What you need to know to future proof your home
Spoiler alert: flying cars or vacuum sealed meals are not on the menu
4 min
It’s fair to say that the world has gone through a period of accelerated change in recent years. Aside from the significant impacts of COVID, the effects of climate change are becoming more evident and, as countries around the world look for alternatives to fossil fuels, many homeowners are beginning to understand the implications at home, in the form of rising energy prices and greater weather extremes.
For those contemplating renovating or completely rebuilding from scratch, the idea of future proofing your home is beginning to take hold. But what does it mean to create a home for the future?
In general terms, a future-proofed home is one that is designed for longevity, with enough flexibility and sustainability built into it to provide residents with a comfortable lifestyle for decades to come. This means creating spaces that are not only comfortable to live in but have low running costs without the need to dramatically upgrade or alter aspects over time.
For some, that can entail embracing new technologies, which may come with substantial upfront costs, while for others, the focus is very much on design.
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Architect Caroline Pidcock says the beauty of future proofing through design is that anyone building or renovating can take steps to make it part of the construction process. Whether you plan to stay put or you have one eye on resale, she says the principles of a sustainable lifestyle still apply.
“There are three things anyone can do, whether or not you’re embarking on a major building project,” she says.
“Firstly, make sure the external building envelope is as well sealed and insulated as possible. Secondly, we need to understand and work with the sun – where we want it and don’t want it – and work with it to capture its energy for our own use.”
The third measure, she says, is to step away from fossil fuels such as coal-fired power and gas, towards renewable sources of electricity.
“You should totally electrify your home,” she says. “Having a gas cooktop is like having a smoker in your home. If we totally electrify and make the building envelope as efficient as possible, we’re on the way to future proofing.”
In terms of design, Pidcock says it’s time to rethink the open plan living model in favour of more flexible spaces that can be opened up and closed down to allow for more efficient heating and cooling as well as better thermal and acoustic comfort for everyone.
“We need to rethink how much space we need,” she says.
“That might mean the end of the open plan living dream. Adding doors is good from a thermal and acoustic point of view and the ability to close or open the spaces as you need them.
“That flexibility of space is useful and important.”
For Dr Trivess Moore, senior lecturer in RMIT’s School of Property, Construction and Project Management in Melbourne, the focus is very much on the ability of current housing stock to cope with the climate extremes many Australians are already experiencing.
“The majority of existing and new housing in Australia is not suitable for performing in our current climate,” he says. “This means we have a high reliance on mechanical heating and cooling to stay thermally comfortable, resulting in high energy consumption and bills.
“The majority of the housing stock performs between 1.5 to 3 stars on a scale of zero (worst) to 10 (best). In some cases, households will find their housing unliveable for periods of time if we see climate change much further.”
Government regulation, such as the Building Sustainability Index (Basix) legislation introduced in NSW in 2004, has gone some way to make new housing stock more future proofed, says Moore, as have rebates to encourage Australians to take up renewable energies such as solar panels. The result is that one in three Australian households have installed solar panels, according to figures from the Clean Energy Regulator, the highest domestic uptake rate in the world.
While battery storage systems are still prohibitively expensive for many, all indicators are that they will be a necessary part of any future proofed home, thanks to their ability to store energy from renewables to be used on demand.
Managing diretor of Qcells Australia, Jin Han says the sooner you can install a storage battery, the sooner you can make the most from solar energy supplies generated on your own property. He says there are options for those who would like to avoid the initial outlay.
“This can be addressed with green loans and financing,” Han says.
Qcells has partnered with Arcstream financing, allowing homeowners to bundle monthly payments with their energy plan.
“For example, before solar your bill is $200 per month, add solar and battery and energy plan with no upfront payment, and pay $180 per month consistently, and be paying off an asset that you then own.”
Even some volume home builders are now offering battery storage packages and EV charging points.
Managing director of Volkswagen Group, Paul Sansom says once drivers move past concerns about ‘range anxiety’ for their cars, homes and residences equipped with EV charging stations will quickly become more desirable.
“Neither new houses nor new apartment buildings will be feasible without easy access to renewable EV charging; no more so than a home without internet access,” he says.
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Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation CEO Kristina Keneally says Australia’s culture of large-scale philanthropy is becoming more sophisticated as Gold Dinner raises $75.5 million for children’s health, research and innovation.
3 min
Australia’s wealthiest donors are becoming more strategic, more ambitious and increasingly focused on creating measurable impact, according to Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation chief executive Kristina Keneally.
Speaking after the 2026 Gold Dinner, held last week in Sydney, Keneally said Australia was experiencing a significant shift in how major philanthropy is viewed, with large-scale giving increasingly part of conversations about leadership, legacy and social impact.
The annual Gold Dinner, now in its 29th year, brought together some of the country’s most influential business leaders, philanthropists and cultural figures, raising $75.5 million and counting in support of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
While the event has become one of Australia’s most prestigious fundraising gatherings, Keneally said its significance extends far beyond a single evening.
“Gold Dinner, the flagship event of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, represents far more than a single evening. It is a powerful demonstration of what a committed community can achieve together over 12 months,” she said.
“The strength of that community, and the trust built over nearly three decades, means people return not just for the event, but for the impact they know it delivers.”
A NEW ERA OF PHILANTHROPY
Large-scale philanthropy has long been a feature of American society, where charitable foundations and major donors often play a prominent role in funding medical research, education and social programs.
Keneally believes Australia is moving in a similar direction.
“Australia is building a stronger culture of large-scale philanthropy, but it is still evolving compared to the United States, where giving at scale is more deeply embedded and widely recognised,” she said.
She said the country’s philanthropic landscape was becoming more sophisticated as successful business leaders increasingly sought opportunities to create meaningful change through their giving.
“In Australia, while generosity has always been strong, large-scale giving has historically been less visible, but that is changing rapidly as more leaders embrace philanthropy as a powerful way to drive meaningful outcomes.”
According to Keneally, events such as the Gold Dinner are helping reshape public perceptions of philanthropy by demonstrating the tangible outcomes that major donations can achieve.
“Gold Dinner is helping to reshape how philanthropy is perceived in Australia, making it more visible, more aspirational and more connected to real-world outcomes,” she said.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
The funds raised through Gold Dinner support clinical care, research and innovation across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
Over the past 12 months, more than $75.5 million has been raised to help fund advanced medical equipment, innovative care models and world-leading medical research. Areas of focus include precision medicine and early diagnosis, where emerging technologies are already changing how childhood illnesses are detected and treated.
Keneally said the impact is felt directly by children and families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“For children and families, this translates into very real and immediate impact. It means faster diagnoses, earlier access to life-saving treatments, and care that is more personalised and effective,” she said.
“It also ensures hospitals are equipped not just to respond to illness, but to reimagine what care can look like, giving children the best possible chance not only to survive, but to live full, healthy lives.”
BUSINESS LEADERS BACKING CHANGE
One of the defining characteristics of Gold Dinner is the calibre of its supporters.
The event has evolved into a meeting point for influential leaders from business, culture and philanthropy, many of whom see charitable giving as an extension of their professional and personal legacy.
“It speaks to a community that is not only generous, but increasingly ambitious in how it gives, combining influence, expertise and purpose to achieve outcomes at scale,” Keneally said.
Among the major supporters of this year’s event were Presenting Partner, John-Paul Nassif Foundation; Major Partners, ABC Bullion, Shaw and Partners Financial Services and One Circular Quay by Lendlease; and Premier Partner, Range Rover, whose ongoing support reflects a shared philosophy of legacy and long-term impact.
The evening also featured performances, premium hospitality experiences and fundraising initiatives designed to encourage further support for children’s health services and research.
LOOKING BEYOND NEW HOSPITALS
With major new children’s hospital developments at Randwick and Westmead progressing, Keneally said the focus is increasingly turning towards what comes next.
“The long-term vision is to ensure every child has access to world-leading healthcare, care that continues to evolve through innovation, research and global collaboration,” she said.
The foundation’s future priorities include accelerating medical discovery, expanding access to cutting-edge treatments and helping position New South Wales as a global leader in children’s health.
Keneally said the Gold Dinner remains central to achieving those ambitions because it does more than raise money.
“Gold Dinner is critical to making that vision possible. It not only provides significant funding, but also unites a powerful network of supporters who are driving the future of philanthropy in Australia,” she said.
As Australia’s culture of philanthropy continues to mature, Keneally believes that the network will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of healthcare for generations to come.
“The result is a community that is helping to shape the future of paediatric care, not just for today’s patients, but for generations to come.”
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