Sanctuary Magazine

17/01/2025

Sustainability unlocked...

In suburban Perth, Amy and Wynand’s house is a masterclass in low-energy, high-liveability design on a small, subdivided block. “We use almost every square metre
of this house on a weekly basis. There’s no wasted space,” says Wynand of the compact, 7.9-Star home. There's a great little north-facing garden, too. Dive into the story in our current issue, available at newsagents or online now. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/

09/01/2025

Congratulations to our recent prize winner, who was lucky enough to win an Earthworker Heat Pump package worth $6,000.

Thank you to Earthworker for generously donating a heat pump to one of our lucky subscribers or members. You can find out more about their range of hot water and energy storage products by visiting: earthworkerenergy.coop

For your chance to win our next prize, a stay at HV. Hotel, visit: renew.org.au/prize

08/01/2025

An alternative to both highrise living and urban sprawl, well-designed medium density is the way to go for balancing the needs of people and nature, writes ecologist Sarah Bekessy in our current issue: https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/ideas-advice/sweet-spot/

02/01/2025

Share your knowledge on Sustainable House Day 2025!

If you have upgraded or renovated your home to be more sustainable, energy-efficient and all-electric (or are on the way to getting off gas), share your experience with your community by hosting Open House tours as part of Renew’s nationwide Sustainable House Day on Sunday 4 May 2025.

Visit sustainablehouseday.com/feature-your-home for details on how to apply and help others learn how to make practical, impactful changes toward a more sustainable future.

27/12/2024

We are excited to announce Sustainable House Day 2025 will be running for yet another year on Sunday 4 May.

Sustainable House Day, hosted by Renew, is an annual event offering the chance to explore Australia’s most inspiring homes and gain insights from those who designed, built, and live in them.

In 2025, we’re focusing on retrofits and renovations, encouraging Australians to make their homes more energy-efficient and comfortable. Showcase your sustainable features, like solar panels or energy-efficient upgrades, to inspire others.

Applications are now open for homeowners to open their homes to the public. If your home is energy-efficient and all-electric (or on the way to being), share your experience by hosting Open House tours as part of Renew’s nationwide Sustainable House Day.

For details on how to apply or to learn more, visit: https://sustainablehouseday.com/feature-your-home

23/12/2024

Functional farmhouses

Compared with urban homes, rural builds come with particular design opportunities and challenges. In the current issue of Sanctuary, country girl with city experience Sarah Lebner sheds some light. Grab your copy at your local newsagent now or click here to get a subscription to Sanctuary: https://buff.ly/3VRONEw

20/12/2024

Renew will be closed from the 20th of December and will re-open Monday 6th January 2025.

If you have any inquiries, please send us an email at [email protected] and a member of our team will get back to you in the new year.

Wishing the whole Renew community a very happy and safe holiday. Thank you for your ongoing support.

The Renew Team

20/12/2024

Need a last minute gift for Christmas? Skip the hot and crowded shopping centres and jump onto our website – your Christmas shopping could be done in less than 5 minutes. Doesn’t that sound great?

Get the eco warrior in your life (or maybe even yourself) a donation to Renew, or a magazine subscription to one of our magazines – Renew or Sanctuary magazine.

Once you've sorted your gifts, there's still time to make a gift to Renew this summer! Your donation helps move Australia to a more sustainable future.

Visit renew.org.au/summerappeal to donate or buy a magazine subscription on our website.

Donate to Renew's summer appeal- helping Australian's beat the heat this summer. We ask experts for tips on keeping your house cool so you can be helping the planet and your health.

10/12/2024

As energy bills rise and homes start to swelter, can you help keep Australian homes cool?

Your donation supports:

• Cheaper, more comfortable living with a lighter footprint
• Expert advice for wise energy decisions
• Supporting the voice of Renew in key decision making

Donate now at renew.org.au/summerappeal

06/12/2024

Having worked in energy efficiency advocacy for over a decade, Rob Murray-Leach knows a thing or two about the state of Australia’s housing stock. The purchase of his own first home, a 1970s unit in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote, was his first opportunity to put his knowledge into practice. With just $58,000, Rob retrofitted his unit for far greater comfort and energy efficiency. Read the full story.

https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/energy-appliances/on-the-money/

03/12/2024

Summer's here and it's scorching! As the heat rises, so do energy bills. But you can make a difference.

Help us keep Australian homes cooler this summer with a donation to Renew!

Your support will bring:
• Practical tips for a comfy home that's kinder to the planet
• Evidence-based research for wise energy choices
• Advocacy for consumer rights and climate-friendly policies

Donate now at renew.org.au/summerappeal

28/11/2024

Sanctuary 69 is our summer issue, full of ideas for greening your surrounds and connecting with nature. Featured homes include a cosy retreat designed with biophilia front and centre, a considered upgrade making the most of the beautiful warmth and texture of reclaimed timber, a tactile rammed earth home and a backyard cabin – quite literally very green – that helps connect a Brisbane family much more directly with their garden. Elsewhere, we continue our series on design, and look at why midrise housing is the sweet spot for healthy, nature-positive communities. We get some expert tips on bushfire-resilient design, and Jenny Edwards shares her favourite strategies for conjuring two (or more) smaller, more comfortable homes from one big old one – plus much more.

On sale in newsagents and online.

22/11/2024

It's a scorcher today at Renew head office in Melbourne, serving as a reminder that this summer is going to be a hot one.

With rising energy bills and the heat starting to creep into homes around the country, we ask you to make a donation to help keep Australian homes cooler this summer.

Your donation will help Renew to deliver:

1. Practical advice on how to make your house or apartment cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in, with a lighter climate footprint.

2. Research that empowers people to make wise energy decisions, backed by evidence, for a more climate resilient home.

3. Advocacy to protect consumer rights and drive policy change that benefits all Australians and the planet.

To make a donation, visit: renew.org.au/summerappeal

24/10/2024

LAST WEEK TO WIN!

The team at have generously donated a hot water heat pump system worth $6,000 for one lucky existing or new Renew member.

All you need to do is either join Renew, or make sure your membership is up to date.

Entries close 31st October.

Visit: renew.org.au/prize for more info.

02/10/2024

Smart design maximises functionality in this cosy Melbourne home, with plenty of natural warmth and light plus space for bikes and pets.

HOUSE: 'Bike haven' from Sanctuary 68
DESIGNER: Ande Bunbury Architects
BUILDER: S.T.A.R. Kolektiv
PROJECT TYPE: New build
LOCATION: Preston, VIC (Wurundjeri Country)
SIZE: House 162m2, Land 556m2
ENERGY RATING: 8 Stars
ENERGY ASSESSOR: Blue Banded Bee

WORDS: Jacinta Cleary
PHOTOS: Drew Echberg

Find more about this home in Sanctuary 68: https://renewportal.org.au/sanctuary-68/

29/09/2024

Catherine’s new hempcrete home in the Witchcliffe Ecovillage, south of Perth, offers her much more than simply a place to live.

HOUSE: 'New beginnings' from Sanctuary 68
DESIGNER: Pernille Stent, designButton
BUILDER: Brendan Kelly, New Earth Living
PROJECT TYPE: New build
LOCATION: Witchcliffe, WA (Wadandi Country)
COST: $460,000 Completed 2022
SIZE: House 167m2, Land 495m2
ENERGY RATING: 8.4 Stars
ENERGY ASSESSOR: David Barham

WORDS: Kellie Flanagan
PHOTOS: Clara Fischer

Find more about this home in Sanctuary 68: https://renewportal.org.au/sanctuary-68

26/09/2024

The decorative facade of this 1884 terrace house gives no hint as to what’s now behind: a spacious three-storey family home that’s comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient. The house has undergone a refurbishment that meets EnerPHit requirements – the Passive House standard for retrofits. It shows that even old, draughty and mould-prone houses can be transformed to meet rigorous performance standards.

HOUSE: 'Passive House revival' from Sanctuary 68
DESIGNER: Tracy Graham, Connected Design
BUILDER: Nick Sowden, Sowden Building Solutions (owner-builder)
PROJECT TYPE: Renovation
LOCATION: Balmain, NSW (Gadigal Country)
COST: $970,000 Completed 2023
SIZE: House 118m2, Land 101.2m2
ENERGY RATING: EnerPHit certified
ENERGY ASSESSOR: Luc Plowman, Detail Green

WORDS: Rebecca Gross
PHOTOS: BresicWhitney and Andy Wood

Find more about this home in Sanctuary 68: https://renewportal.org.au/sanctuary-68/