A former sustainable architect, academic and builder, in 1988 Mr Hayes and his partner bought 100 acres of bush at Termeil so he could live in an off-the-grid home that exemplified his philosophy of sustainable building.

More than 30 years later, it was the first home lost to the Currowan bushfire.

"We proceeded to collect materials from all over Australia," he said.

"I'd work on them, prepare them and incorporate them into the building.

"Recently, my daughter had a child and decided to move in with us. I modified the house a little for them and a day and a half later it was destroyed by the Currowan fire."

At that time, the fire had not yet become the monster that would threaten communities from Moruya to Kangaroo Valley, and although Mr Hayes expected his home to be threatened by the blaze, he did not expect to lose it.

"I don't think any of us had any idea how bad it would be," he said.

"I'd done a lot of preparation ... lot of my ideas about sustainability applied in a lot of ways but not fire sustainability."

Not one to give in, Mr Hayes plans to rebuild a sustainable, fire-proof home built into the mountain.

He also wants change.

Greenpeace's film Dirty Power: Burnt Country was projected onto the remains of his burnt-out home on Friday, May 8.

The film is about the 2019/2020 summer bushfires.

"Our federal government has direct links to the coal industry which we know increases CO2 emissions and accelerates climate change," Mr Hayes said.

"The Greenpeace film points out the links between coal and political power in Australia.

"People need to be talking about it. The government has yet to come on board with addressing our changing climate, the resulting bushfires and threat to life.

"The government has the power through policy and at a practical level to move our society to a more sustainable way of life, without job losses."

Mr Hayes said there were a number of ways individuals can act to help reduce climate change.

"At an individual level we can each place the common good at the forefront of our everyday decisions," he said.

"It is definitely easier to be sustainable than people think.

"It's a matter of good design. Shading, careful planting, good insulation and the potential for a cross-breeze are basic things we've known how to do for a long time, but often get overlooked.

"A house is a machine for living, and it can be a machine for sustainable living ... We know what we can do, we just need to do it.