Helen Oakey, CEO of not-for-profit Renew, writes about the quiet but growing revolution in retrofitting and home electrification across Australia.
When we picture climate-friendly homes, most of us imagine glossy new builds with sprawling solar arrays and lush rooftop gardens. But here’s a home truth: CSIRO research indicates that over half of the houses Australians will live in by 2050 already exist today. And those homes — from our 1950s weatherboards to mid-century gems — offer one of the most exciting opportunities to slash emissions, cut energy bills, and reimagine home design for a low-carbon future.
Welcome to the rise of retrofit culture: a movement that’s proving you don’t need to knock down to level up. Retrofits are about taking existing homes and transforming them into healthy, efficient and beautiful spaces. It’s good for the planet, good for your wallet, and great for creating homes with soul and character.
Simple changes like insulation upgrades, better window coverings, and switching to electric appliances can cut household bills by thousands of dollars a year. Add some smart passive design strategies, and you’re looking at serious year-round comfort and savings on running costs.
Another compelling reason to retrofit rather than rebuild is embodied energy — the total energy it takes to extract, process, transport and install the materials used in a building. Globally, building and construction contribute around 11% of total carbon emissions, and most of that comes from materials like concrete, steel and glass. (World Green Building Council.)
By choosing to upgrade what we have instead of knocking down and starting over, we’re preserving the embodied energy in our homes and avoiding the emissions-heavy production of new materials. It’s the climate-smart equivalent of vintage shopping for your house.
But it’s not just about the numbers. Retrofit culture is about valuing what we already have and adapting it for modern living — and homeowners around Australia are leading the charge.
Amelia’s House, ACT
Take Amelia’s House in Canberra’s Deakin, constructed by Aspect Building Projects. This once-draughty 1950s weatherboard was transformed into a high-performing, energy-efficient family home that now exceeds modern building standards.
The renovation was meticulous: airtight construction, high-performance windows, enhanced insulation and a clever redesign that captures northern sunlight for natural warmth in winter, while thoughtful shading prevents summer overheating. A heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) keeps indoor air fresh and healthy — essential in an airtight home.
The results are a dramatic cut in energy use and running costs, with preliminary data showing sharp drops in heating and cooling demand. Even better, the once gloomy, cold, and hard-to-heat house is now light-filled, consistently comfortable and a joy to live in through every Canberra season.
This house is proof that with good design, retrofitting an old home can rival — and even outperform — many new builds in both comfort and efficiency, while dramatically reducing environmental impact. A huge credit must be given to Jenny Edwards of Light House Archi Science who was instrumental in achieving a fantastic result with this home.
Hardwick Family House, Queensland
Up in Queensland, Jess Hardwick and her husband took a parkside 1959 home and proved that you don’t need a major extension to make a home work better.
Keeping the original footprint, there was a focus on high-impact, sustainable changes: opening up the kitchen, dining and living areas to flow into a generous outdoor room, boosting cross-ventilation and natural light.
Demonstrating a deep respect for what already existed in the house, the carpets were lifted to reveal gorgeous brushbox floors, the original pink steel bathtub was retained, and old terrazzo was repurposed into a chic concrete benchtop. Local, low-impact materials like handmade tiles and brass details gave the home warmth and timelessness.
It’s a beautiful example of how thoughtful, restrained design and passive cooling strategies can create homes that feel luxurious, livable, and low-impact — all without excess. The result? A home that’s cooler in summer, more efficient year-round, and deeply connected to its landscape.
Local Trends & the Neighbourhood Effect
One reason retrofit culture is catching on is the growing “neighbourhood effect” — where one retrofit inspires another. Events like Sustainable House Day, where homeowners open their doors to show off their eco-friendly upgrades, are driving local interest and action.
There’s something contagious about seeing a neighbour’s beautiful retrofit or clever energy-saving idea that makes sustainable living feel less like a far-off dream and more like a practical, everyday reality. It’s design inspiration meets grassroots climate action.
And as retrofits can deliver climate resilient and comfortable homes, they can also be stylish and creative. It’s no surprise people are getting on board.
What needs to change: Closing the policy gap
While homeowners are doing incredible things, there’s still a big policy gap holding us back. Australia’s building regulations and retrofit incentives have been slow to meet our climate challenges, although the recent shift to 7 stars for new homes was a significant improvement.
We need government action to:
- Incentivise retrofits with rebates, grants, and/or interest-free loans.
- Require energy ratings at point of sale and lease to empower renters and buyers.
- Phase out inefficient and fossil fuel-based appliances in favour of efficient electric alternatives.
The good news is, momentum’s building. Victoria and the ACT have already committed to phasing out gas, and states are starting to offer support to homeowners for energy upgrades and efficiency measures.
The future Is already here
For interiors enthusiasts, this can be about more than energy efficiency. It can also be about retaining the character and history of a home, and crafting homes that tell a story. There is a real pleasure in curating the old to suit a modern lifestyle, and combining with the technologies of the future that will also ensure better climate resilience.
So if you’ve been contemplating a renovation, make it a climate-friendly one. Join Renew’s eight-part online webinar series, running from today (6 May) until 29 May 2025, to discover guides on how to electrify your home, how to retrofit for climate resilience and hear from experts on how to make your home more sustainable. Because the homes we already have are the future of Australian living — and with a little design smarts and retrofit culture, they can be beautiful, efficient and resilient too.
