Anne-Maree Brown of the HIA asked Light House director, Jenny Edwards, Ashley Beaumont of EcoLiv and Liam Wallis of HIP V.HYPE a series of thoughtful questions a few weeks ago. Below you’ll find Jenny’s responses but you can read the full online article with all of Ashley and Liam’s responses too.

The Innovators

Ashley Beaumont, Director, Ecoliv

Ashley has been creating sustainable lifestyles through building design for more than 25 years. Designing sustainable homes and commercial buildings, he leads his sustainable design philosophy throughout the practice. His primary expertise lies in the creation of energy-efficient, engaging and environmentally responsive living and working spaces.

Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge to the business, ensuring each project transitions smoothly from design through to completion. Recognised for his design excellence, Ashley and his team have won multiple industry awards nationally.

Jenny Edwards

Owner, Managing Director and Lead Scientist of Light House Architecture & Science

Jenny heads the multi-award-winning practice that integrates science (theoretical modelling and physical testing) into the design process to deliver highly efficient, all-electric, climate-resilient homes — new and renovated — in the Canberra region. She’s a scientist not an architect.

The Light House crew includes 11 architects/designers and five staff on the science team. With more than 180 integrated architecture and science projects, and hundreds of smaller-scale science retrofits, in Canberra, Light House has shown there’s growing demand for smaller, smarter, sustainable, gas-free housing.

Liam Wallis

Founder and Managing Director of HIP V. HYPE

Trained in architecture and urban design, Liam founded HIP V. HYPE in 2015. The practice aims to influence and build the more equitable, resilient and prosperous future that people deserve. Liam ensures the alignment of activities across the HIP V.

HYPE business group, providing strategic advice to the leadership teams and guiding delivery of the firm’s multi-award-winning development projects. He’s a strong advocate for better outcomes in our built environment, participating in advisory panels and discussions to support the sustainable growth of our cities and regions.

What sustainable goals will you focus on in your business over the next 12 months?

This may seem like a slightly strange response but my focus for 2024 is the sustainability of my team. With such high demand for what we do (take note other businesses – don’t believe those who say there’s no demand for smaller, smarter, sustainable housing!), looking after the mental and physical health of my team is a very high priority.

We may be leaders in this space, but we’re also a small business and a team of people with finite time and energy. We can’t keep creating sustainable housing unless we sustain ourselves.

What challenges exist for the residential building industry as it transitions to net-zero buildings?

The industry must come to grips with size and repurposing. If you’re serious about sustainability, which is all about reducing embodied and operational energy, then the number one thing you should do is less. Smaller, better designed homes require far less embodied and operational energy – they are more affordable to build and to run.

Reusing, repurposing and retrofitting existing homes is even more efficient in terms of dollars, energy and resources. Many Australian homes have so much more potential than people realise. Our industry must stop defaulting to knockdown rebuild and get serious about renovation and retrofit.

Please don’t think that doing the same old thing and putting a big PV system on the roof is the answer. We must reduce the amount of energy needed to keep homes at comfortable and safe temperatures as well as combining it with renewable generation. Smaller, well-designed homes are the key.

How are you fostering a culture of sustainability within your business?

We don’t take on projects unless they align with our sustainability goals. As it says on our website: ‘We simplify the sustainable design process, to create comfortable, clever, energy-efficient homes; homes that are light-filled and light-footed. We also provide independent, science-only, retrofit advice for people wanting to thermally improve their existing home.’

What sustainable solutions hold your interest, or do you hope to see available to residential building professionals?

I hope to see more builders collaborating with designers (house and landscape) and building scientists who specialise in sustainability. The hive mind can achieve great things. We can’t all know and do everything. Together we’ll have much greater impact, a more enjoyable and rewarding process and better outcomes.

There are energy assessors across Australia with varying degrees of experience and interest in energy efficiency and broader sustainability. I encourage people to broaden their networks, have conversations, be willing to learn and change their approach.

The changes required are not as drastic or expensive as people imagine. We don’t all need to move to the Passivhaus standard – there are cost-effective, thermally effective and healthy options between the industry standard and Passivhaus.

We also leave room for a surrounding landscape design that further supports the thermal performance and climate resilience of the home. More green space around our homes is good for the mental and physical health of residents and the temperature of our suburbs.

How can builders seamlessly integrate more energy-efficient designs and technology innovations into new homes?

Recent changes to the NCC are finally forcing builders to take sustainability, energy efficiency, climate resilience and health more seriously. Our climate is changing (both environmentally and financially). It’s critical for builders to appreciate the impact of house size and design on their clients’ quality of life. A smaller, well-designed home is more affordable in the short and long term and can have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of its residents.

There is demand but the problem is supply. Currently, the mass market has largely offered the same thing – over-sized homes that are not designed well for their site and climate. Be brave to offer something different. Collaborate with other design and building science professionals. Interdisciplinary collaboration is the reason the Light House model has been successful.

Published on 24 November 2023 by the Housing Industry Association

The power to change