Space-age gadgetry is out and 1960s simplicity appears to be back in favour when it comes to low-emissions living.

A team of Australian university students has won first prize in an international “energy Olympics”, basing their housing design on a standard “fibro” home once common across the country.

Looking back to the future for smart design.

The students, from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, deliberately chose an existing design for the Solar Decathlon in China because retrofitting many of Australia's 8 million-plus homes can cut carbon emissions much faster than rolling out newly built ones.

“We were the only team in any decathlon to date to try to demonstrate a retrofit,” said Jack Breen, a member and spokesman of Team UoW. “The jury saw the need for this. We see the need for this.”