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This article was published on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Successful bus tour to our region’s sustainable houses

In summary:

Successful sustainable house bus tour was organised by Greater Shepparton City Council
Participants visited three sustainable houses to learn about innovative, energy-efficient technologies
Houses showcased various features including solar PV systems, Tesla batteries, solar dryers, and triple glazed windows
Council plans to host similar tours in the future due to positive community response

The tour took place on Saturday 16 March 2024, with participants visiting three sustainable houses in the local region to learn more about sustainable houses.

The primary objective of the tour was to demonstrate the feasibility, comfort and benefits of sustainable houses. By showcasing innovative, energy efficient technologies in these houses, it aimed to raise awareness in our community regarding sustainable solutions and adaptation to the changing climate.

The event was well received by the community, with a full bus load of people visiting different houses on the day.

One house in Tatura, was a well-insulated north facing house with a light coloured roof. The house has a highly efficient induction cooktop for cooking and an electric heat pump for hot water. All of this is supported by a solar PV system and Tesla battery that feeds excess energy into the grid.

The next stop was to another well insulated north facing house in Tatura. It was constructed with thermal walls to keep the heat in during winter and highly efficient fans for summer. The highlight of this house being the solar dryer that uses sunlight and natural convection to dry the clothes sustainably.

Lastly, participants visited a completely off-grid passive house in Rushworth that is designed to stand the test of time. This house has triple glazed windows and doors which provide a completely sealed envelope. Due to its excellent insulation, the house temperature is even throughout the home and a Heat Recovery System ensures the flow of fresh air throughout.

All of these houses are completely off gas, utilising induction cooktops for cooking, and electric heating and heat pumps for hot water. Each of these sustainable homes also have a rainwater tank to conserve water.

Council’s Director Sustainable Development, Geraldine Christou, praised the tour and spoke to the benefits of showcasing some of our region’s sustainable houses.

“The sustainable house bus tour is a fantastic initiative, these homeowners are finding significant energy cost savings, and they are happy to share their experiences with the rest of the community,” she said.

“We hope all of the attendees took something away from the day. Council looks forward to hosting more events like this in the future.”

Due to the great response received from the attendees, Council hope to be able to run a similar tour next year to showcase other sustainable houses across the region.

For further information on sustainability measures, please visit yourhome.gov.au.