SAAAS (Small Affordable Apartment Aspiring to be Sustainable)

A case study by Renew as part of Sustainable House Day 2026.

This 1 bedroom apartment in Brunswick West is a perfect demonstration that energy upgrades and sustainability don’t have have to be complex or leverage all the latest tech. Meaningful change can be made with simple upgrades and behaviour change over time. And when the time is right to invest in solar or an induction cooktop, it’s a bonus!

To read more about this achievable and inspiring apartment home, visit Renew’s Sustainable House Day website.

About this home

“My apartment is a small one-bedroom apartment in a block of ten built in the 1960s. It is double-brick and north-facing and overlooks a park. My apartment is on ground floor, all ground floor apartments have external sun blinds.

Over 24 years I have gradually improved its sustainably while making only necessary changes and preserving the 1960s features. I believe in a low consumption life-style and have not spent money changing things that worked. When I first moved in (2001), I did a big clean up, painting, replaced synthetic shag pile carpet with wool and installed full length curtains. Apartment had pelmets. I later lined curtains with wool felt.

In 2014 I got permission to put 1.5kW solar panels on shared roof. These have now been replaced by 2kW as we (Owners Corporation) were successful in getting SolarVic and Council grants last year - 8/10 apartments are now connected to solar. Very challenging process, happy to talk about how we achieved it…”

To read more about this achievable and inspiring apartment home, visit Renew’s Sustainable House Day website.