Sustainable House Day, 12 September 2010,

There is nothing better than seeing something first-hand, it makes it real, and for most of us breaks the subject down into easily digestible chunks! That's why Sustainable House Day is such a success and really worth taking the opportunity to visit some of the over 200 houses opening around the country. It's like a personal invitation to see what owners of sustainable homes have done and how these ideas can apply to you!

The ninth annual Sustainable House Day on Sunday 12 September will showcase some of Australia's most environmentally sustainable homes to the public as millions of Australians continue to embrace renewable energy, recycling and other practices designed to lessen our impact on the environment.

"More and more people are looking for a more natural lifestyle with a return to the basics. Things like growing their own vegies while we're seeing greater investment in harvesting water and generating electricity from the sun as communities realise our resources are finite and likely to become more expensive," event organiser Judy Celmins says.

"Sustainable House Day, a free event presented by Solar Shop Australia, provides a unique opportunity for people to meet with home owners who have ‘been there, done that' and are able to provide unbiased advice about their own personal experience. There is nothing more valuable."

Solar Shop Australia Founder, Adrian Ferraretto said that it's great to once again support Sustainable House Day in 2010. Ms Celmins says there are things that most people can do to make homes more efficient, whether they own their home or rent. Sustainable House Day is all about taking action not just mouthing words, with 9 out of 10 visitors being influenced after attending the houses open on the day. The event makes a tangible difference in the fight to reduce the population's drain on our resources. Source UniSA 2009 visitor survey.

So, if you're thinking about improving your home's energy, water or waste management efficiency, speaking to homeowners about their own experiences is a must.

There will be plenty of information available on the day, with architects, builders and energy auditors on hand at many of the homes to provide you with expert tips on sustainable living.

And let's not forget the garden, many of the houses feature fantastic water-wise, organic, or permaculture gardens. So whatever your interest, be it gardens or more structural retrofits to new builds, there are sure to be many inspirational ideas to adapt to your home.

For house locations and more details visit www.sustainablehouseday.com