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      Our community development program that builds thriving and sustainable communities.

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      Buying methods for builders

      The Suburban Land Agency has several ways for builders to purchase land.

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      Put and Call gives you the opportunity to secure blocks of land with an extended settlement.

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      Learn about our Built Form Program that is delivering climate-wise building projects.

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      Find guides and rebates that can help you build a sustainable home.

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      Find out how we embed sustainability into all our work.

    • Our key priorities
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      Learn how we use Placemaking to understand the needs of the community and the environment.

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      Learn how we're making the ACT the most energy efficient place in Australia.

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    • Our work
      What we do

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      How we price land

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      Find out when land is likely to be made available.

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  • Our places
  • Home buyers and builders angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Residential land for sale
      Residential land for sale
      Talk to our sales team
      Talk to our sales team
    • Home buyers
      How to buy land through SLA

      Your complete guide to buying process.

      Display village

      Everything to make your dream home a reality.

      Affordable Home Purchase Scheme

      Helping low to medium income households.

      Mingle, our community development program

      Our community development program that builds thriving and sustainable communities.

      Rebates and initiatives

      Explore how our rebates can help you achieve your dreams of sustainable, affordable living.

    • Builders
      Buying methods for builders

      The Suburban Land Agency has several ways for builders to purchase land.

      Put and call

      Put and Call gives you the opportunity to secure blocks of land with an extended settlement.

  • Developers angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Land for sale
      Land for sale
      Current development opportunties
      Current development opportunties
    • Developers
      Developer's guide

      Learn about our sales process and find land for sale.

      Why develop in Canberra

      Find out about our vision for the ACT.

      Build-to-Rent

      Growing the number of rental homes in Canberra.

      Upcoming releases

      See whats coming up in the future.

      Sales results

      Browse our latest commercial and industrial sales results.

  • Sustainability and Innovation angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy
      Our Sustainability Strategy
      Case Studies
      Case Studies
    • Commitment to sustainability
      Why sustainability is important

      Learn why we need to live in happy, green and prosperous communities.

      Our vision for a sustainable future

      Find out how we aim to create great places where communities thrive.

      Showcasing our innovation

      Learn about our Built Form Program that is delivering climate-wise building projects.

      Supporting you to be sustainable

      Find guides and rebates that can help you build a sustainable home.

      Sustainable case studies

      Find out how we embed sustainability into all our work.

    • Our key priorities
      Placemaking

      Learn how we use Placemaking to understand the needs of the community and the environment.

      Resilient communities

      Discover how we're protecting our communities against climate change.

      Zero emissions suburbs

      Learn how we're making the ACT the most energy efficient place in Australia.

      Responsible production and consumption

      Find out how we're transitioning to a more circular economy.

      Healthy prosperous and inclusive places

      Learn how we're improving the wellbeing of communities through design, development and engagement.

  • About us angle down arrow angle up arrow
    • Join the team and grow your career
      Join the team and grow your career
    • Our people
      Who we are

      Our vision, our team, our CEO and Board.

      Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples

      Learn about out Reconciliation Action Plan.

      Careers

      Help create vibrant communities and sustainable neighbourhoods for ACT.

      Partnerships, Awards and Sponsorships

      Some of our achievements.

    • Our work
      What we do

      Delivering residential, commercial and industrial developments.

      How we price land

      Valuations and setting reserve prices.

      Housing Strategic Action Plan

      The framework that guides our actions.

      Indicative Land Release Program

      Find out when land is likely to be made available.

      Resources

      Find all our published documents in one place.

Display village news and articles

Home Display Homes and Innovation Precinct Artists in residence What's on News Visit and contact us

Home Display Homes and Innovation Precinct Artists in residence What's on News Visit and contact us

News and articles from SLA's Display Village

Our Display Village explores many facets of sustainable living. It covers eco-friendly home design, and gardening tips, and showcases artists who prioritize environmental consciousness.

Air leakage testing in Whitlam

The importance of having a well-sealed home

09 July 2024

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To have a home that’s both comfy and doesn’t waste heat, you need good insulation and airtightness, plus ventilation that works well.

What’s Ventilation? 

Ventilation is when you let fresh air from outside come into your house on purpose to keep the air inside nice and clean. You can do this the old-fashioned way by opening windows or use modern methods like fans and special systems.

And Airtightness? 

Airtightness means making sure outside air doesn’t sneak in where it’s not wanted, like through cracks around windows or walls. This keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer without using too much power.

Why Are They Important? 

As houses get better built, it’s even more important to have good ventilation. If your house is airtight, it saves energy and keeps you warm or cool without costing a lot. But, you have to be careful not to let moisture build up. Opening windows often or using fans can help with this.

What’s the Passivhaus Standard? 

Some super-insulated houses, like those built to the Passivhaus standard, don’t need regular heaters or air conditioners. They just need a special system that brings in fresh air without losing the cozy or cool air inside.

Our Project at the Innovation Precinct 

We paid extra attention to building quality to make sure there were no leaks where air could escape. After we built the houses, we checked for leaks using a special test and a camera that sees heat to make sure they were as airtight as we planned.

How Did We Test It? 

We did a test to see if the air stayed inside at the right level, which is 5 times the air changing in an hour. That’s way better than most houses, which have 15 to 20 times the air changing in an hour.

Want to See How We Did It? 

There’s a cool video that shows how we tested the houses to make sure they were airtight. It even shows how we used a special camera to find any leaks and fix them!

Click here to go back to all Display Village news

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Acknowledgement artwork by Leilani Keen-Church

Artwork by Leilani Keen-Church

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