Jamie Durie will share his own sustainability experiences and lead a panel discussion. Photos: SLA.
Do you want your home to be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, use less energy and water, and say goodbye to gas but are unsure how to do it?
The Suburban Land Agency’s Whitlam Display Village will host a free community event on Sunday, 21 April, as part of National Sustainable House Day. At this event, Canberrans can find advice and inspiration on sustainable living and building practices and trends.
Special guest will be award-winning landscape architect and television presenter Jamie Durie. He will share his personal journey of building his sustainable home, offering valuable insights into the challenges he encountered and the innovative approaches he adopted.
SLA Acting Director Sustainability and Innovation Rebecca Kaye said people could expect to gain valuable knowledge on making sustainable choices both inside and outside their homes.
Jamie Durie would also host an expert panel discussion featuring local industry leaders such as Jane Cassidy from the Australian Institute of Architects, Greg Weller from Housing Industry Australia, Michael Hopkins from Master Builders ACT and Petra Oswald from SLA.
“Together, they will explore best practice tips and tricks for designing and building sustainable homes, emphasising the benefits of smaller footprints for larger sustainable outcomes,” Ms Kaye said.
She said more than 10 display homes would also be on show where people could explore a variety of sustainable living solutions, each boasting highly energy-efficient and thermally comfortable designs.
“Attendees will have the chance to learn directly from the experts behind these innovative, low-carbon, and multi-generational homes, witnessing firsthand the sustainable design features that make them stand out,” she said.
Learn about all things sustainable at the Whitlam Display Village next weekend.
Experts would also guide SLA Platinum and Gold Home Tours to showcase the homes’ sustainable and efficient features, from their orientation and thermal sealing to their solar panels and energy-efficient appliances.
For those grappling with or wondering how they will cope without gas cooking using modern induction cooktops, renowned chef Mal Hanslow will conduct induction cooking demonstrations, showcasing how energy-efficient and user-friendly they can be.
Ms Kaye said people could also learn about the SLA’s sustainability rebates, which have been well adopted in the new suburbs of Whitlam and Jacka in Gungahlin.
“Since 2020, more than 110 households have used their sustainability rebates to design an all-electric, more energy-efficient home that is more comfortable and has lower running costs,” she said.
“We expect this number to increase with more homes being built.”
Ms Kaye said the benefits include a smaller carbon footprint, a more comfortable temperature with less need for heating or cooling, an improved microclimate, lower energy costs with lower usage, and efficient, safe cooking with induction cooktops.
She said families would be catered for throughout the day with children’s activities, live music and treats from Whitlam’s Heartbeat Café.
The events start at 11 am and run until 3 pm. The Display Village is on the corner of Sculthorpe Avenue and Klaus Moje Street, Whitlam.
National Sustainable House Day is organised by not-for-profit Renew and features homes across the country that throw their doors open to the public.
Nine homes are featured in the ACT, and the Ginninderry development is also hosting a community event.
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