The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released its first guide for sustainable home renovations to help builders, designers and homeowners to make homes more efficient, healthy and resilient.

The Sustainable Home Renovations Guide was produced in partnership with Allianz Australia to help Australians navigate more sustainable home renovations and to reduce emissions. GBCA chief executive Davina Rooney says the guide will be a game-changer for Australians embarking on home renovations.

“As we face another hot summer, it’s never been more important for us to think about the resilience of our homes and the modifications we make to them. In 2021, Australians spent over $11 billion in home renovations, but up until now there hasn’t been an easy way for homeowners and builders to navigate resilient and sustainable options for these renovations,” Davina says.

“Whether you’re considering small updates such as replacing your taps or lighting, or you’re planning a significant home renovation, our guide will help you make choices that may improve a home’s efficiency, create a healthier living environment and increase its resilience to climate changes.”

Australians spend 90% of their time indoors, with two-thirds of this time spent inside the home, resulting in 53% of Australia’s total built environment emissions coming from our homes.

To help homeowners navigate the technical side of sustainable home renovations and make more informed decisions around their homes, Allianz and GBCA have further complemented the guide creating the website Green Specs.

Through Green Specs, Australians can explore the rooms of a digital floorplan and learn new ways to make their home more sustainable.

For more information on sustainable homes, and to download the guide please visit the GBCA website.