Creating homes for tomorrow
Published on 14 April 2025
When Heather and her husband Glenn moved from Sydney to Adelaide in 2022, they had one goal in mind – to be closer to their grandchildren. But they didn’t want to just settle in any place – they envisioned a home that could support their long-term lifestyle needs and, of course, was within their budget.
After finding a small vacant block of land in the City of Onkaparinga, their son encouraged them to research sustainable house options.
Heather and Glenn set out to design their home, drawing inspiration from online resources, social media groups and guidance from their chosen builder.
With a focus on affordability, energy efficiency, low maintenance and ageing in place, their new home became a great example of how future-focussed design can bring comfort and financial benefits.
“The idea was to keep long-term costs in mind, while merging design and sustainability,” Heather explains.
“We included ceiling fans in the bedrooms and lounge room and made decisions to install solar panels, a heat-pump hot water system and dryer, a ventilation system, an induction cooktop, and other low-energy appliances,” Heather explained.
“Eaves have been installed to block the summer sun from coming through the large north-facing living room windows, but they also ensure the winter sun warms the concrete floors, reducing our reliance on heating.
But Heather’s favourite features are the uPVC double-glazed windows and sliding doors, which she says are integral to the home’s thermal envelope.
“They’ve made a considerable difference to the thermal stability in the house and they’re resistant to weathering and corrosion which is important when living 400m from the beach,” she says.
The concrete flooring throughout – a natural material that has the added benefit of adding thermal mass to the home – is also a key feature.
“The floor not only looks good but keeps the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, reducing reliance on heating and air conditioning,” Heather says.
“Our bills have been incredible,” Heather continues. “We have no gas bill at all, and our electricity costs are very low. Thanks to the government rebate, we’ve even been in credit for the last two bills, and our previous one was just $10.”
Not only does the home’s design prioritise energy efficiency, but it also incorporates accessible features that will enable her and Glenn to remain living at home for longer.
“The home has wider doors, plenty of space around our island bench in the kitchen, and support railing in the bathroom.”
Heather and Glenn are among many people looking to make their homes more sustainable, climate-resilient and cheaper to run.
To help South Australians start their sustainable home journeys, the high-growth councils of Onkaparinga, Alexandrina, Light and Mount Barker recently launched the Homes for Tomorrow initiative.
Homes for Tomorrow provides information on ways to make a home more sustainable, including free and affordable options.
There are a range of video case studies from local residents, downloadable fact sheets, checklists, resources, links and inspirational stories to help make sustainable choices easier.
Heather’s reflection on the process is positive and she’s optimistic about the future of sustainable homes.
“We hope to see more people asking for these kinds of features from builders,” she says. “Initiatives like Homes for Tomorrow and other resources will play a huge role in making sustainability accessible to everyone – whether they’re building, renovating or making small, but effective, changes to their home.”
To read more about Homes for Tomorrow and find out how to make your home more sustainable visit homesfortomorrow.com.au