These eco-chic stories from our friends at The Design Files are just what the planet ordered.
In 2023 we partnered with The Design Files to serve up some seriously stylish eco-living, architecture, and design inspiration.
Whether you’re interested in making some changes (for the greener) at your place or seeking a dreamy little aesthetic escape, there’s something for everyone in this uplifting reading list.
The masterful adaptation of this Old Edwardian into an energy-efficient home is nothing short of alchemy.
Architect Imogen Pullar and builder Mark Van Handel of MVH Constructions applied passive house design and electrification to create a genteel family home that respects the past while celebrating the new. All without sacrificing a single flourish of heritage charm.
Read the full story and explore the photo gallery >
Will the future look anything like the Jetsons convinced us it would? Or is it greener? We think you’ll get a buzz from this piece of excellent listening from The Design Files podcast.
Peek into the bright future of sustainable housing design with Architect Jeremy McLeod who talks about the quiet revolution taking place with Nightingale Housing.
Tune in to TDF Talks >
In this two-part series, Melbourne based stylist (and founder of The Design Files) Lucy Feagins steps us through the process of having solar installed at her home in Fitzroy.
In Part one she shares the roots of her decision to go solar, choosing a system and provider, then Part two takes a deep dive into the nitty gritty of costs and installation. And how did it all work out? Find out in Part three.
Her relatable (and informative) take on the process feels just like chatting to a friend about it.
In this empowering little feature, The Design Files writer Amelia Barnes helps answer the question of what we as individuals can do for the climate.
The challenge is a tricky one, we all need electricity, and if you’re using electricity from the grid (as most of us do) you don’t get much of a say in how the power supplied to your household is made. Enter, GreenPower – a government accredited program that allows households and businesses in Australia to invest in the future of Australia’s renewable electricity sector from as little as a few extra dollars a month.
What is GreenPower exactly, how do you get it? This FAQ covers everything you didn’t know you needed to know about GreenPower.
When the Harding family moved to Blackburn, they had their hearts set on a special, tree-lined pocket known as the ‘Bellbird’ area – a divine, leafy pocket of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Clare Cousins Architects were engaged to help them bring to life a serene, sustainable home with all the right eco moves (and views) – and they delivered!
Meet the Harding family and take a wander through their extraordinary home. Read more >
Getting solar for your home is one of the most empowering things you can do. But the process can feel like entering a minefield of technical language and dodgy operators – eyeroll!
Wondering what size solar system, you actually need? How long it takes to pay itself off? Are batteries worth the expense? This handy FAQ has you covered.
After years of freezing winters and sweltering summers in poorly insulated rental homes, Katherine Post and Chris Gyngell were committed to making their ‘forever home’ as energy efficient as they could.
With the help of sustainably led Sanctum Builders, Hehe Design and Maxa Design they’ve created a three-bedroom home that’s a delight to live in – no matter the weather.
Get your Pinterest pinning fingers ready for the full story >
In this fascinating podcast, join independent energy advisor Tim Forcey and Lucy Feagins of TDF Talks as they tackle common issues with Australian homes and what you can do about them!
A must listen for anyone interested in what they can do to make their homes more energy efficient (more comfortable and less expensive for the long run).
Take me to the podcast >
If you’re still cooking (or heating) with gas it could be time to update your thinking (and maybe a few appliances). One of the best things you can do to help reduce fossil fuel usage at home is electrify, everything.
Not only can they run on renewable energy (such as rooftop solar) but electric appliances are also usually safer, more efficient, and just as (if not more) effective.
Read the full story >
Ready for a hit of optimism with all the climate doom and gloom that’s around right now? Australia has made some great progress – we’ve roughly doubled renewable energy production since 2017 – but it’s going to take some seriously smart engineering to reach net zero.
Join our very own MD and climate advocate Lisa Chiba and TDF Talks host Lucy Feagins for a very down-to-earth take on what everyone can do to support Australia’s transition to renewable energy and how we can design our way to a better future for the next generation.
Tune in to this uplifting podcast from The Design Files >
Thanks again to our friends at The Design Files for this amazing edit of climate-conscious content – here's to our partnership and many more inspiring stories to come!
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