Climate-smart home upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, insulation, heat pumps and passive design are already saving Australian households an estimated $3 billion a year, with average savings of around $1,500 per year, per home.
According to the Clean Energy Council adding EVs to a home’s energy ecosystem can further cut fuel costs, with households potentially saving up to $1,000-$1,500 per year on petrol depending on driving patterns.
These climate-smart and practical solutions will be on show across the country next month as hundreds of homes prepare to open their doors, showcase clever upgrades, and inspire their neighbours and local community as part of this year’s Sustainable House Day on May 17, 2026.
Beyond cost savings, upgrades can make homes more climate-ready to better cope with extreme heat, storms, and blackouts.
Most Australian homes were built before energy standards were introduced, making retrofits a vital way to cut energy bills, increase comfort, and strengthen homes against future climate risks.
Hosted by not-for-profit organisation Renew, Sustainable House Day has grown to become Australia’s largest national, community-driven celebration of climate-smart living.
This year will showcase Australians who have retrofitted, renovated, rebuilt or electrified their homes, perhaps even switching to an EV, to share, inspire and showcase practical solutions for effective climate living.
Renew CEO, Helen Oakey, said Australian households are leading one of the fastest clean energy transformations in the world.
“Families are installing rooftop solar, embracing home batteries, retrofitting insulation, and adopting passive design to save on bills and improve the safety of their homes in the face of extreme weather events,” she said.
Residential buildings account for around 24 per cent of national electricity use and more than 10 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions.
“People are feeling the impacts of extreme heat, rising energy costs, and unreliable power, and they’re looking for practical ways to respond,” Oakey said.
“Climate action doesn’t just start in Parliament, it starts in our living rooms, kitchens and on our rooftops. Sustainable House Day gives people the chance to see those solutions up close, to walk through a home, ask honest questions, and understand what’s actually achievable for them.”
Workshops, expert panels, and local tours will run alongside open homes, creating spaces for communities to share ideas and explore practical solutions together. The full Sustainable House Day program will be available in coming weeks.
In 2025, more than 240 homes participated nationwide, including 150+ open in person. An estimated 70 per cent of attendees reported making changes to their own homes within six months, proving the power of seeing climate-smart solutions in action.
Event sponsor is Bank Australia with the company’s head of impact management, Jane Kern, pointing out that an all-electric home is better for the environment and energy use.
“It is better for your health and your hip pocket. We’re committed to providing tools and information for our customers to support them making the switch.”
Tickets are available to purchase at www.sustainablehouseday.com