What do you get when you mix in some reality TV celebrities, the latest in behavioural science insights, and a mission to transform the sustainability performance of the entire housing industry? You get the new lifestyle series, Renovate or Rebuild.
Renovate or Rebuild aims to crack open sustainable building options to a broad audience. It combines reality-TV with behavioural science by encouraging Australian homeowners to choose healthier and more energy efficient homes.
The show is a 60-minute lifestyle series hosted by building and interior designer, James Treble, where two teams compete to convince a family that they have the best solution to providing more space, comfort and reduced energy bills.
Team Renovate believe the family should renovate their existing home, while Team Rebuild think the family should knock down and rebuild.
In each episode you are taken on a journey through the design process as the teams juggle the challenges of meeting the clients brief and budget whilst aiming to create an amazing design for a home that is stylish, healthy, comfortable but also an energy efficient home.
Along the way they visit amazing homes to get some inspiration before pitching their design to the family.
The two solutions are judged by an expert panel on style, sustainability, and cost but ultimately the decision will come down to the family – will they renovate or rebuild?
The show features an all-star cast of former contestants from Channel 9’s The Block (Australia’s most popular reality TV show) and has all the hallmarks of compelling reality TV: it’s fun, with big, bold characters and a healthy dose of competition. What makes it different is its objective, to help homeowners to create more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable homes.
The six teams featured on Renovate or Rebuild are divided by state, with one team each representing Renovate and Rebuild.
For NSW, Andy & Deb (Season 15/2019) take on Team Renovate, while Norm & Jess (Season 14/2018) hold the mantle for Team Rebuild.
For Queensland, Michael & Carlene (Season 9/2014) face stiff competition as Team Renovate against Jimmy & Tam (Season 16/2020 Winners), the only The Block champions in the series, playing for Team Rebuild.
For Victoria, Jesse & Mel (Season 15/2019) represent Team Renovate, facing off against Bec & George (Season 7/2013) as Team Rebuild.
Each state (NSW, QLD, VIC) are competing to win overall for the opportunity to support a project with our charity partner Habitat for Humanity Australia.
The team with the overall lowest score at the end of the season will receive a punishment based on their worst fear. The teams from the winning state will determine what that punishment should be.
According to the creator and Executive Producer of the show James McGregor, if the Melbourne comedy festival and your favourite architectural design show had a baby with your all-time favourite contestants from The Block it would look like Renovate or Rebuild.
The show takes an edutainment approach to teach viewers about important concepts like passive solar design, insulation, energy efficiency and solar energy systems.
McGregor said:
“The show is designed to teach you about important features of an energy efficient home, give you some amazing home design ideas and leave you with a big smile on your face at the end of every episode.
“We want people to get excited about things like insulation and high home energy ratings the same way they would get excited about a new kitchen benchtop.”
Renovate or Rebuild builds-on research undertaken in the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) in partnership with the NSW Government and the CSIRO. McGregor said:
