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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location16 National Sustainable Awards highlight decades of excellence for NSW builder
16 National Sustainable Awards highlight decades of excellence for NSW builder
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The national honour is his sixth HIA Australian GreenSmart Professional title and contributes to Blue Eco Homes' remarkable tally of sixteen HIA Australian GreenSmart Award wins since the program began.
With more than 40 years in the construction industry, Joe Mercieca has built a reputation as a leader in high-performance residential building through his work with Blue Eco Homes.
Driven by a belief that environmental performance should be measured rather than assumed, Joe champions a fabric-first approach that combines 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 in the past six years and consistently achieving exceptional airtightness results.
Beyond individual projects, Joe actively contributes to industry advancement through education, advocacy and industry engagement, promoting sustainable building practices that deliver measurable benefits for homeowners and the environment. GreenSmart Professional is partnered by HIA Insurance Services.
Tasmania’s Zanetto Builders was awarded the highest honour, winning the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Home, partnered by Clipsal by Schneider Electric.
Designed to perform in Tasmania's cool temperate climate, the 287sqm Passive House Classic-certified residence combines contemporary architecture with exceptional building performance. Thoughtfully oriented to capture natural light and expansive views, it features super-insulated timber-framed walls, an R11 roof assembly and a measured airtightness result of 0.5 ACH@50Pa, making it one of the tightest residential buildings ever tested in Tasmania.
Triple-glazed windows, heat recovery ventilation and an all-electric design work together to minimise energy demand, while rooftop solar and rainwater harvesting further reduce the home's environmental footprint. Carefully selected low-VOC materials also contribute to a healthier indoor environment for its occupants.
This project was also awarded HIA Australian GreenSmart Custom Built Home, partnered by Bondor.
HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said the HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards set the benchmark for the latest in environmental design excellence, industry innovation and sustainable building practices.
“Consumer demand for practical, affordable, smart, connected and durable environmental solutions for residential housing continues to grow.
“Our commitment to sustainable building outcomes and leading housing innovation has not altered for more than 25 years since the HIA GreenSmart program was introduced. Our members demonstrate that quality building and design, comfort, and on-going value for money can co-exist in a sustainable built environment.
“HIA GreenSmart Awards highlight our members who excel at delivering year-round comfortable homes into the market.
“Each winner and finalist is congratulated for achieving success at a national level,” concluded Ms Martin.
Presented as part of the HIA Future Homes Forum, the HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards brought together builders, designers, manufacturers, suppliers and sustainability leaders from across Australia to celebrate excellence and explore the latest innovations shaping the future of residential construction.
Trades buck national enrolment downturn
Australia's residential building industry is bucking the national training trend after new figures reveal construction trade qualifications continue to grow despite an overall decline in VET enrolments, HIA Executive Director Future Workforce Mike Hermon said today.
16 National Sustainable Awards highlight decades of excellence for NSW builder
Blue Eco Homes' Joe Mercieca has been recognised as the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Professional at the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards, held in Melbourne on 22 July.
Hunter home building hotspots revealed
“The Hunter region continues to demonstrate the importance of a strong pipeline of residential land and housing approvals, with thirteen local areas meeting HIA’s population and residential building hotspots criteria in 2024/25,” stated HIA Executive Director - Hunter, Craig Jennion.
Tasmanian builders take top titles at HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards
Tasmania punched well above its weight at the 2026 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards, picking up four national titles at the Melbourne ceremony today.