Energy retrofit advice - feedback 12 years later!

Most people associate Light House with new homes or major renovations but Jenny (a scientist, not an architect) actually began working in the housing industry as an energy efficiency retrofitting specialist 16 years ago and it remains her primary passion today. That’s Jenny and her testing gear back in 2008 (in the following image) and the flyer above is the very first piece of advertising material made for her new (and very unusual at the time) business.

The Light House science team still provide the same thermal performance modelling, thermographic insulation assessment and air leakage testing services today. You can read about those services on our dedicated science page and about how we are returning to our roots in 2025, here.

But back to the blast from the past! Last year, Jenny received some wonderful feedback via email from clients whose Harrison home she had visited and assessed in 2011 (see below). Back then her sole trader business was called Scinergy the science of energy efficiency [at the end of 2011 she merged her business with Jigsaw Housing to become a unique company with Architect + Builder + Scientist co-driectors and then, in 2015, she became the sole director of Jigsaw Housing P/L which then began trading as Light House Architecture & Science].

Hi Jenny

We wanted to give you some feedback about the energy efficiency assessment you did on our home 12 years ago. You may remember we asked you for a list of changes we could make, in order of energy efficiency gains per dollar, that we could slowly implement as budget allowed.  Your science-based assessment was the catalyst that kicked us off and ….well… we have just completed them all (plus some) and it’s been fun to see how well it has worked. In short over the 12 years, in order, we…

  • Replaced halogen downlights with LEDs

  • Heavily insulated the roof cavity

  • Sealed all the air gaps

  • Installed 3kW of solar panels  (it’s far from self sufficient but panels were four times more expensive then than now)

  • Installed thick blinds over our (then) single pane windows

  • Installed ceiling fans

  • Installed double and triple glazed windows

  • Planted a deciduous grape arbour along the northern side of the house

  • Replaced a large black concrete courtyard with cool light-coloured limestone and put a high roof over it

  • Replaced our gas kitchen with electric appliances and finally

  • Replaced our gas hot water systems with a heat pump

The early, cheap ‘quick-wins’ produced big results which spurred us on. By the time we had saved enough for the more-expensive retrofits (eg double and triple glazing) we were already enjoying a cosy house that previously had been draughty and chilly in winter.  It was sobering to read in The Conversation recently how much Australia is lagging behind in this space. “Compared to roughly 80% in the US, UK and NZ, only 11% of Australian homes have high-performance windows”.    

Our house was designed in 2006 to a 6.5 star energy rating but when you evaluated it you scored it as a 4 star design.  It will certainly be much more than 6.5 stars now. There are some things we cannot improve with a retrofit – such as the slab not being insulated – but it is now a very cosy home which we enjoy immensely.

We were in the fortunate position to have been able to fund this retrofit over 12 years.  One thing that we are very mindful of is that for many younger people house ownership, let alone energy-efficient retrofits, are becoming much less affordable.  Major policy reforms are needed in Australia to (i) encourage investments in energy improvements on rental properties, (ii) raise construction standards of new builds and (iii) make the kinds of changes we have been able to do more affordable for everyone.  

THANK YOU! It’s been a fun journey.

Peter and Michele

Jenny’s footnote: I could not agree more with your thoughts regarding policy reform in this area, Michele and Peter. Thank you so much for your feedback.

THIS is why I do what I do — it makes a difference at the household level, the industry level and beyond. Don’t give up on our existing buildings, everyone. We really can’t afford to. Lets get on with retrofitting our existing housing stock.