Our home was built in 1904, and has its original slate roof and various historic features intact. When we moved in, it was beautiful but cold in winter, hot in summer, and reliant on gas. Over the past ~5 years, I’ve retrofitted the home to improve comfort, efficiency & sustainability, while respecting its heritage character.
The journey started with the building envelope. During Covid my husband sealed gaps & draughts in the skirting and floorboards. In 2019 we had renovated the back section of the house- and put in double glazing where possible- although it wasn’t possible for every door configuration. Unfortunately we also put in a big freestanding cooker with gas cooktop- I wish I had realised then what I know now…
We installed solar and used the new Vic Govt Grants to swap to reverse-cycle air conditioning for the heating & cooling, and then stopped using the ducted gas system, where we used to heat almost all the house even though we largely spend time in one room only. Two portable Induction cooktops & a timber board has covered our gas cooktop, making the kitchen safer, faster & more enjoyable to use. In late 2025, we replaced the final gas appliance — the hot water system — with an efficient heat pump. Then I closed my account with my gas retailer- at a cost of $8 for an extra meter read. The gas isn't capped off yet, given the gas cooktop is still there hidden under the portable induction cooktops.
We spent fun weekends DIYing double-glazing on the glass not replaced in the renovation- using "Amazon Duck film" and double-sided tape as a temporary cover on all remaining windows. This film tends to last one season, so are gradually upgrading to perspex as a 2nd layer.
Temperatures are now more stable, we don’t need to heat the whole house at once, energy bills are lower, and the home is healthier without gas burning indoors. The improvements are invisible but have made the home far more comfortable and climate-ready.
