Sarah Campbell

Why design matters more than devices When we talk about energy efficiency, it’s easy to picture solar panels, double glazing, or the latest smart home system. But these are just add-ons. Real efficiency starts long before a single appliance is installed. It starts with design. A well-designed home works with the environment, not against it. It captures warmth in winter, stays naturally cool in summer, and balances light, ventilation, and insulation so every space feels calm and comfortable....

What the stars actually mean... When you see a NatHERS star rating on a home, it’s not just a badge of compliance. It’s a snapshot of how comfortable, efficient, and resilient that home will be across the seasons. A 1 Star home struggles. It’s hot in summer, freezing in winter, and expensive to run. A 3–4 Star home performs a little better but still leaks energy through poor insulation, orientation, or glazing. A 6 Star home is almost there, but the home wont be comfortable year round. ...

When it comes to BASIX compliance in NSW, one of the most common misconceptions we hear is: “If I’ve got solar panels, I’ll be fine.” Unfortunately, that’s not quite true. Solar panels are a great investment for reducing ongoing energy costs — but under BASIX, they sit in a completely different category to your thermal performance. Let’s break it down. The three parts of BASIX BASIX (the Building Sustainability Index) assesses a home’s sustainability across three key areas: 1️⃣ Thermal...