In Brief

Windows and glazing affect how an existing home feels throughout the year. They can influence winter heat loss, summer heat gain, glare, draughts, daylight, privacy and how hard heating and cooling systems need to work.

In Brief

Insulation affects how quickly heat moves into or out of an existing home. In winter, good insulation can help the home hold warmth for longer. In summer, it can help slow unwanted heat entering through the roof, ceiling, walls or floors.

Why Is My Home So Hot in Summer?

In Brief

A home that feels too hot in summer is often gaining heat faster than it can release or manage it. This may be caused by heat entering through the roof, ceiling, walls, windows, gaps, exposed paving, poor shading or a cooling system that is working harder than it should.

In Brief

Green loans and energy efficiency finance are becoming more relevant as Australian homeowners look for ways to improve existing homes. In some cases, lenders or programs may ask for evidence that a home is energy efficient, or that planned upgrades will improve household energy performance.

In Brief

Improving the energy efficiency of an existing home starts with understanding how the home performs now. Before choosing upgrades, it is important to look at comfort, energy use, insulation, draughts, windows, heating, cooling, hot water, appliances and the way the home responds to the local climate.

In Brief

A home that feels cold in winter is often losing heat faster than it can hold it. This may be caused by poor insulation, draughts, unsealed gaps, single glazing, exposed floors, inefficient heating or a building fabric that was never designed for strong thermal performance.