How Energy Efficiency Can Be Enhanced In Older Homes
Published March 31, 2026
Australian homes that are a bit old have a special character of their own. However, these homes are not only uncomfortable but also costly to maintain. Improving energy efficiency in older homes Australia is essential, as homes built before the 1990s are often not energy efficient and can be too hot in summer or too cold in winter, leading to high energy costs. Here is how you can improve your old home to become energy efficient.
Understanding your home’s energy performance
Old homes were built before the energy efficiency standards were made compulsory. While new homes are required to have a minimum of a seven-star energy rating, an estimated 70% of homes in Australia are built before these standards were made compulsory and have an energy rating of less than three stars. The first step towards an energy-efficient home is to understand your home’s performance. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) provides a house energy rating certificate. The certificate provides information on where your home is losing most of its energy and what needs to be done to improve its performance.
Small changes can make a big difference
It is not always necessary to spend huge amounr to increase energy efficiency in your house. There are many small changes you can make to your house, which will have a big difference in terms of energy consumption.
One such change is using LED bulbs in place of traditional incandescent bulbs, which will reduce energy consumption considerably. These bulbs are long-lasting and consume less power, which will increase energy efficiency in no time.
Draught-proofing is another change you can make to your house, which will increase energy efficiency considerably. Draught-proofing will help in keeping your house warm in winter and cool in summer by closing draughts around floors, walls, and windows. Draught-proofing will reduce the work of your air conditioners and heaters, which will increase energy efficiency in no time.
Increasing insulation, especially in ceiling spaces, is a big change you can make to increase energy efficiency in your house, especially if you are living in an older house. Increasing insulation in ceiling spaces is a small change, which will increase energy efficiency considerably, as this will keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer.
Consider larger upgrades for long-term savings
For those who are willing to spend more, larger upgrades can provide significant long-term savings. Adding solar panels and a battery, for example, can help reduce your electricity bills while allowing you to reduce your dependence on public utilities. These devices allow you to store energy collected during the day for use at night, which will help reduce the increasing cost of electricity.
Replacing your windows with double-glazed ones is another upgrade that can provide significant long-term savings. Double-glazed windows will help reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, which will help keep your house at a constant temperature. This upgrade will provide significant long-term savings, especially if your house was not originally designed with energy efficiency in mind, as many older homes were not.
Investing in energy-efficient home appliances is another option worth considering. Energy-efficient home appliances save energy as well as water, resulting in cost savings while reducing the impact on the environment.
Home energy assessment is another way to go about improving the energy efficiency of your home. This is an assessment that costs about $300, but the recommendations are tailored to your home. This assessment helps you determine where your home is losing energy, what DIY fixes can be made, as well as what upgrades can make the biggest impact.
Whether you are looking at draught-proofing your home, installing solar panels, or insulating your home, knowing where to start is the key to creating the home you want. For advice on how to make your old home more energy-efficient, talk to the experts at Utility Market and see the difference.
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