Australian households are leading one of the fastest clean energy transformations in the world, installing rooftop solar, embracing home batteries and upgrading for resilience, and this May, many will open their doors to show others how it's done.
On Sunday 17 May 2026, Sustainable House Day (SHD) returns, inviting homeowners and renters across the country to open their doors and showcase practical solutions that make homes more comfortable, affordable and climate-ready.
Hosted by not-for-profit organisation Renew, Sustainable House Day is Australia's largest national, community-driven celebration of climate-smart living. This year calls for Australians who have retrofitted, renovated, rebuilt or electrified their homes, or made clever upgrades as renters, to share, inspire and showcase practical solutions for effective climate living. Applications for participating homes are open until 4 March 2026.
This year's event will spotlight families who've gone all-electric, renters who've put in place innovative home hacks to reduce energy costs, and households rebuilding after fire or flood who can explain the design features that improve climate resilience and help them sleep better at night. From architect-designed sustainable homes to thoughtfully retrofitted weatherboards, efficient insulation, and powerful design choices, Sustainable House Day proves that effective, climate-smart living is possible and can be achieved across the country.
In 2025, more than 240 homes participated nationwide, including over 150 in-person open homes. The impact goes beyond inspiration: 70% of attendees said they planned to make changes to their own homes within six months of visiting.
Helen Oakey, CEO of Renew, said the neighbour-to-neighbour model is what makes the event so powerful. "This approach works because it's rooted in trust and lived experience", said Oakey. "When someone in your own community shows you what they've done, what worked, what didn't, what it cost, it suddenly feels possible. That's where real change begins."
She said the 2026 event would focus on practical solutions to rising energy costs and growing climate risks.
"Every Sustainable House Day starts the same way, with someone saying, 'Come on in, I'll show you what we did.' From there, something special happens. Small changes add up, and people leave feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed", continued Oakey.
Why It Matters
Australians spend almost 90% of their time indoors, most of it at home. Residential buildings account for around 24% of national electricity use and more than 10% of Australia's total carbon emissions.
At the same time, households are driving one of the world's fastest clean energy transitions. More than 4.2 million rooftop solar systems are now installed nationwide, with close to 40% of homes generating their own power. Rooftop solar alone now supplies more than one-tenth of Australia's electricity, easing pressure on energy bills and the grid. The rise of home battery storage is amplifying that shift, with over 450,000 home batteries installed nationwide as homeowners seek energy independence and bill savings.
But solar and batteries are just the beginning. Sustainable House Day showcases the next steps Australians are taking, from insulation and passive design to electrification, and flood and fire-ready rebuilds.
2026 Core Themes
Lower bills, smarter homes: Practical upgrades that ease cost-of-living pressures
Resilience matters: Designing for fire, flood and heat in a changing climate
Retrofit within reach: Affordable improvements that transform existing homes
Renters included: Smart upgrades, effective appliances and high-performance choices to reduce bills and improve energy efficiency
Community power: Neighbours inspiring neighbours to take action
Alongside open homes, dozens of partner events, from eco-village tours and expert panels to workshops and local information sessions, will run nationwide, creating spaces for communities to connect and explore solutions together.
"Everyone deserves a home that is comfortable, safe and energy efficient. Too many Australians are living in homes that are hard to heat in winter, challenging to keep cool in summer, and expensive to run. And as climate change drives more extreme weather patterns, Australian homes need to be not just more sustainable, but also more resilient to heat, wind, floods and smoke", Said Oakey.
Oakey continued: "Sustainable House Day reminds us that climate action doesn't just start in Parliament, it starts in our living rooms, kitchens and on our rooftops. When neighbours open their doors, they open up questions, discussions, and sharing. And that's a powerful way to drive change and build understanding of what's possible."
Jane Kern, Head of Impact Management at Bank Australia, said: "As a 100% customer-owned bank, our customers have told us that taking action on climate change and promoting a transition to renewable energy is important to them, and it's important to us too. As part of our commitment to reach net zero by 2035, reducing emissions from the homes we finance is a priority for Bank Australia, along with supporting our customers to improve the energy efficiency of homes and get off gas. That's why we're proud to be supporting Sustainable House Day, helping to share solutions for Australians to make their homes more efficient, affordable and climate-ready".
If you've upgraded your home, installed solar or batteries, or built a sustainable home from the ground up, this could be the year to open your doors and share your journey with your community.
Applications for participating homes are open until 4 March 2026.
