and design solutions.

• If you're looking for information about Passive House products, project consultants and builders, you can search the Renew website and find a heap of previous magazine editions profiling Passive Houses,
• Also once a year Renew hosts Sustainable House Day which is a free, nationwide open house event where you can visit sustainable houses, some of which will be Passive Houses or take a virtual online tour.
• All of the virtual tours from the previous years can be accessed on the Renew YouTube channel.

And my final points,

If you want to experience Passive House for yourself - the temperature, the air quality and the quietness - then why not have a holiday in a Passive House? I've scoured the Internet to find all the Passive House holiday accommodation available in Australia and New Zealand and there are some amazing architecturally designed properties.

Plus, if you're planning a Passive House or high performance project, you can also find a PDF list of all the suppliers used by my guests this season.

You can find these two downloadable lists - the accommodation and the supplies list - on the Renovation Collaborative website FREE page.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:11 Can you tell us about the Australian Passivhaus Association?

04:17 How has interest in Passive House changed over the last 10 years since you started?

06:32 In your experience, what’s been holding back the growth of Passive House?

09:01 What’s on offer for the community and industry through the Australian Passivhaus Assoc?

13:29 Can you tell me about the Certified Passive House courses you offer?

17:26 Can you tell us about your databases of information and community forums?

20:15 What opportunities are there to visit a Passive House building?

26:35 Can you tell us about the Association Annual conference?

27:44 Guest 2 Introduction

27:57 Can you tell us about Sanctuary magazine and Renew?

30:22 What is the difference between Sanctuary magazine and Renew magazine?

31:20 In your experience, how has the interest in Passive House changed?

35:28 Stay in a Passive House holiday accommodation

36:39 Can you tell us about Sustainable House Day?

42:45 Where can people find back issue information about Passive House?

44:03 What advice would you give anyone considering building a Passive House?

45:30 Key Points Summary

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

This is the final episode in Season 2.

I’ll be back at the end of March with podcast Season 3. Less is More: Renovation ideas that don’t cost the earth. I’ll be talking to design and construction industry experts about the latest smart, cost effective environmental ideas. We’ll look at case studies all around Australia and confront the costs and challenges head on to find practical environmental solutions for all budgets.

RESOURCE LINKS

Guest 1. Alexia Lidas – Australian Passihaus Association

Australian Passive House Association www.passivhausassociation.com.au/

Facebook: Australian Passivhaus Association Discussion Group www.facebook.com/groups/794257177640528/

Buildings to visit

Cornerblock, QLD www.cornerblockgc.com.au/

CTC – Bob Marshman Building, QLD www.deickerichards.com.au/project/bob-marshman-building/

German School, NSW www.germanschoolsydney.com/en/news/new-classrooms-in-2022-follow-the-journey-here

ANFM House (Central Club Hotel & Bar below), VIC www.bayleyward.com/central-club-hotel

Monash University – Gilles Hall, VIC www.jcba.com.au/projects/monash-peninsula-student-accommodation-452

Berninneit Cultural Centre, VIC www.jcba.com.au/projects/berninneit-cultural-and-community-hub

International Passive House Association - Certified Components Database www.database.passivehouse.com/en/components/

Guest 2. Anna Cumming - Sanctuary Magazine at Renew

Sanctuary Magazine at Renew www.renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine

Sustainable House Day www.sustainablehouseday.com/

Renew www.renew.org.au

Renew youtube www.youtube.com/@RenewAustralia/search?query=passive%20house

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

How do you design a Passive House in a Subtropical climate like Brisbane?

Today’s episode is the fourth and final episode focussing on the design specifics for each of the four climate zones around Australia, where most of our population lives.

I talk to very experienced passive house designer Tiago Guerreiro, a director at the award-winning design and construction company H4 Living based in Brisbane. In this episode, Tiago explains the Passive House design specifics for Subtropical, plus he shares heaps of other information and insights about designing and building from his years of experience to help you better understand Passive House.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours for these podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCAST Key points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREE RESOURCES Transcript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPD Australian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSES Eleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

KEY POINTS SUMMARY

1. The 5 Passive House design components for a subtropical climate are as follows:

• Windows are typically double-glazed and always operable. Windows should enable cross ventilation, purging of any excess heat build-up, and connection to the outdoors to enjoy comfortable external temperatures over spring and autumn and much of winter.
• The fresh air circulation system for subtropical is an ERV (energy recovery ventilation system) which is different to the HRV systems used in the cooler southern states.
• Wall insulation can fit within a typical 90mm timber stud framed wall thickness. No under-slab insulation is required because connecting to comfortable earth temperatures (usually around 22-23 degrees Centigrade) is beneficial for cooling.
• Only one layer of external wrapping is required; the vapour-permeable weatherproof membrane on the outside of the home is taped, sealed and made airtight. An additional internal membrane may be used to obtain certainty of airtightness, but it can be avoided in most cases to reduce costs.
• Removing thermal bridges is always essential to avoid heat gain.

2. Effective shading to avoid all heat gain is critical - no sun can enter the house. Passive houses retain heat very effectively because they are well-insulated and sealed; therefore, the hotter the climate zone, the more shading is required.

3. Humidity and condensation are major issues in subtropical design. It’s always essential to run a Wufi analysis (which is a moisture study) as well as the PHPP modelling to resolve any moisture issues and prevent unseen mould growth in the building structure over the long term. . If you’d like to hear more about the Wufi analysis you can find more information in Episode 4. Passive House Consultant and Certifier – with Luc Plowman the director of Detail Green.

4. A dehumidification system is usually required in subtropical.  The dehumidification system can be added to the ERV system in line or added as a separate system.

5. Active cooling through air-conditioning is usually required. H4 Living use split system or ducted air-conditioning systems depending on their client preferences. If you choose a ducted system, its critical that the ducts are within the insulated building envelope to maintain optimal energy efficiency.

And finally,

6. H4 Living offer passive house consulting advice covering both design and construction. They can work with you on design, help you choose the right builder and also get your chosen builder up to speed on the Passive House construction process.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

00:00 Introduction

01:18 How did you get started with Passive Houses at H4 Living?

03:47 Where does H4 Living build Passive Houses?

04:42 Where do you offer Passive House design and build consulting advice?

06:16 What materials do you typically use for your Passive Houses?

08:15 What budget range do you work in?

09:17 What is the difference between Certified Passive House and high performance?

11:01 Is the demand for Passive House growing?

12:29 What is the Subtropical climate like?

14:39 What are the key design considerations when designing a passive house in subtropical?

18:00 What are the requirements for window design?

23:25 What are the cooling system and fresh air circulation system requirements?

26:25 What are the airtightness and wrapping requirements in subtropical?

28:03 How is a dehumidification system integrated?

29:20 Who installs the air-conditioning, ERV and dehumidification system?

30:15 Can you explain about condensation and mould growth?

32:55 Do colours or materials make a difference?

34:17 What makes clients hesitant about passive house?

37:39 What is the additional cost of passive house?

39:35 Have you experienced any problems with Passive House?

43:10 What is your advice on importing windows from overseas?

45:25 Key Points Summary

IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Next week, is the final episode of Season 2 and you’ll learn How to get started with Passive House and where to find more information. I will be joined by two guests:

• Australian Passivhaus Association CEO, Alexia Lidas – who will tell us about all the courses support services and information the Association provides.

and

• The Managing editor of Sanctuary Magazine at Renew, Anna Cumming – who will tell us about Sustainable House Day where you can visit Passive Houses in your area. Plus you’ll findout about all the other information offered by Renew.

RESOURCE LINKS

Tiago Guerreiro – H4 Living www.h4living.com.au

International Passive House Association - Certified Components Database www.database.passivehouse.com/en/components/

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au