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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationA positive difference
A positive difference
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The 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards, held on 22 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, recognised the builders and housing professionals driving better environmental outcomes across residential construction.
Presented as part of the HIA Future Homes Forum, the prestigious awards highlighted the practical value of sustainable building: smarter material choices, improved energy performance, efficient use of resources and homes designed to be comfortable year-round.
Across the eight award categories, the program showed how sustainability can be embedded in every part of the housing market, from custom and display homes to renovations, multi-dwelling projects, energy efficiency and professional practice.
Take a look at Australia’s innovative winners.
2026 Australian GreenSmart Awards winners
Tasmania’s Zanetto Builders claimed the prestigious 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Home of the Year title alongside the Custom Built Home award for a project that exemplifies the next generation of sustainable construction.
Bluebush Passivhaus, overlooking Bruny Island, is a home that proves sustainability and architectural excellence can go hand in hand. Perched on a challenging sloping coastal site, the Certified Passive House was designed to perform exceptionally in one of Australia’s coldest and most demanding residential climates while maintaining a strong connection to its spectacular surroundings.
Thoughtfully oriented to maximise winter sun, natural light and expansive coastal views, the 287-square-metre home combines advanced building science with refined architectural detailing. Its super-insulated building envelope, R11 roof assembly, thermally broken triple-glazed European windows and thermal-bridge-free construction create an efficient shell, while a certified airtightness result of just 0.5 ACH@50Pa ranks among Tasmania’s best-performing residential buildings.
The project also demonstrates how sustainability extends beyond operational energy. Prefabricated building elements and lean construction principles helped minimise waste throughout the building process, resulting in a home that balances environmental responsibility with enduring architectural quality.
Zanetto Builders also secured the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Multi Dwelling Development award with the Stieglitz Shacks, a project that challenges the traditional notion that bigger homes deliver better living.
Instead, the development comprises two all-electric homes sharing a coastal Tasmanian site. Together occupying just 172 square metres, the homes embrace efficient use of space without compromising comfort or lifestyle.
Drawing inspiration from Tasmania’s iconic east coast shacks, the dark-clad gabled buildings blend naturally into the surrounding landscape while incorporating passive solar design, high-performance insulation, low-E double glazing, heat recovery ventilation and rainwater harvesting.
Tasmania’s builders continue to lead
This year’s awards also highlighted Tasmania’s growing reputation as a national leader in sustainable residential construction, with four award categories claimed by builders from the island state.
Tasmania’s cooler climate has long demanded homes that perform well thermally, encouraging builders to embrace high-performance building techniques earlier than many other parts of Australia. Increasing expertise in passive house construction, airtight building envelopes and climate-responsive design has helped position Tasmanian builders at the forefront of sustainable housing.
Following Zanetto Builders’ accolades, the Apple Isle’s Davies Design & Construction won the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Energy Efficiency award for Mill Corner Longhaus.
Stretching across a rural site, the home is one of Tasmania’s few Certified Passive House Plus dwellings and delivers exceptional measurable performance. An 11.9kW rooftop solar array produces more than twice the home’s annual energy requirements, while a 60,000-litre rainwater harvesting system and an 8.8-star NatHERS rating reinforce its environmental credentials.
Despite its technical sophistication, the home remains understated architecturally. A low-profile form, dark cladding and warm timber detailing create a building that sits comfortably within its rural landscape.
Innovation across Australia
Sustainable excellence extended well beyond Tasmania, with projects from Victoria and Western Australia showcasing innovative responses to a diverse range of building challenges.
The 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Display/Project Home award went to G.J. Gardner Homes Warragul for a display home designed to operate independently of the electricity grid.
A substantial 25.52kW solar system, integrated battery storage and smart energy management technology reduce reliance on conventional power supplies, while double glazing, a high-efficiency heat pump hot water system and an airtightness result of 3.98 ACH@50Pa further improve overall performance.
In Victoria, Shepherd Homes received the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Renovation/Addition Project award for transforming a heritage miners’ cottage in Geelong West into a high-performing family home.
Rather than demolish the existing building, the project carefully retained and restored significant structural elements, preserving the home’s historic character while reducing embodied carbon. A contemporary two-storey extension incorporates passive solar principles, north-facing living spaces, an insulated concrete slab, improved airtightness and high-performance Low-E double glazing to dramatically improve energy efficiency and comfort.
Western Australia’s Nulook Homes with Solar Dwellings claimed the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Sustainable Home award with the Catalina Sustainable Home, proving exceptional environmental outcomes are achievable even on a conventional suburban block.
Despite a challenging orientation and a north-facing garage, the project achieved a 10 Star NatHERS rating and carbon-negative performance through careful passive solar design, high-performance insulation, double glazing, thermal mass and effective external shading.
A career dedicated to better building
The final honour, 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Professional, was won by Joe Mercieca of Blue Eco Homes in the NSW Blue Mountains. He has consistently championed a fabric-first approach built around Passivhaus principles, airtight construction, controlled ventilation and climate-responsive design to deliver healthier, more comfortable homes.
His achievements include delivering Australia’s first Certified Passive House to achieve a BAL-FZ rating, completing seven Passive House homes over the past six years and consistently achieving airtightness results around 0.5 ACH@50Pa.
Beyond his own projects, Joe has become a respected advocate for industry education, sharing knowledge and encouraging builders to adopt evidence-based sustainable building practices that deliver lasting benefits for homeowners, communities and the environment.
Keen to learn more about all of the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards winners?
Thank you
HIA would like to thank all our valued partners for their support of the 2026 Australian GreenSmart Awards.
