Like many Kingston residents, Rex and Ella had wanted to make their home more energy efficient for a while. They'd done their research, attended local events, and even made a few early improvements. But they kept running into the same problem: progress kept stalling. Not from a lack of will, but a lack of a clear, whole-of-home plan.
"Our aim was to upgrade our home in ways which improve comfort, reduce environmental impact and economise on domestic energy outlays," says Rex.
When Kingston Council offered an in-home energy assessment in 2025 in partnership with local sustainability consultancy Green Moves, it gave them exactly what they needed to move forward.
What is a home energy assessment and why does it matter?
A home energy assessment is an independent, expert review of how your home uses and loses energy. An assessor visits your home and looks at everything - heating and cooling, insulation, hot water, windows, draught proofing, solar and appliances - then produces a detailed report with practical, prioritised recommendations.
It's not a sales pitch for any particular product or installer. It's independent advice tailored to your specific home and circumstances.
For Rex and Ella, that independence mattered.
"The availability of council support gave us the incentive we needed to proceed. Initially with the assessment, and subsequently with a suite of improvements rather than continuing a piecemeal approach," says Rex.
From a list of good intentions to a real plan
That shift from scattered "things we should probably do one day" to a clear, prioritised roadmap, is often the most valuable thing an energy assessment delivers. It takes the overwhelm out of the process and replaces it with confidence.
What the assessment found
The home energy assessor reviewed Rex and Ella's home thoroughly, identifying opportunities across solar capacity, insulation, window coverings, draught proofing and appliance efficiency.
"The assessor Danielle provided a comprehensive, objective and analytical overview of the energy efficiency of our home," says Ella. "Danielle is an effective communicator who identified areas of weakness, especially in regard to thermal loss. We appreciated her professional approach, thorough reporting and recommendations."
The finding that surprised them most
One result caught them off guard: how much heat they were losing through their windows.
"We were somewhat surprised at the relatively large impact of inadequate window coverings, lack of pelmets and single glazing on heat loss, but glad to hear of the straightforward measures recommended, like closing curtains, installing pelmets, and sealing off unused areas."
It's a good reminder that not all energy improvements are expensive or complicated. Some of the most effective changes cost very little.
The upgrades they made and what's still in the pipeline
Armed with a clear roadmap, Rex and Ella implemented a coordinated set of home improvements:
- Replaced their solar PV system with a larger, higher-capacity array
- Installed a heat pump hot water system
- Added a double-glazed window
- Replaced their gas cooktop and oven with an induction cooktop and electric oven - completing full electrification
Further upgrades are already planned, including insulation renewal, draught-proofing, and converting remaining single-glazed windows to double glazing.
A word on patience
Like many households at the moment, Rex and Ella encountered long lead times as trades got busy on the back of government incentive schemes.
"We found we had to be patient and persistent," says Rex.
It's good advice worth passing on to anyone embarking on a similar journey - start early, get your assessments and quotes in place, and work through it steadily.
Would they recommend it to other Kingston residents?
Without hesitation.
"We would definitely recommend this process to others. It was quite empowering!"
For Rex and Ella, the assessment didn't just produce a list of things to fix. It gave them a clear plan, independent expertise, and the confidence to follow through properly rather than chipping away randomly.
They're now expecting their increased solar generation and full exit from gas to deliver real savings over the long term. The sense of direction and momentum the process gave them however, came much sooner.
Want to make your home more energy efficient?
Kingston Council is committed to supporting residents to live more sustainably and reduce their energy costs. While the specific program Rex and Ella participated in has concluded, the Council continues to connect residents with resources, tools and support to improve their homes.
You can explore our current programs - including the Kingston Power Savers Program, which connects residents with vetted suppliers for home energy assessments and upgrades like solar, batteries, heat pumps, insulation, draught proofing and more.
You can also explore our broader sustainability resources for tips, tools and advice on living more sustainably in Kingston.
