Design competition seeks net zero heroes

The challenge requires building designers to design a cost-effective, livable home that produces more energy than it uses while accounting for the carbon emissions from building materials. Teams must install enough solar panels to offset the home’s entire carbon footprint by 2050, in line with Australia’s commitment for achieving net zero.

As well as pushing the envelope for sustainable residential design, the challenge has been created as a major opportunity for professional development. Participants receive comprehensive training in topics such as NatHERS optimisation techniques, energy-efficient technologies, calculating embodied carbon, and, for the first time in the 2026 competition, designing for deconstruction and circular economy principles.

Chloe Shanae Overton from Eclo Designs, who was the Tasmanian winner of the 2022 True Zero Carbon Challenge, says the competition inspired participants to think outside the box to develop practical designs.

“It really highlighted tangible ways that we can address [sustainability] in the industry,” she says. “It was really great to see all the other entrants present their designs at the awards night, and it was fascinating to see how they used mainstream building practices to achieve the goal that was set out, to make these homes more readily available.

“But my absolutely favourite part of the challenge was having the freedom to let my individual creativity loose. Because there are no clients, there are no limits. Yes, there is a brief and a budget that you have to adhere to, but there’s no restraints on your imagination.”

The competition is open to building designers and architects, NatHERS-accredited energy efficiency assessors, architecture and building design students, and home energy efficiency and sustainability students.

The deadline for entries is March 1, 2026.

For more information, and to register, visit the Design Matters website.

Image shows 2024 True Zero Carbon Challenge winner Bricolage House.

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