skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
PHOTOS
KITCHEN & DININGKitchenDiningOutdoor KitchenKitchen Islands
LIVINGLiving RoomFamily RoomHome TheatreSunroomFireplaceStudy Room
BATHROOMBathroomLaundryPowder RoomSmall Bathroom
BEDROOMBedroomKids BedroomNurseryMaster BedroomStorage & Wardrobe
KERB APPEALExteriorDrivewayCarportGarageEntry
OUTDOORGardenCourtyardBalconyDeckPatioPoolAll Outdoor
MORE IDEASGranny FlatHome OfficeHome GymStaircaseHome BarWine CellarView All
FIND PROFESSIONALS
BUILDING & RENOVATIONArchitectsHome BuildersBuilding DesignersDesign & Construction
DESIGN & INTERIORSInterior Designers & DecoratorsHome Stylists & Property StagingPainting & WallpaperCarpet & FlooringShutters, Blinds & CurtainsFurniture & Home DecorArtists & Artisans
View All Pros
GARDEN & LANDSCAPINGLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsGarden & Landscape SuppliesArborists & Tree Services
OUTDOOR & EXTERIORPools & SpasDecks, Patios & StructuresFencing & GatesDriveways & PavingStone, Pavers & ConcreteCladding & Exterior ContractorsRoofing & GuttersBlacksmiths & Welders
View All Services
KITCHEN & BATHROOMKitchen Designers & RenovatorsBathroom Designers & RenovatorsKitchen & Bath FixturesTile, Stone & BenchtopsJoinery & Cabinet Makers
HOME SERVICESLightingHeating & Air ConditioningFireplacesWindowsDoorsStaircases & BalustradesWine Cellars
STORIES
STORIES FROM HOUZZ
Houzz ToursKitchensBathroomsMore RoomsRenovatingBuildingArchitecture
Interior DesignGardensEco LivingLifestyleNews StoriesHow to Use Houzz
HOUZZ RESEARCH
HOUZZ TV
ADVICE
HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
Design DilemmaBefore & AfterPollsKitchensLiving RoomsBathrooms
GardensRenovatingHome DecoratingExteriorFlooringBuilding a home
Most Popular
Most Popular
Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
Top Ideabooks
Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry9 Ways to 'Winterise' a Summery RoomRenovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno Mistakes
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
Architecture
Architecture
Neuroarchitecture: The New Movement at the Forefront of Design
Top Ideabooks
Neuroarchitecture: The New Movement at the Forefront of DesignMelbourne Houzz: A One-of-a-Kind Home for a Family of SevenPro Panel: How to Turn Your Understairs Area Into a Powder RoomMelbourne Houzz: A Home in the 'Burbs Inspired by India
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Australian StyleAdvice from ArchitectsArchitectural Details
Expert Eye
Expert Eye
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty Appliance
Top Ideabooks
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty ApplianceSuffering From White-Wall Syndrome? How to Add Colour ConfidentlyRenovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen DesignerThe Secret to Hanging Curtains Beautifully
Appears in
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Picture Perfect: 45 Ideas for Bathroom Mirror Style and Placement
Top Ideabooks
Picture Perfect: 45 Ideas for Bathroom Mirror Style and Placement28 Times Stone Added Texture and Depth to a HomeBefore & After: A Clever Concealed Office for a Couple Who WFH30 Interiors That Celebrate the Joy of Custom Joinery
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome Time
Renovating
Renovating
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Tiler
Top Ideabooks
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a TilerExpert Eye: 6 Smart Ways to Add Value to Your Kitchen RenoPro Panel: 8 Reno Blunders and How to Avoid ThemBest of the Week: 29 Sensational Joinery Ideas
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Renovating AdviceRenovating FAQs
Renovating Advice
Renovating Advice
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit Mistakes
Top Ideabooks
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit MistakesRenovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and FinishesRenovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno MistakesRenovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Appears in
Renovating
Sustainable Homes
Sustainable Homes
Eco-Smart: The 5 Principles of Passivhaus Design
Top Ideabooks
Eco-Smart: The 5 Principles of Passivhaus DesignOdour-Free Composting Made EasyRenovation Insight: How to Choose a Sustainable Architect5 Homes in India That Coolly Combat Harsh Climate
Appears in
Houzz Tours

Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Sustainable Architect

Thinking of going green? Three experts share their advice on finding and choosing a sustainable architect for your build

Georgia Madden
Georgia MaddenApril 26, 2022
Senior writer, Houzz Australia
More
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Lower energy bills, minimal waste, fewer nasty emissions… there are plenty of good reasons to consider designing a sustainable home. But where do you look for an architect specialising in sustainable design, what should you ask them, and are their services going to cost you an arm and a leg? Three green-home design experts reveal all.
Day Bukh Architects
Why is it worth choosing a sustainable architect?
“A sustainable architect designs homes that are healthy and comfortable year-round while using minimal energy,” says Matt Day, architect and director of Day Bukh Architects. “They take advantage of what the earth provides for free – warmth from the sun, cooling from the air and water from rain.”

“An architect with a good reputation for energy-efficient design will have strategies for reducing costs while still delivering a high-quality house,” says Donna Luckman, former CEO of the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).

“They will be well-placed to give you advice on lowering energy bills, increasing thermal performance and comfort, and creating healthy interiors. They’ll also have contacts for builders and tradespeople who provide environmentally sustainable services.”
BP Architects
How does a sustainable architect differ from a regular architect?
“Sustainability is a way of thinking and designing a home, and it starts from the concept,” says Bridget Puszka, architect and principal at BP Architects. Sustainable architects are focused on designing energy-efficient, comfortable and affordable homes using the principles of passive solar design and featuring sustainable materials, she says.

“Sustainability should be important to all architects – and it increasingly is – but if your design team looks at you blankly when you talk about wanting a home that is comfortable and has low bills, we’d recommend that you keep shopping around as there are many designers out there who provide this as a standard offering,” says Luckman.
Day Bukh Architects
What does a sustainable architect focus on?
Luckman says:
  • Designing for the climate and site: This includes orientating the house for solar efficiency in order to reduce the need for mechanical heating or cooling.
  • Future proofing: A sustainable architect will design to your brief, while factoring in your needs both now and in the future. Your home will be designed to be flexible and adaptable, with the ability to accomodate the needs of, say, a growing family or old age.
  • Heating and cooling: Heating, cooling and hot water generally use the most energy in a house. A sustainable designer will not only design a home to limit the amount of mechanical heating and cooling energy required, but will also consider the efficiency of the appliances (think electric heat pumps for hot water and efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners that can be run from solar panels).

Searching for an architect who favours sustainable design? Find one here, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Image by ATA.
  • Insulation: A sustainable architect will consider the optimum insulation for the roof, walls and floor of your home in order to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature naturally, and reduce your need for mechanical heating and cooling.
  • Glazing: Windows and glazed doors can let in and out substantial amounts of heat, and over-glazing can have a terrible effect on your home’s thermal performance. A sustainable expert will consider the size, location and type of glazing, and use smart shading strategies to reduce summer sun and boost winter sun.
BP Architects
Where should you look?
Puszka says:
  • Search Houzz for a local, sustainable architect.
  • Visit the Australian Passive House Association website.
Day says:
  • Contact an organisation such as the ATA.
  • Scour magazines and conduct an online search.
Luckman says:
  • Come along to one of the ATA’s free ‘Speed Date a Sustainability Expert’ events to meet sustainable architects.
  • Ask your local council.
Mihaly Slocombe
Should they be part of an association?
“While sustainable architects are not required to be members of any association, those who are members of the ATA receive ongoing technical advice and resources,” says Day. “Membership of such a group indicates an architect’s commitment to creating comfortable, healthy, low-energy homes.”
Taylor Knights
What should you look for on their website?
Day says:
  • An outline of the sustainable projects they’ve worked on.
  • Details of the building methods they’ve used.
  • Which materials they’ve chosen and why.
Taylor Knights
What else should you ask for?
Day says:
  • References from previous clients (you can read reviews of architects, designers and other building professionals on Houzz).
  • Energy rating details for the homes they’ve designed.
  • The reasoning behind the orientation and materials they chose for previous builds.
“These same questions would apply when interviewing any architect, but those with a passion and commitment to sustainable design will know the thermal performance and energy rating of a house they designed, what did or did not work well, and what could be done better in the future,” says Day.

See more stunning exteriors
Mihaly Slocombe
Do you need to ‘click’ with them?
“It’s vital,” says Day. “Co-operation, understanding and mutual respect for the core values you’re working towards are the basis for your project’s success.”
Rebecca Naughtin Architect
Should you expect to pay more than a regular architect?
“You shouldn’t need to. But, like any service, you will pay more for expertise and experience,” says Luckman.

“Sustainable houses can cost more than regular architect-designed homes due to
the increased cost of insulation in the glazing, some construction methods and the selection of non-toxic materials. But these costs are offset by lower running costs,” says Day. “Sustainable houses are comfortable year-round, which makes them more sought after and increases their value.”
Taylor Knights
Where can you bone up on all things sustainable design?
“Pick up a copy of the government’s YourHome book – it’s a bible for sustainable design in Australia, and it’s written in layperson’s terms that anyone can understand,” says Luckman. “You’ll also find very useful advice on the YourHome website.”
Image by Strawbale house courtesy of ATA.
Robeson Architects
Your turn
Have you had experience working with a sustainable architect? Tell us about it in the Comments section below, save the images and join the conversation.

More
Want more practical advice on finding the right renovation professional to work with? Read this Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Interior Designer
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 5 comments
Explore Related Topics
Most PopularArchitectureExpert EyePopular Houzz SeriesRenovatingRenovating AdviceSustainable Homes
Read Related Stories
Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and FinishesRenovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
By Rebekah Zaveloff·41
Kitchens
8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry
By Georgia Madden·24
Kitchens
9 Ways to 'Winterise' a Summery Room9 Ways to 'Winterise' a Summery Room
By Georgia Madden·6
Decorating
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno MistakesRenovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno Mistakes
By Naomi Findlay·24
Renovating
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen DesignerRenovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
By Georgia Madden·0
Renovating Advice
Before & After: How an Extra 40sqm Gave a Family Home a Big BoostBefore & After: How an Extra 40sqm Gave a Family Home a Big Boost
By Georgia Madden·11
Before & After
How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Yes, You Really Should)How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Yes, You Really Should)
By Marianne Lipanovich·382
Home Time
An Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor PlansAn Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor Plans
By Rebecca Naughtin·17
Building
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit MistakesRenovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit Mistakes
By Naomi Findlay·24
Renovating
Cut Costs: How to Choose the Right Insulation at the Right PriceCut Costs: How to Choose the Right Insulation at the Right Price
By Gabrielle Chariton·7
Heating & Cooling
Cut Costs: 5 Ways to Run Your Home Appliances More EfficientlyCut Costs: 5 Ways to Run Your Home Appliances More Efficiently
By Colin Jones·15
Eco Living
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a TilerRenovation Insight: How to Choose a Tiler
By Georgia Madden·5
Renovating Advice
Cut Costs: 10 Money-Saving Habits to Perk Up Your Bank BalanceCut Costs: 10 Money-Saving Habits to Perk Up Your Bank Balance
By Joanna Tovia·18
Lifestyle
9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day
By Jo Simmons·98
Lifestyle
Room of the Week: From Dull Verandah to a Delightful Living AreaRoom of the Week: From Dull Verandah to a Delightful Living Area
By Vanessa Walker·22
Verandahs
People who liked this story also liked
Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and FinishesFull Story
8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry
8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's PantryFull Story
9 Ways to 'Winterise' a Summery Room
9 Ways to 'Winterise' a Summery RoomFull Story
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno Mistakes
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Rookie Kitchen-Reno MistakesFull Story
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen DesignerFull Story
Before & After: How an Extra 40sqm Gave a Family Home a Big Boost
Before & After: How an Extra 40sqm Gave a Family Home a Big BoostFull Story
How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Yes, You Really Should)
How to Clean Your Washing Machine (Yes, You Really Should)Full Story
An Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor Plans
An Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor PlansFull Story
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit Mistakes
Renovation Insight: 5 Common Renovating-for-Profit MistakesFull Story
Cut Costs: How to Choose the Right Insulation at the Right Price
Cut Costs: How to Choose the Right Insulation at the Right PriceFull Story
  • Australia
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms & Privacy
  • © 2022 Houzz Inc.